Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joel Pierson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Joel with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I am one of those people who is worried that if I’m not working, then someone else is, and when push comes to shove, they will achieve the things I’m trying to. It’s not always the healthiest form of motivation, I admit, but it’s always pushed me above and beyond what I think I’m capable of. I also don’t assume that the people around me are indicative of what everyone is doing – it’s not enough to collaborate and dare I say compete with my friends and known colleagues; I have to imagine what others are doing, and then push myself to match what they might or might not be doing!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a composer and pianist whose work straddles the worlds of jazz, pop, and contemporary classical music. I frequently use humor as a means to engage audiences with new music.
I am the Artistic Director of The Queen’s Cartoonists, a jazz ensemble that uses animated films and comedy to reach concert-going audiences of all ages. I also direct The Court at Versailles, a group that performs acoustic versions of electronic dance music. I also founded Sadsap Music, a music publisher that focuses on humorous music education books.
I split my time between New York City, San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), and on tour.
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 think being aware of work in fields outside my own has been helpful. How do other artists perceive their work in their areas is just as important as paying attention to people in one’s own field. Always listening to everyone is good, too – never assume you are the expert in the room!
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The constant obstacle in my career is sustainability. I’ll have a good year, then a so-so year, etc. It’s very hard to keep the pace up for decades at a time. Everyone else assumes that concerts get booked and albums get made without too much difficultly, but I have to be looking months and years in advance.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joelpierson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/no.juan_no.juay/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-pierson-ba6319295/
Image Credits
Lindsey Thoeng, Pix, Mark Sheldon
