SE01E027 - A Space Where Music Leads the Way | With Tom Illmensee

By Billy Briefman · August 7, 2025 · 58:30 read

Category: But First, Principles

Show: But First, Principles

🎷 Richmond’s Rising Jazz Hub Tom Illmensee, founder of Orbital Music Park, is building a world-class jazz venue in Richmond modeled on the intimacy and energy of legendary clubs like Ronnie Scott’s and Blue Note. He’s creating not just shows, but experiences — spaces where musicians and audiences l

🎷 Richmond’s Rising Jazz Hub

Tom Illmensee, founder of Orbital Music Park, is building a world-class jazz venue in Richmond modeled on the intimacy and energy of legendary clubs like Ronnie Scott’s and Blue Note. He’s creating not just shows, but experiences — spaces where musicians and audiences lock into the same moment.

🌱 From Corporate Strategy to Community Sound

After years in UX and product strategy — including roles at Prezi and in Fortune 500 teams — Tom returned to Richmond to blend his startup mindset with his musical roots. He’s applying lean startup methods to physical space, designing a venue around feedback loops, flow states, and human connection.

🎶 A Space Where Music Leads the Way

With Grammy-nominated artists already performing, Orbital is more than a venue — it’s a proving ground for creative community. Tom’s long-term vision includes rehearsal and collaboration spaces, global expansion to solve the “sound-making” space problem, and a new model of listening-based leadership built around silence, presence, and play.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss a new episode!

Colin and the But First, Principles team.

Connect with Colin Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-davis-1stprinciples/

Visit the First Principles Coaching website here: http://www.firstprinciplescoaching.com/

Listen to But First, Principles! on these podcast platforms:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lfyftqBqzqQOfv9QgrvZa

Apple Podcasts:

Amazon Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/but-first-principles/id1793156303https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6eb3cb0e-000d-4774-a0df-9cdf8b39089b/but-first-principles

But First, Principles with Colin Davis is a podcast for leaders, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who want to dig deeper into how things really work. Each episode explores a timeless principle or mental model that drives exceptional decision-making, leadership clarity, and strategic thinking. With guests from business, tech, academia, and beyond, Colin helps listeners peel back the noise and return to what really matters: the principles that stand the test of time.

Cast: platforms: