Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Martin
Hi Jonathan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Jonathan Martin and I help lead the band What’s up Chuck. Music is always been a passion of mine since grade school as a child. Forming a band in middle school and keeping them going through high school was incredibly fun. Dabbling in various different instruments along the way through college kept it fun, especially during the years in college I was not involved in a band. The beginning of my professional career in IT I found myself working in northern Virginia the greater Washington DC area and forming and playing in multiple bands. A Desire to slow things down brought on a move to Charleston in 2017. Immediately having the itch to get started with music again I surveyed the music scene of local cover bands and decide on a direction to form a new band.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Forming a band is not easy. There’s quite a bit of work that goes into it. From picking your genre, the niche of music within that genre, getting musicians on board that buy into the vision of the band, the personalities and lifestyles need to align to accommodate rehearsals and gigs various days and hours. Then there’s the booking and marketing of the band, which is a whole other story.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been in technology sales, my entire career, serving the federal government as my customer. Various companies from the biggest names you could name to some smaller few hundred person startups. One thing that’s been very helpful is that I’ve been able to integrate music and my creative side into forming bands with other colleagues at companies and playing big company or industry conferences.
Music is truly my passion. I do wish at times I may have pursued full-time, but there’s other times I’m thankful it’s a hobby that I truly enjoy and don’t have to count on for income. The people I have met through the music community are some of my best friends and will be for life.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In speaking of the IT industry automation and security are the two biggest factors. Things need to continue to evolve to become easier to implement and use while being secure To protect sensitive information.
As far as arts and music industry goes, there is absolutely a heightened focus and interest in pursuing these fields, especially from the younger generations. As negative of an effect, as Covid was I believe it allowed people to realize and connect with things that are the most important in their life, things that make them light up inside, true talents, and passions to pursue because you only live once. I think music and arts entertainment will be key to the happiness and longevity of our society as a whole. Now more than ever. Supporting local arts in all
Their forms right now is the most important thing we can all do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsupchucktheband?igsh=MXZvczY2Z2w1bW10MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatsUpChuckTheBand?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@whatsupchucktheband
Image Credits
@wadelyon
