Jon Landers shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jon, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
A combination of things: promoting my new travel business, Connecting Through Travel, and promoting my new book, True Lies, with a song of the same name that I produced. I have been spending time learning about different AI apps that help with this process. As a result, I have produced three new song tracks, True Lies, I’m Free, I’m an American and I’m Still Here, the ladder one about someone dealing with dementia.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I first started TBAIMS LLC in 2013, an acronym for The Big Apple Indie Music Series. This was a monthly music showcase introducing independent music artists of various genres in New York City prior to relocating to Florida in 2015. In that short period, we had over 140 independent music artists perform live in front of music, entertainment, TV, and film industry executives, including A&Rs.
When I relocated to Florida, I was planning on replicating my showcases there. Unfortunately, it was not the same as New York City, as I relocated to the Tampa Bay Area on the West Coast of Florida, and the venues there were not as welcoming to new up-and-coming artists as they were for cover bands, tribute bands, and headliners.
I spent the next several years trying to find a way to change the mindset of these venues with little success. In 2024, I decided to reinvent myself as a travel advisor and have been spending the past couple of years promoting my travel business Connecting Through Travel. I chose that name based on what I considered my goal with TBAIMS, using the slogan Connecting Through Music.
In addition to the travel business, I was very concerned about the current political environment since Donald Trump was re-elected as President and decided to write a book titled True Lies, which chronicles the events before Trump was first elected to today and how misleading news has influenced the elections over the years to today. I also wrote a song with the same title to go with the book; something no one has done before.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Trust and honesty are what keep the bonds between people, and when you don’t have that, it can break the bond. I have worked with a diverse range of people throughout my life and career, and I have found that when someone is dishonest with you, it can never be taken back.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. When I was going through a divorce from a 29-year marriage, I had to deal with my mom being diagnosed with colon cancer, my dad attempting suicide because of my mom’s condition, and my brother being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. It was too much for me to deal with. If I hadn’t walked into a Circuit City and saw a keyboard, which I hit the demo key to hear the theme to the James Bond Films that I was a big fan of, and decided to buy and take home to create my own music, I don’t think I would still be here today to talk about it. Music is a therapy that saved my life back then.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Fake news and AI are clouding the truth in today’s society. The few billionaires that are trying to control the narrative are a threat not only to our lives, but to the future of civilization as we know it. They are too short-sighted to realize what they are doing to the future of this planet. In my mind, people like this have a different kind of addiction, not to alcoholism or drugs, but to money. They will never spend all of their wealth in their lifetime, nor their children’s
lifetime.
We need a better understanding of how we treat each other as human beings.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing?
Having the resources and time to spend more time with my family up North in Connecticut more often than I currently can afford.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jonscttravel.wixsite.com/true-lies
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/tbaims/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbaims
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBigAppleIndieMusicSeries
- Youtube: www.linkedin.com/in/tbaims
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jon-14-4
- Other: https:www.connectingthroughtravel.com
Image Credits
TBAIMS photos provided by Michelle Kawka. I have the rights and approvals of using all of the images provided.
