Corson Music

Who: Dyke Corson

Where: Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

When: 1996

What: Combo Shop, Install Contractor

THE BIZ

What’s in the shop: Fender, Gretsch, Guild, Jackson, Godin, Peavey, Yamaha, Harman Group Products, and QSC products.

I knew I wanted to be in the MI business when…The owner of the store I was taking lessons at left me in charge on a Saturday afternoon so he could go to a funeral – I think I was 13.

Career low point: When one of my install guys tried to go independent and steal my customers.

Career high point: When I was able to buy both of my buildings.

Nay on the paperwork: The most unpleasant part about my job is trying to keep up with the bookwork and payables.

My biggest mistake: Letting someone take too much control (see “career low point”).

What makes it all worthwhile: The rewards of this work for me are helping folks, calling on schools and churches for sound system help, giving lessons, and hearing a kid playing monster licks on my sales floor.

Get those calls returned: The most important thing about managing a music store is making sure the work gets done and that your employees are returning messages left by customers.

Best practices: The two most important things about doing business with a manufacturer is to ask for the best deal and try to keep your account current. Communication is key.

Biggest pet peeve about the biz: The shrinking margins and trying to compete with the Internet, which is made harder by the unfair sales tax laws.

Who I admire most in this business: Chuck Surack of Sweetwater.

THE PERSONAL

Don’t know how many cats or just not sayin’? At home there’s my wife Ivy; Kids Ryan, Ashleigh, and Austin; plus three dogs, some chickens, and lots of cats.

A picker: I play guitar and pedal steel guitar.

Inspired by the radio: I started taking guitar lessons when I was 10 after getting into the Beatles, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams.

Ahoy, captain: People might be surprised to know I get to play fun gigs all over the country with a popular Trop Rock band called “The Boat Drunks.” We have four albums and get regular airplay on Sirius/XM Margaritaville channel. Many times we get to play with members of the Coral Reefers. Cool gig!

Real estate and woodshedding: If I could go back in time and tell my younger self one thing, it would be to practice more, and buy lots of rental property!

If I was a cartoon character, I’d be: Quick Draw McGraw.

If I was a superhero, I’d be: El Kabong!

True or False: Can you be happy and rich in the music instrument business? True… uh… but can you please define “rich”?

Favorite musician joke: How do you end up with a million bucks in the music biz? Start with two million bucks!

Words to live by: Treat others they way you want to be treated.