Today we’d like to introduce you to Matchmaker Band.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Matchmaker Band was founded nearly a decade ago by best friends and business partners Jerry Wise & Amos Traystman. They originally started the 10pc Motown band as a hobby and a musical outlet. After just a few public showcases, the band started receiving inquiry after inquiry to perform at weddings, corporate events and private parties across the state. Before they knew it, both founders were quitting their day jobs and playing with the band full-time. Both Amos & Jerry feel so lucky to live in a state that is so supportive of both small businesses and, of course, live music.
The band has grown immensely over the last decade and was recently named the 2018 Best Wedding Band in Austin by Austin Monthly Magazine. In 2016, Amos & Jerry decided to venture even further into the industry and opened up a private events entertainment booking agency called Moontower Entertainment. The company has had great success in its first two years and is the preferred entertainment vendor for a large number of hotels, DMCs, and coordinators throughout Texas. The agency has four in-house bands, including Matchmaker Band. Love & Happiness is Matchmaker Band’s sister project which operates as a scalable version of Matchmaker. Matchmaker Band is only ever a 10pc and up, whereas Love & Happiness can go all the way down to a 5pc for smaller rooms and/or smaller budgets. PDA Band is their all-male “Boy Band” experience, covering the classic Motown and Top 40 catalogue, but really specializing in the ’90s and ’00s essentials — Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, N’Sync, even Britney Spears and Destiny’s Child. Moontower Collective is their other exclusive in-house band, which can function as a DJ/live band hybrid.
The live 5-8pc band performs a continuous stream of music in a mash-up format that keeps the party going all night. In addition to these bands, Moontower Entertainment has over 150 non-exclusive acts that they book ranging from all different sizes, genres, price points and beyond. Because of all of their in-house projects, they also have the ability to create one-off, unique live music entertainment experiences for any type of event. Both Amos & Jerry absolutely love performing (Amos plays guitar and Jerry sings), but both owners have learned to love the creation side of things even more. Their goal is to utilize their connections and networks and business growth to help provide a livelihood to as many musicians in town as possible.
Please tell us about your art.
Moontower Entertainment creates unique live music experiences for private parties, corporate events, weddings and more. Matchmaker Band, the flagship band, specializes in Motown and Top 40 with a phenomenally talented 10pc cast of entertainers. But the real specialty is Moontower Entertainment’s ability to curate any music entertainment your heart desires. With over 150+ bands/artists on the roster, including four exclusive, unique in-house bands, Moontower Entertainment can find the perfect entertainment for each and every type of event. What’s even more special? If we can’t find it, we will build it for you.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
From a performing artist standpoint, I would say the best is advice we’ve learned is to give 100 percent all of the time to whatever is it you’re doing. It’s easy to show up to a gig with 4 people there and feel defeated and not give your best performance because you’re so bummed out. But you don’t know who those 4 people are. You don’t know who is in the audience wanting to book you for something bigger and better. It is a labor of love, but, if you want to make a living from it, it is ultimately a job. Those 4 people came out to see YOU — or maybe they didn’t and they just so happen to be there 🙂 — either way, let them walk away with the BEST version of you. Always be your best, and the opportunities will continue to roll in. That’s definitely been our experience.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can check out more about what we do at moontowerentertainment.com. You can also check out our in-house bands on social media to find where they are playing publicly around Texas (@matchmakerband, @pdaband, @loveandhappinessband).
Contact Info:
- Website: moontowerentertainment.com
- Phone: 512-546-3109
- Email: amos@moontowerentertainment.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/matchmakerband, instagram.com/pdaband, instagram.com/moontowerentertainment
- Facebook: facebook.com/matchmakerband, facebook.com/band.pda, facebook.com/moontowerentertainment
- Other: matchmakerband.com, wearepda.com
Image Credit:
Cassandra Klepac
Jarod Lee Kennedy
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