Martijn Emmen received 2,500 euros for his guitar studio: "It really helped me move forward"
- Music
The ability to scream, sing, and whisper with your guitar still fascinates him today. Martijn Emmen, who graduated from the Academy of Pop Music at the ArtEZ in Enschede in 2023, opened the doors of Guitar Studio Deventer last year. Thanks to the Starter Voucher from the ArtEZ Business Centre, he was able to take the financial leap and received the guidance needed to establish his new business with confidence. "The picture in my head finally became a reality."
He was torn between the Pop Academy and the Pabo. Martijn Emmen remembers it well: "At the time, I was already teaching guitar, so I knew I enjoyed teaching, but I preferred not to do it for large groups, but on one or two people at a time." Additionally, Martijn wanted to develop his guitar skills further and gain experience playing with other musicians. "The Academy of Pop Music in Enschede was the logical choice," he says.
Discovering the Starter Voucher
Since Martijn knew he didn't want to work at a music school but instead wanted to start his teaching practice, he spent the last two years of his studies focusing on relevant coaching programs and minors like marketing and business. Through Davy de Wit, head of the Academy of Pop Music, he learned about the Starter Voucher. Although Martijn found the concept interesting, he wasn't sure if his business idea would qualify for a voucher. "Initially, I thought it was mainly for large companies and/or projects," he says. "But things started to take off when I got in touch with Cily Smulders (business coach at the ArtEZ Business Centre)."
Thinking critically
Looking back on the entire process, Martijn concludes it went incredibly well. "I especially benefited from working with Cily, and I want to emphasize that. She was incredibly supportive, gave compliments or encouragement at the right moments, and ensured I stayed motivated." In addition to the €2,500 he could spend setting up his guitar studio, Martijn learned a lot from submitting the application and drafting his business plan. "It forces you to think critically about your own business. My plan included many things I had never considered before, and I probably wouldn't have considered them if I hadn't gone through this process."
The starter voucher helped me bring structure to my business and make sure everything was in order before I started"
Martijn spent the voucher money primarily on studio equipment. Although the amounts weren't massive, the total cost still added up. "Of course, I also contributed some money myself," he explains. He didn't feel nervous about leaping into entrepreneurship. "It was more like, 'Wow, this is real now. I can finally make the vision I have in my head come true. This is amazing.'"
Professional recordings
Today, Martijn teaches four days a week, two of which are in his studio in Deventer. One of the unique aspects of his teaching approach is that he offers his students the opportunity to record their music so they can share it on social media. "Many of my students don't have access to professional recording equipment. That's why I allow them to make professional recordings of their work," he explains. "Especially since they're just starting." He's highly motivated to continue growing his studio and is seeing it expand. "I hope to eventually make a full living from my own business and teach more and more students in Deventer."
Confidence in his own business
When asked why he would recommend the Starter Voucher to any (student) entrepreneur, Martijn responds: "It's not just a great budget to get started, but the entire process of drafting a business plan gave me much more confidence in my business. It helped me structure my plans and ensure everything was organized before I started. In short, it was incredibly valuable and really pushed me forward."
