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

Hi Dave, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It took me until I was in my mid-30s before I finally took the plunge and left gainful employment to pursue my own thing I’d been playing bands, managing bands, running an indie record label and stuff for years but always put off that final step of being self-employed. I was always waiting for thing stop grow ‘just a little bit more’ then I realised that thing were never gonna grow until I dedicated myself to my own business full-time. That was nearly 25 years ago!

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.
It’s been a long road – not always easy – but all vital in developing my music, performance and brand…and I wouldn’t change any of it. At school I was told I was tone deaf and useless. And I wasn’t that great at passing exams either. It wasn’t until later in life I realised I wasn’t as stupid as I’d been led to believe..and I had a stubborn streak that somehow motivated me to do well at the things I was told I couldn’t do! I also realised that we all learn in different ways and one person’s view – or a mark in an exam – are not necessarily definitive.
Perhaps the most important thing in developing what is a fairly unique musical style was not being able to play or learn songs note-for-note. Or play guitar and sing ‘properly’.
In the short term that was a hurdle, but in the longer term it meant I started to write my own songs and – most importantly – develop my own guitar style. I was influenced by others, but inability to learn or copy their style meant it came out all twisted and messed up. That was a good thing as it gave me what is a fairly unique style that falls somewhere between pre-war Delta blues, rockabilly, trash county and punk!
My determination to stay true what I liked and wanted to do regardless of trends has also worked in my favour. While my style is unlikely to ever even approach the mainstream, perseverance and focus have helped my build my brand and visibility in the wider niches where my music can be shoe-horned to fit into.
Also, being successful in (almost) any field is not down to excelling at one specific skill – many other factors contribute to the success – motivation, effort, reliability, honesty, proactivity…

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.
If we’re talking LA, I’m not an expert. My first tour taking in the west coast of the USA was in January 2019 when I was playing at the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in Anaheim with National Reso-Phonic Guitars (the company that makes and supplies my guitars based in San Luis Obispo). I had a few shows to play – my debut at House of Blues in Anaheim; downtown LA at the Redwood on W 2nd St; Pappy & Harriet’s, Pioneerown; the Doll Hut, Anaheim and, further away, The Siren in Morro Bay. All were great places!
For guitar players a visit to Norman’s Rare Guitars on Venture Boulevard is a must.
We enjoyed a trip up to the observatory in Griffith Park too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Lots of people! My parents for shaping me into the person I have become…I didn’t appreciate this until it was too late. My wife Margaret for all her love, support and giving up everything to be my booker, tour manager and sounding board about everything. Family, friends and folks that like my music for their seemingly never-ending support.

Website: http://www.davearcari.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/davearcari

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davearcari

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davearcarimusic

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/davearcari

Image Credits
Peter Lee, Valentina Abrazey, Leif Laaksonen, Gerry McNally, Liz Aitken

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