Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in music education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Clayton Moore, Owner of Lowe's School of Music Toronto, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We run private music lessons for students of all ages and skill levels, as well as summer group programs. Our customers are mostly families who live in and around the Junction neighbourhood in Toronto, but because of the popularity of virtual lessons, we now have several students from across Canada!
Tell us about yourself
I started here as a guitar teacher 15 years ago, and when my boss of many years decided to retire, I had the opportunity to take over the school in 2014. I've tried to maintain the ethos of Mr. Lowe over the years while streamlining aspects of our business to keep up with a more modern market. I know that I can speak on behalf of my staff when I say that seeing the improvement in my students' playing and seeing their confidence grow is what motivates me as a teacher. From a business perspective, I'm motivated to provide a fun and engaging lesson experience for our students at a competitive rate.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Seeing students rise to the occasion in performance settings, sharing that feeling of accomplishment. I think that any small business owner who weathered the storm of the pandemic and came out the other side has accomplished something amazing!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about owning a business is managing people. I'm fortunate that we have cultivated a great staff over the years, and I've been lucky to meet and work with so many interesting and talented folks. On the other hand, employing musicians comes with a host of other issues - namely, scheduling around gigs, touring, etc.
Getting used to the responsibility and the lack of a safety net for myself was difficult at first, but that's the price we pay as small business owners. Personally, I think it's worth it for the freedom!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Number one is to be objective. It's easy to romanticize certain aspects of running a business, but your decisions ultimately need to make sense financially. Surrounding yourself with good people is a must. That goes for staff but also other people outside of your business. My wife is also a small business owner, and it makes a huge difference having someone you can talk to when there's a problem.
Lastly, try not to get too ahead of yourself! This has been a challenge during the pandemic especially. It's important to plan ahead, but not at the expense of day-to-day operations. It can be scary to look too far into the future, so just try to manage what's directly in front of you and do your best to stay organized.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.lowesmusictoronto.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowesschoolofmusictoronto/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lowes_musicto/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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