Kyle Lemaire - Disrupting the Traditional Music Business with Powerful Marketing Techniques that Build Successful Careers in the Industry

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

Be ready to turn everything you’ve learned about the Music Business upside down, and learn how successful entrepreneurs are building their careers and longevity. Kyle Lemaire is an entrepreneur, marketing expert, and disrupter on how things are traditionally done in the music industry. We go right into what he believe major record labels are doing wrong, and how their marketing departments are failing their artists. He’s a firm believer that there is an audience out there for everyone, but how do you find this audience? Kyle uses some very successful marketing techniques that are highly effective for entrepreneurs that the traditional music industry is either completely ignoring or not even aware of. He’s the owner of Indepreneur, where he strives to educate musicians, and has a mission to impact the careers of 1 Million Artists.

In this interview, Kyle and I discuss some of the background of major labels, and why he believes their marketing departments are failing. He shares some success stories with specific marketing techniques that have build audiences and brought in thousands of dollars for his artists. Kyle discusses strategies that successful entrepreneurs are using that also work in the music business, and that artist’s should be using, and much more. This was a very inspiring conversation, and challenges you to break to wheel of the traditional music business. As Ari Herstand has said “There isn’t just one way to make money in the music industry anymore.” Kyle shares some ways he’s had success in creative ways with his artists.

Highlights from this Episode
(7:00) Artists and record labels
(11:36) Labels and marketing
(15:44) Artists and marketing
(22:20) Education material
(27:11) Nino Bless story
(34:20) Retargeting
(36:25) Calls to action
(38:20) Building an audience on Facebook
(42:00) Opt-ins
(46:32) How often to release content
(49:33) Post opt-in engagement
(52:52) Campaign budget
(55:40) Marketing great products
(57:20) Campaigning for live shows
(1:00:47) Ads for tours
(1:06:21) Building an audience as a promoter
(1:12:00) Kyle’s Full Sail journey
(1:14:25) College education
(1:16:28) Kyle’s taking a course
(1:17:50) Indepreneur courses
(1:21:07) Static percentages
(1:24:00) Managers
(1:25:57) Artists who aren’t entrepreneurs
(1:27:59) 1st person that comes to mind as Successful
(1:32:50) Goals
(1:37:25) Kyle’s favorite album and concert
(1:38:42) Kyle’s favorite books
(1:40:08) Exciting recent discovery
(1:40:56) Morning routine
(1:41:53) Drinks with dead or alive
(1:42:29) Fill the blanks

Quotes from Kyle Lemaire
“We don’t rely on record labels nearly as much”
“People don’t discover music on owned platforms like radio anymore”
“Labels don’t now how to keep attention”
“[artists] the skills that enable to connect with humans on a one to one level, makes you perfect for marketing”
“It’s to what you can do, it’s what you believe you can do”
“Twenty people in a thousand will get signed and of those who do get signed, one in twenty get to release an album”
“Make more transactions per customer, that’s what this [music industry] is terrible at”
“The goal is to generate as many supporting fans as you can”
“An indirect introduction is the best kind of introduction”
“It takes six to seven touches to generate a sale from a new customer”
“Instead of having [people] join an email list, we have them join a Facebook messenger list”
“On Facebook the content that works best is content that doesn’t look like an ad”
“You wanna give a way more than any label ever would, and then you ask for a sale”
“The more people you have on your list, the more offers you have to be making”
“Don’t do this [marketing campaigns] if you don’t have a great product”
“If innovation is there, marketing must follow”
“People don't just buy because they’re the right people, they buy because they’re the right people and they’ve been put though the right sequence of interaction”
“Leaving home is incredibly important, people who don’t leave home they to stay at home”
“There are tons of jobs in the industry that they pay people to do, that technology can already do”
“I see a future where indies can get themselves to 100k a year, and then hire a manger”
“The only reason you give someone a percentage is because you don’t know what they should be doing”
“I think we should empower musicians…tell them that they’re enough”
“Being clear about what you want and then getting it, that is success”
“Literally saying outlaid what you want has such dramatic impact”
“You can choose your future, and your decisions model that you have chosen”
“The meaning of life is to not let others determine what life is for you”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age
Robert Cialdini
Jay Abraham
Nino Bless
Joe Budden
Slaughterhouse
The 502s
Intimate Behavior by Desmond Morris
Swipe Files
Ticketmaster
The Misfits
The Supervillains
Dr. Hugo Villegas
James Altucher
Quantum Media
Soliloquists of Sound
Hitmen
Breakthrough Advertising
Scientific Advertising
Chatfuel

Get in Touch with Kyle Lemaire
https://indepreneur.io/homepage

Kyle Lemaire’s definition of making it
To completely change how music works as an industry

Keep in touch with us:
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Credits:
Host: Chris G.
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp
Show Notes: Manuel Pachamoro

Antony Bland and John Mathiason of Candyshop Management - Two Entrepreneurs and Artist Managers Sharing Stories and Lessons from 50+ Years of Combined Music Industry Experience

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

When it comes to artist management, there are many different company structures, philosophies on best practices, and overall completely different approaches to managing an artist’s career. Also, artist managers and promoters, are pretty much the only ones that can get right into the industry without any proper training or education. Sure to the most part, someone can start an agency, label, PR firm, or publishing company in their bedroom, but most of the times for the people out there doing it, that’s not the case. Usually they start with some type of internship, training system, or even need a college degree (for example, entertainment attorney’s). However, if my bestfriend is in a band, I can start managing them today. If I have as little as $500 in my bank account, I can contact an agent and book a show with one of their baby bands, today.

Prior to recording this interview with Antyony Bland, and John Mathiason, we discussed that there is no rule book or system to get into artist management. We all feel very passionate about educating artists and young managers, about different approaches, and how to do what’s best for their artists. The reason this podcast started, was to create the resources for my college students and artists I mentor, that I wish existed when I got started. Antony Bland and John Mathiason are the co-founders and owners of Candyshop Management. Combined the two of them have over 50+ years of experience in the music industry, spending many of their years in artist management, publishing, record labels, marketing, merchandising, and much more. In this episode they both share their journey and lesson with a focus on the importance of education. We discuss artist management, how to become a manager, the success story of the Mowgli’s, merchandising, and much more.

Highlights from this episode
(7:15) Good management philosophy
(18:26) Resources and areas of focus in the music business
(22:58) Common misconceptions on what a manager does
(27:05) First 90 days with a new artist
(33:16) Artist’s bad decisions
(38:10) Candyshop Management beginnings and work
(42:52) The Mowgli’s Story
(49:51) Merch and Publishing
(52:39) Starting with T-Shirts
(58:56) Accessory Items
(1:00:57) How to choose a march company
(1:04:37) Who should be the march seller?
(1:08:20) How and when to have a meet & greet
(1:14:42) How to handle internet trolls
(1:19:09) Publishing
(1:22:50) Advice for emerging managers

Quotes from Antony Bland and John Mathiason
“as managers I think we take the approach that we are always learning something new even though we’ve been doing it for a long time because things change…as a manager, your artist has to look at what they do with you as a try partnership…”
“…you can breakout as an artist without the need of a record label… if you’re smart about the way you run your business and you’re good in terms of your ability on a creative level…”
“we are a society that makes stars out of people who don’t do anything”
“sometimes for us, the first mark of success is when an artist doesn’t have to have a job…”
“I think the biggest misconception for artists is that as soon as they get a manager they don’t have to worry about anything…”
“the social [networks] are the biggest drivers for us in terms of marketing and so we try to figure out what’s the best way to maximize it…we take the first three months to determine where our relationship with an artist is gonna go”
“the worst thing an artist can do for us is lie… Don’t come to us with crazy social numbers and then us finding out that 95% of them are in Shanghai… honesty is very important because if you as the artist are putting out there things that aren’t true, it just makes our jobs more difficult…”
“management is 50% proactive and 50% reactive”
“you have to know your audience..but you also have to be smart about how you’re going out. Merchandise is just as much promotion as it is earnings…”
“if the band hates the shirt and it’s the ugliest shirt you’ve ever seen, that’s usually the biggest selling of the shirts”
“you need a merch seller before you need guitar tech…I’d even put a merch seller before front of house…but you have to have a good one…”
“it is not a perfect science, none of this stuff is perfect and a lot of the times we learn from one experience that can teach us about another experience…”
“[when dealing with internet trolls] don’t engage; as soon as you engage, you’re setting yourself up and there’s nothing that anybody can do at that point. You put yourself in a position where you’re not gonna get anywhere, it’s not an argument its just someone who wants your attention.”
“when you write a song, registering everything with the publishing company is the first thing you should do as soon as you record that song you should start thinking about registering it with Sound Exchange…”
“intern everywhere…the more knowledge you have will set you up to be a manager cause you can go for for a management company but having specific knowledge of how everything works is vital.”
“education is paramount; being able to understand the business, being able to ask other people for advice, being able to share the knowledge I think is the only thing that is going to keep us as managers an keep our artists in a good stop.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
CandyShop Management
SXSW
ASCAP
BMI
SESAC
The Mowgli’s
House Of Blues
Blue Collar
Kevin Devine
Sound Exchange

Get in contact with Candy Shop
http://candyshopmanagement.com/

Definition of making it
“For an artist, wanting to be the best artist they can possibly be, as we want to be the most successful management company we can be, try to make a successful living out of that and always have fun”

Keep in touch:
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Credits:
Host: Chris Goyzueta (Chris G.) 
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp
Show Notes: Manuel Pachamoro

Jasmine Star - Ripping the Bandaid off to Pursue Your Dreams, and Building a Successful Business of the RIGHT Fans with Powerful Social Media and Content Strategy

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

Jasmine Star is a social media and business strategist, and professional photographer. After deciding law school wasn’t for her, Jasmine ripped the bandaid off, and decided to follower her dreams to become a photographer. Through building a powerful content marketing strategy, she’s become a successful entrepreneur, teacher, and practitioner in developing and implementing social media skills to build the RIGHT audience. In this episode, Jasmine shares her story, advice for musicians and aspiring entrepreneurs, along with some of her social media tactics. It’s time to rip the bandaid off, and pursue to “live the life you love.”

Learn more about Jasmine Star and sign-up at https://mysocialcurator.com

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Building a website should be easy. Bandzoogle is the website for musicians by musicians. Save 15% on your 1-Year Subscription with promo code "makingit" and start with your 30-Day FREE Trail

Highlights from this episode
(3:15) Favorite podcasts
(5:23) First 90 days of her dream career
(8:12) Generating confidence from the ground up
(10:00) Jasmine’s international photography accolades
(11:42) Jasmine’s backstory
(15:45) Rip the Band-Aid off, today
(17:19) Finding the idea client
(19:46) Content creation for ideal client
(21:58) Engaging strangers in social media
(25:05) Social Curator
(28:37) Common mistakes on Instagram
(31:37) What and how often to post
(33:32) Posts other than promotion
(35:17) Hashtags in Instagram
(37:48) Instagram pods
(41:18) Live video
(44:31) Day at VaynerMedia
(45:27) Favorite failures and lessons learned
(46:17) First concert and first album

Quotes from Jasmine Star
“I’m a firm believer in new beginnings and telling the right stories”
“How bad do you want this and how bad do you want to do all the unglamorous work that’s going to take to get where you want to go”
“What are the rules of the industry; once I figure out the rules, then I understand how I can break them…there’s this dynamic of I know the rules, so I don’t have to play that game anymore”
“At the end of the day, I understood my assets and I understood my liabilities…I thought about it on a different perspective: was there a way to transition or refrain what my liabilities were and use them as a way to reposition my growing brand? and I think that made a really big difference”    
“We can spend our lives thinking and overthinking and imaging worse case scenarios that will never come to fruition, and so instead of wasting that precious time…I’m a firm believer in just doing stuff; doing it and not expecting it to be a perfect outcome…I find just as mucho value in understanding what didn’t work as understanding what did work"
“It’s not about being popular…I don't want a million followers more than I want a million dollars. It’s more important to be profitable than to be popular”
“The most powerful way to use social media…is to create value for your followers”
“You want to get noticed? Start talking to the right people”
“Position yourself as helpful resource, create value and create conversation. Those are the three things everybody in social media has to do first far before they start propping their own stuff to pitch online”
“In order for you to manifest the thing that you want, you must be the first to action”
“’Trust is the current currency on the web’, trust is how you grow a business”
“Anything that is going to create conversation outside of promotion is going to be fantastic for whatever it is that you're trying to sell”
“Consistency is going to be a key in making sure you're growing”
“Record companies and producers see so much talent every single day. What they don’t see is a lot of talent with a hell of a lot of people behind them…”
“No matter what people say: good, bad, ugly; if we commit to helping one other person by sharing the things that we know, we can go to bed great that night”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
Jasmine’s website
Top Wedding Photographers 2009
Ideal Client
Social Curator
Live Video Checklist and Preparation Sheet
VaynerMedia

Get in touch with Jasmine Star
@jasminestar on all social media
www.mysocialcurator.com

Jasmine Star’s definition of making it:
“My definition of making it is waking up pursuing what you love, thanking people along the way and finding a fire and a passion to pass on to other people”

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Built for musicians, by musicians,
Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music. Their step-by- step system will get you online in minutes. Choose from hundreds of mobile-friendly themes, then customize your design with Bandzoogle’s easy point and click editor. Plus, all the features you need for a professional website are already built-in:

● Sell your music and merch commission-free, right on your website
● Build your fan list and send professional newsletters using the mailing list tool
● Pull in content from all of your online services, including Twitter, Instagram, and SoundCloud
● Get live support from their musician-friendly team 7 days a week

Plans start at just $8.29/month, including free registration of your own custom domain. Go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and be sure to use the promo code “makingit” to get 15% off the first year of any Bandzoogle subscription.

Keep in touch with us
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://twitter.com/makingitchrisg
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Episode Credits
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp
Show Notes: Manuel Pachamoro

Ben Weeden - COO of House of Blues Entertainment at Live Nation - Building the Largest Portfolio of Clubs & Theaters for the Most Powerful Concert Promoter in the World

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

Benjamin Weeden is the COO of House of Blues Entertainment at Live Nation for their Clubs & Theaters division. In 2016, his team promoted over 10,000 concerts in the United States. The company owns and operates clubs and theaters all over the United States, and is most known for it’s House of Blues and Fillmore brands. Ben has been with the company literally since day one, having worked along with one of his mentors and CEO of Live Nation, Michael Rapino. In this conversation, we celebrate our 50th episode, and Ben shares a ton of insight and wisdom from his time in the Entertainment Business. We discuss his experience and how he got in, what makes a great talent buyer, what makes his division unique, the most in demand jobs at Live Nation, what his ideal curriculum would look at a Music Business school, and much more.

I have a ton of students that want to become Talent Buyers or work for Live Nation. Ben Weeden shares some great insight on what he personally looks for in Talent Buyers, and also the need for great promoters. In today’s touring industry, understanding social media, how to place efficient and effective ads on Facebook, Twitter, Instagarm, etc. is crucial to being a great marketer/promoter. Also, Ben talks a lot about analyzing data in this episode. One of the jobs I consistently see posted the most is for data analysts. If you can learn how to make marketing decisions based on data analysis, and then sell tickets, that’s where the money is! If you can do that, you’re going to be very successful as a marketer. I love this episode, and how he shared the importance of getting used to promoting 100+ shows per year to become a good Talent Buyer, and put yourself through bootcamp to get ready for the big leagues with Live Nation.

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Building a website should be easy. Bandzoogle is the website for musicians by musicians. Save 15% on your 1-Year Subscription with promo code "makingit" and start with your 30-Day FREE Trail

Highlights from this Episode
(5:30) Ben’s role at Live Nation
(7:00) New venues, acquired and built
(7:42) Sought out trends in the market
(9:50) Current trends in today’s music business, based on live shows
(13:00) Raising ticket prices for smaller, DIY artists
(14:51) Ben’s start in the business
(21:54) Advice for students aspiring to work in Live Nation
(24:50) Advice for talent buying without wasting money
(27:28) Most in demand jobs in the industry
(28:40) College degrees/classes that add value to the music business
(30:30) Courses for Music Business students
(33:17) Lessons learned from Michael Rapino and other mentors
(36:14) Advice on marketing budgeting for emerging bands
(37:53) Ben’s routine for stress relief and mental health
(41:15) Words of wisdom for future talent buyers/promoters

Quotes from Ben Weeden
“When expanding, population and disposable income are two of the most important data points”
“We’re trying to raise our tickets prices in such a way that it goes up with the inevitable rise in talent.”
“For better or for worse, the price of talent will never go down”
“We got to get better at pricing the house without pricing people out of the house.”
“In order to be a top-notch talent buyer, we generally look for buyers that have been playing with their own money, have been promoting a significant volume of shows (over 100 shows a year) and battling bigger guys [in the business]”
“I’ve got a lot of respect for buyers that go out on their own and carve out a niche for themselves”
“Learning the marketing side is very important because at the end of the day we don’t want just talent buyers, we want promoters.”
“We’re all going to book shows that are going to lose money; let’s just learn from it and make sure we don’t book that same show at the same price again.”
“On average, our senior promoters are booking over 200 shows a year…you have to get time with your family; you have to get time with yourself, you have to get time to take your vacations because this business just never stops…”
“It’s a tough business; it’s a grind; if you love music this is certainly the industry to be in nowadays given the importance of touring…you have to find the experience booking shows…take whatever experience you can”
“It’s a great time to be in this business, it’s only going to continue to grow, and there’s only going to be more opportunities…it is a real grind, you have to be prepared for that.”
“Get grounded on all the different facets, finance, marketing, operations and hopefully find a job at a smaller club, grinding it out and booking at a lower volume cause there is where you’re going to get experience.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
Live Nation
Grand Rapids (20 Monroe Live)
HOB Anaheim
Buckhead Theater
Queen Theatre
The Van Buren
Bear Sterns                                                                                                
SFX Entertainment
Robert Sillerman
Brian Becker
Milano Concerti
Michael Rapino
Clear Channel Entertainment
Prince
Britney Spears
Neil Diamond
U2
Madonna
Rolling Stones
Ticketmaster
Artist Nation
Ron Bension
Facebook Campaigns
Instagram Campaigns
Ohio State

Get in touch with Ben Weeden
LinkedIn

Ben Weeden’s definition of making it:
“To continue to learn every day; I learn a lot from the younger people from our team as well as from the people above me. At some point, I would love to keep building and running this division and be thankful that I’m not in investment banking or selling insurance.”

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Built for musicians, by musicians,
Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music. Their step-by- step system will get you online in minutes. Choose from hundreds of mobile-friendly themes, then customize your design with Bandzoogle’s easy point and click editor. Plus, all the features you need for a professional website are already built-in:

● Sell your music and merch commission-free, right on your website
● Build your fan list and send professional newsletters using the mailing list tool
● Pull in content from all of your online services, including Twitter, Instagram, and SoundCloud
● Get live support from their musician-friendly team 7 days a week

Plans start at just $8.29/month, including free registration of your own custom domain. Go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and be sure to use the promo code “makingit” to get 15% off the first year of any Bandzoogle subscription.

Keep in touch with us
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://twitter.com/chrisgoyzueta
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Episode Credits
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp
Show Notes: Manuel Pachamoro

Ari Herstand - Creative Ways to Build a Following, Generate Revenue, and Promote Your Music in the New Music Business

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

Ari Herstand is the author of “How to Make It in the New Music Business.” This conversation is our Round 2 follow-up to episode 16 featuring the introduction to the book, and Ari’s backstory. In this conversation we dive into revenue streams, how to build a following, creative marketing strategies, follow-up questions from the previous interview, and much more. Ari is a musician, multi-instrumentalist, blogger, public speaker, actor, blogger, and mentor to fellow musicians. Through his blog Ari’s Take, he’s mentored and helped thousands of musicians across the world. His book is my students favorite book about the music business, and the must read for every musician looking to build a career in music. There isn’t just one way to make a living as a musician anymore, and we dive into some of those ways to build a career in the new music business.

Get the Book by Ari Herstand that all my students and Musician clients/friends rave about!

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Building a website should be easy. Bandzoogle is the website for musicians by musicians. Save 15% on your 1-Year Subscription with promo code "makingit" and start with your 30-Day FREE Trail

Highlights from this Episode
(5:25) Updates: How To Make It In The New Music Business
(8:53) Ari’s current music project, Brassroots District
(10:15) News on Brassroots District tour
(11:24) Most common asked questions since book release
(13:55) Market research platforms for objective reviews
(16:15) Best ways artists can add value to their relationships
(20:30) Storytelling: when and where to begin?
(30:26) Find the starting point of your story
(32:10) Common revenue streams for artists
(38:20) Revenue streams for Hip-Hop artists
(41:26) Using Facebook to generate income
(48:00) Advice for data analysis
(56:28) Targeting and engaging potential fans
(60:57) Facebook groups
(63:30) Engaging with people in person
(64:35) Where to find Facebook groups to join
(66:36) Playing and expanding outside of your hometown
(72:18) Building a Facebook ad without running it
(74:48) Targeting communities that can relate with your lifestyle
(76:26) How to write emails to book shows
(79:37) How to approach a venue with no past show history of your own
(85:17) Facebook Q’s from listeners
(85:27) What do you know now, that you wish you knew when you first started?
(87:07) Keeping in mind the 50/50 rule how much of  an artist’s resources should be spent in education?

Quotes from Ari Herstand
“I don’t believe in competition in the music industry, I believe we’re all stronger when we work together and I believe that a rising tide lifts all ships”
“Any musician can pave their own way and make it work in a way that makes sense to them”
“If you’re just kind of getting started…it’s not the time to be thinking about how I can make a career out of music or how can I make money, it’s the time to think about how can I hone my craft so I can challenge myself and become great”
“In every interaction think not how can they help me but how can I help them”
“Things will happen if you start helping people and adding value”
“[a career in music is] a marathon not a sprint”
“Your branding and your story are the most important things that you need to work out after you master your music”
“You have to get creative about how you’re going to target your fans”
“Don’t think of it as a transaction…what works is that you play the long game, analyze the data and study it”
“You don’t need to sit around waiting for a label”
“Nobody care about free downloads anymore…stay up with it, keep innovating and find what works for you”
“If you study and learn the nuances and intricacies of the backend data of Facebook, Instagram or twitter you will know more than anyone else in the music industry”
“You don’t want to get opening gigs for bands you like, you want to get opening gigs for bands whose fans would also like you”
“Eventually if you support the community, the community will support you back”
“Start local, figure out what works”
“You should blend the digital and physical world, it’s not an either/or anymore”
“It’s about finding a community…they will support you even if they don’t really, like, love your content or music, just because they identify with you and you’re part of the community”
“50 people is the magic number, if you can figure out how to get 50 people in every city then you can find a venue that will book you”
“The song is the most important thing; it all comes down to the song…do not settle for good enough”
“School is a great time to develop your art, learn the business…challenge yourself to be as best as you can be before you start your career”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
Ari Herstand’s book: How to Make it in the New Music Business
Brassroots District
Bandzoogle
Reverbnation
Audiokite
Jeffrey James
Ed Sheeran
Dave Matthews Band
Nino Bless
Nas
Eminem
Common
Kendrick Lamar
Old School Marketing’s Rule of Seven
Sales Funnels
Allen Stone
The Troubadour
FM-84
Bandcamp
Vulfpeck
Alabama Shakes
The Social

Get in touch with Ari Herstand
Website:https://ariherstand.com
instagram and twitter:
@ariherstand
@ArisTake
Blog: Ari's Take
Book: How To Make It In The New Music Business
Email: ari@ariherstand.com   

Ari Herstand’s definition of making it:
“Making a living supporting the kind of lifestyle that you’d like to have doing what you love.”

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Built for musicians, by musicians,
Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music. Their step-by- step system will get you online in minutes. Choose from hundreds of mobile-friendly themes, then customize your design with Bandzoogle’s easy point and click editor. Plus, all the features you need for a professional website are already built-in:

● Sell your music and merch commission-free, right on your website
● Build your fan list and send professional newsletters using the mailing list tool
● Pull in content from all of your online services, including Twitter, Instagram, and SoundCloud
● Get live support from their musician-friendly team 7 days a week

Plans start at just $8.29/month, including free registration of your own custom domain. Go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and be sure to use the promo code “makingit” to get 15% off the first year of any Bandzoogle subscription.

Keep in touch with us
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://twitter.com/chrisgoyzueta
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Episode Credits
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp
Show Notes: Manuel Pachamoro

Joshua Knight of Paradigm Agency - Creating Your Touring Strategy, Opening for National Acts, and Getting on an Agent's Radar

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

This is episode four of the Booking Agent series, and features booking agent, Joshua Knight. In the world of booking agencies, there are the Big 6 - CAA, WME, APA, UTA, ICM, and Paradigm. Joshua Knight spent most of his career at one of the premier boutique agencies in the world, Monterey International in Chicago, IL. He currently works with artists such as Los Lobos, Aaron Neville, The Meters, Trampled by Turtles, Leftover Salmon, Lettuce, The Motet, The Infamous Stringdusters, Nicki Bluhm, JJ Grey & Mofro, and many more. The day we conducted this interview, August 3rd 2017 for the fellow historians, it was announced that Monterey International was acquired by one of the Big 6 agencies, Paradigm Agency. Joshua Knight shares what this acquisition means for Monterey International and all of its agents, as well as some of the history between the two agencies.

Joshua Knight also shares many valuable lessons in this episode. We discuss what he looks for in artists that he works and we discuss some tangible items that DIY artists should be working on to get on the radar of agents like Joshua Knight. You’ll learn about his perspective on how often you should play in a market and how to open for national acts. He also shares lessons on what students of the business should learn while they’re in school, and his ideal curriculum. Also, he shares his insight on how to become an agent and much more.

To learn more about booking agents and opening for national acts, check out these other podcast episodes and articles.

• Jeff Howard - APA
• Pete Anderson - APA
• Jeremy Holgersen - UTA
• Alec Vidmar - UTA
• Ari Nisman - Degy Entertainment (College Agency)
• How to Open for National Acts (Article)

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Building a website should be easy. Bandzoogle is the website for musicians by musicians. Save 15% on your 1-Year Subscription with promo code "makingit" and start with your 30-Day FREE Trail

Highlights from this Episode
(5:26) Role at Monterey International
(6:10) What makes Monterey Unique
(7:45) Big news for Monterey
(10:45) History of Monterey
(14:20) How Joshua got into the business
(18:40) Ideal curriculum for the music business
(24:10) Why geography is important
(26:00) What Joshua looks for in an artist
(32:20) Tangible things for smaller bands to work on to get an agent
(34:45) Joshua’s opinion on markets               
(37:30) How often to return to a market
(39:00) Best way to reach out to an agent
(42:35) How a young band gets an opening slot
(44:55) What gets a good response from promoters
(47:40) How to get into an agency as a young professional
(53:00) How young professionals can build relationships

Quotes from Joshua Knight
“A lot of things we do are multiple things at once.”
“To be able to move at a quick pace is something you can’t learn.”
“It’s almost like we’re a logistics company.”
“It’s hard to make numbers up these days because you can get caught really easy.”
“The better you are with people the more you can get done.”
“If you can learn every facet of the business you’re going to do a lot better.”
“It’s all about making a living for these guys.”
“First and foremost keep building the markets.”
“You need to make it where your fans can’t miss it.”
“I’m going to sign a young band that has something to do with my other bands.”
“Sometimes you have to scratch each other's back.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
Agents at Monterey
Michael Jackson
Monterey International
Paradigm Agency
Los Lobos
The Meters
Aaron Neville
The Motet
Infamous Stringdusters
Nicki Bluhm
JJ Grey & Mofro
Lettuce
Trampled by Turtles
Neville Brothers
Dave Matthews Band
The Beatles
Grateful Dead
Anheuser Busch
Bud Light
Ghost of Paul Revere
The Maine
Revivalists
Phish

Get in Touch with Joshua Knight
joshuaknight@montereyinternational.net

Joshua Knight’s Definition of Making It
“Being happy.”
“If you can put a roof over your head, feed your family, and book bands.”

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Built for musicians, by musicians,
Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music. Their step-by- step system will get you online in minutes. Choose from hundreds of mobile-friendly themes, then customize your design with Bandzoogle’s easy point and click editor. Plus, all the features you need for a professional website are already built-in:

● Sell your music & merch commission-free, right on your website
● Build your fan list and send professional newsletters using the mailing list tool
● Pull in content from all of your online services, including Twitter, Instagram, and SoundCloud
● Get live support from their musician-friendly team 7 days a week

Plans start at just $8.29/month, including free registration of your own custom domain. Go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and be sure to use the promo code “makingit” to get 15% off the first year of any Bandzoogle subscription.

Keep in touch with us
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://twitter.com/chrisgoyzueta
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Episode Credits
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp

Corey Glover of Living Colour - Stories of Rock N’ Roll, Touring with a Legendary Broadway Show, Winning Grammy’s, and an Academy Award Winning Film

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

This episode features Corey Glover from legendary Grammy-Award Winning Rock Band, Living Colour. On September 7, 2017, Living Colour will be releasing their first studio album in 8 years, which features their lead single “Who Shot Ya,” which is a Notorious BIG cover with a Living Colour funk to it. You’re going to hear some amazing stories from Living Colour, the Oliver Stone 80’s classic movie “Platoon,” the broadway show Jesus Christ Superstar, and much more! Corey shares how him and Vernon Reid met, and was asked to join the band. Also, you’ll hear stories from his acting days and his role in the Oliver Stone film Platoon, which also featured young stars Charlie Sheen, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp. We also talk about his time on the road with Jesus Christ Superstar, and touring as the singer for New Orleans funk powerhouse Galactic. Corey Glover is full of amazing stories, and shares his beautiful journey.

For more than thirty years Living Colour have created, recorded and performed their own brand of heavy rock that draws as much inspiration from yesteryear soul men and rock gods as they do from post-bop jazz and boulevard shaking hip-hop. Founded by guitarist Vernon Reid back when he was still a dreadlocked sideman with Ronald Shannon Jackson and other East Village noise ensembles, Living Colour includes vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and  bassist Doug Wimbish.

Get the new album "Shade" by Living Colour

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Building a website should be easy. Bandzoogle is the website for musicians by musicians. Save 15% on your 1-Year Subscription with promo code "makingit" and start with your 30-Day FREE Trail

Highlights from this Episode
Favorite spots in New Orleans (06:30)
Influencers in New orleans (7:25)
Meeting Galactic (7:50)
Past and Current Mentors (10:30)
First show (14:10)
Details about the upcoming album (15:20)
Challenges and lessons learned from making the album (17:50)
Inspiration behind the Notorious B.I.G cover (19:10)
How to spread the message to reduce gun violence (21:21)
The next 6 months for Living Color (23:15)
The moment Corey knew the entertain business was for him (26:00)
Corey’s role in Platoon (28:30)
Meeting Vernon Reid (31:20)
Favorite bands toured with (37:00)
The Grammy experience (39:05)
Experience of touring with Jesus Christ Superstar (42:55)
How to run a successful crowdfunding campaign (47:20)
Advice on how to pick the right team (49:25)
Advice for young artist (52:00)
Memories from WrestleMania (54:20)

Quotes from Corey Glover
“Have the material before you get there.”
“There’s too many guns in this world and by gun I don’t mean a hand gun or automatic weapon, but things that destroy. Instead of build.”
“Violence is a kneejerk reaction.”
“Love is the key and I don’t mean to sound like a long haired hippie.”
“We’re going to go as far and wide as we can on this record.”
“This idea that record companies aren’t ideal anymore isn’t necessarily true.”
“There’s a bunch of people doing this and it is a necessity to be ever present.”
“Don’t overextend yourself.”
“You don’t have to be at every single event in all cases.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Allen Toussaint
Sonny Boy Williamson
Albert King
BB King
Robert Johnson
Notorious B.I.G
Marvin Gaye
Vernon Reid
Robert Palmer

Places & Things
The Meters
Neville Brothers
Galactic
Brooklyn Bowl
Living Colour  
Muddy Waters
James Brown
Apollo Theatre
Platoon
Soundgarden
Jesus Christ Superstar

Get in Touch with Corey Glover
LivingColour.com
@LivingColour – Twitter
@LivingColour – Instagram
Living Color Official - Facebook

Corey Glover’s Definition of Making It
“Making it is being able to come home.”
“It’s doing what you want to do and stop and turn around and go ‘Wow I did all that?’”

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Built for musicians, by musicians,
Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music. Their step-by- step system will get you online in minutes. Choose from hundreds of mobile-friendly themes, then customize your design with Bandzoogle’s easy point and click editor. Plus, all the features you need for a professional website are already built-in:

● Sell your music & merch commission-free, right on your website
● Build your fan list and send professional newsletters using the mailing list tool
● Pull in content from all of your online services, including Twitter, Instagram, and SoundCloud
● Get live support from their musician-friendly team 7 days a week

Plans start at just $8.29/month, including free registration of your own custom domain. Go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and be sure to use the promo code “makingit” to get 15% off the first year of any Bandzoogle subscription.

Keep in touch with us
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://twitter.com/chrisgoyzueta
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Episode Credits
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp

Jeremy Holgersen - Booking Agent for United Talent Agency with a 20+ Year Career Working with Influential Agents, Becoming a Leader and Building Powerful Teams

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher |

One of the common sayings in the music industry is that it takes a village to break an artist. Building powerful and dedicated teams that make smart decisions in the best interest of the artist, and are working everyday in service to their artist, can be a game changer. Jeremy Holgersen is a booking agent for United Talent Agency (UTA) in New York, NY. He has been a booking agent for over 20 years, having worked with some of the greatest agents in the business, and has helped put together some of the most powerful teams in the world of Hip-Hop. Jeremy has worked with artists such as Action Bronson, G-Eazy, Hatebreed, Gojira, Protoje, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and many more.

In this conversation we talk about how Jeremy Holgersen got started in the business, some of his mentors, agents he’s worked with and building powerful teams. From his days at The Agency Group, Jeremy has always been surrounded by some of the most talented agents in the business, and eventually started building teams with current superstar agents. Early in his career he has worked with teams such as Peter Schwartz, Zach Quillen, and Joshua Dick where he experienced first hand the rise and success of artists such as Macklemore. Today he has built and put together teams at UTA, which we talk about in this episode. We also discuss what he looks for in an artist he represents, the transition from The Agency Group to United Talent Agency and much more. We also cover what makes a great agent, and how to stand out working in the booking agent training program aka the mailroom to floater to assistant. He shares some great lessons on booking, touring, artist development, and much more.

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Building a website should be easy. Bandzoogle is the website for musicians by musicians. Save 15% on your 1-Year Subscription with promo code "makingit" and start with your 30-Day FREE Trail

Highlights from this Episode
Role at UTA and artist Jeremy books (06:40)
What makes being an agent worth it (08:20)
Mentors in Jeremy’s career (10:45)
Backstory (12:45)
Roles as an intern (17:45)
Hip-Hop department lessons and stories (20:25)
RA vs Territorial System (24:20)
How the role as an agent has evolved (27:00)
Favorite success stories (29:00)
First signed act experience (31:55)
What Jeremy looks for in an artist (35:35)
When to tour and how many markets (37:32)
Agent Training Program (40:45)
Advice on how to work your way up (42:10)
Advice to students (44:30)
Daily habits for Jeremy (45:50)
Making It to Jeremy (50:00)

Quotes from Jeremy Holgerson
“You’re a real partner with the artist and the manager.”
“Make sure you’re thinking about the bigger picture for the artist.”
“Protect and focus and make sure you’re taking care of their brand.”
“Every artist is different; every manager is different. Each personality is different and you’re figuring that out every day.”
“Most people in the agency business are still in it.”
“When you’re in the business you figure out who gets stuff done.”
“I always paired up with people I would learn from.”
“You’re coming up with the best plan for that artists’ career.”
“You don’t have to get in a van and drive city to city and turn ten people into twenty.”
“You either get it or you don’t.”
“Anything you do in the music industry is a life style thing.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
G-Eazy
Lauryn Hill
Lil Dicky
21 Savage
Action Bronson
Macklemore
Peter Schwartz
Joshua Dick
Zach Quillen
Cheryl Paglierani
Randall Urtiski 
Jonathan Briks
Ken Fermaglich 
Tim Borror 

Places & Things
United Talent Agency
Agency Group
Governors Ball
Shaky Knees Festival
Glass Jaw
Suicidal Tendencies
The Pogues
Bad Brains
Coachella
Big Daddy Kane
Grateful Dead
Paramore
Hate breed

Get in Touch with Jeremy Holgerson
jeremyholgersen@theagencygroup.com
*DISCLAIMER: Jeremy gets a ton of email. Please be respectful of his time and remember to always think about how can you add VALUE to a relationship. If you decide to email anyone, how can you add value to them, and not look at how it benefits you. That’s where you’ll build real relationships.

Jeremy Holgerson Definition of Making It
“I don’t know if you ever do. Waking up every day and thinking about the next challenge. Making it is being complacent.”

This podcast is brought to you by Bandzoogle.
Built for musicians, by musicians, Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music. Their step-by- step system will get you online in minutes. Choose from hundreds of mobile-friendly themes, then customize your design with Bandzoogle’s easy point and click editor. Plus, all the features you need for a professional website are already built-in:

● Sell your music and merch commission-free, right on your website
● Build your fan list and send professional newsletters using the mailing list tool
● Pull in content from all of your online services, including Twitter, Instagram, and SoundCloud
● Get live support from their musician-friendly team 7 days a week

Plans start at just $8.29/month, including free registration of your own custom domain. Go to
Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and be sure to use the promo code “makingit” to get 15% off the first year of any Bandzoogle subscription.

Keep in touch:
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://twitter.com/chrisgoyzueta
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

EPISODE CREDITS
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp

Support the show for as little as $1/month on Patreon and get a ton of more content. 
https://www.patreon.com/makingitwithchrisg

Pete Anderson - Booking Agent at Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) with an Innovative Approach to Developing Talent and Agent Success

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud  

Our booking agent series continues. This week’s guest is Pete Anderson, who is a booking agent at the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) in Beverly Hills, CA. He got his start after a successful career in sales working at Dell, before transitioning to the William Morris Endeavor (WME) training program. After a few years working for WME, Pete transitioned his career to APA where he started under past podcast guest Jeff Howard. After quickly working his way up as an agent, Pete transitioned to the Los Angeles office for APA, where he became a true intrapreneur with an innovative approach to being an agent. In this episode we talk about Pete’s journey as an agent, what makes him stand out, also what he looks for in artist’s he works with, how to stand out as an independent promoter, and much more.

Pete’s Three Critical Aspects in Hiring Candidates

1. Having a good skill of communication

2. Attention to Detail & Work Ethic

3. Sense of Style and Taste

Highlights from this episode
Life on the West Coast & Moving to LA Office [2:10]
Advantages & Disadvantages of LA versus Nashville [3:33]
Importance of going to shows [4:54]
Favorite part of being an agent and agents having the power of the business [6:01]
Pete’s influences [7:40]
The moment he knew he wanted to pursue a career in the music business [9:02]
How does someone get into an Agent Training Program [13:22]
What can students do today to be considered for an Agent Training Program [15:30]
How does someone stand out once they’re in the training program [17:15]
People that were working with Pete in the WME Training Class [19:45]
Pete’s transition from WME to APA [21:45]
First artist that Pete signed [23:21]
First 3 to 6 months after signing an artist [26:53]
What Pete looks for in an artist as an agent [30:05]
Is there value to an agent for an artist to have built a following [33:15]
Pete’s role at APA and artists/events he works with [34:39]
What makes someone a great agent [39:36]
If you had to become an agent in one year, how would you do it [42:24]
How does an independent promoter get on an agent’s radar [45:29]
Things every independent promoter should know [50:33]
Who comes to mind for the word successful [52:58]
Daily habits to stay sane [53:20]
Apps people should check out [55:00]
Favorite Books and Documentaries [56:19]
Who would Pete love to have a night of drinks with [57:33]
Best advice Pete has ever received [58:40]

Quotes from Pete Anderson
“It’s about learning how to deal with people and getting grit”
“You have to learn how to serve to work in the music industry”
“Everyone assists somebody else”
“Knowing what you want to do is very important”
“The most important thing is how you make the interviewers feel when they meet you”
“Understand the different scenes that are out there”
“I’ve never been afraid of asking, and I don’t think anyone should be”
“You need to continue to contribute to the business mission of the company”
“You can’t take an artist that has no audience, and just book club shows”
“Artist develop a following wherever they are, and you have to pay attention to that”
“The process of starting in the mailroom is a very important process”
“The reason people start in the mailroom is to develop their grit”
“Everybody is an assistant, our CEO is an assistant, it’s a service industry”
“50 Cent is a Rock Star, and you’re an assistant to 50 Cent”  
“Know great music, the history of music, and know what is trending”  
“It’s important to learn the job before they tell people they know how to do it”
“If you’re good, you’ll have a job for the next 40 years”
“Don’t get emotional when dealing with an agent”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Jimi Hendrix  
The Beach Boys  
Michael Ovitz
Rush Davenport (WME)
Brandon Roundtree (WME)
Jonathan Insogna (WME)
Kevin Meads (WME)
Chris Stapleton
Sturgill Simpson
Heath Baumhor (APA)
Jon Romero (Vector)
Marc Geiger (WME)
Kirk Sommer (WME)
Leogun
Elton John
The Crystal Method
Tool
Ramsey   
JJUUJJUU
GGOOLLDD
She Wants Revenge
Adam Bravin
Barack Obama
Darryl Eaton (CAA)
50 Cent
Sonny Schneidau

Places & Things  
Agency for the Performing Arts (APA)
William Morris Endeavor (WME)
Vanderbilt University
Dell Computers
Desert Daze
Burger Records
CAA Powerhouse [Book]
Yamaha Entertainment Group
The Five Spot (Nashville)
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Atlantic Records
Paradigm
United Talent Agency (UTA)
ICM Partners  
Live Nation
Buffett: The Making of An American Capitalist [Book by Roger Lowenstein]
The Agency [Book by Frank Rose]
True North [Book by Jim Harrison]
Off to the Side [Book by Jim Harrison]

Pete Anderson’s Definition of Making It
“I what you do, what you say, and what you think is the same thing, you’re going to be happy”

Keep in touch with Pete Anderson
http://www.apa-agency.com/
panderson@apa-agency.com

Keep in touch:
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://twitter.com/chrisgoyzueta
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

CREDITS: 
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp

Support the show for as little as $1/month on Patreon and get a ton of more content. 
https://www.patreon.com/makingitwithchrisg

Jeff Howard - Booking Agent at Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) on Artist Development and Building a Successful Career as a Booking Agent

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud  

This episode kicks off our booking agent series, and features Jeff Howard from Agency for the Performing Arts (APA). In today’s music business, an artist's main sources of revenue come from touring, merchandising and licensing. There is still a significant amount of money that can be made from physical music sales at shows, and from streaming. However, in today’s business you either need to have success on the road, or be a great songwriter. Those are not the only two ways, there are definitely lots of artists that think outside of the box and come up with unique business models. But for the majority, touring is where it’s at. The touring business has been growing every single year since 1990, and is only continuing to go up with the touring side of the business having its best year yet in 2016, beating its previous best year in 2015. With that said, having a booking agent can be a game changer for your career. One of the lines from Macklemore that has had a big influence on me was the line in his song “Ten Thousand Hours” where he says “I got signed the day I got an agent.” Agents have all the power of the touring business. There is a lot that goes into getting an agent, and in this series, we’re going to explore some different stories and perspectives.  

Jeff Howard is a booking agent at the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) in Nashville. His journey started at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Throughout his time at Berklee, Jeff made a lot of important connections. In this episode, he talks about his experience at Berklee and some of the instructors he’s learned from. We also talk about how he landed his first internship with Rounder Records, whose headquarters were in Cambridge, MA at the time. Also, you’ll learn how meeting Tim Collins, the former manager for Aerosmith, has lead him to his first job with Monterey Peninsula. Jeff also shares some history of Monterey Peninsula, how he transitioned to APA, and the history there, and much more about agencies. You’ll also learn about what he looks for in an artist that he represents, artist development, how to become an agent, and much more.  

Some additional resources on Booking Agencies.
Here is an article I wrote for the blog on How to Open for National Acts
My interview with College Booking Agent, Ari Nisman
One of my early interviews, with United Talent Agency booking Agent Alec Vidmar

Keep in touch with Jeff Howard
http://www.apa-agency.com/
jhoward@apanashville.com

Credits:
Host: Chris Goyzueta
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency  
Music: Emily Kopp

Support the show for as little as $1/month on Patreon and get a ton of more content. 
https://www.patreon.com/makingitwithchrisg

Neal Casal of Chris Robinson Brotherhood Shares Stories from his 30+ Year Career

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud  

What’s your definition of Making It? That's the last question I ask every guest on the show. When I think of making it, I think of longevity. It's not about what you can do in a year, but it's about what you can do in 20, 30, 40+ years of life. A lot of our guests have talked about focusing on the long game. One of the most common answers to this question besides getting paid to do what you love, is that making it is a constant pursuit that never really ends. When I think of "Making It," I think of people like Neal Casal. You'll hear his answer to this question at the end of this conversation.

Neal Casal has built a 30+ year career as a guitarist and singer-songwriter, who has released 10 original albums, toured and recorded with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, and many more. Currently Neal is performing with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood who’s releasing a new album, Barefoot in the Head, on July 21st, 2017. He also performs with Hard Working Americans and Circles Around the Sun. Neal is a photographer whose work can be seen on his instagram channel and tumblr pages. He has shot album covers for Ryan Adams, Tift Merritt,  and many more, and has performed on many albums as a sessions guitarist. In the last 6 years, he has released 9 albums between all the bands he’s currently playing with. He’s been able to build a beautiful long career, with so much more on the horizon.

In this conversation we go through Neal’s backstory, talk about the new album, how Circles Around the Sun got started, his time with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, and much more. I could’ve probably gone to speak with Neal for another two hours, but this episode is a great intro to his life’s journey so far.  

Support the Show & use our Amazon Banner for your next Purchase. Thank you! 

Check out the new album: Barefoot in the Head

Highlights from this Episode
New album details (06:05)
Reasons for a favorite record (08:39)
Writing process for the band (11:15)
Photography collection of the album (13:10)
First time picking up an instrument (13:55)
First time seeing Grateful Dead (16:16)
Circles around the sun project (18:35)
What’s next for the project (21:25)
Formation of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (24:45)
Photo album of time with Ryan Adams (26:30)
Story of Starsky and Hutch (29:00)
Facebook question (31:15)
Making it to Neal (34:40)

Quotes from Neal Casal
“All roads lead back to my bedroom and a acoustic guitar in my hand.”
“You can dance to it, but also check in or check out.”
“It’s an interesting group, interesting people.”
“You have to be patient and develop your music slowly.”
“Their hobbies for other people, but they’re my life.”
“You always have to practice and keep your skills up.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Grateful Dead
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Jerry Garcia Band
Ryan Adams

Places & Things
Madison Square Garden
Meadowlands
Nassau Coliseum
Giants Stadium
Circles Around The Sun
Black Crowes
Beachwood Sparks
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
Owen Wilson
Vince Vaughn

Get in Touch with Neal Casal
http://www.nealcasal.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nealcasal/
http://chrisrobinsonbrotherhood.com/
https://www.facebook.com/circlesaroundthesunband/

Neal Casal Definition of Making It
“I’ve already done that many times over. All I wanted to do was live a life with music and art at the center of it and I’ve been doing that for many years.”

Support the show for as little as $1/month on Patreon and get a ton of more content. 
https://www.patreon.com/makingitwithchrisg

J. Slaughter - A Recording Artist & Physique Competitor on His Pursuit of Making a Difference in the World with Music and Fitness

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud   

What would you do if you got a second chance at life? J. Slaughter is an R&B Singer, Personal Trainer, Fitness Model, and Physique and Bodybuilding competitor form St. Arthur, Texas. His music is a blend of R&B, Soul, Rock&Roll, and EDM. His music is going to make you want to get up and dance, just as he loves to do. In this conversation we share his journey as a musician, and a life-changing event that turned him to combine his music with fitness. He leads by example everyday by being disciplined in his nutrition and training, and uses his music and voice on social media as a way to inspire and motivate people, while also changing lives literally in the gym. In this episode, he shares some insight on his writing process, how he built his own studio and learned how to produce his own music, what goes into competitive physique and bodybuilding, being an Instagram influencer and much more.

This was such a fun and inspiring conversation for me. J. Slaughter and I met on Instagram. I was doing one of my regular routines where I’m searching top posts from some of the hashtags I regularly use, and I found his Instagram page. Very quickly I learned that he was a competitive physique athlete and singer-songwriter, with a very strong influence on Instagram. I had to reach out and meet him, and thankfully he replied. He has a wonderful and inspiring journey, and it was really fun to have a conversation with him on the show. After this episode you’ll learn a lot, and also feel inspired to take advantage of everyday, and live a fulfilling life. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and please make sure to reach out to J. Slaughter on Instagram, and check out his music at all of the links below. Thank you, thank you!

Support the Show & use our Amazon Banner for your next Purchase. Thank you! 

Get J. Slaughters EP on iTunes

Highlights from this Episode
J. Slaughter’s workout routine (03:50)
Epic cheat meals (05:00)
Breakdown of J. Slaughter’s music (7:20)
The backstory (8:40)
Who J. listens to today (10:40)
The process of writing music (11:35)
The first song that made J. proud (12:25)
How much time is spent writing music (13:35)
J’s writing and recording process (15:30)
Advice for the starting musician (19:40)
Life before music (22:25)
What inspired the healthy living for J. (26:16)
What it was like to win your first competition (31:20)
How long J. has been competing (38:50)
The experience at Olympia (42:21)
Advice to stay healthy on the go (44:10)
20-minute workout on tour (46:35)
Inspirations behind the new EP (48:05)
Instagram tips (54:00)
Lessons learned from training in the gym (57:00)

Quotes from J. Slaughter
“Music is a beautiful thing. It’s a way to connect with people.”
“If you don’t know how to record yourself, that could be a big headache.”
“Never be limited.”
“Always be hungry for knowledge. Branch out as far as you can.”
“You put the work in the work, you stay committed, and you’re consistent, you’re going to get the results you want.”
“If you keep telling me I can’t do it; it’s going to push me harder.”
“At the end of the day I love music.”
“Hashtags, hashtags, hashtags.”
“Handwork, consistency, and patience.”

Links to Things & People Mentioned
People
The Rock
Aerosmith
Madonna
Bon Jovi
Prince
Nickelback
Vinny D
Dave Batista

Places & Things
Different Route Same Destination
Krispy Kreme
YouTube
Dominos
Total Nutrition
Interscope

Get in Touch with J. Slaughter
https://www.iamjslaughter.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jslaughter22/
https://twitter.com/jslaughter22
https://soundcloud.com/jslaughter-music

J. Slaughter’s Definition of Making It
“Do what you love and love what you do. Keep doing it man. If you’re not doing what you love, you’re not making it.”

Support the Show for as little as $1 per Month - check out the video to learn about the inspiration

Jeffrey James - An Adventure in the Nashville Songwriters Scene, Publishing Deals, & Working Towards Songwriting Mastery

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud   

How many songs do you have to write to start getting to the good stuff? This episode features Nashville based R&B/Alt-Pop/Singer-Songwriter Jeffrey James. In this conversation we discuss reaching mastery in songwriting, the Nashville music scene and songwriters rounds, building your business team, publishing, collaborations, and much more. We dive into Jeffrey’s story about growing up playing basketball in Indiana to moving to Nashville to attend Belmont University, and his journey to getting a manager, booking agent, attorney, publishing deal with Sony/ATV Publishing.

Jeffrey James released the EP “UNSAID” in 2017, and we dive into this EP, which was released by South by Sea, and what people can expect from these songs. We also discuss him venturing into collaborations with EDM artists, and getting his song placed in the TV show “Nashville.” Jeffrey James shares all kinds of great and wonderful lessons with you in this conversation. This was the first time on the podcast where we really got to dive into the Nashville songwriter’s rounds, and Jeffrey had some great insight to share on the benefits of being part of them and how to get into that circuit. We really dive into what it takes to reaching songwriter mastery, and his pursuit of continued success in songwriter. You’ll learn about how he built his team, and much more.

Support the Show & use our Amazon Banner for your next Purchase. Thank you! 

Highlights from this Episode
Nashville Music Scene (03:40)
Experience in NOLA (05:15)
Cold Blood Collaboration (06:05)
Publishing Deals (07:40)
Unsaid EP (12:30)
What happens to the unused songs (14:34)
Jeffrey’s favorite memories of a small town (15:35)
Lessons learned from small town community (18:35)
Jesus Christ Superstar experience (20:20)
Choir experience (22:55)
The book of guitar playing (24:20)
What made Jeffrey decide to do music professionally (25:40)
Who inspired Jeffrey (27:25)
Reason for moving to Nashville (28:10)
Songwriters rounds (31:50)
Nashville Co-Writing culture (39:00)
Co-Writing do’s and don’ts (40:05)
Jeffrey’s writing process (41:53)
Advice for writer’s block (43:29)
What was Jeffrey’s life before his label deal (44:50)
Moment when Jeffrey felt comfortable in his career (49:55)
The team behind the music (53:15)
How to know when you know you’ve found your voice (55:55)
What changed for Jeffrey (1:01:55)
Jeffrey James being featured on Nashville (1:03:30)
Collaborations in the music career (1:05:55)
Jeffrey’s advice on content (1:08:08)
What to expect (1:11:05)
Advice for the aspiring songwriter (1:11:50)
Behind the scenes questions (1:13:24)

•             Funny Fan Encounters
•             Superpowers
•             Success
•             First Concert & First Album
•             First 90 / Last 90
•             Favorite Media
•             Favorite Apps
•             Mentors
•             Night of drinks with anyone
•             Time Travel

Making it to Jeffrey James (1:21:30)

Quotes from Jeffrey James
“Just be nice man, people talk.”
“As big as Nashville is, it’s still a small city.”
“You start out and you’re just replication the music you know, and you do that until you find your own voice.”
“At that point it wasn’t about people hearing me, I needed to perform.”
“You grow thick skin by preforming in front of people who aren’t necessary there to hear you.”
“If they love you that night, they won’t have any problem booking you.”                 
“The best way to get a good lyric it to get the crappy ones out.”
 “If you hear yourself talking the most, then shut up for a bit.”
“No one wants to write with the guy who uses all of his own music.”
“I gravity towards content that I can connect with my life.”
“People are coming to be without me having to swim against the current.”
“I knew what I thought was good, and the music I was making didn’t add up to that.”
“We are in the ages of singles.”
“As long as I can put out music, I will put out music.”
“I’m still finding the balance between release things and promoting them.”
“Keep writing, and don’t hold too many songs close to your heart.”
“Every song you write before you write 200 songs is crap.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Eric Olson
Gabe Simon
Tungevaag & Raaben
Emily Kopp
Michael McDonald
Randy Dease
Antonio Benderas

Places & Things
Unsaid EP
South By Sea
Les Miserables
Jesus Christ Superstar
Hal Lenard Guitar Method
Incubus
311
The Beatles
Doobie Brothers
Belmont University
Full Sail University
NACA
ASCAP
UTA
Fly South
Walls EP
Criminal Minds
Finding Carter
Nashville
I Zombie
SouthWest Airlines
BPM App

Jeffrey James’ Definition of Making It
“It changes every year.”

Keep in touch with Jeffrey James
http://jeffreyjames.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jeffreyjamesofficial/
https://twitter.com/jeffreyjames
https://soundcloud.com/jeffreyjamesmusic

Help us create more content & become a subscriber on patreon - & we will create more podcasts, blogs, lessons, & videos that help you get one step closer to making it

Pank Nayyar - A 9,000 Mile Journey to Pursue a Dream to Become a WWE Superstar

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud  

What would you do to reach your dreams? How much would you sacrifice to get one step closer to reaching them? The most beautiful part in pursuing your dreams is the journey. That’s where all the stories and the good stuff happens that we teach and share with others. One of my main missions of this podcast is to share inspiring stories and insight with lessons from leaders of the Entertainment Business and fascinating Entrepreneurs. It’s my goal to share those stories in a way that the guests would be proud to share with their family and closest friends, and also bring a lot of value to our listeners. I also look for stories that inspire me, and that I want to share with the world to help make a difference in people’s lives. This weeks guest is Pank Nayyar who travelled to Orlando, FL all the way from New Delhi, India to pursue his dream to become a WWE Superstar. Pank Nayyar’s story is very inspiring to me, and I’m excited to share it with you.

Pank’s story is an inspiring adventure of someone that will make massive sacrifices to pursue their dream. When he was 12 years old, he was sitting in a classroom when the teacher asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up, and in front of the entire class he answered “I want to be a WWE Superstar just like the Undertaker.” And just a few years later the journey began where after several obstacles he moved to Phuket to train with an MMA school and started getting in shape. In 2015, he was voted as the WWE’s biggest fan in India, and was able to attend a live event. After seeing WWE Tough Enough on TV in India being broadcast live from Full Sail University, he decided to move to Orlando, FL to go the Full Sail for his masters, and pursue his dream. And the journey begins.  

In this conversation we talk about his journey so far, his obstacles pursuing his dream, traveling the world and much more. Pank graduated from Full Sail University with his Masters Degree in Entertainment Business with me on June 2017. He’s a very humble and very inspiring human being, who works extremely hard for his dream. How far would you go? How far would you travel? What would you leave behind to live the life you love?  

Highlights from this Episode
Where is Pank today (05:40)
Pank’s story (6:00)
Influencers in his journey (7:00)
First experience with pro wrestling (07:45)
How wrestling is broadcasted in India (08:30)
Pank’s dream for his future (09:20)
How India impacted wrestling (11:35)
School in India vs School in America (12:05)
When Pank began training (12:45)
Journey to OVW & FCW (13:13)
Pank’s journey after rejection (15:00)
Training (16:30)
Biggest WWE fan of India interview (17:30)
Motivation for moving to American and enrolling in Full Sail (18:40)
Relationships with Pank’s parents (19:45)
First live wrestling experience (20:20)
Pank’s MMA schedule in Orlando (21:12)
Training routine (21:45)
WWE tryout experience (23:36)
Pank’s internship with WWE at Full Sail (27:17)
The upcoming journey to a wrestling career in India (28:20)
How Pank’s peers could support him (29:37)
Favorite books and quotes (30:38)
Pank’s superpower (31:55)
Who comes to mind at the thought of successful (32:03)
New discovery (32:23)
Best piece of advice (32:55)
Where would Pank travel to in time (33:10)
Journey for Pank’s next 3 months (33:40)
Making It to Pank (34:40)

Quotes from Pank Nayyar
“I can do it; I want to follow my dream.”
“You just have to be at the right place, right time.”
“I have my fingers crossed and I’m hoping for the best.”
“If it’s meant to be, it will be. It it’s your destiny, it will be.”
“I’m an open book.”
“Dream big”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Undertaker
John Cena
The Rock

Places & Things
Full Sail University
WWE
New Delhi – India
WrestleMania
Festival of Lights
OVW
FCW
The Jungle
NXT

Get in Touch with Pank Nayyar
https://www.instagram.com/wwepank/
https://www.facebook.com/wwepank

Pank Nayyar’s Definition of Making It
“Me representing my country and making my family proud. Like okay he made it. Dream big.”

Fran Snyder - The Power of Building a Worldwide House Concerts Network of Over 1,000 Hosts

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud   

One of the keys to business that I’ve learned from my mentors that it’s important to be genuine, authentic, and to be an innovator. In a very saturated music industry, this is more important than ever. Anyone can put up music on Spotify, Soundcloud, or YouTube, and book shows in clubs across the country. How do you stand out from all the noise? At the end of the day, every artist starts out as a small business. How do you grow that business? Fran Snyder is an innovator who thinks outside of the box, and doesn’t try to follow the basic rules of put your music and content online, book a bunch of shows, promote them like hell, and pray something happens.

This is part two of our house concerts series, and in this episode features Fran Snyder, a singer-songwriter and the Founder of Concerts In Your Home, The Listening Room Network, and the Listening Room Festival. In this you’ll learn about his company, Concerts In Your Home. We discuss how to be part of the network as a host and as an artist. The network has over 1,000 hosts all over the world. You’ll learn what hosts are looking for, and how to book a tour oversees through the network, and much more. We spend some time on Fran’s backstory of following the “formula” of grinding through clubs and the college circuit, until the switch flipped and he became one of the pioneers of the house concerts movement.

“House Concerts are the Emotional Anchors to a Tour” - Hans York

 Highlights from this Episode
The resurgence of House Concerts [6:10]
When did the entrepreneurial spirit start for Fran Snyder [9:52]
The first time playing live and Fran’s booking process in the beginning [13:46]
When Fran discovered playing House Concerts [19:28]
How Fran finds hosts and how to become a host [25:31]
How does an artist become part of the network, and what genres work best [32:15]
What kind of video should artists submit [38:14]
How does the process work once an artist is accepted [41:12]
How do artists get paid and all the different opportunities? [43:48]
What types of artists are part of the network and how to work this into your touring strategy [50:22]
Countries that are part of the network and active and can artists use this to get overseas [52:18]
Stories of artists that are part of the network [56:32] 

Quotes from Fran Snyder
“Recorded music wants to become free”
“I’m training this audience on listening rooms, because we don’t want to see the public performance disappear.”
“We want our artists to have a listening audience and a living wage.”
“If you want to be a musician, start now.”
“Once we started charging for the application process, it immediately improved the quality.”
“People really value the feedback that they’re getting.”
“House Concerts are becoming often times the anchor date.”
“(House Concerts) can be a beautiful working vacation.”
“What’s really fun is what happens after the gig.”
“Often times you become part of these people’s lives and become lifelong friends.”
“We play music because it’s our favorite way to connect with people.”
“Are you creating moments that you’re going to remember?”  

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Barry Manilow
Indigo Girls
U2
Shannon Curtis
Hans York
Buzz Cason 

Places & Things
Concerts In Your Home
The Living Room Network
The Listening Room Festival  
NACA College Conference  

Keep in touch with Fran Snyder:
https://fransnyder.com/
http://www.concertsinyourhome.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fransnyder
https://twitter.com/CIYH

Definition of Making It by Fran Snyder
“Having a career on  your terms. Every artist has to define success for themselves.”

Shannon Curtis - How to Earn Over $50k in 4 Months Playing House Concerts - An Innovative Approach to Building a Fulfilling Music Career

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud   

Sometimes I bring guests on the show that are successful entrepreneurs, marketers, and content creators outside of the music business, and relate their lessons and insight to artists and students of the music business. Shannon Curtis has a completely unique approach to her music career, from which people in ALL industries can learn her lessons on community and creating genuine deep relationships.  Shannon Curtis is an independent songwriter, singer, performer, recording artist, speaker, and author, based in Los Angeles. Her fourth full-length record, entitled Creationism, was released on June 17, 2016, and debuted on Nielsen's Top New Artists Albums chart.

Shannon Curtis is a fearless innovator of the music business taking her career completely in her own hands. In 2011, she performed her first house concert and was hooked on the art of building a community around house concerts. Shortly after she grossed over $25K and wrote a book about her experience called “No Booker, No Bouncer, No Bartender, How I made $25K on a 2-Month House Concert Tour (And How you can too)” Today, she’s performing over 70 house shows in less than four months every Summer grossing over $50K. In this episode she shares how she discovered house concerts, how she was able to build her own community through her supporters without relying on other networks or middle people. Shannon shares her beautiful philosophy on focusing on building community, not fans. We also talk about her new album, and all the projects she works on during her time off road, which also includes writing personal songs for people.

Curtis’s music has been featured prominently in independent film & in TV shows such as ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars, MTV’s The Hills, and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Curtis lives in Los Angeles with her husband, record producer Jamie Hill.  This was an incredibly inspiring episode for me. I meet so many artists and students of the music business every day trying to navigate their way through the business. I try to push and force them to think outside of the box, and figure out a way to stand out and be completely different form the norm and following the “formula.” Shannon Curtis is not only completely creative with her art, but had a complete creative and genuine approach to entrepreneurship that builds deep connections with people in her community.

Get a Copy of Shannon's Book:

Highlights from this Episode
Breakdown of Shannon’s house concert tour (04:40)
How to describe Shannon’s music (06:55)
What lit the fire for the music industry (7:50)
Four years of being an up and coming artist (12:30)
Story of the first house concert (15:05)
How Shannon occupies her time while she’s not on the road (21:55)
First concert and first album bought (25:50)
Who comes to mind when Shannon thinks “Successful” (27:12)
Advice for artists attempting a house concert tour (27:50)
DIY venue experiences (32:55)
Most effective way to run a house concert, beginning to end (36:15)
Asking process to the host of the house concert (43:00)
How Shannon does ice breakers (49:35)
Worst concert and what was learned (51:35)
Shannon explains fans vs community philosophy (56:25)
Advice for successful social media use (1:01:05)
What to expect for Shannon’s new work (1:04:40)
Crowdfunding done differently (1:07:55)
 Shannon’s creative process (1:09:00)
Rapid Fire Questions (1:10:00)
Making It (1:15:40)

Quotes from Shannon Curtis
“We intentionally sound artful. They aren’t intended to sound like anything you’d hear on the radio.”
“You make decent money playing in colleges.”
“I don’t equate success success with money.”
“If you allow yourself to engage with those people as a human then maybe people will respond.”
“Once you give yourself the permission to step outside that and be brave, and you let yourself be seen a little more nakedly; honestly I feel like that is the moment people start responding.”
“The minute I stepped outside was the minute I started experiencing more connection.”
“They’re not people who host house concerts. They are people who know me.”
“We’re reaching new markets of people because we see new people.”
“They are other ways to do so much better for yourself.”
“If you can plan out the way you see the event happening, you can maximize you income.”
“The more you can make a connection. The more they will give in donations.”
“The people who love you the most want to see you achieve”
“You call them fans, I call them community.”
“They are likely to say yes if they have the ability to.”
“What I want to do is bring value into this world.”
“I’m make the conversation about getting to know them.”
“We learned that we needed to be a lot more specific.”
“You and I are made in the same life.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Amy Grant
Tiffany

Places & Things
No Booker, No Bouncer, No Bartender
I Am Not Your Negro

Get in Touch with Shannon Curtis
http://shannoncurtis.net/
https://www.facebook.com/shannonkcurtis
https://twitter.com/shannoncurtis
https://www.instagram.com/shannoncurtismusic/

Support Shannon and Jamie’s Patreon Campaign:
https://www.patreon.com/shannonandjamie

Shannon Curtis’ Definition of Making It
“I’m making it. I’m making music and I can pay my bills.”

Shannon Curtis at TEXxArlington

After Shannon shared the link of her official bio, I noticed she did this beautiful TED Talk on her experience of house concerts, and the deep connections she's built with her community. Inspiring!!

Ari Nisman - College Booking Agent & Entrepreneur Discussing the College Circuit, Booking for Corporate Gigs, Military, & more

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud   

Ari Nisman is the President and CEO of Degy Entertainment. The company is most known for its success in booking talent for Colleges and University. He got his start in the industry working for record labels, after which he started his Artist Management Company, Degy Management. Very quickly he established a skill for getting artists signed to record labels and publishing companies. After some difficulty of getting his artists a booking agent, he decided to transform his company into a booking agency initially focusing on the clubs and theatres circuit. Today, Degy Entertainment is one of the most reputable College Booking Agencies. The company also books artists for the United States Military and many Corporate Events. He also works with the major booking agencies and boutique agencies, to help broker deals for the US Military and Corporate events for artists on their rosters.

In this conversation we talk about the two big college conferences, NACA and APCA. The differences between the two, how to prepare and what to expect from a showcase, the purpose of showcasing, putting together your showcasing video, the types of shows an artist will get booked for, and much more. We also dive into his story and how he got started, and touch a little on how he got started booking talent for the US Military and Corporate Events. It’s always an inspiration to find really good people like Ari, that are doing great things in the music business, are successful entrepreneurs, and pour good into the world. Get your pens and paper ready for this conversation with, Ari Nisman of Degy Entertainment.

Highlights from this Episode
What brought Ari to Florida (04:40)
What Ari is most excited about (06:00)
Experience at University of Michigan (06:30)
Ari’s entrepreneurial experience (11:45)
How the industry worked in the past (13:00)
Motivation for Ari’s company (16:30)
Process of getting an artist signed to a label (18:00)
How to develop the artist’s story (21:30)
Transition into booking artist (22:45)
How to deal with the challenges of being a small agency (25:38)
Struggles of booking clubs and the difference between colleges (27:25)
Advice to the struggling agent (29:10)
Difference in agency organizations (32:20)
How Ari works in the organization (35:20)
Misconceptions of college circuits (39:05)
Breakdown of “Nooner” shows (41:55)
Genres for the college circuit (43:40)
What Ari looks for when signing an artist (45:30)
What a band should put into their video (47:20)
What do smaller agencies do in comparison to big agencies in the college circuit (48:58)
Events that Ari’s agency works with (51:15)
Ari’s favorite media (54:43)
Advice for the young person wanting to be an agent (55:35)
Making it to Ari (59:10)

Quotes from Ari Nisman
“Everybody who you can meet could be an important contact for you to get forward with.”
“I always said please and thank you.”
“Back then I think we did a good job of just creating relationships.”
“Build that entire plan, it has to be more than the music.”
“When you have a younger act, they have to get out on the road. They have to get road legs.”
“Go ahead and do some internships and read some books.”
“If the music isn’t there I’m not going to sign it.”
“The best time to get a band signed is end of April, beginning of May.”
“I want to sign them when I have time to work with them.”
“Internships, building relationships, getting know anyone you can and shake their hands.”
“Nothing is handed to us.”
“You have to go out and stay hungry.”
“You should never meet your goal. Always be just short of that goal and work harder to get there.”
“you have to find enjoyment in what you’re doing.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Jimmy Eat World
Rusted Root
OAR
Face Plant

Places & Things
Napster
MP3.com
RCA
Radio Disney
Cool Whip
Perpetual Groove
Moonshine Still
CAA
WME
APCA
NACA

Get in Touch with Ari Nisman
http://degy.com/
https://www.facebook.com/degyentertainment
https://twitter.com/degyent
https://www.instagram.com/degyent/

Ari Nisman’s Definition of Making It
“I’m never going to make it because I’m never going to make that goal. Making it is happiness in life, some people don’t need to make 50 million dollars to make it.”

“If that’s what works for you and that makes you happy, that’s making it.”

Inside the Life of a Talent Buyer - Lessons to Becoming a Talent Buyer & Concert Promoter

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud   

Inside the life of a Talent Buyer. In this episode we feature lessons and insight to becoming a Talent Buyer and Concert Promoter. How to get started, how to succeed, and how to grow with companies such as Live Nation and AEG Live. In this episode, I answer questions about my experience as a Talent Buyer with House of Blues in New Orleans, as well as answer some previous unanswered Facebook questions. This episode also features 5 Lessons from highlights of previous episodes from our Talent Buyer series with Kevin Stone, Wayne Lee, Dan Larson, Allen Anders, and Michael Yerke. Be ready to learn all about what it takes to succeed as a Talent Buyer. 

Episodes:
1.   Kevin Stone
2.   Wayne Lee
3.   Dan Larson
4.   Allen Anders
5.   Michael Yerke  

Highlights from this Episode
What are the 3 criteria Chris looks for to book a band (06:00)
How to make a judgment call on under age crowds (07:50)
What to offer to performers to appeal them to your venue besides money (08:45)
Making great music or having a social media following. (11:05)
 Segment 1: Kevin Stone (13:25)
In a Time of crisis who are the Talent Buyer go to people (22:00)
What is the Golden rule to negotiating (23:40)
What to do if you have to put the number out first (26:15)
How Chris’ stays up to date on his markets the best he can (27:30)
How to remain in the smaller local scene as you grow in your career (29:00)
Segment 2: Wayne Lee (30:05)
How often to give a marketer a raise (38:00)
Important characteristics of a Talent Buyer (40:30)
How Chris stays organized (42:41)
How to stay in the loop with music industry and talent buyer buzz (44:10)
Segment 3: Dan Larson (46:35)
Daily Activities of a Talent Buyer (54:10)
How Chris stayed personable with performers (58:15)
Why local support isn’t regularly featured on tours (59:58)
Best way to get in touch with a talent buyer if you haven’t played at the venue (1:02:50)
Who led Chris on his journey to becoming a talent buyer (1:04:10)
Segment 4: Allen Anders (1:06:45)
Biggest yes and no that a Talent Buyer can do (1:17:10)
How to attract the attention of an entertainer or performer (1:19:50)
It is important to grasp a charity or cause early on in careers (1:22:45)
How to get into this line of work and how to get an internship with Live Nation (1:24:00)
Segment 5: Michael Yerke (1:29:30) 

Quotes from Chris Goyzueta
“Try to purposely sell out. It creates buzz.”
“If they aren’t willing to promote themselves, why should I promote them?”
“Having history, and having a good venue.”
“When they are at your house, you’re inviting a guest into your ‘house’. “
“Go the extra mile. A lot of promoters don’t do that.”
“The music comes first.”
“Social media matters, but it’s not the only thing that matters.”
“Playing the long game is always going to win.”
“Don’t be the first to put out a number.”
“Be involved in the scene. Go to shows.”
“Pick up the phone and call people.”
“As soon as you get lost in organization, you fail.”
“Make sure you say hi to everyone.”
“Find a way to build common ground.”
“Every show you play take it serious and like something you care about.”
“Whether it’s a charity or a cause, you should find a community to pour in to.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Kevin Stone
John Legend
Sonny Schneidau
Wayne Lee
Childish Gambino
Macklemore
The Civil Wars
Dan Larson
Allen Anders
Ari Herstand
Michael Yerke

Places & Things
Live Nation
Tipitinas
Full Sail
Florida Theater
The Social
CID Entertainment
House of Blues
AEG
WME
CAA
Hype Machine
Sound Cloud
Spotify Viral 50
Billboard Heatseekers
Pollstar
Soundscan
The Plaza Live
Okeechobee Festival
Drunken Monkey
Rock for Hunger

Brandon T. Adams - Reaching Your Crowdfunding Goals, the Power of Content Marketing, and Podcasting with Industry Leaders

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Brandon T. Adams is a serial entrepreneur and crowdfunding expert. One of Brandon’s first ventures was starting a podcast where he travelled the country learning from some of the leading experts and entrepreneurs. He owns a stake in several businesses such as The Accelerant Media Group, Live to Grind,  Young Entrepreneur Convention, Arctic Stick, Keys to the Crowd, and many more. Also, he is a co-Host and co-executive producer of the Entrepreneur TV Show Ambitious Adventures with one of my best friends and former podcast guests Greg Rollett. Currently Brandon is also working with the Napoleon Hill Foundation to create the film Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy, and is the youngest entrepreneur featured in the film. In this conversation we talk about entrepreneurship, his passion for creating content and adding value to relationships, how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign, podcasting, and so much more.

I was first introduced to Brandon through our good mutual friend and two time podcast guest, Greg Rollett. We actually went to see Atmosphere in concert (go see shows). A few weeks later Brandon asked me for a videographer, and I recommended my guy Herb Gonzalez to him. I told him that he doesn’t really do much video, but I believe in Herb so much that I know he can do it. His first gig with Brandon was at the Ambitious Adventures premiere party, and now the two of them are working together full time cranking out content like champions.

This was a really fun conversation and very inspiring to me. After the podcast we discussed starting your own business and the challenges that come with that. From the very first episode with Greg Rollett, we talked about “Ready, Fire, Aim” and how a lot of people get stuck in Aim. If you want to live your dream, you have to start doing. Start firing, and aim and fine tune as you go. Greg worked on his business in between breaks, on his way to his day job, and when he got home. However, it wasn’t till he ripped the bandaid off and went all in when things started happening. Brandon couldn’t agree more with that. You’ll never reach your full potential until you go all in on your dream. In this episode, Brandon really lays down a solid foundation of adding value to others and marketing yourself through creating content. Regardless of what industry you’re in, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur and creator of music, film, video, art, books, comics, blogs, or any other intellectual property this is for you. Be ready to be motivated to get one step closer to making it.  

Text “Brandon” to 313131 to receive a daily motivational text from Brandon T. Adams.

Highlights from this Episode
Brandon’s start with podcasting [4:41]
Where things are at with Greg Rollett and Ambitious Adventures [7:14]
Key lessons learned from creating a TV Show experience [11:00]
How Brandon got started with his entrepreneurial journey [15:39]
How Brandon got into Crowdfunding [17:52]
Where should people start building a brand [22:39]
How does someone start creating content [25:04]
What kind of videos can musicians creates besides covers [28:39]
How do you choose business partners [31:42]
How do you choose your topics and guests for the podcast [34:46]
Who Brandon really wants to interview for his show [35:55]
A situation that didn’t go your way, and the lesson learned [40:37]
Who is crowdfunding for and who should consider it [44:43]
Tips to starting a crowdfunding campaign [47:33]
Facebook Questions [54:01]
- How to crowdfund for a nonprofit outside of your community by Brad Mason
Closing Questions [56:54]
Brandon’s Warrior Chant [59:32]

Quotes from Brandon T. Adams
“If you’re an entrepreneur or anybody, you need to create your own audience.”
“I just press play and hit the record button.”
“Go into a conversation knowing what you want to learn.”
“Just keep going and eventually you’ll find your groove.”
“Just be you. Authenticity is what people want.”
“To become an influencer you have to do TV, Books, and create content.”
“Always find a way to offer value.”
“If you get an opportunity, jump on it.”
“When people see you, what do you want them to remember you as.”
“One person can change your life.”
“Create content and be consistent.”
“Video is the most powerful thing you can use.”
“The best way to get to the top is creating consistent video content, and start doing Facebook Live.”
“If you can get people wondering what you’re going to do next, they will keep watching.”
“Everything I do for my business, you should do for your band.”
“Go inspire people”
“You can tell a lot about a person by their Facebook page.”
“Usually within 5 minutes you can tell what kind of person they are.”
“Music is powerful. It moves people and changes their lives.”
“What influencers do good or bad, it influences people.”
“Trust your gut.”
“When I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.”
“When you hit your lowest moments, you’re closest to one of your biggest moments.”
“If you keep going, you can’t lose. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Sometimes failure in disguise, is a good thing.”
“If you just keep going, you’ll see your true potential.”
“Stories sell”
“At the end of the day, you have to add value to your audience.”
“Success is about the people I surround myself with.”
“Once you can convince your mind you can do it, you can achieve it.”
“If you don’t set your goals, you don’t know where you’re going.”
“If you’re a person of value and you’re driven, you can achieve anything.”    

Links to people, places & things Mentioned
People
Greg Rollett
Lewis Howes
Jack Canfield
Jake Paul
Kevin Harrington
Herb Gonzalez
Will Smith
Oprah Winfrey
John Lee Dumas
Gary Vaynerchuck (Gary Vee)
Lady Gaga
Aspyn Ovard
Eminem
Mark Zuckerberg
Kevin Lyman
Cactus Jack Barringer
Napoleon Hill

Places & Things
Arctic Stick
Live to Grind Podcast
Ambitious Adventures
Young Entrepreneur Convention
Native Culture
[BOOK] Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Think and Grow Rich Movie
Keys to the Crowd
EOFire Business Podcast
The Freedom Journal
[BOOK] Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuck
[BOOK] How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Kickstarter
Indiegogo
Pledge Music
Patreon
Fall Out Boy
Limp Bizkit
Taylor Swift
Headspace Guided Meditation App

Get in Touch with Brandon T. Adams
http://brandontadams.com/
http://livetogrind.com/
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Brandon T. Adam’s Definition of Making It
“It’s a motherfucking grind.”

Kevin Lyman - A Journey of Serial Entrepreneurship, Longevity, Creating Powerful Brands, Philanthropy, and Passion for the Next Generation with the Founder of Vans Warped Tour

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You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud   

Kevin Lyman is the founder of Vans Warped Tour and 4Fini. From his days in college he got involved in helping with and organizing events and live concerts. He’s built such a name for himself in the late 80’s and early 90’s that got him to a point where he was working over 300 shows per year. That eventually led to him working the first four years of Lollapalooza.

Throughout his journey he’s met and bonded with several artists, and after working Lollapalooza, he was inspired to start a festival that does it in a different way. That was when he started Vans Warped Tour in 1995. It actually wasn’t till he was 33 years old when he started his business, but he brought 13 years worth of experience and relationships along with him. Today in 2017, Vans Warped Tour is the longest running music festival and tour in the world.

Kevin Lyman has put on many other successful festivals and events such as Taste of Chaos. He’s also a serial entrepreneur from having run and sold a Brewery, Hair Dye Company with Hayley Williams from Paramore, a coconut water company, and much more. He’s someone that’s passionate about giving back to the community and empowering young people. We talk about branding, longevity, entrepreneurship, the future of our next generation, and much more.

Meeting Kevin Lyman was very inspiring. He’s been traveling and doing promotion for this upcoming Vans Warped Tour for several weeks now. During this campaign, he’s visited several universities, festivals, and many other press opportunities. It was a huge honor for him to take the time for this conversation for our show. Not only did he take the time for this podcast, but also afterwards he had a meeting with a student from UCF that wanted to talk to him about the music industry. He’s not only someone who preaches philanthropy and giving back, but he lives it every day. It’s the things we do behind closed doors that really define us. If I hadn’t asked the student what she was meeting him for, I would’ve thought it was another press interview.

Not only has he done many inspiring things, and build the longest running festival in the country, but he’s also just a really good person. It’s a breath of fresh air to see people with such success to be so down to earth and giving back to others. As promised, below are not only the show notes, but also a list of research I conducted for this conversation. My goal was to ask Kevin Lyman some new questions and try to get him to talk about things I haven’t heard him talk about before. Hopefully I’ve done him justice, and have delivered all of our listeners, Warped Tour fans, and Kevin Lyman supporters a great interview. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Kevin Lyman.

Highlights from this Episode
Kevin’s time at Florida Music Fest (09:50)
Kevin’s future aspirations (10:30)
First album and concert (11:25)
Warped’s collaboration with Vans (12:35)
How Warped Tour decides partnerships (13:50)
How to cater to the festival’s market (14:55)
How Kevin provided Longevity to Warped Tour (17:25)
Top 5 branding rules from Kevin (19:45)
How a band gets on Warped tour (20:45)
How Kevin would produce a club show (23:00)
Lessons learned from Warped applied in new endeavors (23:40)
How Kevin manages his time (26:05)
Booking shows without the internet (29:05)
How Kevin overcomes being discouraged (30:15)
What should a band look for in a manager (33:35)
Bad Advice given to young artist (34:25)
Lessons learned from mistakes (35:40)
Warped’s new program (37:25)
Impact of VR (38:29)
Entrepreneur Bucket List (40:10)
Philanthropy and Warped Tour’s experience (42:35)
Changes Kevin would like to see in the education system (46:00)
Music Business and Entertainment Business Improvements (48:50)
Generation Z’s wants and needs (50:00)
Influencer recommendation (52:10)
3 Values of Life (54:15)
Facebook Questions (54:55)
-Country Throwdown
-Warped Expansions
-Side 1 Dummie
Rapid Fire Questions (59:35)

Quotes from Kevin Lyman
“No one should be disrespecting each other but it’s life and we have to talk through it. “
“They’re a shoe company and I produce music festivals.”
“Sponsorship has always been a thing of if it’s cool or not, but you really don’t survive without it.”
“Coachella is driven by more than music. It’s driven by the location and the celebrities.” 
“We tweak things inside for where the market has gone.”
“Musically it tweaks each year. Some of it is dictated by the environment, the other is by what is available.”
“Consistency, A more designable image, Do what you say you’re going to do, Fulfill your requirements, Stay true.”
“I try to find someone who has a plan.”
“A lot of thought went into the Full Sail Stage.”
“Create more of an atmosphere around the show.”
“Bring a thread to all the brands so they can compliment each other.”
“You have to have people who are driving the company for you.”
“I try to be an active investor. You don’t want to be a passive investor.”
“I don’t want to disappoint them but I gotta look out for myself.”
“When you’re starting out and someone reaches out to you, you should grab on to their arm and let them pull you up.”
“When I’m demotivated now I go plant more plants in my backyard.”
“Do research, it’s so each to research people now a day’s.”
“Don’t get sucked in at the bar, take their card and do your research.”
“Don’t sign something with your first manager. Have a trail period with goals.”
“I try to focus on things that have personal potential.”
“I don’t like bucket lists.”
“I’ve been saving a little bit since I was 20.”
“I had experience that allowed me to fail and people supported me a second time.”
“Be nice to people.”
“If you have something, share something.”
“When you have nothing it’s easy to give.”
“When you have a little, give a little.”
“When everyone gives a little it adds up to 460,000 pounds of food that we did last year, and that fed a lot of people.”
“It takes a village to raise a child, and I think that village has been depleted. Kid’s need help.”
“You have to be on your brand each and everyday to stay current.”
“If you start questioning things at an early age that’s okay.”
“Try to put yourself in the other people shoes.”
“Don’t date a guitar player.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
People
Van Morrison
Diana Ross
Beebs and Her Money Makers
Hayley Williams
Rob Zombie
Matt Halper

Places & Things
Florida Music Fest
Van’s Warped Tour
Coachella
Simon and Garfunkel’s greatest hits
Vans
Urban Outfitters
Skull Candy
Good Dye Young
Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival
Live Nation
Modern Baseball
13 Reasons Why
[BOOK] Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
A Colony in a Nation
Country Throwdown
Florida Georgia Line
Sixth Man Cruise

Get in Touch with Kevin Lyman
Twitter
http://www.4fini.com/
http://vanswarpedtour.com/ 

Kevin Lyman’s Definition of Making It
“Sometimes having the time to have a great BBQ with your friends.”

References:
These are some resources I used to help me come up with the questions for this interview. If you want to learn more about Kevin Lyman and his backstory, and all the cool things he's doing, check these out. 

1. Forbes Magazine Article: Warped Tour Founder Kevin Lyman on the Business of Punk Rock
2. The Jasta Show (Podcast Interview) - Episode 237 Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour) 
3. Promoter 101 (Podcast Interview) - #20 - The Van's Warped Tour's Kevin Lyman
4. RAD Parenting (Podcast Interview) - Episode 42: Inside the World of Teens on Vans Warped Tour (with Kevin Lyman)
5. TED Talk: The Walmartization of Music Festivals | Kevin Lyman | TEDxCPP
6.TED Talk: When You Music Festival is Older Than Your Customers | Kevin Lyman | TEDxBroadway
7. Interview at Full Sail University: Full Sail On Air Welcomes: Kevin Lyman Founder, Vans Warped Tour and President 4Fini, Inc.