Today we’d like to introduce you to Ethan Massey.
Hi Ethan, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started playing music at 15 and started playing live shows at 18. After the first band, I joined (Subvert) called it quits, I built my first band. (Rise of the Buried) Did that one for about a year before it disintegrated and formed another band called Soundings. This is the band I really cut my teeth with. Playing festivals, recorded an EP, couple music videos, etc. That’s the band that Clay Aeschliman joined before he went on to play drums for Polyphia. (Humble brag😅)
During this band is when I started working at the venue Tomcats West on the west side of Fort Worth. I started by being security, then eventually working the front door to even running the place for a short time a few years later for Rustin Luther. That’s when I fell in love with the other side of the music industry. I got to learn so many more ends and outs of the business end of things and got to use for my now band Dispositions.
Booking shows, tours, fests, etc. it was just as much thrill as booking your band on a big show.
I eventually tried to start my own production company with my friend Taylor which lasted for maybe a year or two until we found out how much it truly takes to run it.
With life and family getting busier, I took a step back from booking shows for some years. Allowing myself to just focus on Dispositions and helping that band grow.
I honestly didn’t think I’d ever book shows as a promoter again until The Merch Shop came along. Even with that, I never expected it to put on shows, only be a vendor or sponsor.
Surprisingly almost all The Merch Shop shows have been a success. They’ve all been hosted by Big Robs in Euless so far. It seems to be the perfect-sized venue in between Dallas and Fort Worth for 200 to 300 people.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The constant struggle is finding balance. The balance between the many hats I choose to wear.
Between my wife and two kids, a growing band that travels constantly, my company The Merch Shop, concert photography, full-time job and soon to be helping 2 venues with some stuff and things. (Can’t say much about it now)
Time is always something I take seriously.
I schedule almost every little thing I do.
It gets overwhelming at times, but everything seems to work out most of the time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I’m most proud of is what my band Dispositions has accomplished. We are on the verge of releasing our second EP, constantly traveling and trying to grow.
Photography would probably be a close second because of how fast I fell in love with it and it allowing me to experience a different side of the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: THEMERCHSHOP.CO
- Instagram: @ethanmasseyy
- Facebook: Facebook.com/DISPOSITIONSTX
- Twitter: @ethanmassey
- Youtube: YouTube.com/dispositions
- Other: DISPOSITIONSTX.COM
Image Credits
Zach Burns
Jade Alex
