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Mic check 1,2,1,2. On Thursday, Da Goat Factory Academy officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting held by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.

Owned by Levi and Jennifer Maddox, the Da Goat Factory Academy is a school dedicated to providing education to individuals seeking to establish careers in the music industry.

Levi said the school began initially as a 30-minute seminar he put on for a friend on information about the music business and how to correctly manage themselves.

“I started off teaching seven steps of what you can do to enhance and make yourself better in the music business. When I wrote that, I began writing lessons off of it, which then turned into a book. Then that book turned into an 18-lesson curriculum,” Levi said. 

As the years went by, Levi said one of the things he realized is that being in the music industry is all about who you know.

“I see many of my friends in the industry as the gatekeepers to the industry,” Levi said. “You can go to school, get a degree in production and engineering and in business but one of the things you have to have is to know somebody that can get you in to go to the next level. By being one of these individuals myself, I said  ‘What if I took my curriculum, combined it with networking, and start a school?”

The academy offers knowledge of the music business and helps students get connected with professionals currently in the field.

“You can go to places like SAE or Full Sail and get a degree, but they’re not going to plug you in with someone that can help you get to the next level — we will,” Levi said.

“One of the big things we do for our students is that we help you network — you get to meet them, talk to them, and maybe even get their number. Because you went to the school, they’ll know you have the knowledge, integrity and talent to go to the next level. That’s the beautiful thing about Da Goat Factory Academy.”

Levis said the schools offer students classes in production, engineering, artist development, business and more.

He said the academy first launched online and had a good turnout of students who went on to graduate.

“After we had our first graduation, we went on hiatus for a year because I wanted to get a building and put it in a place that I believed would be able to give back to the community,” Levi said. “LaGrange was the first place that popped into my head. LaGrange is different and relaxing. I can eat, hang out, chill and the people here are so loving. They like to help each other and see you succeed, and I liked that.”

Now realizing his vision of a school centered around education, the music business and networking, Levis said it is a dream come true.

“This all started as just a thought and to see it come alive leaves me speechless. Here we are around all this support, respect and love, and I feel honored to be here,” Levi said.

Da Goat Factory Academy is located at 322 South Davis Road.