Today we’d like to introduce you to Tavis Simmons.
Hi Tavis, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents were big music lovers, and growing up they were always singing to me and playing records around the house. I also spent a lot of time in church, which helped shape my love for music even more. At a young age I fell in love with the drums and started playing for my church in
Virginia Beach. By the time I got to middle school and joined band, my appreciation for music had grown even deeper.
As a kid, I was fascinated by live performances. I remember watching concert specials on HBO from artists like Madonna and Janet Jackson. My mom would record them for me and I’d watch them over and over again. I was also glued to MTV, BET, and VH1 watching music videos constantly. Seeing those performances really opened my eyes to the power and excitement of live music and the way great shows can bring people together.
When I got to college, an opportunity opened up for me to play keys in a school gospel choir. I took it and quickly fell in love with the piano. While drums will always be my first love, the piano felt like my calling. Around that time I also discovered music production, and once I got my first Pro Tools setup, I was hooked. I began playing with different bands and artists, and my passion for the craft continued to grow.
A lot of my early development happened while I was living in the Washington D.C. metro area. Later, when I returned home to Virginia Beach, I really started dialing in my sound and building my skills as a musician and musical director. I had the opportunity to serve as a musical director for a number of bands and artists during that time, which helped me grow tremendously.
Eventually I felt a strong pull to move to Atlanta because of the incredible opportunities in the music scene. My family and I took a leap of faith and made the move. Some of the opportunities that were initially promised didn’t quite work out, which was discouraging at first. But my wife, Brittany Simmons, encouraged me to create my own lane, instead of waiting for someone else to open doors.
That advice led me to start The Geek Squad Band. Over the past several years we’ve grown, experimented, learned what works and what doesn’t, and continued shaping the band into something special. One concept that grew out of that journey was The Millennium Mixtape Experience, a live show that celebrates the music many of us grew up with from the 90s and 2000s. It taps into that nostalgia people feel when they hear songs that defined a certain time in their lives, and it’s been amazing to see audiences connect with that energy.
Today The Geek Squad Band performs high-energy live shows at corporate events, festivals, weddings, and private celebrations throughout the Atlanta metro area, bringing together music from multiple decades that audiences love. At the heart of it all, I simply love music. I love the way it moves people and the way it makes people feel. For me, music has always been something that helps you forget about the stresses of everyday life, even if just for a moment.
Music is love to me, and sharing that love with others through live performance is what keeps me going.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No journey in music is ever completely smooth, and mine has definitely had its share of challenges. One of the biggest moments came when my family and I made the decision to move to Atlanta. I came here with several opportunities that had been presented to me, but once we arrived, some of those situations didn’t work out the way we had hoped. It was definitely discouraging at the time because we had taken a leap of faith to make the move.
That moment forced me to really rethink my path. Instead of waiting for opportunities to come my way, my wife Brittany encouraged me to create my own lane. That advice stuck with me and ultimately led to the creation of The Geek Squad Band.
Building the band from the ground up wasn’t easy. There were a lot of trial and error moments—learning what worked, what didn’t, and figuring out how to grow something sustainable. But those challenges helped shape the direction of the band and pushed me to think creatively about how we could stand out and build a unique identity.
Looking back, those obstacles were actually some of the most important parts of the journey. They forced me to trust my vision, stay persistent, and build something that truly reflects my passion for live music and the experience it creates for people.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a musician, producer, and musical director, my work centers around creating powerful live music experiences that bring people together. I’m the founder of Band Geek Musiq and The Geek Squad Band, a collective of professional musicians dedicated to delivering high-energy live entertainment for corporate events, festivals, weddings, and private celebrations.
What I’m most proud of is building something that goes beyond just playing songs. Our goal is to create an experience where the audience feels connected to the music and to each other. One of the ways we do that is through our Millennium Mixtape Experience, a live show that celebrates the music many of us grew up with from the 90s and 2000s. It taps into that sense of nostalgia while blending multiple genres into one continuous performance that keeps people engaged from start to finish.
As a musical director, I focus heavily on arrangements, transitions, and the overall flow of the show so that the performance feels like one big musical journey rather than just a list of songs. That attention to detail, combined with the musicianship and professionalism of the band, is what really sets us apart.
At the end of the day, what I care about most is creating moments where people are singing, dancing, and remembering why they love music in the first place. Being able to create those experiences for audiences is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
One thing I’d like people to know is that, for me, music has always been about connection. Whether it’s through a live show, a festival performance, or a special event, the goal is always to create a moment where people can forget about the stresses of everyday life for a while and simply enjoy the experience together.
I’m grateful for every opportunity to share music with audiences and to work with so many talented musicians along the way. Building The Geek Squad Band and developing concepts like The Millennium Mixtape Experience has been an incredible journey, and we’re always looking for new ways to bring that energy and nostalgia to audiences.
At the end of the day, my mission is simple: to create moments where people are singing, dancing, and reconnecting with the music they love. If a performance can bring people together, lift their spirits, and give them a reason to smile, then I feel like we’ve done our job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.geeksquadband.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geeksquadband
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geeksquadband
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tavissimmons757
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegeeksquadband
- Other: https://linktr.ee/geeksquadband
Image Credits
The Kodak K
