Meet my ponysona. His name is Hot Rod, he's a unicorn, and he knows how to play several instruments practically naturally. He's an Equestrian Bard, traveling all around with his cart loaded with musical odds and ends, making bits by entertaining, repairing instruments, and teaching little ponies how to play~

He's essentially an "instrument blacksmith" as well as an entertainer. Most of his time goes to creating instruments, but when he was a filly he was interested in being a rock star and spent more time playing. He has a lot of knowledge about different things that relate to musical entertainment from sound tech production to stage presence to making and playing the instruments. He especially enjoys putting on musical plays and rock concerts, but will work doing essentially anything that has to do with the music industry in general. He makes some damn good bits on this living too, and has occasionally been offered permanent positions, but because he's a musical jack of all trades, he prefers traveling. He doesn't really talk about it much for fear of being considered arrogant, but to close friends, he has mentioned that he would deeply consider ending his traveling bard career for a permanent position at one of the castles if Princess Luna or Prince Shining Armor specifically were to ask him.

He also has an older brother and a younger sister, but they live in Fillydelphia and run a cool cafe together. The cafe has live musical entertainment to enjoy whilst reading or just chilling out, and essentially doubles down as bookstore/bakery by day and a calm salt lick bar by night. It's a good place to kinda just relax and chill out. Growing up, this is where Hot Rod used to work, but after getting his cutie mark he decided to spread his influence and has been traveling ever since.

I have a couple fan head canons // fanons that
(a) he's actually the one who made Pinkie Pie's various instruments and actually taught her how to play most of them and how to sing
(b) he was the one who helped Octavia get her cutie mark and discover her passion for classical music
and (c) is a friendly rival to DJ-PON3 c:

Maybe one day I'll write a fanfic about him, but idk.

This pic is essentially a redraw of a much older sketch I did of him in 2012 of which you can see on my instagram here:
https://instagram.com/p/2WQE88xtit/?taken-by=cartelsaide