Meet Alicia Spillias | Musician & Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Spillias and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Music has the incredible power to heal, and now more than ever, I’m seeing just how true that is. Because my colleagues and I have been adversely impacted in regards to the vast majority of our work – which includes everything from private events, concerts, recording sessions, etc – due to the restrictions on gatherings, we have had to adapt in major ways. After months of not performing we decided to try putting on socially-distanced neighborhood concerts so we could bring music to our communities while at the same time satisfying our growing need to perform for an audience. We had no idea how successful it would be, nor how much of an effect it would have on people. We’ve now participated in several of these types of concerts and it’s been a great morale boost, to say the least. We’ve made people smile, laugh, cry, and we’ve brought neighbors together (safely) at a time when isolation has dominated our current reality. At one such concert, a woman approached us afterwards to tell us that she “didn’t realize how much I needed this”. There’s no better feeling than knowing that you helped brighten someone’s day when they needed it the most. Music can transport you to another place, another realm, and take us out of our often stressful lives, even if just for a little while. And I think we all need a little more of that these days.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Artists are commonly known to be “right-brained” people who often are not particularly business oriented. And while that may be the prevailing situation within the Arts community, it’s certainly not always the case. I was blessed with not only an artistic inclination but with an analytical side as well. This has been a tremendous asset when it comes to running and growing my business. I love that I get to satisfy both my artistic needs as a violinist/vocalist/arranger, and my detail-oriented nature at the same time. Having that balance has been essential throughout my life and career. While attending an art school for middle and high school, I was introduced to performing as part of a string quartet at private events. After my first gig, where I realized I could make money doing something I loved, I was hooked. So when discussing the possibility of forming a string quartet with a friend while in college, I was immediately on board. The biggest challenge was building a good reputation and bringing in new clientele – something that’s not easy to do when just starting out. But by being attentive to our clients, being easy to work with, and consistently providing top quality performances, over the years we’ve been able to build and maintain healthy relationships with event planners and with our clients, whom we rely on for word-of-mouth marketing. Maybe one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that it’s important to do what’s best for the long term health of my business, and not simply what is good for it in that particular moment. It’s not always easy to do, but I always keep that in the back of my mind when making difficult decisions.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, there is so much to do and see in LA, which is one of the reasons I love this city! I would definitely take my friend on at least one hike. We grew up in Florida and mountains are hard to come by there, haha, so that is a must. I would also take her to the boardwalk in Venice/Santa Monica – it’s such a unique vibe with all the vendors and street performers. Plus, who doesn’t want to see where Baywatch was filmed?! Then there’s the Santa Monica pier and a drive along the PCH. Another must do would be a live comedy show at the Improv on Melrose or the Comedy Store on Sunset. It’s not uncommon to catch one of your favorite comics doing a set at either one. And if the Hollywood Bowl was in season we’d go see a show at this iconic venue. Of course, we’d also do some sightseeing through Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory and other well-known landmarks. Lastly, a trip up to Santa Barbara for some wine tasting to top it all off. As for places to eat/drink, we’d have to go to Sugarfish – best sushi in town! Another great place is a wine bar in West Hollywood called Bacari. They have great wines and their tapas plates are delicious! We’d definitely hit up Yamashiro in Hollywood, which not only has good food but a great ambiance as well. And Duke’s in Malibu for the amazing views and fun atmosphere. Little Next Door would be great for brunch. And Korean BBQ pretty much anywhere would be on the docket.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to first give a shoutout to my parents for giving me the opportunity and the freedom to explore the world of music and to hone my craft. Without that none of this would’ve been possible. I’d also like to give a shoutout to my colleagues, who have made me a better musician and without whom I could’ve taken my business to the level it’s at today – most especially my good friend and colleague, Emily Moore, who co-founded Organic String Quartet with me almost 14 years ago!

Website: https://www.organicstringquartet.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organicstringquartet
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/organic-string-quartet-091602a0
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OSQensembles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/organicstringquartet
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/organic-string-quartet-los-angeles?osq=string+quartet
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/organicstringquartet
Other: Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/organicstringquartet