Making new friends and keeping the old. Don’t just work with people, work with people you can call friends, it’s way more fun and rewarding for everybody.
Jordan Passman, one of FORBES’ 2014 30 under 30 Music entrepreneurs, founded scoreAscore.com in May 2010. A Los Angeles native, he still runs the company from LA. scoreAscore’s innovative approach to the music placement business has been recently featured in the LA Times’ prestigious Calendar section, Billboard’s TOPLINE :: Think Tank, Mashable.com’s “Spark of Genius Series”. Jordan was one of Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2011: America’s Best Young Entrepreneurs and won Businessweek’s readers’ vote for ‘Most Promising Business’. scoreAscore helps professionals (musicians, voice over artists & sound designers) discover exciting earning opportunities. Jordan has a rescue pup named Tina Turner.
Companies Jordan has worked with in the last year: NBC, Universal, Microsoft, Mattel, Disney, Google, Subaru, Pizza Hut, Sales Force, Paramount, Fox, Dodge, Showtime, Mastercard, ASUS, College Humor, Poptent, American Airlines, Marriot, Cover Girl, Comcast, FX, Zagat, Clairol, Target, Carl’s Jr., Sprint, Crayola, Reebok, Skechers, Activision, Bergdorf Goodman, Castrol, Verizon, Weight Watchers, Cisco, Nationwide Insurance, GREY, Ogilvy, McCann, McGarry Bowen, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Big Pic Entertainment, Ignition, The Ant Farm, InSync, & many more!
Jordan has spoken on industry panels for ASCAP, Billboard, SXSW, Sync Summit, CCC, CMJ, Columbia College, Pitzer College & more conferences!
Where did the idea for scoreAscore come from? What does your typical day look like?
I realized that there was a creative population of musicians and composers, not represented by agencies, who were grossly underserved. These creatives were forced use to Craigslist to discover jobs and offer their services, and there was a void in the market for an online dedicated marketplace for them, and those in need of their resources. I always loved to connect people. scoreAscore is an online marketplace that connects composers with clients in the film, advertising, commercials, web, TV, video games, apps and podcasts industries searching for the perfect score. Today, we also handle sound design, voiceover, music supervision and clearance making the site a one-stop shop solution for talent and clients alike.
I’m a huge fan of face time and prioritize in-person meetings above all else. A typical day consists of a few meetings, tons of phone calls, even more e-mails, overseeing current projects, and sharing funny links on instant messenger.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Stay in touch! Never annoy, but always stay persistent. That way, when potential clients are in need of your service, they won’t need to think of you — you will have already gotten to them first, with miraculous and fortuitous timing!
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Times of adversity create opportunity. In the media world, it’s the wild west right now, particularly within the music business. Entrepreneurs are forced to think ‘outside of the box’ more than ever!
Mobile! Phones are getting better, and applications, games, music and video are enhancing alongside them. Mobile will continue to grow, and dominate. This excites me!!
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Would you consider never being satisfied a habit? It’s starting to feel like one and it keeps me very hungry for more success.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I used to serve soft serve frozen yogurt. I learned that you can and will get sick of froyo, regardless of how delicious it is.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
A lot! I was 23 when I started scoreAscore. I have learned so much and would approach it very differently from day 1. I have no regrets though. I am a guy who is proof that passion is contagious. If I were to start again, I would do it with more confidence, and the knowledge that most people don’t know what they are doing. Fake it until you make it!
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Making new friends and keeping the old. Don’t just work with people, work with people you can call friends, it’s way more fun and rewarding for everybody.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Turn every meeting into another meeting. And repeat. Then you are expanding your network infinitely. Also, be nice to every one and reply to every email as quickly as possible.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Early on, I was talking and meeting with so many people that I wouldn’t even know the person’s name while we were sitting down to coffee (let alone knowing how to recognize someone I’ve never met at a coffee shop full of strangers). Now, I do research (Google is shockingly easy to use!) to find out who I am meeting and how we can do something productive together. People are generally flattered when I know where they grew up, went to school and their favorite popsicle flavor.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Well, now that we’ve mentioned the topic of strangers for coffee…There should be a “meeting strangers for coffee” app! It would send over a picture and brief description of what the stranger looks like. Then, it will notify you when that person has arrived via GPS…just a thought.
Tell us something about you that very few people know?
I have randomly big calf muscles for no reason.
What software and web services do you use?
I am obsessed with everything that makes my home a “smart home.” Nest, Lutron, and Sonos make me very happy.
From my bed I can control my thermostat, lights and music. I can provide the perfect soundtrack to my life at the perfect temperature with the perfect lighting (FROM MY PHONE!!).
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S Passman (yes, that’s my father, but it’s truly the easiest read and most comprehensive book on the industry).
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
My father is my mentor and my inspiration. He is so smart, confident and the perfect example of a mensch. I’ll always look up to him!
Connect
scoreAscore.com
Linkedin:
Twitter: (@scoreAscore)
Facebook:(@scoreAscore.com)
Instagram: (@scoreAscore)
This interview was originally published on April 18, 2011 and updated on July 14, 2014.
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.