LOUIS LEVITT | INTERVIEW WITH KABIR SEHGAL

How Louis Levitt Handles 3+ Jobs (Bassist, Music Exec, NGO)

By Kabir Sehgal

Sep 23, 2022

Meet Louis Levitt. He is a multi-careerist based in New York. I’ve known him for years through the music community. We collaborated on a music project. And like me, he’s a double bassist. So, of course, we have to feature him.

Louis’ careers:

• Founder & Owner Record Label (Bright Shiny Things)

• Bass player (classical or whatever that means)

• Founder of Sybarite5 (chamber music ensemble)

• Exec director of a non-profit arts organization

• University Double Bass teacher at Rutgers (sometimes at Juilliard & Mannes as well)

On his motivations for having multiple careers

I like making new things and releasing them into the world!

Also I have a wife and kids in NYC and that’s expensive!

Advice to aspiring multi-careerists

YOLO – Just do it, and you’ll see if it’s a good fit.

On overcoming obstacles

Wait less, do more — Orchestra auditions occupied my life for about 10 years. In hindsight would have been better to spend some of that time on chamber music, solo, or a law degree. Lol.

I waited 5 years before I went full force with Sybarite5, 1 would have been better. Learned this lesson with the record label and just went for it right away!

On how multiple careers are beneficial

Having won the Concert Artist Guild competition & then touring the world with Sybarite5 really helped me with the street cred when I started the label Bright Shiny Things.

We are an artist friendly label and the musicians that come to the label trust me because I’ve been in their shoes and I get it.

Performing and touring also help me recruit students for teaching. The label helps me meet more composers that might want to write for Sybarite5.