Case Studies Club Business Strategy School

Case Success Guide

Overview

Pierre Pianitsky, a seasoned pianist with decades of experience, faces a critical decision in his professional journey. After relocating from a small Arizona town to Chicago, he has struggled to establish a steady income despite his extensive musical expertise. His challenge is not a lack of skill but rather navigating a new, highly competitive market without the established network that previously sustained him.

To secure financial stability, Pianitsky must determine the most viable path forward. This analysis considers multiple options—each with its own risks and rewards—to identify the strategy that will provide both immediate income and long-term career sustainability.

Backstory

For 35 years, Pianitsky built a reputation in Arizona as a premier pianist, instructor, and composer. His business thrived on word-of-mouth referrals, a strong community presence, and a steady stream of students and performance opportunities.

However, his decision to move to Chicago in 2020 to care for his aging mother forced a complete professional reset. In a city brimming with talent, he quickly realized that his established credentials held little weight without the relationships to back them. His former network of students, patrons, and collaborators was now 2,000 miles away, leaving him to start from scratch.

Pianitsky has since taken on various teaching and performance roles to generate income, including:

• Teaching rock piano to children at a local music school for $21 per hour.
• Serving as a pianist at a mega church, earning $100 per service.
• Instructing students at an established music academy, charging $30 per hour.
• Providing remote lessons to students from his previous market.
• Offering premium private instruction for $100 per hour.

Despite these efforts, his income remains inconsistent, and achieving financial security remains a challenge. His goal is to double his earnings while ensuring his business model is sustainable and scalable.

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