Enjoy ©
#ShesaBoss:
Tell us about your love of music and wine; which first inspired?
Kristen Williams: Music definitely [inspired me] first. I am told that even when I was
very young, I would push other people away from the piano so I could have the
instrument to myself. I loved listening to my dad's classical records and
watching concert pianists on PBS; I would bang on the piano pretending I was
like those pianists on TV. One day I realized that what I was playing did not
make sense, so I taught myself to read music. When this happened, my parents
gave me piano lessons, opening up a wonderful world for me.
As for
wine…
My family
did not consume much when I was growing up, so I knew it was a special occasion
when we had wine at the table; it meant that people were coming over and we
were having a party. As an only child, I loved the times when the house was
full of people and laughter. It made me so happy that I would bounce off the
walls with energy trying to get attention from mom and dad's friends. Usually
during the dinner, mom would let me sip some wine from her glass and of course,
I would get sleepy and give the company some rest. I associated wine with happy
times.
During
university at Carnegie Mellon, I studied Engineering and Public Policy and
Technical Writing. Immersed in academia and so focused on doing well, I moved
away from music. After I graduated, I moved to Washington DC to work in IT
designing software for the Department of Defense. Working this 9 to 5 job gave
me a lot of free time to hang out with friends in my free time. With the free
time, I started wondering, "is this it?" and began to ask myself,
"what makes me happy?" The answer became clear to me — music and
wine.
#ShesaBoss: Your partner is Allan Von Schenkel; what's the story behind deciding to partner with him…two times?
Kristen: Allan
is a very creative person and we work well together.
I met
Allan when I was focusing on my own solo piano repertoire. I had also just
helped found a new music orchestra and was teaching 30 students per week in
addition to singing as a soprano soloist at DC’s oldest Catholic church. For
fun I was even playing keyboards in a punk rock band. Needless to say, I was
busy. Allan was looking for a new pianist with whom to partner. I was hesitant
at first to start another music venture, but when we rehearsed together, the
playing was very easy even though the music and the personalities we worked
with were difficult.
We later
moved to Upstate, NY and six months after we decided we wanted to start another
business. At its conception, we viewed For Love of Wine in two parts: the
business side - licensing etc, and the academic side - wine knowledge. Both
sides of the business were vast. Allan gravitated to the business side and I gravitated
to the wine side, leading me to achieve my first and second sommelier
certifications. The division happened easily.
#ShesaBoss:
What's it like being the female half of a coed partnership?
Kristen: I
don't usually think about being the "female half" of either of our
partnerships. As long as I know the history and understand the characteristics
of the wine, or as long as I can play the music, gender doesn't matter.
#ShesaBoss:
How does being a solopreneur compare to a partnership?
Kristen: I
have had solo businesses before in music performance, music education and in
human resources.
I prefer
to be in a musical partnership. Being on stage alone is kind of lonely. As a
soloist, it is hundreds of hours of preparation alone - one estimate is 8 hours
of preparation per each minute of your program. Ones program is usually 90
minutes long, which makes 720 hours of total practice time for one program.
Then, you are alone on stage, delivering music to an audience who may or may
not like your music. Some musicians love this type of pressure. I prefer to
share it.
Likewise,
For Love of Wine is a good partnership. As shop owners, we work very
long hours helping customers taste and choose wines, clean, teach, pay bills
and do paperwork…without being in a partnership, I would not have chosen to start
this venture.
I still
have my small HR outsourcing company, because I love having something that is
solely mine. In this role, I help small IT firms find employees, health plans
etc. I like this role because I meet and help many very talented people and I
can stay current in the IT world. Currently I am working with a young and
vibrant company that is pushing the boundaries of technology. I am thankful
that this is something that comes naturally to me.
Kristen: If
you choose to be in a partnership, get to know your partner. Make sure that you
work well together, that you respect each other and that expectations are
clearly established. In addition, always make sure the communication lines
remain open. I have seen too many businesses fail due to the breakdown in the
relationship between partners.
FLOW is located on the upper level inside Crossgates Mall
near the old Border’s location. Visit the Basso Moderno Duo website to learn
more about their mission and to support contemporary music.
#ShesaBoss and #theGB
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