Vocalist, Coach, and Mamaprenista Estani Frizzell on Following Her Passion
Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:
I’m a vocalist/songwriter with a specialty in music and vocal production. I was vocal coaching vocalists for a number of years before beginning my own business as a “one-stop shop” for all music production services. I get to know the client, their tone, musical influences, and preferred genres. I offer vocal coaching, write and produce original songs catering to the client’s best interest, and facilitate the use of my resources from production studios, engineers, musical teams, and music video teams. I am an artist as well so I am still performing right alongside my clients. I’m looking to expand my business into schools now that I have just written my first children’s book (which was released on 09/13/22!). I’d like to bring the theme, music, and characters of the book into schools as an immersive performing arts workshop, complete with curriculum and activities for schools to expound upon after the workshop.
What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?
The opportunity to connect with other like-minded driven women who are determined to have a successful start to a wonderful business!
What made you take the leap to start your own business?
My daughter. I have raised my daughter as a single mother her whole life, and I wanted her to believe and truly know you can attain a dream and a goal with hard work and persistence. There are challenges, but when you do finally see the progress of your efforts it really makes it worth it. I started my business for us to have a life doing what we love and to give her the best start at her future as an adult by leaving something behind for her that can be lucrative and rewarding.
What was your background prior to starting your own business?
I was a 5th/6th-grade teacher by day/a singer by night.
Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
Yes.
Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out, and did it go as planned?
It was really word of mouth and having people refer me with positive reinforcement to others. Initially, it was great considering it all happened rather quickly and unexpectedly. After 5 or 6 great years, I began to notice a stagnancy in my business and then focused on my own creativity within myself for a bit. With this new book, I’m relaunching my business as the one-stop shop it once was plus the school addition. So, all in all, it did go as planned extremely well, however, my strategy now needs an update.
What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?
The biggest challenge is constantly staying on top of social media and knowing your brand. I have my hand in a few different ventures. Finding a way to bring all this together while sticking with my branding is difficult. I’m still learning from it.
What is the accomplishment you are the proudest of to date?
One of my vocalists won a Hollywood Music and Media Award for a song and music video I wrote and produced. I handpicked the video team and we also won a best music video award. It was a great feeling. On top of that, the award was presented by the AMAZING songwriter, Diane Warren. it was an amazing moment to be up there accepting the award.
Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?
Yes!!! Spend time in nature. Force yourself to stop, go for a walk on a trail, near a river (if you can), anything to take your mind off work and simply reset. Day trips are also great as well as mini meditations to reinforce why we do what we do and the spiritual aspect of it.
What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?
Know why you’re starting your business. Don’t start it simply for monetary gain, start it because you can’t imagine your life not doing it. If you follow your true passion, the money will come.
What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?
I’ve been published in my first children’s book and my daughter is the illustrator!! This has been in the works for a while and I’m so glad it has finally come to fruition!!
What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
My business will be integrated into elementary schools as a performing arts workshop and will continue with the series that accompanies this book. I’d like to be able to employ other teachers (performers) around the country to perform the workshops in various cities.