Meet Doug Floyd | Musician & Facilitator

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

Hi Doug, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Going back to high school, I’ve always had an interest in creating/building things, whether it was a music project or a craft or really any sort of project. I like all of the things about it, from the planning to the accounting to the writing to the managing. Every job I had was about understanding how to create and run a thing, so right after college, I immediately started mapping out things I was interested in. That said, I’ve also always been flexible enough to follow opportunities that present themselves, which ultimately led me down the path I’ve been on about the last 30 years.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Music has been a constant in my life. My parents were musicians, My brother was a musician. I started on piano at 6, before taking a detour through drums on the way to becoming the guitarist I have been for 40+ years now. All these years later, I still get excited about performing, whether it’s in the studio on someone’s album (or my own) or playing live music. I play in restaurants, churches, bars, theaters, festivals…I get excited about all of them.

A common thread for me–which also applies equally to my entrepreneurial, corporate exec, and music life–is that I am most happy in a band/team environment. I thrive on collaboration and interplay. I also make it a point to not be the best musician or smartest person in the group. I like every interaction to be a learning moment and chance to hone my craft.

Music was never easy, but I never wanted it to be. I enjoy hard work. I like challenges, I don’t mind failing a time or two before I get something right. I have a mind set that embraces investing in the small things every day that over time add up to expanded capability, more creative freedom, and often lead to rabbit holes that take me somewhere new that I might not have planned to pursue. That leads to my most important lesson–real opportunity comes from doing the work EVERY 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?
When people visit Tucson, I’m usually bummed if it’s for one day, as what makes Tucson awesome to me is the diversity of experiences to enjoy. Sabino Canyon, Mt Lemmon, and the hiking trails on the eastside that lead up into the Rincons are all terrific ways to experience the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, and stretch the legs. The outdoor shopping at La Encantada is also a nice experience at combining food, higher end shopping, and enjoying some fresh air.

El Charro is my quintessential Tucson food experience and has been for decades. I most often visit them at their northeast side location…love the food and the vibe. I’m also a big fan of The Blacktop Grill. Whether it’s his food truck (often at Tucson Hop Shop) or his northwest-side restaurant, Gabe Ceniceros knows how to take an already great dish and make it irresistible. And he’s a terrific musician too, always a plus for me. Transplant is also a recent favorite of mine–Detroit-style pizza–attached to a nice little tap room. I’m a fan of their other two eating experiences, as well, Serial Grillers and Toro Loco Tacos & Burros.

As a performer, I spend a lot of time downtown and on 4th Avenue, and I do feel like no matter your age, there’s still a lot to enjoy there. Hotel Congress has really upped the game lately, with multiple venues for live music and many ways to enjoy a meal and drinks–it’s probably my go to right now for someone visiting, to give them a taste of Tucson nightlife. I’d probably take them by Iron John’s and Batch while I was downtown, as well. Monterey Court is also a nice opportunity to bring together nightlife with great food, drink, and live music, albeit off the beaten path a bit. Tap+Bottle is also a favorite of mine to grab a drink or two, and for music on a Thursday, usually unbeatable.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are several key people that inspired, encouraged, and assisted in my business and artistic journey, first and foremost, my parents. They were both successful professionals who also utilized their musical talents in numerous ways, while also getting involved in the inner workings of any organization they were involved in. They always encouraged me to explore my own creative and intellectual interests, and made it safe to explore the boundaries without fear of failure.

My high school band director, Rick “Coach” Klein at Buena High School in Sierra Vista, AZ was a major influence – he gave me a shot as a freshman to be a member of the elite Show Band, largely populated by upperclassmen, and then made me earn it every single day. In addition to that personal encouragement and opportunity, it was a major life lesson seeing how hard he worked every day to make things run; teaching young musicians, running the marching band, conducting the orchestra and Show Band, running the community theater, and repairing and building anything needed…all while fostering at risk children with his amazing wife.

The third pillar of that early development as a creative and business person was Jeff Coburn. He managed the local music store, in addition to being a legendary musician. He gave me my first work opportunity at 16, and provided me insight into how the business ran–the good and the bad. He afforded me the opportunity to influence how the business worked. Being a decade plus older than I, he also allowed me many musical opportunities to play with the professionals…invaluable early lessons. Later while I was in college, he allowed me to dig into the inner workings of the business as part of my studies.

My wife and I have been married for 33 years and she’s been supportive in a great many ways over all this time, while we raised three wonderful daughters, and she developed her own amazing career as a social worker. I could not have done half of what I have without her love and encouragement.

Website: www.dougfloyd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azfunk/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wdouglasfloyd/

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

Image Credits
Danni Valdez, Anna Dibble, Phil Kelly, Rex Scofield