Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in music education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steve Combs, Founder of Littleton Bass School, located in Littleton, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Littleton Bass School is a unique music school, providing private and group lessons for electric bass, upright bass, guitar, ukulele, and music theory, with a focus always on "pocket" and "groove," the rhythmic heart of music that feels good. The school is one of the only Denver-area music school to focus on bass, so most students are electric or upright bassists. They range in age from 6 to 74 at the moment and include high school jazz band players, youth orchestra players, gigging bar band players, and hobbyists, just to name a few categories.
Tell us about yourself
I started playing bass when I was 11 and performed on stage and recorded at that age. My long road to teaching included decades of exposure to many teachers and exceptional musicians who became mentors and inspirations for learning and wanting to teach. I started building instruments as well, so now building and teaching is my way of giving back and getting great players ready to live the life I was fortunate to have.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Seeing students meet goals and improve their situations is extraordinary, whether it's a high schooler moving up to Jazz 1, an orchestra player winning the first chair in their section, or an adult player finding the perfect new band for their new passion. There's a yearly student concert where we celebrate everyone's accomplishments, and that's my biggest satisfaction as a teacher.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I started LBS full-time in late 2019, and within 6 months, I went from the excitement of new growth down to just one online student because of COVID-19. Coming up with ways to recover and grow again was hard, but with the help of family, friends, and the students themselves, we came up with ways to get lessons going again, safely and productively. The business side of staying a business is always the hardest part.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I have to fall back on a musical metaphor, of course! A business is like jazz. You just have to know what key you're going to play in, then count in the tune, and start playing with gusto. Preparation is crucial, but it's being prepared for anything and having broad skills that'll make the song keep swinging no matter what happens on stage. Prepare for anything. Talk to a lot of business owners in different fields to get a broad view of what-ifs. Tip three is just jump in and start playing; you can count on your preparation and instincts to accomplish what's needed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.littletonbassschool.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleton.bass.school/
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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