Robert and I attended a high school co-op together and I decided to reach out to him about the Teenpreneur Conference after I noticed that he announced he was opening a business teaching guitar lessons. I am impressed how he is turning his passion for music into a legit business and way to earn an income. I asked him to put together an article so other teens could see what he has done to get his business started.
My name is Robert Manzone. I am currently in my Junior year at the University Of North Florida, where I am a Music Technology major. I have always loved music, and have played the guitar for more than half of my life, so having the opportunity to not only go to college, but to go for music, was a dream come true.
I have been pursuing this degree because it opened up options to me not only to learn more about my favorite instrument, but I have had the opportunities to learn piano, music theory, aural theory, and an ongoing set of classes about recording music. I love this because it’s provided me with options that I can familiarize myself with to use as tools when I am trying to find a career.
Initially, I never thought I’d end up choosing this path, but in the last few years I started taking college classes that teach how to record and produce music. During this time I have been able to slowly but surely build up a home studio and apply what I’ve learned to my own band and help others record too.
Because of the Teenpreneur Conference, I was exposed to whole new ideas and strategies I can use to my advantage in business and through my life. I learned a lot about networking, as well as advertisement and promotion, all of which are aspects of the music industry that are vital to being able to even make a name for yourself.
I am the lead guitarist in a band based out of Jacksonville, “Searching Serenity”. When the band initially started, the co-founder and I were starting from the ground up since we were total beginners. I am working to help make us a band that is recognized as a metal band from Jacksonville Florida, a metal band from Jacksonville Florida that started out young and inexperienced, and a metal band that is growing in professionalism over time.
Of course, we are aiming to make it out of Jacksonville and become bigger than just a local band that plays a few little shows just for fun. Although the small shows are a lot of fun.
Because of the concepts that were taught at the conference, I have been able to effectively reach out across the country and make connections through a shared interest in music. I have also been able to work on the promotion and advertisement section of our band through branding ourselves and identifying our differences from other bands of our style.
Our next step is to work on stepping up our image as well as professionalism, so that we can play shows further out of Jacksonville and make a profit. It doesn’t stop there though, because I have started giving guitar lessons.
I have loved playing guitar for years, and one thing I have also enjoyed in the last couple of years is having the chance to share my skill with others who are interested in learning. What I’ve learned about advertising and branding has helped me start my own personal brand titled “Guitar Perception Guitar Lessons”. I have a Facebook page that describes what I have to offer, and why I hope to be the teacher people would choose when they are looking for guitar lessons.
The adult business world is not an easy place to break into for young and aspiring teens, but having these skills available has helped me so much already. I have no doubt that I will continue to grow and learn in these areas and that will lead to growth in my business.
To give some words of advice, no matter what your goals are, if you just pursue them with a positive mindset and realize that you CAN accomplish what you set your mind to, you will be amazed at what can happen!
Good luck!
Robert
