SHOUT OUT LA (Interview)
Brendan Buckley

– What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I must admit, my “business” just sort of happened. I was spending the majority of my late-teens learning how to play an instrument, the drumset. I remember being immensely fascinated with the craft. Then, people started paying me money to play the drums with them. My idea at the time was, “If I can cover my rent, groceries, and gas bills, then I can funnel any leftover income into more music!” It was a simple life. My main goals were to systematically improve my drumming skills, while expanding my network of co-workers within the music industry. That is basically what I am still doing today. And, one must remember that it is important to enjoy the journey too.

– Do you have a budget? How do you think about your personal finances and how do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?

I am a freelance musician. This means that every year of my career looks remarkably different than the previous one. And, I actually have very little ability to predict what adventures lie around the corner. I work with a variety of different artists. Sometimes, I am hired by a manager or artist to perform on a live concert tour. Other times, I am hired by a producer or artist to record music in a studio for a new album. All this considered, I calculate my monthly and annual overhead, and I make sure that I cover all of those costs before going beyond that to enjoy family vacations, home repairs, new sneakers, etc.

– Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

It is difficult to move forward in life without taking some risks. And in my opinion, the best years to take those risks are when you are young (late-teens and 20’s). At that period in life, there is still a lot of time for trial and error. You can discover your likes and dislikes. You can discover the kind of person you are. Drumming is all I wanted to do with my life, and I was willing to sacrifice everything to pursue my love for it. And this passion helped me get through many of the high and low points along the way

– Where are you from and how did your background and upbringing impact who you are today?

I was born in a suburban area of north New Jersey. My upbringing was surrounded by lakes, and trees, and outdoor sports, and skateboards. It was a typical 80’s childhood influenced by MTV, Ferris Bueller, and shopping malls. My Irish father was quite good at having fun, organizing social events, and providing for the family. My Korean mother excelled at keeping me on track scholastically. I believe that the balance of my childhood, and the independence I had upon moving to Miami for college, both had a major role in creating the person I am today.

– What is the most important factor behind your success/the success of your brand?

I suppose that most clients and work associates would say that “dependability” would be one of my strong suits. I focus a lot on preparedness, organization, confidence, consistency. These qualities add value to my brand. I enjoy bringing the elements of safety, comfort, and helpfulness to the lives of the people around me. Humor is also essential medicine to me.

– What value or principle matters most to you? Why?

I admire the value of “discipline” in others. We all know that life can be quite challenging. I am inspired by people who overcome the chaos and hurdles that the world throws their way by establishing solid moral codes, positive work-ethics, productive daily planning, and so on. I feel as though so much can be accomplished if we possess a disciplined persistence.

– Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

When I was younger, I lived a simpler, more selfish life. It sounds cliché, but I lived and breathed music and only music. But when I entered my 30’s, I began to sense that there was more to life than dedicating your soul to a single craft. I yearned for balance and experiences. I peered into the possible future and saw a bitter and disgruntled human being with very little time to enjoy the world. Since then, work/life balance has become a major priority. Time is our most valuable currency. Pay attention to how you spend it.

– What’s the end goal? Where do you want to be professionally by the end of your career?

My end goal would be to create art up until the moment my time is up on this planet, and to do so with as much joy and as little regret as possible. Also, I have a strong desire to provide an excellent life experience for my wife and son. In a perfect world, we would all give back as much as we take (if not more). Therefore, I am interested in finding big and small ways to give back to the people around me.

– Why did you pursue and artistic or creative career?

I have always been enthralled with music, and something about the drumset in particular truly bewitched me. It could be its combination of expression mixed with complexity. The dynamic power and the limb-coordination. By around the age of 16, it was the only thing on my mind. I could not foresee myself doing anything else. It became entwined with my identity. And it still captivates me.

– Tell us about a book you’ve read and why you like it/what impact it had on you.

There have been a mountain of books that have impacted me over the years. The first one that comes to mind is “The Inner Game of Tennis” by Timothy Gallwey. My college professor Steven Rucker recommended this book to his students to help calm the self-talk and doubt that rattles around in the mind while trying to accomplish an activity or task. It is a fantastic book for anyone that battles with nerves or stage-fright.