Musician Ken Arlen: “Fear, uncertainty and discomfort is the necessary raw fuel for success”

Don’t shy away from fear, uncertainty and discomfort. It is always going to present itself and is the necessary raw fuel for success. I used to work hard to solve every possible negative issue in my life so I could find comfort. It is better to realize that challenges will always present themselves. If you face them, they can become essential to growth and success.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ken Arlen. As a 30-year veteran of the music business, Arlen has transformed live music for special events. He and his company, Arlen Music Productions (AMP), design and execute customized performances for both local and national high-end social events that range from luxury weddings and galas to the Presidential Commander-in-Chief Ball. AMP employs over 75 core musicians within 10 exclusive ensembles who perform nearly any style or genre of music, as well as 10 production crew members to handle sound and logistics for each event. In addition to performing their respective instruments within each group, appointed band leaders for AMP work closely with clients to bring their musical vision to life. It’s a unique, personalized business model that has inspired a new standard in the competitive special event industry. Arlen is also an accomplished saxophonist who leads the sought-after Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra. As a producer, he has an ear for talent and actively recruits top-tier musicians from Chicago because he sees the city as an incubator for the best talent in the business. This uncompromising approach to quality has helped define the cutting-edge performances that AMP clients have come to associate with the Arlen brand.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Early in my music career, I was a jazz saxophone player primarily performing in jazz clubs and playing as a sideman in other dance bands in Chicago. I heard about a new business coming to Chicago to operate the dinner cruise boat, The Star of Chicago…