Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in music education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Feldman, Founder of BANG! The Drum School, located in New York City, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The name of the business is BANG! The Drum School. We're an online drum education provider, and we specialize in beginner drummers. Our customers are either people who have never played drums before but want to begin to learn or those who are just beginning. The latter group usually calls themselves "beginner drummers." I also like to use the phrase "drumming newcomers" to describe my customers because I feel that there is no implied judgment in that term. Making sure that there are no judgments and that our environment feels like a comfortable place for beginners to learn and be understood is a very important part of what we do. It's also important to note that we are an online educator--we offer online video courses, and for a select group of really committed beginners, we have a group coaching option via Zoom.
Tell us about yourself
I've been a professional drummer in NYC for many years. Several people began to ask if I would teach them. I found that I really enjoyed helping others learn to play drums. It made me feel good because drumming has given me so much joy, and teaching allows me to pass that happiness on to others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
When I first started, BANG! The Drum School, I was able to break through the clutter of the NYC marketplace quickly. There were dozens of people and drum studios offering to teach lessons, and we became the #1 place for beginners within our first year. I feel proud that I was able to do that. At the moment, we're on the rise in the online space, which is another accomplishment. Having rebounded from the crushing force of the pandemic on in-person businesses, moving online was the logical solution. In fact, it was always a logical shift for the business regardless of the pandemic. The reach is massively wider, and that allows me to help more people become drummers. And that is the point of the business--to create more drummers worldwide.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about being a business owner, and I think the thing that probably prevents most people from becoming one is risk and uncertainty. A huge number of new businesses don't make it because they can't turn a profit. The comfort and ease of a weekly paycheck go out the window when you start a business, and that's the hardest thing having the patience, persistence, and bravery to stomach that for a significant amount of time.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I would say that the most important three things for a new business owner are:
- Have enough capital. You need money to get the business going. It may take a few years before you make much money. Make sure you have enough funding to get you through that phase. If not, it's game over.
- Don't listen to naysayers.
- Learn to delegate and hire out tasks that you shouldn't be doing yourself.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.bangthedrumschool.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markfeldmandrums
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkFeldman
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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