Welcome to this episode of the hustle inspires hustle podcast! Today we have a special treat for you: Alex interviews Stephanie Hernández and Viviana Venero, both of whom spearhead marketing and communications at Frost School of Music. Stephanie is the Director, Marketing & Communications and Viviana is a communications specialist. In this episode, we discuss how they met, their journey so far and their take on the music industry.
Wisdom Nuggets:
Music has both a creative side and a business side: Most people think running a successful music career is all about creativity and great sound. But Stephanie and Viviana explain that there's also the business side of things. If you aren't as talented with singing and vocals, you can explore other avenues, such as marketing and public relations, to help you grow your career.
Constantly Learn New Things: Stephanie and Viviana both agree that it's important to keep up with the trends in the music industry so that you can stay ahead of the competition. By learning new things and experimenting with the latest trends, you can create music and systems that stand out from the rest.
Find Balance: Being in an industry that is as demanding as music can be a struggle. Stephanie urges individuals to find balance in order for them to reach their full potential. They suggest taking time off to relax and reset so that you can come back feeling refreshed and ready to start again.
Podcast Outline:
Alex: (00:39) What's up, everybody? This is Alex Quinn, and you're listening to the Hustle Inspires Hustle podcast. We're in Miami today with Stephanie and Viviana from Frost School of Music.
Alex: (00:58) I appreciate both of you being here. It's, it's, you know, it's, it's an honor.
Stephanie: (01:01) Yeah. It was meant to happen, right?
Alex: (01:19) You guys have great chemistry, though. Like it's really, it's super cool.
Alex: (01:29) How long have you both known each other?
Alex: (01:32) Two years now already.
Alex: (01:36) So let's dive right in on, like, what you guys are, what you guys are doing now. Cause that's kind of like the purpose of why we wanted to sit here and, you know, talk about what's going on. You guys are working at the Frost School of Music right now?
Stephanie: (01:46) So we're at the Frost School of Music. It's a renowned music school. It's one of the best in the country.
Stephanie: (02:56) Vivianna does social media, so I think she could talk about what it's like to be on both ends of putting content out there for Yeah. An established artist versus an up-and-coming.
Stephanie: (04:09) I went to school cause I wanted to work in the music business even though I fell in love with music, through singing, through song lyrics.
Viviana: (04:34) I feel like a singer. Okay. Yeah. Um, but actually, I'm not a musician. I'm not musically inclined. I don't think so. I used to sing opera when I was little, but sure, I think my love for music actually started in my upbringing in my childhood. I was born in Puerto Rico, so a lot of music, a lot of cultures, and a lot of stuff going on there.
Alex: (05:53) There are so many things to do within music, right? Some people maybe aren't ready to be an artist right away. Learning the business side is the most important side part outside of the talent, right?
Alex: (06:34) When I first came into, like, music marketing and I started to learn about it and still learning about it, I was like, oh my God, this is crazy. There are so many layers; there are so many levels to how people get paid and how things work out that people don't really fully understand how that fully works.
Alex: (10:00) Everybody loves music. Right. But back in that time, I guess before the internet and, you know, before the resources we have now, I guess it wasn't that easy to say, okay, I'm gonna work in the, in the music industry.
Alex: (11:40) Now we have a lot of, a lot more things that are going on. Like, before the podcast started, the three of us were briefly talking about chat GPT, which is like a really hot topic right now. Artificial intelligence, you, it's pretty much a chat box. You tell the chat box what you want to write for you. It could code a website for you. It could write a poem for you. It could write the opening scene to a movie for you.
Viviana: (14:39) I don't remember if it was in 2019, but I thought it was really interesting to see how this person, it's, it, I don't, she doesn't exist, but they give her life. She's an AI character. And you would look her up on Instagram. She has tons of followers.
Stephanie: (19:52) That's like the power of music when you're like, it just brings you, pulls you in. Like I've cried at multiple concerts. That's totally normal.
Alex: (20:38) How, like what is, what is your most proud moment in music so far? You've done a lot of cool stuff. We'll go one by one, so we could kind of, like, so think about it again. You can go first. Yeah.
Stephanie: (21:06) So I think this year I had various moments where I was able to do that. A lot of it was because I was in a workplace that really allowed and encouraged me to do that.
Stephanie: (21:57) At the end of the day, for me, everything that I'm doing is about the next generation.
Alex: (23:35) Not every kid has the privilege of support from their family, friends, and people around them. And financially either financially, and, I mean, we live in Miami, it's a beautiful city, but there's a lot of rough areas in Miami.
Viviana: (27:13) I really wanna touch upon what you said, Stephanie. Cuz Okay. So I am used to being like on the BTS side, like I'm very shy, and I'm very introverted. So once I decided that I was going to pursue music, I didn't know who to look up to.
Alex: (29:26) Thank you for joining me on this episode of the Hustle Inspires Hustle podcast. I'd appreciate it if you could share, leave of review, and subscribe to the show.
Power Quotes:
Alex: (06:16) "It is very important that you approach both aspects of it [Music], of understanding the creative side of music and why it's important. And also understanding the business side."
Alex: (24:09) “Do whatever it is that you want to do, it's possible”
Alex: (26:34) “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.”
Stephanie: (26:58) “This year has been about giving back for me, and I've been blessed and fortunate enough to do that.”
Viviana: (29:16) “You just have to go out there, and it sounds really cliche and, and literally just, just do it yourself.”
Alex Quin is a full-stack marketing expert and global keynote speaker. Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of UADV Marketing - a member of the Forbes Agency Council.