Today we’d like to introduce you to John Soptelean.
Hi John, 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.
My love for guitar playing started when I was 12 years old. I became fascinated with taking guitars apart, as well as playing them to death. Because of my inquisitive soul and experimenting, I learned the ins and outs along with the dos and don’ts of being a repair technician. I became affiliated with another family-owned music store and learned band instrument repair (anything from flutes, to saxophones, to stringed orchestra instruments). I also expanded my knowledge in the realm of guitar repair thanks to my mentors at this location. This education and affiliation took me many places and gave me the on-site experiences that laid the foundation for me to grow from an employee/tech to now owner of my own music shoppe. I cannot express enough how the mentors who took me under their wing changed my life for the better and paved the way for me to be where I am today.
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?
Life in the music industry is rarely ever a smooth road. If anything, it will constantly keep you on your toes. In my 35 years of experience, I have yet to experience monotony. During my time as an employee, I was able to witness the economy go up and down over the years. If this fluctuation has taught me anything, it’s been two things: people simply do not like to be sad, and people will spend their last dime on things that make them happy. Keeping items affordable, repair prices reasonable, and making people happy will always be the constant on any rough or smooth road in order to be successful. You have to genuinely love what you do to truly understand give and take in the music industry.
As you know, we’re big fans of Johnny’s Music Shoppe. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a local business specializing in band instrument repair, stringed instrument repair, retail sales (various name brands – new and used), affordable band instrument rental with name brand instruments, and private instruction with professional teachers.
We are known for our guitar and band instrument repair. The fact that all repairs are done in-house, and nothing is farmed out keeps repair prices lower than others in the repair industry. It also makes it very personalized as getting to know the player is paramount.
We are proud dealers of Yamaha Percussion, Seymour Duncan, D’Addario/Evans, NUX instruments and amplifiers, Tagima guitars, Hosa cabling, as well as various other name-brand accessories related to all instruments.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
You’ve got to have a sense of humor along with empathy in this business. Every day, you are dealing with creative minds that are in constant and various stages of growth. You have to know and understand that all musicians, regardless of instrument or skill level, are still learning. Honesty, support, and ideas are the three major things I consistently offer in my shop.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnysmusicshoppemassillon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnnysmusicshoppemassillon
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/johnnys-music-shoppe-massillon-2
