Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Luke.
Hi Josh, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The journey begins with a love for music and a passion for rhythm. My whole life, I’ve tapped and pittered on anything that’d make a cool enough sound. From 9-12 years old, I took drum lessons, and throughout highschool had mentors and attended camps that helped build my foundation. I decided to go to college for audio to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of music and become a more marketable drummer. That gamble has paid off in many amazing ways! Through college, I met the core of my network and some of my closest collaborators and peers. The more I dove into live audio, mixing, and live events, the more insane experiences I had. Through the years of building a career as an audio and live events specialist, I kept playing drums, honing my skills behind the kit and building my stage presence. Today I split my time pretty equally between a professional drummer and audio engeinner/stagehand/DJ. I’ve discovered ways to combine the knowledge and skills from all these professions in a way where they all build upon each other. I’m truly blessed to be surrounded by such a talented and suppoortive community of creatives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Anything but smooth… The early years consisted of a lot of long, back-breaking event setups and teardowns, sleepless nights, gigs played to the staff, last-second gig calls, and an insane amount of failed ideas. Nobody in my life, prior or current, had experience in the live events/music world. It often felt like my peers and I were running 100 miles an hour in an unknown direction, hoping it would yield anything, or at least show us how to grow. This industry requires tight boundaries and a solid understanding of your own worth. I struggled with these vital skills early on in the name of growth and keeping food on the table.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Josh Luke Music and Audio LLC?
One of the first and most important things I did after college was to establish an LLC where all types of work could flow. No day, week, or even month looks the same for me. I work with a dozen or so different companies/venues directly as a contractor and subcontract for about a dozen more. Every day looks wildly different, even within just the scope of audio and drumming. While drumming and audio are my passions, sometimes stagehand work is where the work is at, and I happily hop on those opportunities as they happen. Some weeks I make 80% of my monthly income; other weeks are slower work-wise, so I use them for recovery, desk work, and getting my body right. I must view all my time spent as a valuable way to push forward in the right direction. While the inconsistency and wide scope of work can be daunting, having an LLC and a vision makes it all feel like one mission with many important parts.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I always try to make sure I’m actively reading some sort of self-help/life advice type book. Besides that, music has always been my compass. There are layers to music, and the more I’m around it, the more I understand it; the more I understand it, the different ways I’m able to use it to help navigate through the good and hardships of life and my career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joshlukemusicandaudiollc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josh_3579/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshua.luke.9678/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaLukeDrumzzz
