Today we’d like to introduce you to Geoff Hardcastle.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After I moved from California to Miami to finish college I started the real estate agent hustle for about eight years; you know, buying and selling homes for clients and eventually flipping houses on my own. It was a job, but it wasn’t what I was truly passionate about; my true passion was for working with people in music and the arts. Whenever I wasn’t working doing real estate, I would be singing and playing guitar at VOUS Church in Wynwood or filming videos in my spare time. I never had the courage to fully pursue these creative avenues until I met a beautiful Miami girl who inspired me to go after my dreams. She had made a name for herself as a recording artist and dancer who happened to serve on the dance team at the same church I was in the band at.
We started dreaming together of a ways we could leave a lasting impact in Miami and the creative industry to help people accomplish their dreams.
We eventually got married and now MADSTUDIOS has established a large network of partnerships with recording studios, photography locations and dance studios all over Miami.
MADSTUDIOS provides an online suite of tools for professionals to manage their bookings, services, and packages they offer to renters searching for recording studios, dance studios, locations for photography, filming, parties, events and more. We’ve worked with hundreds of creative professionals, giving them access to unique spaces for their creative projects.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Far from it. The struggle has been real from the beginning. Start-up life isn’t easy; I can remember hiring a development company on our first go around. Midway through the project, the development company folded and we lost everything. We had to start over and it was devastating. We’ve had to fail a whole lot, but I’m grateful for my failures because they’ve taught me my most valuable lessons. For instance; It’s not about beating yourself up when things go wrong but getting back up. It’s not about trying harder but trusting the process. Timing is everything and your team is the most valuable asset you have. We’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some incredible people who believe in the vision of MADSTUDIOS. Business models will change, money will come and go but great things only happen in God’s timing and when you’re doing life with the right people.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about MADSTUDIOS – what should we know?
Generally, in a start-up, we all have to wear a lot of hats, in the beginning, to get things moving. That includes doing things you’ve never done before and things that you don’t necessarily want to be doing. Coming from a business and real estate background; I was mostly involved in the finance, business side of things. But early on, out of necessity, I decided to focus on design. It was time-consuming and difficult to learn something new but we didn’t have the funds to pay someone else to do it. By learning to use programs like Photoshop, Illustrator and Adobe Premier; I was able to create wireframes to translate my ideas to the development team. I was able to create logos, marketing materials, pitch-decks, etc. It was a necessary step and it’s helped me realize how design, development, marketing, and business are all interconnected. Since then, we’ve been able partner with one of the best UX/UI designers, thank God! What I am most proud of with the team at MADSTUDIOS is our cohesiveness. Meaning, we work together on issues and topics that often don’t fall directly within our formal areas of responsibility; which in turn helps us solve problems and achieve our collective objectives fast and efficiently.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe that integrity and competence are the most important qualities that have been drivers for our success. As long as there is trust, and the willingness to learn, we can build on that. We don’t know all the answers, but we are honest and committed to growing and getting better. At MADSTUDIOS we believe in the importance of relationship and doing life together as a team. I think that is so important. We realize that we need each other to accelerate the vision forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.MADSTUDIOS.COM
- Email: hello@madstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madstudiosapp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madstudiosapp
Image Credit:
MADSTUDIOS
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