Meet Jarrid Hollander

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jarrid Hollander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jarrid, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

Therapy, Therapy, Therapy.

I cannot emphasize the importance of mental health enough. For creatives especially. I struggled with getting enough of a coherent thought to speak at all most days, let alone write songs/poetry, or communicate in a healthly way, emotional or logically.

Get someone who doesnt just provide an ear, but also provides feedback, ideas, and solutions. Someone who can argue with you in a health way for the sake of your well-being. Someone who you like, and likes you, but can be as unbiased as possible.

Even if you dont FEEL like you need therapy, there is always something to learn about yourself, and others. Dont skimp on it. Dont be afraid of it. Dont dismiss it. Dont be arrogant about it. In my current experience, open-minds open doors. Especially when it comes to mental health

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a musician, singer-songwriter, and teacher, based in the Owensboro, Kentucky area.

I currently co-own and operate a private lessons studio in town (Cadenza Performance Academy), offering online and inperson instrumental music, ear training, and music theory lessons. I also teach freelance and work as an instrument tech and sales at Musician Den in Evansville, Indiana. On top of that, I also provide art preservation at Inmans Picture Framing and gallery, working closely with visual artists of all levels.

In between, I work as a “hired gun” for local, regional, and sometimes national acts on sessions, one off shows, and the occasional small tour.

I am currently in the process of songwriting, and developing a catalogue to have my own career as an artist.

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?

I’ll give an example for each.

One quality I’ve had instilled in me as a person, and even moreso as a professional, is honesty. Be as honest as possible with yourself, and those around you. If you cant do something, and cant learn to do it quickly, dont say you can do it. If you dont know how, but you think you can, say that. Honesty goes way further than anticipated.

A skill that ties in with that is restraint. Arrogance can cost someone much more than a gig, session, show, or job. It can cost friendships, connections, and reputation as well. This applies to playing in a session, marketing, networking, relationships, etc. Have confidence and presence, but not more than you easily back up.

An area of knowledge that is super important to anything is methods of communication. Examples: How to give and recieve criticism, visual and verbal cues, how to send and read a text, phone etiquette, how to ask and answer questions clearly, how to negotiate, and how to write an email.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

Lean into your natural strengths, sure. Lean into what makes you YOU, because of course you should. But be as well rounded as possible. People that are only good at one thing, only get hired for one thing, and thats not always a good thing. At the very least, keep it interesting for yourself

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cadenzaperformanceacademy.com/
• Instagram: @madbeanz.co