Music Business

FEE: $20/hr

QUALIFICATIONS: 35 years in the music business - touring, recording, songwriting

ABOUT: Bill Davis is a New Orleans guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is the founder, lead guitarist, and lead vocalist of the rock band Dash Rip Rock, and a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Davis founded Dash Rip Rock in 1984 and is often credited as a pioneer in alt-country music that combines elements of rock with country, blues and punk rock. But Davis has said in interviews that he considers his music to be widely roots-based. His work has been inspired by a variety of styles, including rock, country, power pop, punk, soul and, at times, Cajun. He has written several hit songs for Dash and continues to write and release music into his fourth decade with the band.

Dash has toured as headliners around the globe for 35 years and have released over 20 albums and CDs. Davis runs his own record label (Drag Snake) and publishing company (Dash Rip Music). He has managed several successful artists and side projects throughout his career.

Bill was a speaker for the Ella Project at their publishing and songwriting seminar in 2019. He has a Masters in Journalism from LSU.

Music Business

FEE: $35/hr

QUALIFICATIONS: I have experience touring, both as my own band and as a part of other artists' organizations. I have planned and orchestrated van and bus tours, arranging travel, advancing with venues, and keeping track of merchandise. I also have experience releasing music both independently, and with indie record labels, and all aspects there-in - including audio engineering, mixing, mastering, distribution, etc.

I also have produced my own music videos with my own gear. I am familiar with the facebook ads platform as well, and how to create audiences and market to them to reach a specific demographic or fanbase.

I run my own Shopify store & Squarespace website, and Drip email list as well.

Overall, I have worked in different capacities, all the way from total indie artist, to artist with management / booking / record label.

ABOUT: Combining influences from an array of genres and his work as a touring guitarist for Grammy winning bands, New Orleans artist Eric Johanson creates blues-based alternative roots rock in his rising solo career.

Music Business, Accounting for Artists, Working with the Media, Theatre Business, visual arts, Nonprofit management, Social Media, Visual Arts Markets and Festivals

FEE: $25-$50 per hour, but can be flexible depending on artist/org budget.

QUALIFICATIONS: I find no greater joy than helping artists and organizations "figure it out." From creative development, marketing, operations, management, basic accounting, event production, and more I'm wholly aware of the challenges involved and always love to help. I'm very experienced and passionate about working with artists and organizations. It's what I do for my day job!

ABOUT: Ron Rona is a Cultural Engineer, Brand Strategist, and Creative Producer based in New Orleans, LA. He currently serves as Artistic Director for New Orleans’ esteemed Preservation Hall.

With roots in music, performance art, and experience design, Ron strives to make culture more visible by telling old stories in new ways through collaboration, innovative programming, storytelling, and strategic planning.

Music Business, Nonprofit Management

FEE: $40/hr

QUALIFICATIONS: I have advised and served on numerous non-profit boards for over 30 years. I have been involved with the formation, merger, and termination of non-profit organizations, and have advised on HR matters, strategic planning, and other operational matters for a wide variety of non-profits.

ABOUT: I am a business attorney who is also a musician. I have been advising small businesses for 30 years, including 7 years as a SCORE mentor. I am now consulting on the business side of the music business in New Orleans.

As a musician, I have run my own bands, including booking, personnel management, and taking care of finances (accounting).

I helped found the Musicians' Council on Fair Wages, Inc. in New Orleans, and serve as its Executive Director.

Music Business

FEE: $50/hr

QUALIFICATIONS: I have experience as an artist and behind the scene.

ABOUT: Born and raised in the city of New Orleans, Lou Hill has been in the music industry for more than 20 years. Trained as a professional musician, Lou Hill has had the opportunity to work on multiple sides of the music business. As Founder, songwriter and drummer for the Billboard Top 20 charting band Water Seed, he has the proven experience to understand the ever-changing market. Formerly the head of marketing for Louisiana Red Hot Records, he is now heavily involved in helping the growth of the New Orleans’ music industry.

He is the CEO of Moonrise Entertainment, LLC. Moonrise Entertainment is a company designed to support all things music and media. Staffed with a team of music professionals, Moonrise Entertainment has worked on projects such as the Water Seed Music Group, HaSizzle the king of Bounce, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Suite Sundays, Embrace the Culture’s Geaux Live Nola.

GenRise Entertainment is one of Hill’s latest ventures. Partnering with Raj Smoove’s Gentilly Agency, Hill and Smoove have teamed up and pooled their resources to establish a bridge to success for up and coming artists, productions, and events.

Music Business

FEE: $50/hr

QUALIFICATIONS: I have been a musician since age 4, trained as a classical pianist playing recitals at Carnegie Hall and singing in church. Over the last 20 years I have been a professional in the music industry starting off as a songwriter/session singer in NYC, singing backing vocals and playing percussion live and in the studio, to leading my own solo project. As a record producer and owner of my record label I discovered a passion for getting things done, but realized that many artists are unaware of the business side of the business. Change doesn’t happen overnight, however, I am driven my knowing that my time here is spent empowering, teaching and learning all the ways we can use humanity and collective agreements as our guide.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

ABOUT: Brooklyn-born, New Orleans resident, Cole Williams is a recording artist, record producer, radio DJ, and organizer.

Cole shines when she’s breaking genre conventions—melding gospel, soul, R&B, reggae, and blues. Over the course of her career, Cole has provided vocals and percussion for Joey Bada$$, Chiddy Bang, Mo B. Dick, Aloe Blacc, DJ Nickodemus, Little Jackie, Diane Birch, Somi, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, Kaissa, Dana Fuchs, Pimps Of Joytime, original lead singer of People’s Champs, and commercial/tv recordings for CoverGirl, JCPenney, Suave, to name a few.

Williams vocal performances have been featured on Conan, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, The Wendy Williams Show, The Jools Holland Show, WWL4 Morning Show, Live With Kelly & Michael, 90210, and The Today Show, and publications as Rolling Stone Magazine, Huffington Post, Glide Magazine, Wax Poetics, NME, AfroPunk, Offbeat Magazine, and New Orleans Magazine. Cole has appeared on NCIS New Orleans and been nominated for Best Female Vocalist by Offbeat Magazine.

Live performance highlights include The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Joshua Tree Music Festival, French Quarter Festival, Blue Note NYC, BAM Cafe Live, The Mint, Martyr’s, Tipitina's, World Cafe Live, Prime Example, House Of Blues, and Cervantes.

Music Business, Media Relations, Social Media

FEE: $40/hr

QUALIFICATIONS: My experience within the music industry extends into several arenas: media relations, public relations, journalism, event production, talent buying, marketing, promotions, etc.

I've worked extensively as a member of the media. As a journalist and editor focused primarily on music and culture, I've learned what makes for a compelling story and the best ways to get the attention of a writer. On the other side of the same coin, I've helped musicians on the PR side of working with the media, drafting press releases and managing PR campaigns in support of a new album or venture.

ABOUT: A writer and editor with more than a decade of experience, Amanda "Bonita" Mester is also a communications director and PR strategist. From 2011 to 2014, she served as Adjunct Professor of Media Criticism at Adelphi University. She earned her Master's Degree in Communications from Fordham University. In 2017, Mester was hired as Digital Editor of OffBeat, the city’s pre-eminent music and culture publication. During her tenure, she published cover stories on PJ Morton, B-Mike, The Soul Rebels, Raj Smoove and has interviewed dozens of local musicians including Tank and the Bangas, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 5th Ward Weebie, Trombone Shorty and Cha Wa. In 2020, she co-hosted the Band Together Benefit, a virtual New Orleans music festival. More recently, she produced a five-part Red Bull Radio series featuring New Orleans DJs and an ongoing video series featuring New Orleans hip-hop artists. She is a founding partner at Jazz Crawl Productions, a live event and digital media company devoted to promoting and supporting the cultural performers of New Orleans through documentary media, tours, workshops and more; and she co-founded The Gentilly Agency alongside Raj Smoove. She launched her independent PR and creative strategy company, Under the Sun, in 2021.

Music Business and Social Media

FEE: $100/hr

QUALIFICATIONS: I am an independent artist and utilize my Master in Business Administration: minor Marketing to self manage my career. From establishing myself as “The New Orleans Songbird” to a cultural ambassador, I have learned a lot when it comes to establishing a successful business and brand. My expertise is in marketing, branding and social media. From every aspect of my music to branding my lifestyle, ambassadorship and fitness. Branding and creating is my favorite thing to do.

ABOUT: Robin Barnes grew up in New Orleans surrounded by jazz sounds, as made evident by a #5 debut on the Traditional Jazz Albums Billboard charts in 2016. Music featured on Bravo, NCIS, the Blacklist and more. She is a University of New Orleans graduate with a Masters in Business Administration. She is known and trademarked as the “Songbird of New Orleans.”