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

Hi Clay, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve long believed American work culture champions workaholism, and this opinion was further solidified during my five years living in Europe. On the other hand, when you’re able to work with your passion – in my case, music, and in a more general sense, creative entrepreneurialism – the boundaries between work and play become blurrier. Add into the mix the inherent demands of building a small business and consistent time management is just a necessity in everyday life. All that’s to say, I honestly believe 60+ hour work weeks are not necessary, or even ideal, in being an entrepreneur, or even an average American worker, and the sooner we can destroy that myth, and build the public and private infrastructure to support a healthy work-life balance, the better off we’ll all be.

What should our readers know about your business?
Bespoke Sound is what we like to call a Music Identity Studio. We’re a team of music directors made up of top DJs and artists from around the world, working with hospitality businesses to build one-of-a-kind music and sound experiences that complement interior design, brand identity, and guest experience.

Our creative expertise is what sets us apart. While others in our niche for the most part focus on building sofware, we focus on hiring artists, DJs, and musicians from diverse backgrounds and places, and with diverse tastes in music. It’s about creating a vibrant creative community or ecosystem between the brand, artist, and guests.

At 2.5 years old, and one of those being during a global pandemic, we’re still a young business, but we’re growing quickly and the pace has only intensified so we’re gearing up for a very busy year!

What I would want the world to know about our brand and story is that there are still opportunities to support and be a part of the arts in meaningful, impactful ways, and when done right, everyone wins.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I like to make hit lists for friends already so I’ll try to make an abridged version. Let’s say some friends were visiting LA for a weekend. I’d take them to some of my favorite spots that I’ve discovered in the last year. Starting east, we’d grab a cold brew and pastry at Maru in Los Feliz, followed by a couple-hour hike in Griffith Park. Then we’d head to Marisco Jalisco for tacos. Then to Mount Analog for record shopping in Silver Lake or Stories for book shopping in Echo Park. Then perhaps a trip out to Malibu for an afternoon surf session or beach hang at a beach which will not be named here 😉 capping it all off at Malibu Seafood for dinner, or make the trek back east and pick up some Thai in Thai Town. If we’re still going, perhaps a nightcap at the listening bar In Sheeps Clothing. That might be Day 1.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
No doubt there are many people who have supported me and given me the chance to learn and excel. However, I’d like to mention some resources that might hopefully benefit readers in their own professional journeys. A book that initially opened my eyes to the creative aspects and advantages of entrepreneurialism is Tim Ferris’s “The Four Hour Workweek.” While the reputation of this book has sometimes evolved into a parody of itself, there are some incredibly powerful tools for defining and mapping your own success and freedom in how you live your life. As a side note, if you’re interested in the topic of work, and doing things of value, I highly recommend the book “Bullshit Jobs” by the excellent David Graeber. Another resource that I continue to go to today is the podcast “Tropical MBA.” I listened to this podcast during morning runs for over a year while planning my business, and it gave me the confidence to just go for it. They’re another cornerstone content channel for the “Digital Nomad” community, and while I don’t identify as a Digital Nomad, the underlying philosophy of thinking creatively and differently about how to create financial freedom and flexibility, and ultimately fulfillment in life, is something that might resonate with any entrepreneurially-minded readers.

Website: bespokesound.co/

Instagram: @bespokesound

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/company/bespokesound

Image Credits
Image: Clay Bassford working on-site in Galicia, Spain Image 2: Hotel client’s juice bar in Costa Rica

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