What Being in a Punk Rock Band Taught Me About Business

Some of the most formative business lessons come from unexpected places. For me, it began at age 11 when I started my first band. What began as a group of friends writing original songs and recording demo tapes in my parents’ garage quickly grew into a full fledged operation.

By high school, we had evolved into a punk rock band with a clear brand identity. We designed our own logo and merchandise, printed flyers, and hustled relentlessly to build a following. We played shows anywhere that would have us, from bars and coffee shops to parks and house parties. We sold CDs directly out of the trunk of our car, packaged transportation with tickets to get our fans from Orange County to Los Angeles, and promoted constantly. Our approach was scrappy, resourceful, and unrelenting.

Eventually, we earned spots at iconic venues like Chain Reaction, The Whisky, The Roxy, Soma, and The Casbah. Our hard work culminated in signing with Island Records. At the time, it felt like we were just a band playing music. Looking back, it was entrepreneurship in its purest form: building a brand, creating products, establishing distribution, and scaling with no budget and no outside help.

These early experiences directly shape how we run Ten2 Media today. The lessons I learned during those years are still the foundation for how we build, grow, and scale our business.

Move fast and learn as you go

We didn’t wait for the perfect sound or ideal venue. We made what we had, tested it live, and adjusted on the fly. That bias toward action remains at the core of Ten2’s culture. Launch quickly, learn from the market, kill what doesn’t work, and double down on what does.

Application: Don’t get stuck chasing perfection.

If you don’t promote it no one will

Every show, demo, shirt, and CD required relentless selling. Nobody else was going to do it for us. That same outbound energy drives how we launch channels, pitch clients, and grow audiences at Ten2. Creative work without distribution is a nonstarter.

Application: Treat promotion as a core business function not an afterthought.

Constraints fuel creativity

We had no budget no team and minimal tools. We printed merchandise in our high school graphics class and bundled tickets with transportation to solve real audience challenges. Resource limitations are not excuses, they force focus and innovation. Most companies wait for permission or resources.

Application: Start delivering results with what is available.

Distribution is as important as product

Making music was only half the battle; getting people to hear it was just as critical. We understood that early and engineered solutions accordingly. At Ten2 we build distribution systems as early as we build the product. Without reach even the best content fails.

Application: Invest in distribution channels as aggressively as product development.

Consistency builds momentum

We rehearsed relentlessly and showed up for every gig, regardless of the crowd size. That consistency built credibility and trust over time. Success is the product of relentless & consistent execution.

Application: Volume and consistency beat sporadic brilliance every time.

Being in that band was my first real education in building something from the ground up. It taught me to move fast, control the narrative, innovate under pressure, prioritize distribution, and maintain relentless consistency. The Punk Rock and DIY principles have guided every major decision in my career and remain unchanged, whether the stage is a garage, a venue, or a global business.