In celebration of Black History Month, we are featuring several young talented Black Jacobs School of Music alumni as our collective Entrepreneurs of The Month, each of whom offers a unique perspective on what it means to cultivate an engaging and dynamic career in the arts. Keep reading to hear what these amazing artists have to say!
Richard Baskin is a singer, pianist, composer, arranger, and producer – based in New York. Brynn Elcock is a Senior Analyst at Bain & Company – based in London. Wilfred Farquharson is a violist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Shaq Hester is a singer, actor, creator – based in New York. Durand Jones is a singer, music entrepreneur, and founder of Durand Jones & The Indications
THE INTERVIEW
Was there anything about starting your career after college/school that really surprised you?
Brynn Ellcock: I was surprised by the sheer number of career options! The short list of ‘traditional’ jobs has expanded into an endless variety of career paths. It’s incredibly exciting to be able to build my own path and apply my skills in a variety of settings; it’s also inspiring to see how my former classmates have forged their own distinct journeys.
Durand Jones: I thought that after school I would immediately land a job performing music that would pay all of my bills. I was kidding myself for sure. The hard work would present itself in new ways and challenges. Even though I wrote the first record with my band while we were at Jacobs, it took at least two years to get it to where we could travel around with it. And even then the money was not spectacular. It took a lot of sweat equity and patience. Eventually offers came in that began to raise our eyebrows. The first was a Google commercial we landed. That paycheck showed me the potential of publishing and sync licensing. Two things I didn’t learn about until after school. Two things that can pay extremely well, while you personally won’t have to do much of anything but wait for the check to cash. No matter the genre, if you are creating music—learn about it now!
Do you have any advice for students who are looking to expand their careers beyond traditional performance and education-based outlets?
Brynn Elcock: Chat with individuals in different roles to get a better understanding of how you might apply your unique passions and abilities. If something non-traditional excites you, lean into your creativity and use your music training to pitch yourself as a valuable and differentiated asset!
How did your time at Jacobs prepare you for where you are now?
Richard Baskin: I wasn’t planning to go to graduate school—and my mentor convinced me to visit. It was an interesting time, after spending 5 years doing something that I loved doing on one instrument (piano). And then this amazing opportunity presented itself to study deeper on another instrument (voice). I tried to take every class in the jazz department either for credit, or just auditing. The first thing I understood about Jacobs was that it is a MARVELOUS resource for self-directed study… alongside the guidance of the faculty. But for me, it was a garden to explore. Jacobs provided an array of opportunities for me to participate in and more importantly, made me aware of the possibilities of the type of career I wanted to create. And honestly, I’m currently on tour with Freestyle Love Supreme (a Broadway show that just closed in New York) where I play piano and sing—all of the experiences I went for at Jacobs prepared me for it. The audition, the rehearsal process, the Broadway run, and now the national tour.
What skills do you believe are critical for young musicians to develop as they navigate their careers in the early years after finishing school?
Richard Baskin: There are a few skills that I believe to be critical for young musicians: the foresight and freedom to create (short-term and long-term), fostering mentorship in both directions (having a mentor & mentee), trusting your instincts, the ability to make mistakes, and finally, the discipline to SEE IT THROUGH.
Shaq Hester: Active Learning! Be a sponge.
You’re still in school even after you leave Jacobs. It’s just the school of life and the stakes are different. So, seek opportunities for things you haven’t done yet. Go to shows with unfamiliar genres. Build new skills or develop dormant ones. You may know a good amount, but there’s still so much more knowledge yet to gain.
Self – Awareness! Listen to your gut and follow its cue.
If you’ve done a certain thing a certain way and you recognize you don’t wake up eager to do it anymore, that is your soul telling you “it’s time for a change.” If you feel that you’re stuck and you’re in your own way, it may be time to get a coach, cut out bad habits, or even get an accountability partner. If you are extremely afraid and nervous about a new venture, go for it! We only get nervous about things that mean something to us.
Adaptability! Say “Yes, And” to life.
As children, we are often brainwashed to believe we can only be good at one thing and that there’s only one way to get there. However, in the past four years, I have been a Broadway Company Management Intern, Teaching Artist, Songwriter, Vocal Arranger, Personal Assistant, Social Media Manager, Graphic Designer, Live Show Producer, and Assistant Stage Manager. Nearly all of these positions came to me by happenstance! Either I applied to the job as a shot in the dark, got inspired in the moment or said “YES” to a colleague’s random Facebook message. Just because you haven’t done something before doesn’t mean you’re not good at it. There’s so much to discover about yourself if you just allow new experiences to happen and remain present.
Is there anything you wish you had known while in school that you know now?
Wilfred Farquharson: While in my undergraduate degree, I wish I knew how available and open so many of the faculty members are to questions we have about careers. All the faculty of every department each have such a wealth of knowledge that they are so willing and are usually excited to share! Their experiences far transcend what’s just on the bios we see on concert programs and a lot of times includes nitty gritty work/gigs they did outside of and in addition to the auditions they did.
What skills do you believe are critical for young musicians to develop as they navigate their careers in the early years after finishing school?
Wilfred Farquharson: Time management and networking are some of the best skills for any young musician to master when they’re out of school! I get so many questions about how I’ve gotten so many gigs considering how new I am to Los Angeles, and the answer is that whenever I go to a gig or rehearsal I introduce myself to the other musicians. One job always leads to the next in the world of freelance and you never know who is connected to whom! Once getting a bunch of gigs it can be really exciting, but it’s equally important to know how to masterfully use your time and when to say no. We’re all human and can only handle so much. Given with how intense hustle culture can be in the musical world, we have to make sure we respect ourselves by respecting our time, even as simple as making sure we eat or drink water. Lastly, and I say this especially as a musician of color, we have to learn how to advocate for ourselves clearly and strongly.
Networking can be intimidating for many students. Do you have any strategies or tips for network-building?
Durand Jones: Attitude is everything. And that doesn’t mean you have to be over the top and flamboyant. But rather a good collaborator, someone who is pleasant to be around on and (especially) off stage, with a unique perspective. The latter is truly the best discovery and will get people talking about you. Make sure your art is a conversation. And from there you can capitalize.
Shaq Hester: Take it one person at a time and trust energies. Whenever I enter a room, I observe and see who I naturally feel connected to. Knowing everyone in the room means nothing if the connections aren’t true. However, if you find a deep connection with one person, count that as a WIN! Lest we forget, it only takes one person to introduce you to another person.
Artistic communities are small. You have time. The longer you stay in a particular locale, the more you will see the same people and the more everyone will know everyone. This is particularly true for my NYC experience. Whether at cabarets, operas, or Broadway shows, I always find people I know. So, even if you don’t meet everyone at once, artistic circles will foster natural connections.
Don’t be afraid to network across different fields. Your network can include lawyers, medical specialists, restaurant/bar managers, and photographers.
Collaboration doesn’t only happen among musicians. It’s with everyone.
Leave a Reply