Member Spotlight Bradley Madsen

Name: Bradley Madsen

Current Employer: Clarity Music Productions

Planner or Supplier: Supplier

Occupation: Musician

Member Since: 2023

How did you get your start in the industry?

I got started performing for private events during college. I worked as a substitute musician for a band playing at weddings and private parties.

How many years have you been in the industry?

20 years in the private events space, and nearly 25 years performing as a musician.

What is your favorite thing about our industry?

I love performing for events because it brings people joy. People attending events, whether weddings, corporate parties, meetings, or other events, I find the music brings people joy, if music is a part of an event (whether happening at breaks or as part of a social gathering tied to the event later), the amount of people who comment on how much they liked having music as a part of the event brings me a lot of happiness.

What is the best career advice you've received?

You don't play music for the money. It's hard making a living as a performer. If money is what's driving the decision to perform, it's the wrong motivation. I love to perform - the fact that I get to make a living doing it is a huge bonus!

What advice would you give other meeting industry professionals? 

Be sure to communicate with your suppliers/vendors early and often. The number of times I'm working with someone and can't get the information I need to properly prepare for the event until late in the process is high. This means that my team has a much more difficult time creating the experience we are contracted to provide. And, listen to your vendor's needs - we are all working together to create an experience, and sometimes the timeline or other aspects make it harder for us to fulfill the vision for the event.

What is the most memorable event you have planned or client experience you have had?

We were hired to perform a wedding at The Ryland Inn for a couple recently. They were movie lovers and had specific requests from 80's movies. It was a blast learning lots of the popular hits from those movies and seeing the delight on the couple's and the crowds faces as we performed them.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

Starting my own music production company is easily the biggest challenge. In an overcrowded space, it's incredibly difficult to attract bookings to a new company, even though my team and I have more than 20 years of experience in performing for events. We are working hard to overcome it by showcasing our happy client reviews and distinguishing ourselves through our offerings. We have a very customizable approach that allows our clients to create the exact event of their dreams, rather than hiring cookie-cutter options. 

If you were not in this industry, what would you be doing right now?

I'm not sure. I've been a full-time professional performer for over 12 years now, and performing professionally for over 25 years. At this point, I can honestly say I have no idea what I could do or would want to do. I love performing music too much to ever consider leaving it.

Where did you grow up?

St Paul, MN

What three words describe you best?

Tenacious, creative, compassionate

Describe your perfect day off?

Spending part of the day on a tropical beach with my family, and then enjoying some amazing music in the evening. 

What do you love about MPI New Jersey?

I am really impressed with how welcoming everyone is, and how everyone really wants to help each other grow in their careers.