We were lucky to catch up with Alex Kasznel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alex, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Honestly I can’t recall a time before I wanted to play the guitar. That urge has always been in me as long as I can remember. Essentially every other creative pursuit in my life has stemmed from that desire: the band, the Company Picnic fest, all of it. Once I reached adulthood, it just occurred to me that if that urge had survived for so many years, it was genuine and had to be taken seriously. I’d never be happy or fulfilled if I wasn’t pursuing it at the highest level possible. I think there’s something to be said for trusting those instincts.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started a pop punk band called the Board of Directors in Cincinnati, OH in 2023. We quickly started doing road gigs that have now taken us all over the Midwest, the south, and more places to come. We made so many friends with so many fantastic bands in these other cities that we wanted to find a way to bring them home with us. That was what led us to develop the Company Picnic. It’s an annual full-day festival showcasing bands we love, giving them the opportunity to break into the Cincy music scene and to connect with other bands they might not meet otherwise. It’s almost like playing musical matchmaker with our friends. We held the first annual Picnic in March 2024 at Oddfellows in OTR, and plans are already in the works for CP25.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1) Accountability: Personally I feel that responsive communication and punctuality are critical. It’s so important to me to be someone that others can count on. Also, if you’re easy to work with, you’re a lot more likely to get work.
2) Kindness: There’s really no reason not to be nice. I do subscribe to the idea that happiness is more of a responsibility than a disposition. If you put warmth and positivity into your world, you’re a lot more likely to enjoy your stay.
3) Persistence: You can’t excel at anything immediately, and that’s a good thing. Nobody would appreciate success if it legitimately happened overnight, nor would they be prepared to handle it. As a band, there’s always a stretch of time where you drive 8 hours to play for two people. Just make sure those two people love what they hear, and keep coming back until they start multiplying.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Planning for the Company Picnic 2025 is underway, and we would love to hear from businesses and entrepreneurs that are interested in sponsoring, as well as bands that want to join the bill. The Picnic is a DIY effort celebrating the talent and creativity of a wide array of artists, and the support of the community locally and beyond is what will continue to make it such a special event.
You can reach us at [email protected] and on Facebook & IG @companypicnicfest.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/companypicnicfest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/companypicnicfest
Image Credits
Matt Klose, Odd Soul Productions
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