Music start-up Panache Group expands in the Midwest

Two types of musicians stood out to Jonas Pascua when he started the Panache Group five years ago. There were the really talented ones who had horrible business models and even worse customer service skills. And then there were the ones who weren't quite as talented but had great business acumen.

Pascua decided to bridge those two stereotypes with a new live music start-up. It provides software that makes it easy for customers to book acts and for the artists to give the best performance possible.

"No one has ever taken a strategic approach to creating a brand for live music," Pascua says.

Most artists who utilize Panache's services (Pascua is a violinist) are classically trained. Think string quartets and the like that can play everything from traditional classical music to Guns-N-Roses.

The Troy-based firm has been able to take over the Michigan market and move into Chicago and Cleveland over the last year. It is looking at expanding into Indiana this year. That has allowed Panache to expand to three employees and 180 musicians. It hopes to add one or two more employees and 80 musicians to its roster in 2010.

Source: Jonas Pascua, CEO and president of Panache Group
Writer: Jon Zemke
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