We had the good fortune of connecting with Neil Newcomb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Neil, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Repairing musical instruments fascinated me when I was a young music student. My repair tech mentor, Wil Grizzle, introduced me to a book by repair technician Erik Brand. Wil later introduced me to my private lesson teacher and mentor Sam Skelton, who also repaired musical instruments. After graduating from music school at Kennesaw State University I taught private lessons and 5th/6th grade band. I started repairing friend’s and my student’s instruments by referring to the Erik Brand text. I started apprenticing and landed a repair gig at a local music store.

My company’s name, Atlanta ProWinds, started as a conversation in the car with a local trumpet player, Darren English, on our way to a gig. I said the name “Atlanta ProWinds” and it just sort of stuck. I decided to go out on my own the name just felt right, so I registered it with the state and started doing it as my own entity.
I was already a professional musician and working regularly with others in the community; So I just let it be known to my peers and friends and the rest worked itself out after a while. So my thought process was just following the path that was naturally working itself out and using the resources near me to further my craft and expand the brand.

What should our readers know about your business?
Atlanta ProWinds is a music instrument repair company that specializes in the upkeep and maintenance of wind instruments. All of our repair techs have degrees in music performance and have frequent professional playing and educational jobs. Our staff knows the importance of having working gear and the finesse required to adjust, modify, or rebuild an instrument. The business started as a small 2 man operation with a few music stores and schools. We grew as our work gained the attention of the local professional music scene and educators.
We strive for excellence and want to provide our customers with the best service possible so they can execute what art they are trying to create without having mechanical failures.
I am really excited about our own brand of instruments we are working on and developing. This is a learning process for sure, but I think we are going to have a remarkable line of local custom instruments within the next year.
The lessons I have learned are to understand my limits and ask for help. I know for a fact there is not enough time in the day to get it all done and seeking new hires is a must, plus it spreads some money around to my community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really like hanging in Avondale Estates. There are so many great restaurants and breweries. Seeing an Atlanta United game is spectacular. The energy in that stadium and home grown support with so much diversity really represents what I love about this city.
I am usually busy playing gigs when it is time for music so I guess I could plug who I play with often and the venues: Bumpin the Mango, City Springs Theater, City Winery, MadLife, Venkmans, The Fox Theater, and the ASO. There are so many great bars and venues to check out in this city- find a musician and ask them what they like and you will have a great time.
There is also something nice to just hang out in friends’ back yards which is still possible to do in Atlanta unlike other metropolitan areas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I would like to give a “shout out” to my wonderful wife Amy, she really keeps my head on straight! I would also like to thank my father, Neil Newcomb Sr., for his support and all the years of hearing me practice (good and bad). I would like to thank my mother and father-in-law for all their support. I cannot fail to mention my mentors and friends Wil Grizzle and Sam Skelton. These two guys have shared with me tremendous knowledge in music, the repair business, and life.
I would also like to put a special shout out to the Atlanta Federation of Musicians, this organization has taught me about how to structure how I employ my workers.
I would also like to mention thanks to my close friends Jon Olejnik, Phillip Truex, Bernard Flythe, and Hardin Butcher. Lastly and most importantly, my team of wonderful specialists that work for Atlanta ProWinds: Ben Davis, Judith Klein, Hardin Butcher, Marc Miller, and Sam Skelton.

Website: atlantaprowinds.com

Instagram: atlprowinds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlantaprowinds/

Image Credits
Emily Butler

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