Meet Milo Sledge | Musician

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

Hi Milo, what is the most important factor behind your success?
As a musician/performer on the small stage I think the reason I have a good call back record, success if you will, is that I don’t come in as a musician with demands or expectations. Just because I have hours and years invested in becoming a hirable musician and have spent $1000’s on equipment over the years, driven miles to gigs, does not make me an automatic money maker for the venues that hire me. My attitude is I want to be their best employee. In this age of “how does that make you feel?” “What about me?” “I don’t want to work let someone else do it”, the best employee MO can go a long way with the venues, the staff, and most importantly the person doing the booking, hiring. If you are a refreshing joy to work with and they feel you sincerely trying to enhance their business that’s more than half the battle. That same attitude will work on the clientele you are entertaining as well. You can be a maestro, but if you lead with your ego, or are not sensitive to the environment, such as is it a restaurant, are they dining and trying to have conversation, you might not be contributing to the venue and the listeners overall experience.

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.
My art, or music, is/was a hobby that I did not ever think nor did I set out with a goal to see it to where I am today. Being an agreeable, positive presence and not having unreasonable expectations can open doors to your personal growth, your ability to produce music that you couldn’t just a short while ago, helps opportunities find you. At least that’s my personal experience. I did not start with a goal in mind so with that when I hit a wall I put it down for 10 years at a time, several times. Every time that I did pick it up I had improved. That goes against the mantra “practice, practice, practice”, “practice makes perfect”. What I learned, through music, and other things in life is to listen to myself. I don’t care if it’s an “expert” or a mentor that genuinely wants to help, I filter all information through my gut and do it my way, right or wrong. I want to leave my mark with a little bit of enigma with it.

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?
The harbors would have to be on the list. The Channel Islands Harbor is the quieter one except on Sunday mornings when the Farmers Market is taking place. That in itself would be a destination. Several dining choices from casual to just about elegant. The Lookout, Mrs Olson’s, Sea Fresh, and my somping ground wher I play music regularly, The Waterside. Rent cayaks or jet skies. The Ventura Harbor has as many or more eateries; Brofy Bros, Margarita Villa(music), Copa Cubano(music), Boatyard(music), The Greek, and more. Downtown Main Street closed to traffic during Covid and remains a pedestrian experience with most cafes and restaurants having street patios. Too many locations to mention but I will throw a shout out to Winchester’s Grill and Saloon where you can hear live music 4-5 days a week. There are also a handful of wine rooms and craft breweries, Topa Topa Brewing has live music at all it’s locations, Madewest has music on Saturday afternoons at it’s main brewing site. Just up the Ventura River is Ojai. Too many shops, eateries and libation options to mention.

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?
My dad was instrumental in me playing music in the first place buying a brand new piano when I was 6. A huge purchase for him. My piano teacher, a former Vaudevillian started me on the classical method but planted the blues and boogie seed that I would rediscover years later. Johnny Cash made me want to hold a guitar. Stevie Ray Vaughn, in the pre-internet age helped make that long ago planted seed grow and flourish. The first musicians I hung out with, Chuck Herrera and Frank Barajas of 1980’s Ventura band Durango 95. My first band, Hard Times Band. Francois Catfish Ellis who helped further nurture the blues in me and opened up some opportuinities. Well known blues guitarist John Marx who friended me, mentored, shared stage with. Steve Buenger, former owner of The Waterside where I enjoyed a 7 year almost uniterrupted residency and continue to perform at today. My former duo partner from Tom & Milo Folk n Blues Duo, Tom Buenger. Former Ventura now Nashville musician, band leader, promoter Crooked Eye Tommy. L.A. blues promoter Cadillac Zack. Canned Heat drummer Fito de la Parra. Ventura’s Southside Richie; my current band members Doc Ventura and Eddie Layman, and there are more of course.

Instagram: milosledgemusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002408894203

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4Yk7MsV6t4-eerFhcstVwQ

Image Credits
Some photos are courtesy of Kala K. Layman