Today we’d like to introduce you to Hudson Vance.
Hi Hudson , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started out by teaching myself how to play guitar by watching Marty music YouTube videos. When I was 9 years old my dad would take me to the Saint Augustine amphitheater and I would play on the sidewalk for tips. At that point, I only knew one song and that was wagon wheel by Darius Rucker and I would play that over and over with a backing track for a couple hours. Fast-forward a couple years, I knew more songs, but was still playing at the Saint Augustine amphitheater or the VyStar Arena out front. One time when I was out busking someone walked by who happened to also be a musician and asked if I wanted to play a couple songs, at one of his shows at the feed mill. I of course, said yes, and went and played a couple songs after that the feed mill booked me for two shows. This kind of snowballed to a point where I would play one show every two months or so at various places. but beginning in this September I reached out hundreds of venues and restaurants and ended up getting a ton of bookings ever since that September I’ve had two or three shows a week every single week up until now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, it’s been a pretty smooth road and I’ve been able to get consistent bookings for a while now, but one struggle that I’ve had is when people see that I’m 15 they will sometimes overlook me and underestimate my abilities. Another struggle, I faced is juggling my social and academic life with the Music. Having every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night taken up can be a struggle because I can get in the way of what a 15 year-old usually would like to do also on these days where I have shows, I would usually have to miss a couple hours of school each day. This would lead to me having to do extra study time and extra hard work to sustain a good grade in those classes. It can also be a distraction in class even if I’m not leaving because sometimes I’ll have to be focused on sending emails or taking calls during class instructional time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I do as a local musician is playing a three to four hour set of country, alternative country, and 80s and 90s rock at local bars and restaurants and I specialize in an acoustic solo show. I am most known around the area for my age specifically most people don’t expect a 15-year-old to be performing at their dinner. I most proud of my ability to save the money that I’ve earned from these shows right now I’m saving for my first car and flight school and I even put money in a Roth IRA for retirement.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is when I had a group of friends and a band called the chameleons and we would play front porch concerts and have neighbors come out and watch, my parents would even supply coolers full of drinks and snacks
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hudsonvance.music?igsh=d2hwZDE2OGkxeXpu&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D2eUgxnVv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
