bryson andres

Bryson Andres on Becoming Discovered by Playing From the Heart – SUS01

November 24, 2013 By Berni

I am not exaggerating when I say this was one of my favorite conversations I’ve ever had with any musician in my 36 years of life. Hands down. I sought out Bryson Andres to interview for The Shut Up Show after following his success for 15 months after stumbling upon his YouTube video that went viral in January 2012. Bear with me, this is nearly double the length of our normal episode times. You’ll understand why I couldn’t stop talking to Bryson. He is an amazing young man with an old soul, heart of gold, and undeniable musical talent.

Share Some Shut Up Love: I don’t care. I’m just going to play the violin & play it from the heart. – @violin2003 on making it in music via @_theshutupshow (click to tweet)

See video blog and full show notes at https://theshutupshow.com/brysonandres

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Backstage Special: First 25 Recap Show – Episode 29

September 2, 2013 By Berni

What do you get when you cross a Polish who can do math with an Asian who is allergic to alcohol? You’ll find out soon enough when you watch a very, special backstage episode Phil and I recorded off the cuff after fueling up on some margaritas.

I happened to be in Phil’s neck of the woods giving a shin kicking development training workshop on Friday. So Phil and I decided to huddle up at our Milwaukee hub (Phil’s coworking office at Hudson Lounge in the Third Ward) to record our first ever in-person backstage episode to recap the first 25 episodes of The SHUT UP Show!

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)Listen to the show (coming soon)

Share Some SHUT UP Love:

We are not the authority in anything. We are guinea pigs and this show is an experiment. @BerniXiong on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

We all have feedback to give. We all have insight that someone needs. @PhilGerb on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

Berni and Phil do the robot dance right before every episode goes LIVE ON AIR
None of the questions are contrived. They are asked off the cuff to keep the conversation real and raw.
Phil may or may not have been twerking before this special backstage episode went LIVE
Berni really has Asian Flush, which means she “experiences flushes or blotches as a result of an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a metabolic byproduct of the catabolic metabolism of alcohol” (via Wikipedia)

Defining SHUT UP Moment:

Berni nixed a weight management coaching project the week she was about to launch it to the public because it was excruciating work. Even though she had clients lined up and a clear plan to monetize as a newly certified weight management specialist, she decided to instead pursue what she truly enjoyed. That’s when Berni shut up and chose to go all-in with The SHUT UP Show, a project that has no guarantee of monetization, because she’s having the time of her life.

Phil recently got his ass kicked by his accountability coach only days before he was about to launch a new project. His coach helped him to realize the project was not in alignment with his core values. After 3 hours of crying and reflection, Phil decided to follow his heart, instead of leading with the prospect of making a ton of money, and completely derailed his original plan to stay true to his values.

SHUT UP Tips (Highlights from First 25):

I told people to shut up a long time ago and decided now, as my life is changing and I want to start a family, is the time to shut up myself. – Scott Ginsberg

Don’t be afraid to look stupid. Get over it. It’s just a part of being an entrepreneur. You’re going to do things that don’t work. Lean Startup: fail fast, learn, regroup, retrench, relaunch. – Catherine Morgan

If you try to play this game on an island, you’re not going to succeed. If you think you have your little baby–your idea–and you’re almost afraid to show people because you’re afraid they’re going to tell you the truth that maybe its an ugly baby. You need the flip side too; you need good people to be honest with you. – Greg Hartle

If you don’t come up with ideas every day, after 2 weeks your idea muscle will atrophy. – James Altucher

Do what you love in the service of those who love what you do. – Steve Farber

The day it really hit me I realized this is my life and it is my one and only. There are no encores. There are no redos. I don’t get another one. This is it. When you recognize this is not your practice life. This is all you have. Everything changes when you really get that because your choices become more urgent and that fear of “Am I gonna make it?” is much less relevant. – AJ Leon

Special Thanks to Guests from Our First 25:

Scott Ginsberg – Scott Ginsberg on Shutting Up and Not Giving a Shit – Episode 2
Bryson Andres – Bryson Andres on Becoming Discovered by Playing From the Heart – Episode 4
Amy Clover – Amy Clover Moves Us to Be Strong Inside Out – Episode 7
Srini Rao – Srini Rao Teaches Us About the Art of Being Unmistakable – Episode 8
John Haydon – John Haydon Helps us Flip Our Middle Finger to Fear and Doubt – Episode 9
AJ Leon – AJ Leon Helps Us Define Our Moments So They Don’t Define Us – Episode 10
Greg Hartle – Greg Hartle Teaches Us How to Succeed Starting From Scratch – Episode 11
James Altucher – James Altucher Takes Us From Broke to Choosing Yourself – Episode 13
Dat Phan – Death, Sex and Fear: What the Hell Dat Phan? – Episode 15
Craig Price – Craig Price Gives Us a Reality Check & Lots of Laughs – Episode 16
Susan Baroncini-Moe – Susan Baroncini-Moe Breaks World Records & Runs a Profitable Business in Blue Jeans – Episode 18
Jia Jiang – From Foe to Friend: Jia Jiang’s Love Story with Rejection – Episode 19
Catherine Morgan – Catherine Morgan Helps Us Get from Point A to Point B – Episode 20
Steve Farber – Steve Farber On Being More You & Infusing Your Voice with Work You Do – Episode 21
Matthew Kimberley – Matthew Kimberley Helps Us Get a Grip & More Clients – Episode 22
Paul Jarvis – How to Be Whole-Assed & Awesome at Online Business Like Paul Jarvis – Episode 23
Bob Burg – Go-Givers Have More Fun (and Make More Money) with Bob Burg – Episode 24
Chris Brogan – Love in the Time of the Owner with Chris Brogan – Episode 25

Find Berni & Phil:

Bryson Andres on Becoming Discovered by Playing From the Heart – Episode 4

May 26, 2013 By Berni

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)

Listen to the podcast

Share Some Shut Up Love: I don’t care. I’m just going to play the violin & play it from the heart. – @violin2003 on making it in music via @_theshutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

Bryson started playing the acoustic violin in 6^th grade after following a cute girl into music class who, ironically, shares the same last name as Berni!
Bryson received his first violin at 12 years old from his dad after meeting him for the first time.
Bryson’s street performance that went viral on YouTube has reached 3 million hits in May 2013.
Bryson drove his 1998 Cadillac DeVille to tour as a traveling musician from The Alcan Highway down to Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade.
Bryson calls Berni a genius mind-reader… what what!!

Defining Shut Up Moment:

As a kid: Bryson grew up raised by his grandparents. They always told him to shut up with his violin-playing and they often told him he sucked. He never stopped because he loved the violin. As he practiced and got better, he went on to win school talent competitions and gained local notoriety. Without trying to be discovered. From that moment on, he considered the possibility of making his violin-playing a career.

Two years ago: Bryson’s cousin passed away two years ago before Bryson was even 21 years old. It was one of his closest cousins who had always believed in his talent and potential. It was in that moment of grief and reflection that Bryson decided to start taking bigger chances and living up to the expectations his cousin had for him. Bryson saved up tips from his street performances (roughly $1500 per weekend in Anchorage), produced his own album, started a small business, and began touring the west coast living on tips as a traveling street performer. Shortly after, his Spokane street performance covering OneRepublic’s Secrets went viral on YouTube.

Recently: Bryson’s talent got him picked up by a major brand in 2012. After finishing a performance a few weeks ago, he was met by a loud-mouth critic who ripped him apart. After being completely dumbfounded by the criticism and with self-doubt creeping in, Bryson realized he had finally made it. If this critic, an extremely famous person in the Philippines known for building emerging celebrities, took the time and energy to criticize Bryson, it meant he had reached recognizable success. Even more revealing, Bryson had thick enough skin to listen to the criticism without the fear of dying or giving up. He is living his dream doing what he loves: inspiring others by playing [the violin] from the heart.

Shut Up Tips:

I didn’t want to look back 10 or 15 years from that point and find myself sitting in a chair without having gone anywhere. – Bryson

When you lose somebody very important in your life, you want to live the way they’d want you to live. I decided I really needed to live my life to the fullest. – Bryson

My music actually made someone stop and listen. That’s why I love playing music in the streets. – Bryson

The streets are the best place to meet people. I love to travel. If you want to be cultured, you go on the streets. – Bryson

Whatever instrument you decide to play, as long as you play from the heart this is where you’re really going to grow. – Bryson (the YouTube viral video that prompted this shut up tip)

The kids who were forced to play violin didn’t grow as fast as I did. It was either for credits or their parents were living through them. I wasn’t pushed to play violin. I didn’t have the privilege of getting private lessons. I played it because I loved it. I had an attachment to it. – Bryson

If you’re going to go somewhere or be somebody… don’t care. Do it because you want to do it. You’re always going to get the negative stuff. – Bryson

I don’t care. I’m just going to play the violin and play it from the heart. – Bryson

Music helped you to heal. Music helps the people you play for to heal. In a lofty way, music helps the world to be a better place. – Berni

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you. – Maya Angelou (via Berni)

Bryson Recommends:

Imogen Heap – the looping musician that inspired Bryson to become a looper

Nina Bingham (Anchorage AK) – the amazing person who bought Bryson his first loop pedal and mentored him with private violin lessons

Peter’s Violins (Anchorage, AK) – the violin shop that services Bryson’s craft

Find Bryson:

YouTube video that went viral in January 2012

Bryson’s YouTube Channel

Touring with Resorts World Manila