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Meet David Henning of Parker Bark Productions in Thornton

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Today we’d like to introduce you to David Henning.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, David. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began working for myself in 2015 after an abrupt departure from a corporate recruiting position in the healthcare field. Yeah…. I was fired…..And very much out of the blue. This was a first for me, and it left a very bitter taste regarding the company I worked for and corporate America in general.

After a short time I decided I didn’t want to work for someone else anymore, at least in a corporate setting. I thought what would Steven Tyler of Aerosmith do?….. No, not really…. I’ve never thought that. But I decided I would put my best foot forward and see if I could find a place in the music industry to generate income.

Having played in a couple of different bands in recent years, leading up to this fork in the road, I decided to take a risk and work as a solo musician. As a very green singer-songwriter, I wasn’t great, but knew I had enough experience to book venues that basically needed background music. Breweries, restaurants and wineries, soon led to more corporate events and private parties, and in a lot of ways, it has gotten easier each year. Although working for myself has proven to be much more difficult than I imagined. This naively confident wannabe rockstar began to see the reality of entrepreneurship, and the volatile state one can find themselves in when work dries up.

As any experienced entrepreneur will tell you, in its infancy, your business will ebb and flow based on demand, and it is crucial to learn how to operate in both famine and feast. Parker Bark Productions came to be because I reluctantly accepted that my winter months were significantly slower in terms of shows and session work. I needed something to supplement the income I was accustomed to the rest of the year.

I’ve had a strong interest in photography and videography from a young age. So, in early 2018, I decided to educate myself with some of the latest camera gear and software. With a background in marketing and now music, I have been given the opportunity to launch PBP and work with many small businesses, entrepreneurs, and other aspiring musicians all over the greater Denver area. Whether it be video ads, product photos, or music videos, I am thankful to be growing alongside a very diverse and motivated group of people.
In the past six months, Parker Bark Productions has also expanded its reach into artist development, helping newer artists get plugged into the music community and generate income faster than most ever could on their own.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Part of me was confident in this process being challenging, but there tends to be no fine print to blame when running into certain roadblocks. From getting a video shoot shut down for not having a permit, to having a small business say they can no longer move forward with the project because they have exhausted their resources, it is inevitable that setbacks will happen.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Parker Bark Productions – what should we know?
Park Bark Productions specializes in creating original visual and audio media for musicians, artists and other entrepreneurs. The goal is to collaborate with our clients to produce a brand-focused piece of marketing material that has consistent messaging and can be used repeatedly on multiple social media platforms.

Recently PBP has also started consulting other artists/musicians, where we share branding advice, offer contacts and resources that give them a jump start in monetizing their craft. That’s really what it all boils down to, for people considering entrepreneurship. How do we take something that we love to do, and have it generate income.

What sets us apart is that the people that make up Parker Bark Productions are full-time musicians with deep connections in the Denver community. We know the challenges that go into getting your business off the ground and also have a strong understanding of what to avoid as one navigates a competitive market.

So proud of the artists we have worked with in the past year that have made serious gains in their careers.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are probably dozens of people that have played a role in helping to shape where this company is now. Most notable are:

The creators of Pup.Eeze – They gave me one of my first shots in doing some meaningful video work for their startup. Elizabeth Hess and Chelsea Rhoads are two amazing individuals with an incredible tech product for pets.

Paul Jr. – One of Denver’s rising hip hop artists, co-owner of Mint Audio, and now also part of PBP has introduced a number of clients to our work and aided in recording some fantastic footage that we use for promotional material.

Jon Osborne – As the owner and lead producer of Imprint Studios, he has facilitated many connections that have led to working with some very talented musicians.

Emily Saunar – This very gifted singer-songwriter has been a huge supporter and the reason for booking many of our early clients.

Pricing:

  • Music videos range from $250-$1000
  • Consulting: $200
  • Photo sessions: Starting at $200

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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