I first interviewed today's guest, Stephanie Bonte-Lebair back in Episode 025. The focus of that interview was about how she rebranded her voice studio to attract a more profitable niche, but in telling that story, Stephanie also talked about the role business networking played in the marketing of her business. She talked about it with such intentionality that I knew I wanted to learn more.

So today we're talking about everything, from how to choose events to network at, how to prepare, how Stephanie makes the most of her time at an event, her follow-up routines, examples of weak and strong calls to action and more. Get your notepad ready because you'll want to take notes.

If this topic of networking makes you uneasy, at least listen until you hear Stephanie's definition of business networking. A lot of us have probably had an experience with someone who was "networking" that was so obnoxious that we found the very concept repulsive. I think Stephanie's approach will be refreshingly different and one that most teachers can get excited about. People who are doing networking well are not obnoxious and you don't have to become obnoxious - in fact, please don't - to build your business through networking.

Here's my conversation with Stephanie.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode179

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

Welcome back! It's January, which means tax season is officially upon us—so today I'm sitting down with CPA Charles Harris to kick things off. We're covering the basics—who needs to file, what to know about quarterly payments, and a few key deadlines—so you can feel clear on your next step. And quick note: registration is open for our free Self-Employment Tax Crash Course webinar coming up on February 5. You can find all the details for that at musicstudiostartup.com/tax.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode178

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

MSS Tax Podcast Episodes:

162 – Business Travel and Conference Deductions for Music Teachers with Charles Harris, CPA

159 – Tax Prep Service for Music Teachers – Q&A with Charles and Andrea

158 – Charles Harris, CPA on Tax Prep Tips and FAQs for 2025

Tax-related Blog Resources:

• Music Teacher Income + Tax Calculator
• Lowering Taxes with Business Expenses
• 3 Ways to Track Your Mileage for Tax Purposes
• 4 Music Teacher Tax Myths
• 7 Smart Ways to Use a Tax Refund

Is independent teaching actually a stable career for music teachers?

In this episode, Andrea talks with Danielle Ingram, a former school music teacher who left a classroom job to build a sustainable, home-based private music studio. Danielle shares how she redefined stability, ran the numbers before quitting her W-2 job, and built demand before making the transition to full-time independent teaching.

They discuss practical questions many teachers face, including replacing a school salary with private teaching, marketing strategies that worked (and didn't), designing a home studio, and why flexibility and schedule control became just as important as income. If you're a music teacher considering self-employment or questioning whether private teaching can truly be stable, this episode offers a clear, honest look at what a thoughtful transition can look like.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode177.

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers