From Wall Street Hacker to Music Mogul: Mike Grande’s Journey
Gig Gab - The Working Musician's PodcastShow Notes
You get a front-row seat to how Michael Grande turned hard-won tech chops and late-night studio hacks into real music-business wins. From escaping NAMM chaos and leveraging smart PR and management, to transforming a throwaway “stupid idea” into Card Chords—an Amazon-topping guitar tool born from a Cricut, Guitar Center testing, and sheer persistence—you see how necessity, experimentation, and saying yes the first time landed him in Jimi Hendrix’s old bedroom at Electric Lady Studios, shredding in the lineage of Vai and Satriani, and inventing Tone Picks on the fly. Along the way, you’re reminded that when you know you’re right, you embrace it, protect your IP, and keep swinging big—whether that’s launching music schools, eyeing Shark Tank with a bold offer, or pivoting your career from Wall Street CTO and Certified Ethical Hacker to full-on guitar innovator.
Then you’re pushed to rethink how you teach, lead, and build your own music brand. You learn why great schools and studios run on clear mission statements, strong unique selling propositions, and a coaching mindset that focuses on the student, not the curriculum—getting them hooked on the songs they actually want to play, then turning them toward what they need. You see how asking potential customers for their own answers, treating every audience like they matter, and showing up like a coach instead of a teacher all point to one core operating principle: you’re never off-duty, because you Always Be Performing—ALWAYS.
00:00:00 Gig Gab 525 – Monday, March 16th, 2026
March 16th: Freedom of Information Day
Guest co-host: Michael Grande from Card Chords and more
00:02:14 Getting out of NAMM
00:03:10 Have a good PR guy!
Christopher Buttner
00:04:15 Hey, NAMM: How high can I go?
00:06:09 Can you afford NOT to hire a manager? Or a PR person?
Our Mistakes are Our Tuition – Business Brain
00:08:04 COVID Vaccines lead to Card Chords
Mike was a (very successful) Certified Ethical Hacker & CTO on Wall Street
00:11:09 Dad – come up with an idea to teach people how to play guitar
“That’s a stupid idea” – Ignore, and move on.
Bought a Cricut machine, built the prototype and tested it on hundreds of guitars at Guitar Center
Came out on December 21st, and became Amazon’s #1 Musical Accessories item within 30 days
Also includes an eBook to teach out Beatles, Bon Jovi, Guns and Roses songs WITH Card Chords
00:16:35 Born of Necessity!
00:18:39 The birth of Tone Picks
Story time: I didn’t bring a 12-string to Electric Lady Studios at 3am
Taped two picks together to simulate a 12-string sound.
00:21:41 How did you get on the list of Electric Lady Studios session players?
Mike was a shredder after Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, etc
00:22:27 Recording in Jimi Hendrix’s old bedroom at Electric Lady Studios!
Say yes the first time!
Sponsors
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00:27:22 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/giggab
00:28:51 Mike uses Gusto for his Music Schools!
00:30:33 Running music schools
Mike’s Book: From Teacher to Coach: (And why you would NEVER want to be a Teacher)
Taught private lessons, then students wanted more, so…
Mike started The Staten Island School of Rock
00:33:37 Mike’s coaching methods are different
Learning hands-on
Getting students hooked on the songs you want to play
THEN turn them around
00:34:42 You gotta be juiced about playing the songs
Gig Gab 500 with Skylar and the drum coaching story
00:37:16 You need to have a mission statement
Mike’s: “We build the confidence and self-esteem through music lessons”
You need a Unique Selling Proposition!
00:39:30 Mike’s Unique Selling Proposition
Never answer the question… ask the potential customer for the answer!
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