Inspiring Conversations with Michelle and Adam Daut of Mad Music

Hi Michelle and Adam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Well, the story of Mad Music is very much a love story. Yes, it’s a little bit of a cliché, but it’s true! We first met at the store we now own! In 2009, we both started working at what was then East Valley Music Center (EVMC). I (Michelle) worked as a desk assistant where I scheduled and coordinated music lessons. And, I (Adam) worked as a sales associate and music instructor. Over the next several years of working together, we developed a relationship, first as co-workers, next as friends, and then as something more than friends. We shared an excitement and passion for music that involved listening to music, attending concerts and local shows, and discovering new bands together. Between 2015 and 2016, we both parted ways with EVMC to pursue other career interests and opportunities. In 2019, 10 years after we met at EVMC, we got married! In 2022, we purchased EVMC after the owner put the business up for sale earlier that year. We renamed and rebranded the store as Mad Music. With the support of our family and friends, we opened and have been going non-stop since then!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with most business endeavors, we expected and prepared for challenges along the way. One challenge has been making the space our own, more Mad Music. With purchasing a previous business there was quite a bit in the way of remodeling and rearranging to better reflect the Mad Music brand. We have made great strides with making the space our own from painting, removing displays, donating old inventory, and knocking down walls – literally! We have a lot more planned for the store’s physical layout, but we’re proud of what we have accomplished so far. Overall, though, the purchase and transition of the business has been relatively smooth. There’s been nothing that has deterred us from our goal and mission: to support customers along their musical journey. We really owe the smooth transition in large part to the support of our friends and family. We couldn’t have done this without everyone’s help in one way or another.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re a family-owned and operated music store that serves musicians of all ages, backgrounds, and levels in the East Valley. Whether a customer is a student, hobbyist, enthusiast, or professional, we offer a wide range of products and services to fit their music needs!

Our motto “we’re all musical here,” means everyone is welcome regardless where they are on their musical journey. Whether you’ve just started learning guitar, joined band in school, or play professionally, everyone is welcome at Mad Music. The motto, of course, is a play on “we’re all mad here,” from Alice in Wonderland. The story was influential in our initial branding, design, and philosophy. Oh, here’s a fun fact! The “Mad” part of our name is actually Michelle’s initials, so the approach and vision for the business started with her!

We strive to create an inclusive, safe space where anyone and everyone can explore, learn, and play. Our other motto, “mad vibes only,” is a kind of affirmation and celebration of each person’s uniqueness, individuality, and authentic self. Yes, it’s another nod to Alice in Wonderland, but, more importantly, we want customers to know and feel they can be themselves when they visit Mad Music.

We’re pretty much a full-line music store when it comes to the products and services we offer at Mad Music. Customers can purchase a variety of accessories, books, supplies, and instruments (guitars, basses, drums, ukuleles, and more!). Customers can also drop off instruments for repair, rent instruments, and enroll in music lessons all at our store. We’re very excited to have a certified guitar technician on staff who also happens to be Michelle’s dad! His experience and skill set has really elevated our in-store guitar repair service. It’s been a pleasure to partner with a couple local businesses to offer a full range of services as well. We’re kind of your “one-stop shop” for all things musical!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Great question! I (Adam) would probably describe myself as a happy, go-lucky kid interested in drawing, history, writing, and music. My dad introduced me to all his music at an early age, such as Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, ZZ Top, Steppenwolf, Creedence Clearwater Revival. I started to learn and play guitar at 14 years old. From that point on, I have always been involved in something that had to do with music! For me, (Michelle), I was a pretty eclectic child. I always looked for my next interest or, better yet, my next obsession – I never could stick with one thing! When I was about 12 years old, I started to focus on bands and music. From Green Day to Fall Out Boy, the love of music (or men in eyeliner) grew. Although I don’t really play an instrument, even though I’ve tried, I love listening to music and being immersed in the music community.