Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Buchta.
Hi Patrick, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I serve as Chief Executive Officer of Austin Texas Musicians nonprofit, representing 6,000+ Central Texas musicians on city, state, and federal policy and providing education and economic development solutions that better our quality of life. I’m also a Downtown Commissioner for the City of Austin, as well as a Board Member of the Texas Music Museum. In addition, I’m a working singer-songwriting, and I’m embarking on writing my fist book.
None of these things are nearly as interesting as the journey that delivered me into a purpose-driven life. I was born with a rare liver disease, spent much of my childhood in a hospital bed, had a splenectomy at age six, excelled in education as Student Council President, Prom King and Mr. Waco High School, served as an Altar Boy and Eagle Scout, and went on to college.. One Good Friday when camping with my childhood friends I woke up coughing up blood, and died on the operating table later that day. When I woke up again on Easter Sunday I figured I had been saved for some sort of greater purpose, so I moved to Austin to play music, got married, and began a promising career in the local film industry. Six months into marriage I coughed up blood again, and was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. I had to go on disability and quit work, and fell into a deep depression for many years as I became sicker still.
Hope came when I decided to go back to work, sick as I was, and begin an 11-year tenure at KVUE television. When I finally received the gift of life through full liver transplant in 2012, I awoke into a second life, with the knowledge that someone quite literally had to die so that I could live. This knowledge has served as a catalyst for every moment since, and I’m blessed to have been able to live a little longer so that I may leave the world a better place.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I often say, “dying was the easy part; learning to live for the first time is much harder.” When I had my second bleed out and had to quit work, I struggled with severe depression, casting a shadow on everyone that cared for me. For a time, I sought solace in the bottom of a bottle, knowing subconsciously that alcohol would either speed up the process or kill me. After a third bleed out several years later, I reached pivotal decision: the outcome no longer mattered; it was the journey itself that had to mean something.
From that day forward I began living for others and transitioned into the role of Community Service Manager at KVUE. Three and a half years later I received a life-saving liver transplant, and every moment since has been. blessing.
One of the things that kept me going throughout the journey was the ability to contextualize my suffering through myth… first though the superhero comics that took me far away from the misery of the Pediatric Ward, and later as I empathized with the hero’s journey found across all cultures… one in which the reluctant protagonist must embark on a quest, journey into the underworld, defeat death, and return to heal one’s tribe. From Shamanic lore to Christ, Persephone, Frodo Baggins and countless others, I saw myself in these heroes and aspired to find meaning behind my trials, and purpose through pain.
As you know, we’re big fans of Austin Texas Musicians. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Started as a simple Facebook group in 2008, our Austin Texas Musicians community grew over the years, and with it the issues that affect us all: Affordability, performance pay rates that have remained unchanged for decades, and lack of access to resources that other working classes enjoy.
In 2019 I took a leap of faith to leave my job at KVUE and start Austin Texas Musicians nonprofit with Nakia Reynoso and other musicians. Our first project was to lobby the City of Austin to help create the first-ever sustainable public fund for music sourced from Hotel Occupancy Taxes. To date the Live Music Fund has awarded $8M to local; musicians and venues. We’ve created a city-standard pay rate for all city sponsored performances, secured $6M in Federal Pandemic Relief for musicians and $5M for venues, connected hundreds of musicians to pandemic unemployment benefits, helped raise the Mechanical Royalty Rate for CDs and Vinyl, offered dozens of educational resources and seminars, and have paid out over $300k in performance opportunities.
After seven years in business, we look forward to becoming even more impactful as we work to create a “Green Room” Creative Hub, Free Parking and Safe Escort for musicians working downtown, a tech solution for gear theft, and increased education and economic development resources. You can find out more at atxmusicians.org or @atxmusicians on Facebook and Instagram.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Please help us help musicians! While our groundbreaking work has made a difference in the lives of Central Texas musicians, we’ve still suffered the same setbacks that may arts nonprofits are currently experiencing, New corporate and brand partnerships, private funding, and grants will be key to helping fortify the rich musical ecosystem that we call home. Visit austintexasmusicians.org to make a donation today, or reach out to me directly at pat@austintexasmusicians.org.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austintexasmusicians.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atxmusicians/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ATXMusicians
- Twitter: https://x.com/atxmusicians
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@austintexasmusicians/videos
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Q3xmUub3ytVFFnm26X0jC
Image Credits
last two photos by Eric Booth Photography
