Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Work Availability
Accomplishments
Websites
Timeline

Tj Coppla

Chicago,IL

Summary

Hello!


My name is TJ and I am a 21-year-old jazz musician and service industry professional born to Japanese, Italian, and Irish parents in North Jersey. My mixed heritage shaped my palate early, and years in fast-paced restaurants taught me hospitality, efficiency, and how to keep calm under pressure. After two years in Chicago absorbing its jazz culture, I recorded my debut EP in a Brooklyn studio this spring. My core strength is clear, constructive communication: I keep teams focused, frame challenges objectively, and find timely, creative solutions. I now seek roles that merge my service-industry discipline with my passion for music and food.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience

Work History

Factory Worker

Decker Tape
06.2023 - 03.2025
  • Coordinated production workflows to meet strict daily deadlines.
  • Tracked inventory and replenished stock proactively to avoid downtime.
  • Safely operated forklifts and pallet jacks to load, unload, and stage materials.
  • As the sole English speaker on-site (besides the floor manager), I swiftly picked up basic Spanish and strong non-verbal communication skills.

Line Cook / Waiter / Cashier

Cheba Hutt
02.2024 - 10.2024
  • Prepped ingredients for the line each morning, prepared sandwiches, and cleaned dishes in back of house
  • Kept inventory of our walk-in fridge and freezer.
  • Ran cash register, brought food to tables, and cleaned the dining area at the end of each night.
  • Helped organize and run karaoke, trivia night, and music bingo, as well as larger one-off events such as the Saint Patricks Day bar crawl.

Runner

Alinea
10.2023 - 11.2023
  • Learned about the operations of a three Michelin restaurant.
  • Memorized and ran 17 course menu, sharing details about each course while running tables.
  • Completed restaurant opening and closing tasks such as clearing tables, wiping down trays and workstations, reporting to expeditor for notes
  • My most impactful experience in any workplace due to the caliber of it's staff, clients, and dining courses.

Interviewer and Social Media Rep.

Chicago Independent Venue League
01.2023 - 05.2023
  • Interviewed musicians and venue staff across over 20 Chicago independent venues.
  • Researched background information on venues and artists then memorizing and reciting questions.
  • Interacted with people unscripted on camera.
  • Developed and implemented comprehensive social media strategies to increase public awareness and engagement.
  • Researched and identified new target audiences for recruitment on social media platforms.

Waiter

Pequonnock Dinner
05.2022 - 08.2022
  • Delivered prompt, courteous service in a high-volume, 24/7 restaurant.
  • Managed orders, food delivery, beverage refills, and table resets for rapid turnover.
  • Leveraged broad knowledge of global cuisines and cooking methods to guide guest choices and upsell menu items.

Waiter

Cyprus
06.2017 - 02.2018
  • Demonstrated expertise in providing excellent customer service in a fast-paced, high-volume 24/7 restaurant.
  • Demonstrated ability to anticipate and respond quickly to customer needs.
  • Collaborated with colleagues to ensure guest satisfaction and timely service.

Education

Some College (No Degree) - Sound Recording Technology

Depaul University, 2400 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
  • Member of DMBO (Depaul Music Buisness Org)
  • Elected as Event Coordinator to the DMBO Executive Board in 2023-24

High School Deploma -

Kinnelon High School , 121 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ
06-2022
  • Elected Executive Board Student Council President of a 850 student high school, elected by the student body
  • Led weekly meetings, managed the student council budget and monitored expenditures
  • Organized student led activities such as school dances and assemblies
  • Collaborated with faculty and administration to ensure student interests were represented

Skills

  • Communication – Clear, concise speaker and writer; adept at translating technical or creative concepts for diverse audiences and facilitating smooth collaboration between departments
  • Leadership – Proven ability to guide small, cross-functional teams in both studio and high-volume service settings, setting clear goals, delegating effectively, and motivating others through example
  • Problem-Solving – Comfortable in high-pressure situations; quickly diagnoses issues, weighs options, and implements practical solutions that balance quality, timeline, and budget
  • Charisma & Interpersonal Presence – Naturally upbeat and approachable; builds rapport quickly with clients and colleagues, fostering positive environments that encourage creativity and trust

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse

Accomplishments

  • Recorded drums as a session player for three separate projects, 15 songs in total, throughout 2023.
  • Wrote and distributed my first book, 'Everything in Color", a collection of short absurdist-fiction stories told through the perspective of colors throughout 2024.
  • Wrote, produced, and recorded my debut jazz project in the beginning of 2025.
  • Programmed my own website from scratch to distribute my most recent instrumentals and poems to my fan base.

Timeline

Line Cook / Waiter / Cashier - Cheba Hutt
02.2024 - 10.2024
Runner - Alinea
10.2023 - 11.2023
Factory Worker - Decker Tape
06.2023 - 03.2025
Interviewer and Social Media Rep. - Chicago Independent Venue League
01.2023 - 05.2023
Waiter - Pequonnock Dinner
05.2022 - 08.2022
Waiter - Cyprus
06.2017 - 02.2018
Depaul University - Some College (No Degree), Sound Recording Technology
Kinnelon High School - High School Deploma,

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