Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC ~ Melissa Feilhauer
When you meet Melissa Feilhauer you immediately sense her devotion to her daughter, Adaline and her husband, Ryan. If you can peak between the play dates and nap times, the family time and meal times, or her church involvement and play room pick-ups you will see there is so much more to Melissa and the work she does.
Melissa is an accomplished concert Oboist. She is an Oboe instructor with Mehas Music and MusicMakers, LLC and she is an entrepreneur and founding partner at Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC. We had the chance to chat with Melissa about her business.
When did you start Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC?
My colleague and I started Double or Nothing in 2011, so about 6 years ago.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
Both my colleague and I were/are private oboe instructors in the Greater Cincinnati area. We had so many students that we couldn't keep up with their demands for oboe reeds (an entirely handmade product). We put our heads together and figured out a way to make the reed-making process quicker while still keeping the products consistent and high-quality. We eventually built a website and offered our product to the public, expanding to double-reed accessories and instruments within a few years.
How do you balance the demands of your business with the demands of your young family?
It's hard! As a first-time mommy, I struggle with feeling guilty when I try to work with my little one underfoot. My daughter goes to bed around 7:30 and I usually work after that until 11 P.M. or so. I can catch up on emails and other communication throughout the day. I wish I had more time to work, but this is just a season of life and I try to appreciate it and do the best I can.
What is the best part of the work you do?
Double-reed players and teachers are sometimes few and far between, and it is very satisfying to provide high-quality reeds and materials to people who are unable to find them in their area. We've always had a mission to only sell products that we would use and recommend ourselves, and it feels good to be able to stand behind every product we offer.
The oboe can be a very challenging instrument (in fact, it has a reputation for just that), but it doesn't have to be. With the right equipment and reeds, the oboe is no more difficult than any other instrument. The best feedback comes from people who try our reeds and find them so responsive and easy to play that it changes their opinion about the oboe.
You can find Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC products on their website.
Oboe Reeds: $22.00/ea or $20/ea for 4 or more
English Horn Reeds: $24.00/ea or $22/ea for 4 or more
Hand-dyed Nylon thread (FF): $8.00/spool
Yamaha 441-M (the most consistent, well price intermediate oboe on the market): $3,438.00
Melissa is an accomplished concert Oboist. She is an Oboe instructor with Mehas Music and MusicMakers, LLC and she is an entrepreneur and founding partner at Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC. We had the chance to chat with Melissa about her business.
When did you start Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC?
My colleague and I started Double or Nothing in 2011, so about 6 years ago.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
Both my colleague and I were/are private oboe instructors in the Greater Cincinnati area. We had so many students that we couldn't keep up with their demands for oboe reeds (an entirely handmade product). We put our heads together and figured out a way to make the reed-making process quicker while still keeping the products consistent and high-quality. We eventually built a website and offered our product to the public, expanding to double-reed accessories and instruments within a few years.
How do you balance the demands of your business with the demands of your young family?
It's hard! As a first-time mommy, I struggle with feeling guilty when I try to work with my little one underfoot. My daughter goes to bed around 7:30 and I usually work after that until 11 P.M. or so. I can catch up on emails and other communication throughout the day. I wish I had more time to work, but this is just a season of life and I try to appreciate it and do the best I can.
What is the best part of the work you do?
Double-reed players and teachers are sometimes few and far between, and it is very satisfying to provide high-quality reeds and materials to people who are unable to find them in their area. We've always had a mission to only sell products that we would use and recommend ourselves, and it feels good to be able to stand behind every product we offer.
The oboe can be a very challenging instrument (in fact, it has a reputation for just that), but it doesn't have to be. With the right equipment and reeds, the oboe is no more difficult than any other instrument. The best feedback comes from people who try our reeds and find them so responsive and easy to play that it changes their opinion about the oboe.
You can find Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC products on their website.
Oboe Reeds: $22.00/ea or $20/ea for 4 or more English Horn Reeds: $24.00/ea or $22/ea for 4 or more
Hand-dyed Nylon thread (FF): $8.00/spool
Yamaha 441-M (the most consistent, well price intermediate oboe on the market): $3,438.00
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