We had the good fortune of connecting with David Andreone and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi David, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I started ArtistServices Therapy, I knew that to focus on artists and creatives was my only choice. You see, that’s the population I’ve worked with all my life — I’ve literally worked with artists since my 20s.
In working with artists for so long, I started seeing trends and commonalities impacting both their emotional and mental wellbeing. In the music industry for example, I knew that the same cycle typically occurred: the pre-signing struggle, the record label signing rush, the composing/recording phase, and in most cases, the reality-of-the-market phase. It’s truly an emotional and financial rollercoaster, and if artists simply know to expect the ups and downs at the outset, they’re better able to regulate their expectations and hone their goals, all of which leads to greater creative, mental and emotional stability.
So, ArtistServices was based on decades of my own experience in the entertainment business. There is not a population I respect more than artists and creatives, so to be able to help them feeds my soul.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Not only do I work with artists, but I too am a creative. Along with my friend Reza Aslan, I created the critically-acclaimed television show “Rough Draft with Reza Aslan”. No surprise that I created a show dedicated to writers, but that is exactly what Rough Draft was: an homage to all manner of writers (screenwriters, novelists, journalists, songwriters, and more).
I loved every aspect of producing Rough Draft, from the branding of the show to casting the guests, and choosing the musical guests. It was so fun, and I look forward to more TV production in the future.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man, I love LA. I’ve been here on and off since the late-80s!
I love Koreatown — I love California Market, especially their kimbop and kimchee bars. Near USC, I love Holbox, and Mercado de Paloma too. I love the Fairfax High Flea Market (and I love Fairfax). I love the Baldwin Hills Stairs, and you can find me there a handful of times per week. I love Pt. Dume — when I drive north on PCH en route, I drive past my alma mater Pepperdine, and reminisce on my years living in the ‘bu. I love West Adams, especially Mizlala and Alta.
LA — I joke that I don’t want it on my obituary (Havana or Sardinia reads so much better!), but truth be told: I do love this imperfect paradise.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutouts are many — so many people helped me along the way.
My mom and dad — Barbara and Victor Andreone. They were truly warriors for justice for others, and infused in me an empathy and genuine interest in those around me.
Greg Sowders and Kenny MacPherson at Warner/Chappell taught me to always put the livelihood and well-being of artists before anything else. They reinforced in me what my parents had already laid as a foundation: a reverence for the artists among us.
I’m a guy with many sisters (and no brothers!). Each sister is so different one from the next, and I learn profound lessons from them all the time. In many ways, they’re my secret weapon — they give me sensitivity and insight that other men sometimes lack.
My friends make me a better person. Terence Michael, Danny Bracht, David Bridson, Mike Parianos, John Steward — all masters of many things.
And lastly, my clients — on the daily, they make me a better husband, father, brother, friend and therapist by sharing their most intimate stories, struggles and successes with me. I love what I do, and I’m grateful that people will sit across from me and simply share their epic stories.
Website: https://www.artistservicestherapy.com
Instagram: david_andreone
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/iln/davidandreone
Image Credits
All images by Annabelle Andreone