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

Hi Cliff, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Before officially starting my LLC, I was already doing all of the things I’m doing now – Playing gigs, teaching private lessons, and session recording. I figured that it was time to get my financials together and really start to do something on paper that matched up with what I was already passionate about doing.

I wanted to get away from my day job and focus the time I spent doing that into my personal goals and my business. It has been nearly a year since I quit that job, and I have made enormous leaps towards the goal of making a living doing what I love. I have been scaling, planning, and pushing for what is to come. It also helps to have an amazing and supportive wife.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
These days I mostly find myself teaching private drum lessons and refining my own sound on the drums. I always have a roster of ideas and concepts that I am practicing that keep the forward momentum as well as giving me fresh ideas and information to share with my students. I also frequently rehearse and play shows with my band, Lawn. And if I’m being matter-of-fact, I spend a lot of time doing my own accounting for my LLC which helps me stay ahead of the curve and plan for my business’s future. That side of music is very important and often overlooked.

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?
Despite my relationship with music, and especially live music, most of the places I would take my friend to would be natural or historical. I have a certain appreciation for things that are natural and serine. Here is my list:

– Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

– Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

– Jungle Island

– University of Miami’s Arboretum

– Hidden Beach (Virginia Key)

– Magic 13 Brewery – for the music, ambience, and of course their beer selection

– Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen – I used to work there, and the food is great. It will always have a place in my heart

– Coconut Grove – There are many great natural and dining spots in this area, all within walking distance from each other

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?
I owe a lot to one of my mentors and professors, Steve Rucker. Steve has been at the Frost School of Music for nearly 50 years and has helped hundreds of students like me push to be the best version of ourselves. He has not only taught me a lot about expressing myself on the drums, but also a few things about life (including some pretty funny stories). Steve has allowed his students to use his office for practicing and rehearsing with little restriction. Without his mentorship and the kind allowance of his studio space, I’m positive I would not be where I am today.

Website: https://cliffdobson.com

Instagram: @cliff.dobson

Other: cliffdobsonmusic@gmail.com

Image Credits
Daniela Davis
Morgan Dobson

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