Episode 14 - Bringing Out The Best In Others with MonoNest Studio, Sanctuary Point

Self Starter

Syd Green of MonoNest Studio is a freelance musician and music producer who began recording artists on the South Coast of New South Wales in Sanctuary Point around 10 years ago. Syd's background in music is extensive playing in bands such as Mantissa and Iota in the 90s and these days playing with 19Twenty.

This episode is an edited/focused version of a longer chat I had with Syd that's featured on episode 124 of The Andy Social Podcast. In this Self Starter episode, however, you will hear us focusing more on MonoNest and the evolution of his business and the approach he takes with the clients/artists that he works with.

Now you might think that a music producer and studio may not draw a lot of parallels in your own self employment journey, however I encourage you to listen with an open mind. The great thing about Self Starter is that it's about sharing best practices across all industries and professions. This encourages innovation and a point of difference in your own pond.

If you want to learn more about some of his earlier days as a musician, some great Mantissa stories and a lot more music talk then check out episode 124 of The Andy Social Podcast here.

What did you get out of this episode? Here’s what I learnt;

1. People skills - Technical experience is big depending on your service but providing that personal touch can make all the difference between you and your competitors. Syd's focus on forming close personal relationships with the artists ensure that he is getting the most out of them but also creating an end product and experience that's worthy of being talked about with others.

2. Use your website as a business card - Syd cites word of mouth as being the main driver for business rather than any form of advertising however Syd's website serves as a portfolio of work and a place for those who are curious to try Syd's services to have a sticky beak and learn about him before reaching out to make contact. If you can start to think about your online presence as a resource and business card/portfolio rather than just a sales portal/hard sell, you will create more of a rich experience and increase conversion for your prospect client.

3. Collaborate globally - Syd has been able to take advantage of the digital landscape that we live in by recording with people all over the world. This isn't reserved to just people in the music industry and anyone can create business opportunities or find customers from all over the world. You're not limited to your immediate area anymore! We need to think beyond our local area and work out how we can collaborate and create more opportunities and fulfilling experiences.

4. Taking advantage of quieter and colder months - Syd has leveraged off the local holiday homes in the area, especially in non-holiday periods where rent is cheaper (great incentive for his artists!). He has built relationships with certain owners in the area to provide them with steady occupancy from his artists during those times.

Check out Syd Green's Main Website
MonoNest via Main Website | Facebook | YouTube |

Location - Sanctuary Point, New South Wales