Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon David Finney.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up, age 4 or so, I knew so clearly, I was music obsessed. Everyone saw it. My favorite shows were concerts and I just watched them all day. A Claymation film called the California Raisins changed my life. Reenacting was a regular part of my daily routine. My parents saw it, knew the passion was there, and never once discouraged it. In fact, I won’t forget being 18 and frustrated and saying I was going to go get a “real job” and my mom stopping me and saying “don’t take on anything that will get in the way of you pursuing your dreams.” And she lived that. Every day of my childhood. Still does now that I’m an adult. I spent the last 2 decades of my life, from age 9 to now, almost aggressively in pursuit of the “next” and now that I’m pushing 30, I’ve learned to stop and enjoy where I’m at. I don’t play stadiums like I hoped to at this point. But a packed-out Friday night at one of my favorite local venues is as dreamy as anyone could hope it would be.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth doesn’t exist here haha. My mom spent most of my childhood sick, and I scaled back what I did for a while so I didn’t run as intentionally into this while I was a teenager. My mom is fully well now, and that’s very encouraging. My 5-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer back in December 2020, so much of last year was spent battling that with her. I won’t lie, it takes a lot to motivate yourself to perform and do what I have to do while thinking of what she was going through. She’s cancer-free now, and we are as happy as ever. But it did slow me down. And that was honestly the best thing for me. I think that’s where my mindset completely shifted about just enjoying where I’m at now. She is a champion and I’m honored to be in her ring with her.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I play country music! I’m so proud to claim that. I have done it for over half my life. I actually still have a song in my set I wrote when I was 14, and it’s one of my favorites to get to every night. I am very guitar influenced. Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Hunter Hayes, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan… you’ll find their thumbprint in everything I do. I think I’m “most known” for taking unscripted moments and running with them. It makes the show unpredictable, even if you’ve seen me a dozen times. And honestly, I’m proud of that. I hate the idea of someone coming to see me perform 2 times and the second time is identical to the first. In a way, it has felt like cheapening their experience. There’s something about looking to a room full and saying “this night is specifically for you, and this experience is unique.” It’s like if I gave a gift to my wife that I previously gave to an ex-girlfriend. I want it to mean something special. Not copy/paste.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Hahaha. I feel like 10 years ago I could’ve answered this question, but I would’ve been so wrong. I have no real idea. The model changes. What’s successful changes so fast and so often, the ones that make it are the ones that catch the shift as it’s coming. Shawn Mendez caught Vine as it was rising, Bieber grabbed YouTube, and even friends of mine have had wild success just in music streaming. And what I’ve noticed is there are no two identical stories. So, the “formula” has left the building. Especially in a mid/post-pandemic world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JonDavidFinney.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/jondavidfinney
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/jondavidfinney
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/jondavidfinney
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/JonDavidFinney
Image Credits
Christina Pearson Photography
