We had the good fortune of connecting with John Nutt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My mom always says I was born burning the candle at both ends. The years have taught me a lot about balance. Faith, family, and music is the order I shoot for but I find it takes constant refining to keep the main thing the main thing.

The balance has shifted the past few years to spending my time only in places where I feel connected. This allows me not to be driven by money or even opportunity. It often gets overstated in the education field but I return to my “why?” on a daily basis now through journaling and mediation. I schedule and plan my days to include time with friends and family keeping those appointments as much a priority as performing.

I thank God for a life immersed in music. My mornings start early with a band class at Crandall High School and the rest of my day is spent working with teachers in the district in my role as Fine Arts Director. Evenings are a mix of family and gigs. I am just as happy dropping the needle on an old 33′ while making dinner with my daughter as I am playing at venues around DFW.

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 started my musical journey at the age of twelve. That year I started in band playing trombone and thanks to my dad’s unsuccessful attempt at playing received my first guitar. Playing instruments and singing has come very easy for me. I’ve always approached music as a series of fundamental skills to master as opposed to learning it by mastering individual songs. I was never locked in on one style of music so by age fifteen I was playing in church and jamming with my friends who were generally older and gigging. I even played bass for a bluegrass band at the local college. I have a formal music education but find my greatest learning comes from playing with musicians from a variety of styles and backgrounds. Mile Post 595, the band I front locally, provides a true taste of Americana. We vary in combinations based upon the event so at any given gig I can be seen playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, piano, or even accordion. You have not lived until you’ve heard our accordion version of “Fight For Your Right” by the Beastie Boys!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love my city! I feel like Dallas revivals any city in it’s offerings! Any tour I gave would involve The Arts District, Deep Ellum, and if in season a Mavs Game! I’ve been a season ticket holder for well over a decade and love the total entertainment package Mark Cuban has created in that venue. Through my position in Crandall I do all I can to make sure every student musician gets a chance to play in Meyerson and often take my fine arts staff on field trips to our wonderful museums. One of my favorites is stopping for lunch at North Park Mall with all the hidden gems of art that are on display there. Once you see them you’ll never shop there the same again!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The most impactful book I have read in recent history is “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. The person who has inspired my life goes all the way back to my teenage years. A gentleman named Kevin Clay was a DJ on a local radio station as well as the front man for a band I loved to go see Longview Texas. His musicianship was amazing but what made me want to be like him was his love for everyone around him. He accepted people as they were and always brought a little humor to every room he entered. This was back in the 80’s when such behavior was hardly heard of in the competitive music business world. I ended up getting to play with his band and still visit him when I can.

Website: www.JohnWelseyEntertainment.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnWesleyEntertainment

Other: Bark: https://www.bark.com/en/us/company/john-wesley-entertainment/32zoz/

Image Credits
Jason Bowie

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