Pianist Zsolt Bognár had a light-bulb moment while building his first artist website in 2012. What if, instead of short clips of his performances — something every pianist publishes on their website — he interviewed his musician friends about their craft and careers?

Inspired by Bognár's love for Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio, the first iteration of the web series that would become Living the Classical Life was born. And more than a decade later, it has grown into an incredibly popular, award-winning show that's featured the best of the best in the classical music world. 

With more than three million views on YouTube alone, Bognár's in-depth conversations with the likes of Daniil Trifonov, Yuja Wang, Joyce DiDonato, Lisa Batiashvilli, and Susanna Mällki illuminate the inner world of classical musicians — revealing the passions, fears, and rewards that fuel their lives in music.

To find success in today's content-saturated landscape, Bognár knew he would need to build a network of like-minded professionals who could support his vision for Living the Classical Life not only as a creative outlet, but as a business venture. That's a perspective he hopes to impart on anyone seeking advice on launching a new project.

"Seek out people who you are really on the same wavelength with," Bognár shares on the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast, "or you may not have the same values that can connect you with others you'll resonate with. This is a world of business, as much as we don't like to think in those terms. Identify the people whose qualities you trust."

In this episode, Bognár and I talk more about the early days of Living the Classical Life — when it was simply called Zsolt Bognár and Friends — as well as the mix of hard work, luck, and opportunity that helped the show take off, and the importance of strategic introductions, no matter your industry.

Full disclosure: I have a very close relationship with Living the Classical Life. I'm a member of the Board of Directors and have regularly advised Bognár on the show's branding, outreach, and marketing over the past 10 years. It's been my absolute pleasure to see how Living the Classical Life has grown over the past decade, and I hope this deep dive into the show's evolution inspires you in your own creative journeys.

Follow the Classical Post podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or other platforms.

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