Jason Harris
Coming from the least privileged background, Dmitry Badiarov is the author of the upcoming book on Fine Violin Making. He has made a name for himself as a former musician and a core member of La Petite Bande. As a violin maker, he created instruments for world-class musicians such as Sigiswald Kuijken, Sergey Malov, and Ryo Terakado. He has been featured in major news, magazines, tv, talk shows, and he hosts his own show known as Luthiers And Legacy Show. Today he is passionate about mentoring and helping other instrument makers to turn their passion for crafting soloist grade instruments into thriving six-figure creative businesses.
StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Dmitry to discuss his journey in the industry and here’s what went down:
When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?
In 2006. After 12 years of being a core member of La Petite Bande, I got fired before a 1600 audience waiting for my performance. Suddenly, they did not like how I played, how I look… everything was wrong about me. “You just don’t fit in”, I was told. I invested in my first marketing course for artists and this was a light bulb!
How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?
My schedule, what I was earning, when and where I was working, everything was predetermined, usually years in advance.
As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?
Good books, business masterminds. Entrepreneurship is a journey on my quest for self-improvement and personal development.
In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.
Service. Success results from streamlining everything towards just one objective – helping others to achieve what they want to achieve in their lives.
What were your top three motivations for starting your business?
1. I did not want to depend on others to decide whether I work or not.
2. I wanted to decide my schedule.
3. I wanted to be the one deciding what I am worth.
What do you put your success down to?
Aesthetic sense, plus sales and marketing.
What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?
Awareness. First, enough people must know you even exist.
Remarketing. There is no point in getting known if you do not re-market these people who now know you exist.
Transaction. Transact and build your tribe.
Income. Don’t just make an offer. Make an offer they cannot refuse. And remember to always price based on value.
Storybrand. It’s a noisy world. Without a story you’re one per minute, with a story, you’re one of a kind. Craft your story.
Transformation. Your product or service needs to deliver a transformation in your customer’s life. When that happens, and the more that happens, the more transformation you will see in your own life. A.R.T.I.S.T.
What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?
Music is an ultra-closed, overly competitive domain where everyone mistrusts everyone and everyone competes with everyone.
It may be challenging for anyone trying to establish themselves. I overcame this by sticking with a plan: Awareness. Remarketing. Transaction. Just these three will take you a long, long way.
Does the loneliness of the entrepreneur really exist?
Absolutely (laughs).
As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important leadership lessons you have learned?
You cannot teach anything to anyone. You can only ask them questions in such a way that they come up with the right answers.
Jason Harris
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