Shaynie Rhoads

Hi Shaynie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.

Hey, I’m Shaynie! I write music and play in a band with my best friends. I also own a small lessons studio, where I teach guitar and run youth rock programs. I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a musician when I grew up. Sometimes I’d even take my guitar to school so that I could practice during lunch. When I was thirteen, I took interest in classical guitar and conjured up this dream that I’d get really good and go off to some fancy conservatory, like Ralph Macchio in that movie “Crossroads.” While it didn’t exactly turn out like that, I did go to college for classical guitar. I loved it, and I’m thankful for the education I got, but it was a world I could never fit into. After graduation, I cut off my nails and went back to playing electric.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

No, and it was hard to stay focused for a while. After college I struggled to earn a steady income and worked all kinds of jobs while trying to build some semblance of a music-oriented career. I did that for years, eventually decided I was sick of working for other people and started a studio of my own. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I was so hell-bent on making it work that I sold my car and picked up two other jobs just to sustain the business. My grandfather worked for NASA, and I’d always think of the bumper sticker he gave me when I was a kid: “Failure is not an option!”

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

Now I’m fortunate to say that I have the best job in the world! I’m a girl with a guitar making a living in a male-dominated industry, and I’m proud of that. A lot of my students are young girls and it doesn’t matter if they like to play with Barbie’s or play sports— you put a guitar in their hands and they radiate this kind of confidence that’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I didn’t have that level of confidence at their age. When a parent tells me that their kid looks up to me, my heart melts. Seeing a kid get excited about music that way I did is one of the most rewarding experiences on earth.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?

Drive and discipline. If I want something bad enough, I’ll work my ass off for it— but balance is key. I can’t play and teach music without also taking care of my mind and body. I exercise daily, eat well and drink tons of water. When I can, I take time to do other things that I enjoy, like reading or taking a yoga class. - SD Voyager Magazine

Shaynie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Thanks for having me! I took a big risk when I signed the lease on the new space for my lessons studio last year. I had been running my business out of a tiny office for two years before needing to relocate and expand, and after months of searching I found the perfect spot. But it was going to be a huge commitment, and a lot of money was on the line— money I had worked hard for and saved over the years. I remember preparing for the down payment by laying out all the cash I’d saved up from past shows on the floor around me and crying in the middle of it. Was I making the right decision? Was I ready? I was taking a risk because of the cost and the uncertainty, but something inside me told me that this was the right next step. Looking back a year later, I’m glad I did it. I consider it one of my most terrifying moments, but also one of the proudest.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Yes— I’m Shaynie Rhoads and I’m a musician. I write, record, perform and teach music. During the week I run my studio and on the weekends I play live. For years, it was just my acoustic guitar and me, but now I have a band and it’s been a dream come true. I still do solo acoustic gigs regularly, but playing with the band is where my heart is.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely, though I don’t think a lot of the resources I use now even existed back then. I’m a huge fan of Fiverr and Canva. They are great services for independent musicians like me— you can get powerful, professional-looking materials to promote your brand without breaking the bank. I use Fiverr to find artists to design my logos and graphics and Canva to create concert posters.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Life-changing. I’ve read it two or three times by now. To put it simply, it taught me how to let go of the things that do not matter and to focus my energy towards things that do. For me, that means making music, building my business, taking good care of my mind and body and prioritizing the relationships with the people I care most about. I used to think I’d achieve happiness by driving a fancy car, going on extravagant vacations, wearing expensive clothes and having lots of friends, but those are false idols. Distractions. None of that has anything to do with that I actually value. Once I chose to stop wasting time and money on things of no value, I was free to channel my energy towards my music and things that help me be a better version of myself— one that is more kind, caring, confident, happy, healthy and fulfilled. I recommend this book to everyone. - Canvas Rebel

Hi Shaynie, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

Hi! I started playing guitar at a young age and grew up idolizing rockstars like Scott Weiland and James Hetfield. Of course, I had huge crushes on them, but I also admired them for what they created. Once I found purpose in music, I decided I wasn’t interested in much else. Music is how I give back to the world. It’s all I’ve ever known.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I spend most of the time running my lessons studio, rehearsing with my band and playing live. I enjoy being my own boss. It wasn’t always like that, though. When I first opened my studio, I was working at a coffee shop and living off spinach and eggs. I didn’t mind the struggle because I knew it was going to pay off one day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Oceanside! The beaches and the shops along the 101 are a lot of fun to explore, especially Dusty’s Guitar and Captain’s Helm. The music scene is incredible, too— you can catch an open mic or live band on any night of the week. It’s a very cool, creative place.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I’d like to give a shoutout to my dad. He’s the one who taught me how to play guitar and exposed me to all kinds of music throughout my childhood— The Cramps, Blink 182, Pantera, Megadeth, the list goes on. When I was thirteen, he put me in classical guitar lessons so that I could learn how to read music and start preparing for college auditions. He’s always been my biggest supporter. I thank him for all the positive influence he’s had in my life. - Shoutout SoCal