INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, welcomed Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes to provide another commentary in a series.
The Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes Commentaries
After surviving a catastrophic train accident and multiple reconstructive surgeries, musician and artistpreneur Benjamin Barnes returned to San Francisco State University at age 41 to earn his teaching credential. While recovering, he volunteered in elementary schools where children initially feared his appearance but soon connected with his kindness and creativity. Teaching struggling students became part of his healing journey and revealed a powerful truth: scars do not erase value—they often become the reason people trust you. “Frankenstein Goes to SF State” is a story of resilience, reinvention, humor, and purpose through adversity.
There’s an old saying that when one door closes, another opens.
Sometimes, though, life doesn’t close the door politely.
Sometimes it hits you with a train.
Literally.
This is Benjamin Barnes with Artistpreneur Economics™ on The Price of Business.
When I was 41 years old, I went back to college at San Francisco State University to earn my Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. Most people in those classes were decades younger than me. I wasn’t coming back to reinvent myself because I wanted a career pivot. I came back because I thought my life as a musician might be over.
Years earlier, I had been catastrophically injured after being hit by a train. My skull had been shattered. I underwent multiple reconstructive surgeries. Parts of my head were rebuilt with prosthetic bone, skin grafts, muscle transfers, staples, screws—the whole science-fiction catalog.
I looked rough.
Actually, let’s be honest—I looked like Frankenstein’s monster had wandered into a teacher preparation program.
And there I was, between surgeries, walking into elementary schools to volunteer while my head was still swollen and bandaged.
I volunteered at Everett Middle School and Moscone Elementary School while attending SF State. I’d literally go from education classes to doctor appointments where they were reconstructing my skull.
The first time the kindergarteners saw me, they were terrified. You can’t really blame them.
Imagine being five years old and this gigantic violin-playing dude walks in with a swollen stapled head looking like he escaped from a Tim Burton movie.
At first the kids stared. Some hid behind teachers. Some whispered. Some just froze.
But kids are amazing.
Once they realized I was kind to them, funny, and genuinely cared, the fear disappeared.
Then came the questions.
Oh man, the questions.
“Mr. Barnes, what happened to your head?”
“Did a shark bite you?”
“Are you a robot?”
“Do you have metal in your brain?”
And one day, because I figured honesty beats fear, I showed them part of the skin graft and the staples holding everything together while the scalp fused over the prosthetic bone.
Their reaction changed from fear to fascination.
That moment taught me something profound:
People are often afraid of what they don’t understand—until humanity enters the room.
Meanwhile, I threw myself into teaching with everything I had.
I wrote a musical for Ms. Bowley’s third-grade class play. I worked with kindergarten students, especially the ones with behavioral challenges. Funny enough, I got typecast immediately. The difficult kids ended up in my groups.
The energetic ones.
The distracted ones.
The emotionally explosive ones.
Maybe the teachers figured, “Well… this guy survived getting hit by a train. He can probably handle Kevin throwing crayons.”
And honestly? I loved those kids.
I taught them reading. Math. Rhythm. Confidence.
Because underneath all that chaos, most struggling kids simply wanted someone who believed in them.
Looking back, becoming a teacher during recovery helped save my life.
I thought music was over.
Turns out, teaching became another form of performance. Another form of healing.
And here’s the Artistpreneur lesson in all of this:
Your setbacks may redirect your purpose—but they do not erase your value.
Sometimes the very scars you think disqualify you become the reason people trust you.
This is Benjamin Barnes, and this has been Artistpreneur Economics™ on The Price of Business.
Benjamin Barnes, also known as Bencasso™, is a nationally syndicated radio commentator, musician, author, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Bencasso™ LLC and Culture Scholar Corporation 501(c)(3). A survivor of catastrophic injuries and mental health challenges, Barnes rebuilt his life through music, art, education, and entrepreneurship. He is a violinist, guitarist, singer-songwriter, grant-winning artist, podcast host, nonprofit executive director, and creator of over 110 recordings available worldwide. Through Artistpreneur Economics™, Barnes teaches creatives how to transform adversity into opportunity, blending streetwise experience, artistic passion, and business strategy with the soul of a performer and the grit of a survivor.
Social Media
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/benjamindavidbarnes
- Facebook: https:// facebook.com/benjamindavidbarnes
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/benjamindbarnes
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