Meet Jefferson Schildgen | Jefferson Schildgen | Crooner, Band Leader, & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jefferson Schildgen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jefferson, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to perform with other musicians at local venues on a professional level. Owning a business in entertainment provided the legal and financial protection I needed when working with venues, clients, and musicians. Knowing that the business is liable for any incidentals gives me the confidence and peace of mind I need.

Owning a business also provides a more professional first impression for future partners by allowing me to create a website, estimates, invoices, contracts, and social media accounts including Yelp and Google for customer testimonies.

A less significant, but important benefit is the tax differences associated with owning a business. While there are additional taxes just for owning a business, those taxes are paid for by the business and are outweighed by the taxes saved on business expenses. This difference in taxation allowed me to grow the business while not having to pay taxes on expenses like payroll and audio equipment that I would have needed to perform whether or not I owned a business at all.

What should our readers know about your business?
Schildgen Entertainment, LLC is a veteran owned business that specializes in providing exceptional musical performances with a focus on jazz ensembles. Offering a range of live acts, from intimate trio settings to larger big band performances, the company caters to a variety of events including corporate functions, private parties, and public gatherings. With a commitment to delivering high-quality, professional entertainment with a personal touch, Schildgen Entertainment aims to enrich events with the timeless, sophisticated sound of the famous crooners of the 1950’s and 60’s as well as pop, rock groups, etc., creating memorable experiences for audiences of all kinds. Our mission is to showcase the versatility and improvisational spirit of jazz and other genres, ensuring that every performance is tailored to meet the specific needs and atmosphere of the event, while fostering a deeper appreciation for the art form.

As a life-long musician and vocalist, I saw a demand in San Diego and surrounding counties for clients looking for groups to provide quality performances with a professional, customer focused experience. Providing positive care and attention to clients came naturally to me, but without any entrepreneurial experience, I was forced to learn not only how to start the business, but to be legally compliant and profitable through some very thorough research and advice from a few mentors. This was by far the most difficult task, but it has been a truly rewarding experience because it motivated me to constantly find ways to improve the business.

There have been many lessons along the way, but one of the most crucial was to be very organized in each area of running the business. Scheduling performance dates, recruiting talent, creating contracts, processing payments, and receipts can be daunting at times, but I am constantly finding ways to improve each process which makes it that much easier to run the business.

Like most businesses, all profits were used to grow the business in the first couple of years. Our largest expense is payroll and acquiring the equipment necessary to create the best quality experience. Thankfully, after a couple of years in business, we are growing at a rate that has allowed us to hire on additional help in processing administrative tasks which has been the most time consuming effort thus far. This growth has blessed us, to serve over 100 clients and earned 30+ 5-star reviews on Yelp and Google.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
San Diego offers a mix of vibrant neighborhoods and hidden gems perfect for tourists. In Little Italy, Davanti Enoteca stands out with its rustic Italian dishes and intimate ambiance, ideal for a cozy meal. In Balboa Park, Panama66 combines art, craft beer, and live music in a beautiful outdoor setting, making it a must-visit for a laid-back experience. For those seeking a taste of San Diego’s speakeasy scene, The Prohibition in downtown offers a stylish, 1920s-inspired atmosphere with expertly crafted cocktails. Finally, Pacific Beach, known for its lively beach scene, is home to popular spots like The Beachcomber, where you can enjoy ocean views while sipping on refreshing drinks. Whether you’re exploring culture, dining, or nightlife, San Diego has something for everyone.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My high school jazz band director, Christine Hulmer, was a huge inspiration to me early on in my music career. She taught us much more than just how to play the music for our upcoming performances. Christine taught me and other students to swing dance so that we could engage the audience during songs when certain students did not have a part to play. These swing dance lessons included how to conduct ourselves as respectable young adults on the dance floor. She would often role play a teenage dinner date scene and dance for the class with a student and convey the importance of chivalry and respect. This of course turned into a hilariously awkward theater experience for the entire class, but the students always laughed and ultimately became more confident for their first real experience.

In December of 2022, I began volunteering for the Salvation Army of San Diego as a bell ringer in support of their Red Kettle donation project. My good friend, Captain Jeremy Alexander is overall in charge of the Salvation Army Centre City Corps in downtown San Diego and approved my request to sing Christmas carols while bell ringing and has since provided many business connections that have led to a lot of great publicity for my band and business. I have been volunteering for the Salvation Army regularly throughout the year and every Christmas season since then.

Jerry Waldron, a San Diego native teacher and coach of over 30 years, discovered me singing Christmas carols for the Salvation Army at Fashion Valley mall in 2022. Just like his students, he encouraged me to turn my passion into a “regular gig,” by creating a website, business cards, and start booking business deals with clients. We have been close friends ever since and often asks me how business is going.

My wife Mercedez is my biggest supporter and is there at most of my events and often brings her family. Everyday I am a better man because of love and encouragement.

Finally, my faith plays a large part in what I do. I believe in treating everyone with love and kindness regardless of who they are. Sharing my passion for what I call “comfort music” and my gift of singing with others is my favorite way to spread joy. I see it on random faces in the audience during my performances and it always gives me this warm, positive feeling knowing that I made them smile even for a moment.

Website: https://ratpackreborn.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ratpackreborn/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferson-schildgen-632904313/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094606308879

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/schildgen-entertainment-llc-san-diego

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RatPackReborn

Other: Booking Website: https://schildgen-entertainment-llc.square.site/

Image Credits
Tima Chiappara, “TC Photography”
Joubin Zade, “ZadeWave”