Photo credit: Patrick Brumback
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
I’m the very proud owner of a 1996 Ford E-350. It’s got 156K miles on it now, about 40K of those are mine. I bought it directly from a church and it’s hands-down the best investment I’ve ever made. I keep a magnetic goat on each side that came from my family’s stock trailer and my goat showing days; she’s aptly named “Vincent Van Goat.” My dad and I renovated it to make it solid touring/camping rig. I love my band, but I’m a big fan of solo runs when I can sleep in the van.
I’ve driven that van all across the country and have only been stranded once. My fuel pump gave out on the Blueridge Parkway in Asheville, NC but we were just one mile from a good shade tree mechanic.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
My dad always says that I have “a nickel of the first dollar I ever made” because I’m so frugal. I try to pack as many healthy snacks as I can – tuna and peanut butter get me through a lot of trips. I found that stopping at grocery stores would lead me and the band to making healthier choices. I’m still a sucker for truck stop snacks and Krispy Krunchy chicken tenders, especially late at night. Those tenders are honestly the best in the game.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I used to break A LOT of guitar strings. I think my guitar at the time had a bad setup that caused the G string to break often. Learning how to play with more touch and upgrading to a Martin D18 helped a lot. I’ve had that guitar over three years and don’t think I’ve ever broken a string.
Where do you rehearse?
Right now, we split time between my basement and the house of two band members, Zach and Logan. Their garage is our go-to spot because of space and the ease of having their drums and amps there. I built a pallet stage in my basement last summer and we rehearsed there a decent amount. I’ve got some cool bar lights and a dart board, so it makes for a good hangout before and after. We’re lucky to have two really good options to choose from right now.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
The first song I wrote was something like “I Want You to Feel Like Me.” As you can imagine, it was pretty bad. I’ve tried to erase it from my memory.
Describe your first gig.
My first public gig was at the Jessamine County Public Library on a Sunday afternoon. I had played at a few house parties and campfires, but that was my first time singing in a microphone. I was still in college, around 21 years old I think, and had my older sister drive me out to the gig. I drank bourbon in the parking lot for my nerves and she took me to Cracker Barrel after. I’ll never forget it.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I worked in student affairs at the University of Kentucky for about four years right after college. It was a great job, paid well, and had awesome benefits. My music got to a point where I was being pulled in too many different directions, so I gave up my work at home job and dove into music full-time. I pursued only music for about two years, and have since worked in carpentry and other odd jobs. Right now, I’m working part-time for a data company that focuses on music venues and events.
Honestly, the carpentry job was a blast because I was learning a lot and getting to use my hands all day. My bosses have become really good friends and I still plan to work with them now and then.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
At the time I was graduating college, I was just starting to get into music. My music income was so low that a full-time career in it definitely didn’t make sense. Thankfully, I landed a salaried job at UK that allowed me to pursue music on the side. About three years later, I realized I was getting close to making a living from music. I saved as much as I could and quit my job about a year later. I’m really glad that I jumped into music full-time and hustled to make ends meet. I don’t think you can appreciate how hard of a job it is until you go all-in.
Now, and especially during Covid, I’m thankful to have other skills that I can fall back on. I also think the balance helps take some of the pressure off of music and frees me up artistically. I’m at a point now where I can be more selective with the gigs I take and I really like being in the spot.
My next big goal is to generate enough music income that I can offer my band a salary. They put in a lot of work and I’d like to give them some peace of mind financially. Personally, I think I’ll try to keep a side hustle of some sort moving forward. If nothing else, it’s nice to step away from the music business for a bit and shift my focus to something else.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
I don’t know that anyone comes out of the gate with the ability to handle rejection well, but that’s something I wish I had been better at when I started. You get told “no” so many times in this business that it’s easy to take it personally. Most people that turn you down are just looking out for the best interest of their band, business, etc. You have to get used to it and keep moving forward.
Oh, and I wish I’d known that I actually don’t sound better when I’ve been drinking.