The Sonicbids Story
I came to the U.S. in 1991 to attend Berklee College of Music. I wanted to be the next George Benson, but I was fortunate to realize early on that I was not cut out for it – so I decided to study Music Business instead.
Right out of college I got a job being an agent for many of the musicians I grew up admiring: Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Al Di Meola. It was a real blast, I did that for almost seven years, and I learned early on the value of doing something that you love.
I still remember getting yelled at by my boss the first month at my new job for spending too much money sending out press kits through the mail. I also remember getting buried under press kits from musicians that wanted to get booked by me - but I never had time to listen to their tapes and CDs.
All along I kept thinking that there had to be a better way for musicians and promoters to connect with each other than bulky and expensive mail-in press kits.
One day, while reading a book called "Blur" I had what I would call my "eureka" moment. (Being Greek, I always fantasized about being the next Archimedes – though Sonicbids hardly ranks up there with the discovery of buoyancy.) I thought "Gee, wouldn't it be nice to be able to use the Internet to create the perfect place for musicians and promoters to connect with each other online?"
So a few months later I quit my job, reconfigured my apartment into a home office and spent the next year burning through my entire life savings, maxing out my credit cards, talking non stop about my "idea", and putting together, bit by bit, the plan and foundation for what would be Sonicbids. (I even toyed around with cheesy names like "Cyber Agent," though I thought it could be mistaken for a porn site or something.)
I know people think Sonicbids has grown super fast, but nothing is as easy and effortless as it seems to the outside world. Like everything worthwhile, it took a lot of work, a lot of faith, and a lot of people's collective love and sweat to bring it to where it is today, and it takes a lot more of the same to keep it running and growing.
Someone said that when you do what you love, you never feel like you're doing a job. This is what it feels like to be at Sonicbids every day. It's fun, and dizzying, and exhilarating and yes, sometimes frustrating. But it never, ever, ever feels like a "job".
I love that.
Panos
Founder of Sonicbids
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