Page 44 - Black Velvet Issue 94

BV94 pg44_BV94 pg44 17/09/2017 01:35 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 44

I've been able to tour extensively, attend
amazing festivals, meet thousands of awe-in-
spiring people, laugh with the best, and all the
while on the back of the art that I've been for-
tunate to create. Every day is a highlight.
If you could meet one of your inspirations
and ask them one question, who would you
like to meet and what question would you
ask?
Some 20 years ago, my beloved grandfather
passed away – his name was Ed Hamilton. He
was a monument of a man, one of the pinnacle
inspirations of my life. He began his career in
the music industry fresh off gunning from a de-
Name, Age & Location: graphs, managing online marketplaces, talking stroyer in the Pacific during the 1940s. He
Dustin Michael Headrick, 41, Nashville, Ten- on the phone with customers, or rocking out in landed a job as the broadcasting DJ for the
nessee the shop creating masterpieces of musical Louisiana Hayride out of Shreveport, LA during
mayhem. the time of Hank Williams and Elvis, then
What do you do - or what do you aim to do? moved his family to Nashville and became an
I'm a picksmith, and handcraft guitar picks Have you had any professional training or industry insider. He was instrumental in craft-
from unique materials collected from around taken part in any courses to improve your ing the careers of hundreds of the most leg-
the world. career along the way? endary songwriters and country music artists
Yes and no. I'm not a fan of the collegiate ac- – always behind the scenes and behind the
How long have you been doing it for - and ademic world of art and simply see it microphone. If I could see him
what made you choose this career? as a way to enslave aspiring artists this moment, I wouldn't even
I've been picksmithing professionally since to an unconquerable mountain of get a chance to ask him a ques-
around 2005. Like any other career in the arts, debt without actually giving them the tion because he'd immediately
it started as a hobby. I was originally crafting tools to survive and flourish as an en- laughingly boom, “What'cha
plectrums from antique silver coins for musi- trepreneur. So, alas, I've never paid doin boy?!” God, I'd love to hear
cians around Nashville in the early 2000's, a professor to teach me how to craft him say that one more time.
then began selling them online. The demand a guitar pick from a sun-dried horse
eventually became overwhelming and I had to placenta and sell it for a small for- Advice to others that may
focus more time and attention on managing tune. I do, however, seek wise coun- want to follow in your foot-
my art as a business. As I continued to evolve sel, often. Over the years of touring steps?
as a picksmith, I began using a myriad of ma- art events and festivals, I've been fortunate to If you're an artist, and all you want to do is cre-
terials – basically, anything I could get my befriend quite the array of professional artists; ate art because it brings you joy and satisfies
hands on, from colored vinyl to ancient roman men and women who have experience far be- your soul, then you have to figure out a way to
coins, Victorian copper to Zebu horn. Today, I yond my own. I ask questions and make notes sell it, or two unpleasant realities will emerge;
regularly work with over 50 different types of that I regularly reflect upon to shape my craft, you'll either starve, or you'll never make art be-
materials (but have my favorites). Each type of as well as business decisions. cause you're far too busy surviving doing
material, and the thickness of that material, something else. Consequently, there are two
produces a completely unique tonality on the In your eyes, what makes your company stand powerful tools available for artists in these
different makes, models and types of stringed out? Why should others come to you? strange days: large-scale public art events
instruments. It never gets boring in my work- There aren't too many artists handcrafting gui- around the world where you can display and
shop. tar picks these days, so I've just been grinding sell your art, and the wild west of the internet.
it out here in Nashville and making headway Both are inexplicably valuable, both are a busi-
What does a general working day or week wherever I can. The key to it all is in each indi- ness behemoth that you must learn to ride,
usually consist of? vidual guitar pick that I make; each plectrum is and ultimately control.
First things first, I choose the playlist and turn one of a kind, expertly crafted, highly polished
up the volume - Led Zeppelin, Fever Ray, bass – a thing of beauty. When you hold one of Where do you go from here? Plans for the
house and old country music, usually back-to- these picks in your hand for the first time, it future?
back in an insanely random order. Often, I'm feels like you're holding Excalibur; you're now I'll continue to do what I'm doing and fate will
in my head, considering two weeks ahead of ready to dominate and conquer that wild beast lead me. I'm always creating music, photogra-
schedule because orders that are coming in of an instrument in front of you. It's euphoric phy, art, and guitar picks. I'll never stop creat-
that day have to be prioritized with what needs when that plectrum of Avalon slides across ing until my mortal door squeaks closed and I
to be packaged and shipped to customers. those strings and sends them screaming. eventually hear again: “What'cha doin boy?!”
Once I've got a handle on what needs to be
done, I'm either on the computer designing Website for more info:
packaging graphics, producing product photo- Highlight(s) of your career so far? www.NashvillePicks.com

Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’ HOLY MOLY
DIPS

A few months back, thanks to the wonders of Instagram, we scrolled past an ad for Holy
Moly Dips. Well, we didn’t scroll past. We stopped and looked. And got excited. Holy Moly Dips
are a new range of vegan guacamole and avocado dips. And since then, while working on this
issue of Black Velvet, we’ve been dipping into them quite a lot! Holy Moly Dips are on sale in
Waitrose, Whole Food Market and on Ocado’s website. The guacamole comes in the Saintly
Original Flavour and Devilishly Hot. And then there’s a pure avocado dip. All three are very tasty and perfect for dipping into, as well as spreading
on toast, or anything else you fancy spreading them on to! These are all-natural, and super-delicious. So if you’re reading this issue and now
fancy a snack, head to the nearest Waitrose and stock up. We hope they go on sale in more stores soon - keep a look out for them. Visit their
website at www.holymolydips.com

BV CV / EATIN’ AIN’T CHEATIN’