Welcome to episode #120 of the Morning Upgrade Podcast. In this week’s episode I spoke with Michael Napolitano, founder of Rockness Music and frontman for Michael and the Rockness Monsters.
Top Talking Points
- How Michael made it through the pandemic as a professional musician.
- How to maintain a high level of energy when working with young kids.
- Strategies for building rapport with an audience.
Resources & Links
Connect With Michael at RocknessMusic.com.
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Episode Transcript
Announcer
Welcome to the Morning upgrade podcast with Ryan Cote, where we feature casual conversations with entrepreneurs about personal development and growth.
Ryan
Hey, Michael, welcome to the Morning Upgrade podcast. How’s it going?
Michael
Hey, man, I’m so happy to be here. Thanks. It’s going well.
Ryan
Yeah. I’m excited to talk to you. We’ve known each other for a few years now, five years. And so it’s, I’m excited to talk to you over the next 15-20 minutes. That is a lot to cover. And the first question we’re going to cover is whether you are telling everyone who you are, what you do for a living, and then something you’re grateful for in your life right now.
Michael
All right, I am Michael Napolitano. We’re Napoletana depending on how you want to pronounce it from Jersey, and I am the founder of rockness music and the frontman for Michael and the Rockness Monsters. We are a children’s company, rockness music that does birthday parties and classes for kids and schools to excellent attitude credit. What am I grateful for? I do keep a gratitude journal. Now. I’d say I’m pretty grateful right at this moment. It’s field hockey season. I have older kids. They’ve worked really hard at it. And they’re all their hard work is kind of coming through this season for both of them to Unreal. Well, team leaders. I’m pretty grateful for that and proud of them.
Ryan
I’m going to piggyback on that because I’m in the same boat. So sports have become an enormous part of our life where it’s essentially the weekend in sports. And, you know, six, seven, our softball trips to two-hours away doubleheaders. Okay. That’s our Saturday. But it’s great, though. Like I like seeing them get into the sport and develop and get some wins and just like work on a team. I feel like it’s kind of like a personal development hack for children’s sports. That’s my take on it. At least right now.
Michael
I think people who had that figured out a long time ago might be late too. And we did two are pretty slammed up for us. It’s been. It’s gotten a little crazy. Like you said, it’s worth it. 100% worth it.
Ryan
Yeah, I joke around like an unpaid Uber driver after five.
Michael
Yeah, I have a 15-year-old who should like get in the backseat. I’m like, No, you gotta get the front seat.
Ryan
And put the phone away. Let’s talk. I know you have a morning routine. Now. Could you tell me what it looks like?
Michael
I pretty much jump right outside, which is getting hard. It was cold this morning. And I do some yoga. I’m not a yoga yogi. I can do some yoga and take classes. But just basic stuff to keep loose and make sure my body doesn’t hurt. You’re getting old. And then, I head into my studio, which is a detached little studio. And I do about 20 minutes of meditation and kind of set my intentions for the day. And then coffee. That’s it. That’s my go-to why yoga outside like you like on your lawn or something or, you know, this morning, I actually popped into my studio. It’s typically outside, but it was too cold this morning. And I don’t like it as much. I have to tune out my surroundings when I’m inside. I really liked the vibe of being in touch with nature and staring at the trees. When I’m trying to find a senator rather than, you know, looking at my guitar amplifier, you know?
Ryan
That makes sense. There’s definitely a different type of energy. When you’re outside, I take I do about an hour of walking every day. And so just kind of trying to take it all in.
Michael
There’s like this whole study on grounding now about getting your feet in the earth. And there’s no, it’s not new, I don’t think, but it’s good. It’s good for you.
Ryan
It’s funny you say by keeping your body nimble as you get older because I’m 43 now, and I’m realizing that when I sleep if I sleep on my side, it wakes me up because my shoulder starts to ache. Something serious. I can’t even. I’m at the point where I can’t sleep in a certain position.
Micheal
Just like some mornings, I wake up, and my back doesn’t feel so good. But I lifted lots of amplifiers in my day. So that tends to happen, I think.
Ryan
Yeah, it’s only a matter of time, you know, wearing your body down a little bit. But yeah, the yoga sounds good. Keep yourself flexible and whatnot. I want to go to your business though because I asked I told you I was going to ask you about this. So you’re rockness, you know, it’s kids’ parties. It’s you’ve got the band to like everything you do revolves around being with people being in front of people and just entertaining them. And obviously, that’s not the best thing for COVID. And I know it was a struggle to get through that. And you got through it. But I’m just wondering, like, in those darkest moments, mentally, how you got through it?
Michael
Yeah, there are quite a few answers there, so I’m not going to give them. One answer is friends and associates and some coaching. I did some coaching on a client a plan. which is a program; basically, you’re looking for your plan, it’s life coaching, but they have a system. And it works. And I believe in it. I went back after COVID. Like, we stopped during COVID for financial reasons, and then I went back. And that’s what kind of dug me out of that, that dark time. And also, meditation was a big part of it. And that’s where that came from. That’s, that’s how I wasn’t meditating for 20 minutes. The first time I started, I mean, that’s, it’s kind of a little difficult. If you had told me to do a 20-minute meditation the first time I did it, I would be like, what? So I did, you know, five monitors, and they helped a lot. And I think, lastly, the blessing of being with your family, we were stuck together, you know, there was, I have older kids, that probably wouldn’t have been around as much. And I wouldn’t have had some of the experiences I had with them. So that was a big part of it, as the kids helped get me through that. And then some, as I said, the coaching and Mind, Body Spirit trying to stay healthy.
Ryan
You know, the a plan, coaching, is there anything that they did that you can pinpoint as a big, big turning point that you can share with my audience?
Michael
They have like an app that goes along with the coaching. And although to some that might sound like not, I don’t want to use an app for like mindfulness, it really helps. And that would be the thing. So like, when I read, you’re tracking your progress, you’re not just going to coach. So then, when you go back, and you keep reading what you’ve done. And then you’re like, man, like that’s really negative. So that being able to hold the mirror with it with the app. And it’s not just the app, it’s the questions they’re asking, and the goals they have you set and the gratitude journal that they make you keep not make, you know, that they offer, it’s all kind of holding a mirror up to your life, and that it’s hard to do without someone’s help. Sometimes, you know, it’s not therapy, you know, it’s like, you’re working with your coach, it’s not, they’re telling you what you’re going to do. They’re trying to dig it out of you, you know,
Ryan
I’m actually eyeballing coaching in 2023. I did something more like a group coaching thing throughout this year for 10 months. And now I’m thinking about next year, how’s next year gonna be different than this year, and better, like eyeballing kind of like one on one coaching. So I’m just curious that you mentioned that somebody might look into that; thanks for sharing that. Cool. So, let’s talk about your energy. If anyone watches your videos with kids, you have to be, like, kind of like silly and keep their attention and stuff like that. Does that come naturally to you, the energy? Or is there anything you do to feed it to give yourself that, like that zest?
Michael
It’s definitely, if I weren’t loose to the yoga helps, because, like, I’m older now. So if I wasn’t able to, like, jump off a stage, that would be lame, you know, so trying to stay in shape. But the energy, you know, I was kind of born with that, you know, it was a baby that didn’t nap, you know, I never napped, I was kind of, I would imagine the pain in the butt to my family a little bit. Lotta energy always flowing. So really, I don’t do anything. But I will say this, some mornings, you know, you don’t want to be happy at work, right? So my job, it’s a job, it’s work, but I’m with children, and my influence matters. So really looking at them, like in the eyes, you know, deep in the eyes, like really, looking into them, helps with that inspiration, you know, excuse my language, giving a shit about kids. Like, I think they’re overlooked a lot of children. And they know I’m not overlooking them. So once I make that connection, it kind of rallies my spirits. And that relationship drives me.
Ryan
Yeah, imagine you’re looking in their eyes, and you’re seeing like, their joy, like their excitement, you know, estimates about what’s to come, and that must really feed up fill your cup, fill your cup. Totally. Yeah, that’s awesome. So with your business, what do you have the most success with now in terms of growing it and just spreading the word spreading rockness word?
Michael
We’re just actually ramping up the business again since COVID, though; I mean, the interest is just coming back with schools and stuff like that if you know, like, kids are starting to be able to have enrichments in schools. That’s a big part of our business. So what we are doing right now is, to be honest, we’re pounding the pavement, we’re going like the kind of starting from scratch where we were a lot bigger before we’re pounding the pavement. We’re calling old contacts. We’re making some cold calls. We’re obviously working on our stuff online, you know, with SEO and all that good stuff that you know all about. But really, we’re getting back to brass tacks, creating good content, having a good time with it, and being joyful about it. Because in the end, that’s what’s driving the rockness brand is that we lead with joy. And so that so we’re trying to really live that story.
Ryan
You know, it must feel nice to be out there again, like you feel like you’re getting your mojo back. Just getting more involved in it all, hitting the pavement, as you said.
Michael
Yeah, we played a show a couple of weeks ago. With the 14th straightway in Manhattan, which has a beautiful theater, and video projector, and so we’re able to put our actual show together. And the previous time to that that we played was February 2018, or March 2, 2020. We had a gig at Lincoln Center is the first time Well, last month, the band had full bandwidth. The horn section was together in three years to plus, you know, two and a half or whatever.
Ryan
I actually still have a question. You mean, you made me think of something with you on stage? For the people that are listening? Metal? How many are entertainers like you, but most are entrepreneurs, and maybe giving public speaking engagements are moved through video too? And so, like, when you’re up on the stage, thinking maybe we can pull something from this when you’re up on the stage performing? Is there anything you intend to develop a connection and rapport with the audience? I know you said the kid has eye contact and stuff. But we’re about, like, the more like the adult stuff or not the parents and stuff.
Michael
I think I think humor is huge for people, especially in large groups. I’ve done a lot of PDEs. I’ve done large ones for like three hours, and it’s hard to keep people, and what I do number one, I get more nervous for PDE than I do for a show. But I know you’re asking about shows. I just wanted to include that. For a PDE, I like to stand there like Superman in the Alpha pose, which my friend John taught me back in the day. I get psyched, you know like I’m invincible. But for shows, you know, what I do is I try and call people out for not participating. I’ll do a lot of that. I’ll be like, Hey, I don’t see your bind oculars. You know, we’re asking people questions. Almost all of our songs have direct participation from the crowd. So they’re all, but I won’t play a song live unless I have a reason for it to engage the audience. So you know, your material, you know, you’re doing their homework and knowing what to offer the people rather than just offering what you think you’re supposed to offer. What are they actually going to want to hear, whether you’re talking or we’re playing? Does it make sense?
Ryan
What does PDE stand for? I’m trying to think of what that’s professional.
Michael
Okay, okay. Okay, I talked to a lot of teachers. It’s the exact same thing as what you call a presentation or a sales pitch or presentation. A gig?
Ryan
That’s interesting. You got it; you’ve got to learn to bring the same kind of energy and performance to kids and into adults as well. So that’s, that’s really interesting. Dynamic.
Michael
Yeah, man. Like, that’s why our, our classes are so popular is that we’re, we’re funny, you know, and it’s not too cheesy. You mentioned being silly. There are some characters that have been developed over time and even more modern characters who are so silly, and they don’t act like humans, but they’re human. And it’s not my favorite type of art for children when it doesn’t embody what would an adult human really act like.
Ryan
That makes sense. Yeah, yeah, I would have thought of that. But now that you’re saying that, that does make a lot of sense.
Michael
I want kids to get the correct representation of music. You know, that’s why our classes like real music, we show the kids real instruments in class, there’s no playback, we’re not putting on a stereo and hitting play, you know, we want those kids to be feeling the vibrations. You know?
Ryan
it must be a lot of fun. This time flew. We’re at the end here. But I do have one last question for you. And then we’re gonna wrap up with you sharing your website or whatever you want to share. Because my last question for you, Michael, is about the meaning of life. It’s a personal question because my meaning is probably different than yours. and round we go. So through the lens of Michael, what is the meaning of life?
Michael
It’s funny. I just don’t think Robin Williams talked about this the meaning of life. I think the meaning of life for me is joy and enjoyment. That’s it. And that encompasses, you know, family and love and all that. If what you’re doing, if you’re not joyful, and you’re not enjoying your life, no matter what you’re doing, whether you’re making tons of money or no money, there’s something that has to shift in order for you to feel that joy, or else What the heck are you doing here?
Ryan
I 100% agree I agree. Now more than ever, so yeah, spot on there. All right. Cool, Michael. Thanks for everything. Where can we send people if they want to learn more about you?
Michael
Thanks so much. Yeah, our music class and birthday party, and school service is rocknessmusic.com. And then I have an audible book with my band, Michael and the Rockness Monster, so you can check out our music on Spotify. Or check out our book. It’s kind of like Rockness On The Go at Audible.
Ryan
Perfect, we’ll link those up in the shownotes. Thanks, Michael. Appreciate it.
Michael
Thanks so much.
Ryan
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