Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Hamilton.
Dave, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I launched my full-time musical career by touring the country [for six years] with 56 Hope Road as the lead vocalist/guitarist and songwriter. 56 Hope Road was known as the #1 Road Warrior Band and gained national attention for our energetic live performances and relentless tour schedule. I started writing and recording songs for kids in 2000, and while recording my third kids’ album, Come On In, I decided to pack-up the RV and test the kids market in Chicago.
I taught at the Old Town School of Folk Music for 10+ years and built a following in Wicker Park while performing at Sprout San Francisco. When I met my wife, Christina, we shared the same desire to build something that strengthens the community and provides our family with creative freedom. After many conversations, it was clear that our dream was already starting to unfold. In October 2017, four years before we were “ready”, we opened the doors to Mr. Dave Music. We offer everything from children’s music classes and small group lessons to live band shows, Baby Rave’s and birthday parties.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting the business was exciting – we ran on adrenaline while renovating the space and building the business in 25 days. We lived on frozen pizza, dreamt of what it could be and worried about what it’s not. We experienced many “firsts” and at times unexpected setbacks – in part it took those experiences to motivate and inspire us to keep going.
Our biggest struggle was making the initial “jump”. Christina left her stable career, I left what was comfortable and familiar and together we put everything we had into Mr. Dave Music – emotionally, physically and financially. This has been the hardest and most stressful career move we’ve made and it has been the most gratifying and educational experience we’ve had to date.
Mr. Dave Music – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Mr. Dave Music is a performing arts studio offering classes to families with littles ages 0-4. We have six instructors and offer 25 classes ranging from music to yoga Monday-Saturday as well as small group lessons in guitar (4YO) and violin (3YO). We host private events and birthday parties on Sat/Sun and present live band shows and Baby Rave’s for families and children up to age 8 (all held at local music venues such as Chop Shop and Lincoln Hall). In fact, we have an upcoming Tom Petty Tribute show for families in August and we’re planning our next Baby Rave this fall.
What sets us apart? We know how difficult planning ahead can be with a family so we aim to be the most flexible children’s studio in Chicago. We are a single class/drop-in model – there’s no weekly commitment required. We offer several discounts – from free trials to twins+ – and if a family can’t make it to class they won’t lose their money. We simply add a class credit to their account or transfer their reservation to another time.
What do we specialize in? We specialize in children’s programming [that families enjoy], onsite events and live band/DJ shows. We try to create events that families may have experienced pre-kids or are only offered at night and baby proof them. We’ve vetted and hired genuine and talented artists [that we enjoy listening to] and continue to tweak our offerings based on community needs.
What are we most proud of as a company? Mr. Dave Music is a family owned and operated business – me (Dave), my wife Christina and sister Anne – we all work together to run the day-to-day operations. We are most proud of the progress we’ve made, the product we offer and the relationships we have with our clients. We are blessed and forever grateful for the opportunity to do what we love.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have a few but what tops the chart is opening Mr. Dave Music and releasing my latest record, Feeling Good (if you haven’t heard Bamboo the Bear check it out here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gZTU64TKv4).
Pricing:
- Single Class Drop-In $20
- Single Class Online Reservation $19
- 16-Class Pack $260
- 8-Class Pack $150
Contact Info:
- Address: Mr. Dave Music
1935 W Divison
Chicago, IL 60622 - Website: mrdavemusic.com
- Phone: (312) 458-5887
- Email: mrdavemusic1935@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrdavemusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrdavemusic/?ref=br_rs
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mr-dave-music-chicago-2
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfVgjA0aAiIKJk5BAn4Cj0A
Image Credit:
Olive and Honey Photography, TK Photography, Tom Abiss Smith Art, Kina Wicks
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
