Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Williams.
Hi Greg, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a full time musician in Austin for 17 years running jazz bands, performing with both local and national touring acts and most recently in the wedding and corporate event entertainment industry. My primary instrument is saxophone but I also play guitar and sing well. I found out early on that I was not achieving my desired income through live performance alone so started booking dates for other musical groups, restaurant entertainment programs and was an agent for the established agency BBA Booking. I started socking away any and all additional money from my music career and funneling it into real estate purchasing many single family houses in my hometown of Kansas City, two homes in Austin, condos in Tulum Mexico and Fredericksburg, TX and my first hotel last year in Palm Springs, CA. My wife and I are actively looking for more hospitality real estate opportunities both here in Austin and in other fun markets and I continue to perform (mostly weekends) at select private engagements with my variety band Uptown Drive. I love to travel, cook, host events and catch my talented friends’ shows around town 🙂
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course not! I moved to Austin not knowing anybody except for 1-2 local sax players I connected with through MySpace. The drummer I was supposed to come from Orlando with bailed on me a couple weeks prior to the move so it was quite the leap of faith. Not having any gigs on my calendar I picked up a serving position on Dirty Sixth and felt totally defeated moving to the Live Music Capital of the World and waiting tables. I remember asking my mom for help with rent once I made the transition to full-time musician 4 months into the move (at 25) and it had a profound impact on my drive and work ethic. COVID was devastating to my business but through determination and some federal economic relief I was able to help guide my team through those tough years.
The hotel acquisition in 2024 was a huge challenge with a robust renovation and rebranding. My beautiful wife Maggie and I learned a TON of lessons about sales projections, marketing costs and seasonality of a hotel in the desert of Palm Springs, CA. We went 60% over budget on the renovation after discovering so many issues but have found a way to power through and happy to report that we are profitable in the first quarter of 2025!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am most proud of my saxophone skills. I have been an in-demand freelance musician, toured with major acts Jason Mraz and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk (among others) and have been featured on countless local and national recording sessions in my career. I am known for being a dynamic, jazz-influenced player.
What’s next?
Not sure what the next chapter is to be honest. I love Austin but am toying with the idea of either moving overseas or spending summers in Europe to quench my thirst for travel and adventure with my partner.
Contact Info:
- Website: uptowndrive.com and themusehotelpalmsprings.com
- Instagram: @uptown_drive and @themusehotel
- Facebook: /UptownDrive and /themusehotelpalmsprings
