Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tyler Norris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tyler, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

The hardest thing I’ve had to overcome in my creative journey is learning the business side of it. I learned music at a young age and continued to pursue it throughout my years. I even went to college for music in Nashville, but I never really understood how important it is to learn how to make it a business. I knew which microphones sounded good on vocals, how to compress and eq guitars, but not how to successfully market myself. It’s the classic myth of if you build it, they will come. Knowing my serious weakness with this I started listening to business podcasts, reading business books, and taking classes. It has helped me immensely already and I still feel like I’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg. It’s the reason I’m able to make a living doing what I love and helping to create art.

Tyler, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Tyler Norris. I co-own “Ma6io” (pronounced Maa – jee – o) with Eric Faires. Ma6io is a music recording, mixing, mastering, and production company in Dallas, TX. We help music artists achieve their vision by providing them with top quality production, years of experience, and personal guidance so that they can turn ideas into finished works of art.

One of our statements has been: “Your music is your life and it will be ours.” We want any artists we work with to know we actually give a damn. We work with the artist closely to help them reach their goals whatever they may be. We truly want the artist to create something they will love!

You can find out more about us at Ma6io.com.

As for me personally, I started playing guitar around middle school. I continued my musical education throughout my teen years by playing guitar in bands, different concert events, and school performances. I also started piano lessons around high school. I then went to college at Belmont University for Audio Engineering and with a minor in classical guitar. It was there I became even more involved in the music scene and the studio production side of things. I interned with a few different studios and gained a lot of technical knowledge. I was fortunate enough to find an amazing mentor, Dave Tough, who really helped me to improve and learn more of the business side of the industry. I eventually found my way to Dallas working for a music production company. After about 4 years I went out on my own and have been on the grind ever since. The one piece of advice I give anyone getting into the industry is networking is the single best thing you can do. Make friends, go to shows, and help with any projects you can when you start out.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There are a few books that have helped me. I highly recommend: The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber, The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib, DOTCOM Secrets by Russell Brunson.

The E Myth is great for understanding how to run and structure a small business. The other two books helped me with my online presence and marketing strategies.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I mentioned before in a previous question the myth of “If you build it, they will come.” This particular lesson was a struggle for me. I thought if you had the best studio gear, an amazing sounding room, and the best skill that musicians would be banging on the door to get it. The issue is even if you have all this, how does anyone know? You have to have a great marketing plan. In fact, I would argue that having a great marketing plan might be more important. You can always get better gear or move into a better space as you grow!

Contact Info:

• Website: Ma6io.com
• Instagram: @ma6iomusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ma6iomusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfJ-TfaRXwS0iiBecQP05Pg
• Other: https://ma6iomusicartist.podbean.com/