Meet Tanner Siegfort: Owner of Groove Booking and Professional Musician

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

Hi Tanner, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have been a professional musician since I was 18 years old. Being primarily a drummer, or the other half of a duo most times, I realized how important it was to find work myself instead of relying on the artist I was playing for. After booking hundreds of gigs and events myself for a few years, I realized I had the work ethic and communication skills to do it well when most musicians didn’t like that part of the business. Along with that, I quickly realized most employees at the establishments I was performing at didn’t want to handle booking music, or didn’t have the time and gladly gave me that duty once I started my company.

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I have a true passion for what I do. I went from gigging myself 3-5 times a week every single week, to being able to provide 20-25 gigs per week to a wide variety of artists. That is the most rewarding part of my business. Playing music for a living is no easy task. It is all about typically finding the work yourself which can be exhausting on top of the prep it takes to go play a 3-4 hour gig. I love that I’m able to make it much easier for professional musicians to make a living. The business I run now, and the amount of clients that trust me handling their entertainment didn’t come easy. As with any job, there were many moments of doubt and frustration. I overcame those struggles with always being honest with clients, and asking for simple communication. My job is to make my client happy, and if anything is less than perfect for them, it reflects on me. I’ve found many ways to ensure things go smooth when I’m unable to be at every gig I booked on any given night. It’s all about organization, and communication for me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m lucky that all the establishments I handle entertainment for are truly fun spots, with great food, drinks, and atmosphere. For a week long itinerary, I’d first take someone to The Montauk for their fantastic brunch on Saturday morning, of course with live entertainment from 1030AM-1230PM. For a Friday or Saturday night there are too many options, but I’d love to break down what each place offers. Culinary Dropout has amazing food, and a lively atmosphere with live music 7-10pm at any location. Remember, always start off with the pretzel bites with cheese! The Wigwam Resort inside their Litchfields Restaurant on Saturday nights has relaxing wine bar vibe live music with amazing fine dining food. Scottsdale Plaza Resort has a very fun atmosphere inside their restaurant called JD’s with live upbeat music 8-11pm where people can dance and have a good time! Lastly, POMO Pizza is THE place to grab a pizza and drinks with your friends while listening to live music on Friday nights. Basically what I’m saying is, always go support live music, especially while you can have a great place to eat and drink at the same time!

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?
As cheesy as it may sound, I have all of the incredible musicians and DJ’s I am privileged to work with to thank. Without them, I literally wouldn’t have my business. Being a professional musician first, I got to know so many people that I’m able to call on for the gigs and events I book on a weekly basis, and I’m so glad I get to provide the work to these talented people.

Website: GrooveBooking.com
Instagram: @groovebooking
Facebook: Groove Booking