What is the name of your business and what do you do/sell? 

I’m a member of a chamber group called the Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet, LLC. We perform a variety of musical shows and give master classes across the U.S.

Was getting it started very difficult or did it seem overwhelming to you?

When we started we weren’t really seeking to be a business, but our organic success led us to end up establishing ourselves as a legal business.

Have you ever experienced emotions such as fear, doubt, or uncertainty in the process that you were able to overcome?

Of course. With any new venture, especially one in the performing arts, there are always uncertainties. When you are investing time and effort into something, you hope to have payback. It is always a gamble with trying something new and different.

What sorts of obstacles have you encountered during the process of forming and/or running your business? – How do you deal with tough obstacles?

I think that one of the biggest obstacles our group faced was when we were in the process of creating our first album, Breaking Out. Since we play a lot of pop music, figuring out all the legalities and sorting through copyrights was an arduous process.

Do you believe that the business process has transformed you? If so, how?

Yes. In this day and age, classical music, as well as the traditional orchestra itself, is becoming more and more obsolete while entrepreneurial chamber groups are beginning to emerge on the forefront. This is sort of becoming the trend these days. Even if an arts business fails, it is always a good learning opportunity for getting your art or skills out there.

Interview conducted by Christopher Pawlowski, a student at SMU.