From “Let Me Check” to “I’m In” — in One Voice Text
How Busy Family Helped Me Keep My Life Together as a Musician
Simon Russell is a working musician in the truest sense. He’s shared stages with legends—from the James Brown Band to Pete Escovedo and Sheila E—and even spent a stint in Marc Benioff’s private band, traveling as part of that circle all the way to Davos. When he’s home, you’ll catch him gigging up and down the Bay Area, keeping that live, West Coast groove alive. He’s also the founder and CEO of Clefology, bringing music education into Bay Area schools and putting instruments in kids’ hands. And because he apparently doesn’t believe in downtime, he’s also a dad of three and a proud granddad. A Busy Family, indeed.
Being a working musician means juggling a lot — rehearsals, gigs, studio time, meetings, travel — sometimes all in the same day. For a long time, I was constantly running behind, forgetting little details, or stressing about how to get from one place to another without losing my mind.
One day I was driving and got a text from a booking agent about a same-day gig. Normally that’s the moment I’d have to pull over, open the calendar, make sure I could get from where I was to where they needed me, and then text back. Instead, I just used voice on my phone: “Text Busy Family — ask if I’m free for the 6pm gig at Yoshi’s and if I can make it from my earlier session.” The Busy Family assistant checked what I already had on the books, figured out the drive time between the two spots, and texted back that I could make it. So I sent one more voice text: “Great, add it to my calendar.” Done — gig accepted, calendar updated, and I never had to stop the car. That’s the kind of thing that used to break my day.
When I started using Busy Family, I honestly didn’t expect much. But it’s quietly become one of the most helpful tools in my daily life. I can put in all my shows and rehearsals, and it helps me figure out how to make everything fit. It reminds me when to leave, shows me the best way to get to my next spot, and even keeps track of all the moving parts that come with performing regularly.
It’s not flashy — it just works. And the biggest difference I’ve noticed is peace of mind. I don’t wake up overwhelmed by my calendar anymore. I can focus more on the music, because I know the details are handled.
If you’ve ever felt stretched thin trying to manage work, family, and life all at once, I think you’d understand why this has been such a game-changer for me.