Barn Banter with Cowboy Andy

Again we cast our mic and Zoom call across the waters to chit chat with a fellow Kindie player in the UK. Poco Drom beams positive energy like a flashlight set on happy in his music and in conversation. We cover some interesting ground in this one, talking about diversity, the Grammy's, getting a music scene started in England, and moving from a singer-songwriter sound back to a full glorious band vibe!

I have a secret checklist of things that I would love to accomplish with my career. Some of these are vanity things, some are financial, some are artistic, and some are on the checklist just because why wouldn't I want to play guitar and lead a sing-a-long with Michelle Obama? Tim Kubart, by most measures, has completed his checklist and just... keeps... going! But what I wanted to find out from Tim was how it feels to be him. We talk about 10,000 hours, building a circle of support, new projects, and mostly what it is like to be Tim Kubart, someone who I can now say, (from personal experience) has a bit of that same grit and pixie dust that I noticed when I met Fred Rodgers.

Maybe the future of world peace rests in the hands of creative types like Brady Rymer and David Gibb. Not a bad place to start I suggest. What sparked as a mutual respect for each other's music worked into a tour in the UK and then became an album project called "Songs Across the Pond". I chat with Brady and David about the 5 steps of making an album like this, how they are dealing with the releasing an album during 2020, the hesitant British Kindie scene, and how collaborative song writing is like playing a crossword puzzle. Sort of. Stay tuned to the end to see who drinks the margaritas!

There are many ways to make a living as a musician, and they all have one thing in common, you gotta know how to do The Hustle. My good friend (and former bandmate) Matthew Nord excels at The Hustle, working in schools, camps, weddings, private lessons, and always coming up with new programs and ways to offer music and movement to kids in our community. Really great chat about constantly finding ways to keep a business alive and still find time for your own creative needs! Thanks Van McCoy!

Portland oh Portland, how does your kindie grow? Very well, evidently! Case in point - Mr. Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) who has been hatching fantastic radio-ready albums painted in the Americana colors only an Austin/Oregon hybrid could fashion. Funny and insightful chat on the migration from in-person to online. Includes a new segment called 'Top Three' which is the top three (surpise!) things that the guest thinks are critical elements of success. Yeah, I've done it before, but this time we do the segment with delay and reverb, so it is really real, really! Stay tuned all the way to the end to get a special promo code for an oil change (not available in any location).

This time we visit with Beth Blenz-Clucas, owner of SugarMountain PR. Her company specializes in promoting folks in the kindie scene and clients range from those soft rock darlings The Not-Its! to funster Red Yarn and more. Cutting her teeth (is that even a thing?) in the industry back in the good old days of CD sales (think 1990's) Beth has taken her well-earned journalistic skills and fashioned a platform that has access to some of the best contacts in the modern children's music world. We talk about promotion, radio play, budgets, marketing costs, what she looks for in new artists, and above all, repeat the term "next level" so many times I had to legally put it in the title of the podcast. Hang around to the very end where I go full-disclosure on my experience with PR firms as well as curse. A little.

Wow! We enter an episode of Breaking Bad and guess what? It all ends with us eating breakfast! Hmm... ok not really. But maybe? Jesse Freidberg and I discuss the current state of affairs, the lack of kindie in Country, beautiful Cleveland, and clever tricks to engage young audiences through live-streaming! It is Awesome! Just like his new album (produced by Dean Jones). 

Oh Chicago, you awesome town for tunes! This time I chat with Wendy and DB about the music they make, what motivates them, how they have moved their shows online, and SO MUCH MORE! Wendy has a long history of activism and DB a long history of being a music teacher, together they are more than the sum of their parts. We chat about releasing their new album during the pandemic, being vocal about social issues, and adding library gigs when most everyone else sees their shows going away. 

Amelia Robinson, aka Mil's Trills, used the chaos and uncertainty of the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine to organize and help other members of the kid's music genre with promoting their online shows. Not only that, but she transitioned her highly interactive and engaging in-person performance to the online platform in a most remarkable way. On this podcast we chat about getting comfortable with getting messy during performances, we explore how your intentions can better help inform and direct how you maintain your career in these really strange times. We also talk about underwear. Stay tuned to the end to hear Amelia's anthem to the re-opening, it is totally worth it!

Our series of interviews with kid's performers who have a foot in both young and grown-up music camps continues. This time we chat with David Heitler-Klevans who (along with wife Jenny) are long-time performers under the name Two of a Kind and also play folk music for grown-ups in Acoustic Blender. The conversation covers some great territory in terms of political material, standing up for kid's, and overlapping genres. I attempt to interview David using my mostly inept impersonation of Sean Connery. Yeah... 

Some stars glimmer a bit brighter than others, and this time we talk to a really bright one! Twinkle Time has a fantastic resume of Billboard charting power-pop with her all-girl band Nobody's Angel, has done the national touring rock opera musical gig, (with Ted Neeley, um... yeah THAT national touring rock opera) and now she cuts a fearless swath with orange hair hip-hop dance rock. When not booking 200 plus shows a year she is also an activist fighting for us independent performers against career-killing legislation in California. Highly unlikely any of us can follow her path, but we can certainly follow her lead!

Laura Doherty cut her kindie teeth (weird way of saying that) at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and has worked her craft into a career of singing and teaching music in the Windy City. We chat about the three big things that Laura feels are important for folks to play music for kids and families. No spoilers here, but you if you listen to the whole thing you will likely hear at least 6 great ideas to get you going! Oh and we speak about Ovation guitars too, because I'm a dork and am easily distracted by things, even during interviews. Wait, what were we talking about?

This time we chat with Brendan Parker and Erick Alexander, the duo who performs under the name Spaghetti Eddie! but have recently released a 10-track Bible story album under the name Parker and Alexander. We talk a bit about the new album, All Of Us Bible Songs for Everyone, and what brought them to the studio to put together the project, how it has been received, and what it is like to perform non-secular music. 

Tony van Veen is CEO of DIY Media Group, the umbrella company that includes BookBaby, Merchly, and Disc Makers. For a unique perspective on the state of affairs in the music world, Tony brings a long career of knowledge to the podcast. We talk about the current role of the physical CD, the three rules for building an audience, why you shouldn't leave any money on the table when you monetize your music, how to approach the business of music as a creative endeavor, and most importantly, looking beyond the horizon and not giving up hope!

Joanie Leeds just released a new album called All The Ladies and the project is fantastic! We chat about bringing equality to the music scene, singing Jewish tunes, living a split personality life in the kindie world, gear, fashion, and the importance of putting your best image out there!

Heidi comes back to the Barn to chat with us about keeping perspective and staying mentally well during difficult times. In the face of change, disappointment, fear, and anxiety, it is ever important that we find our footing, some humor, and reach out when we need to. We chat about using this "pause" to maybe bring some clarity to our life and also the importance of keeping a routine while awash in this weird unknown. Yes there is music. And yes, if you listen to the very very end you may even discover something you probably didn't know (but I've known for awhile!)

Ever think about starting you own podcast? Well then you should listen to this one! Mike Mason is the hosts the Good Stuff Kids podcast that features great interviews and song clips from folks all across the kid-friendly child entertainment spectrum. Mike has logged about 250 podcasts over the last 5 years and brings a great chunk of personal knowledge to the basics of starting a podcast, and also reflections on the kindie scene.

Kelli Welli continues our series of Split Personalities, performers who pursue both music for kids/children and also, separately, perform for older or “adult” crowds. A mother of young twins, Kelli balances home/work life really well and has some powerful perspective on being courageous, brave, Portland, and why it is critical to feel free to pursue your creative muse. Also a story about what happens when kid’s get an accidental listen to a song with, well… harsher language! Kelli shares a couple of her tunes with us to bookend the conversation.

Personally I don't play many library gigs, mostly because they sort of intimidate me, I don't know how to market to them or who to ask about lining up shows. But for many performers it can be a great way to go! This time we talk to world-touring award-winning library-playing icon Katherine Dines! Seriously, she answers all the questions and has some fantastic insight and advice for anyone wanting to get it right, right out of the gate. Also Katherine schools me on how to do the Hunk-ta-bunk-ta holler... yeah I totally fail this test. Twice. You try!

Val Smalkin returns to the barn to chat with us about the wonderfully supportive organization known as The Children's Music Network. This group (which you should join!) has deep resources for every children's entertainer no matter where you are starting or what your goals are! Oh bonus round, Val springs a pop quiz on me that I fail (but I KNEW the answer!)

Travis Yost, legend in my neck of the woods, has done a great job helping local musicians get online and start streaming. Whether as a way to connect with fans, generate revenue, or simply have fun, online or "live" streaming from your living room has become a new reality. In this podcast Travis and I chat about some of the basic tips and tricks for getting the best quality out of your gear, creating an attractive frame on with your hand-held device, mics you might want to invest in, and different platforms for letting your fans tip you.

For those (of us?) musicians who record album and secretly desire to see our band/brand elevated to the "next level", few brass rings seem as shiny and within reach as a Grammy. This time we chat with Jack Forman about how the chase for a nomination, eventual nomination, and post ceremony reflection impacted his perspective on awards programs and cheese. Wait, we didn't talk about cheese, but I know he likes cheese. I like cheese. We don't mention cheese. As usual the very bestest bits are at the end so get comfy, and prepare to have your cheese stolen. What? Again with the cheese?

We return to England to chat with Marisa of the Young Folkies (an ex-Pat from Boston) about the children's music scene in London. Pop-ups, selling tickets via an online app, similarities, influences and what to expect when you are expecting to play "over there"! 

When they play for an adult crowd they are Ratboy. When they play a family friendly gig they are Ratboy Jr (brilliant!). But all around Tim and Mattie are just darn fun and funny to listen to! Here is the second installment of the series Split Personalities where we look at performer's of kid's music who also perform for older audiences. Music samples included. This time I sent out the questions and let the guests record their answers, so less gabby-gabby from me and more straight up chat from the guests! And yes, Kasey, actually, I WOULD like another round of either an adult or kid friendly beverage...

I was curious to chat with a children's musician in the UK to see if there were any great differences in approach, venues or whatnot, so I tracked down Dr. Liam Maloy of Johnny and The Raindrops! Wow what a chat! Although we do cover the basic scene in each country, to my great delight the conversation was more about his new academic tomb called "Spinning the Child" which offers a historical perspective on recorded music for children. Great stuff in this episode about Woody Guthrie,  George Martin, the BBC, Sesame Street, the Muppet Show, Jim Henson, oh and I may have insulted the guest by my reaction to teaching 4 year-olds Shakespeare. Hmm.... the interview ends with a great song by Johnny and The Raindrops and no international incidents.

My goal as a performer is to make sure everyone (crowd, band, dude randomly walking by, client) has a great time! This time we chat with Kathy Sherman about playing music for folks with special needs and being thoughtful about including everyone in your performance! Wonderful suggestions, a really cool song, and Greek food! Oh and I embarrass myself on mandolin at the end, so you know, a basic Barn Banter experience...

Can you be a musician who entertains children AND a musician who entertains adults? How is that balancing act going for you? This time we chat with Esther Crow who has several "adult" bands including an all-female Devo cover band called Diva (brilliant!) and internationally touring funky rock group - The Electric Mess. But, Esther also fronts the band Thunder and Sunshine and (AND!) is releasing a solo album for kids and families under her own name! Holy Cats! This conversation is about managing several projects, leveraging the benefits and marketing when possible, and staying relatively sane in the process!

Insurance, the thing you get and hope to never use. But as a musician, specifically a children's musician, we are increasingly asked to get it in order to play at schools and public events. Plus, we scoot around quite a bit with gear and occasionally band mates which opens up all sorts of liability issues, and chances for gear to be swiped! Yikes! This time we chat with broker Toby Hansen about the different types of insurance best suited for our line of work, how to think about the cost/benefit analysis of plans, and how to get a good nights sleep!

Let's work together and make music! No, seriously, this is a thing, a good thing, a thing we should do! Don't know how? Well you need to listen to our good pal Mista Cookie Jar because they really really knows how to do it! This is a fun conversation about gear, file types, inspiration, legal agreements and the beauty of turning your car into recording studio (yes it is a good thing!).

Story time! No wait, not like that! Time to learn HOW to tell stories! The magnificent Donna Washington drops by to chat with us about how to incorporate stories into your performances, be they small, medium, or WOW YOU'RE PLAYING THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL?  Tune in and there will be giggling, there will be stories, and there are some really great tips and tricks from one of the best in the business to help you learn how to craft stories, engage your crowd and keep them engaged.

Dean Jones is, in my opinion, the most successful producer of pop children's music working today. You can find his name on many of the recent Grammy winner's albums, all over KPL, and even on his own Dog on Fleas songs! We chat about how he defines the roles and responsibilities of being a music producer, how he gets the most out of his clients, and even gives a shout out to some of his favorite (and not so favorite) producers! 

PROs (ASCAP, BMI) need not be a mystery any more! Colson Gower works as an Artist Services Publishing Supervisor at CD Baby and leads us through the process of picking a PRO, registering your music, and the submitting set lists so that you can get your due from live performances. Also a deep chat about SoundExchange who pays for those internet streams! Hang out until the end to hear a fiddle solo!

Psst... hey you wanna get some gigs? Heh... heh.. heh... no seriously, you want more gigs? Well one path you might take is to secure a booking agent! This time we chat with Sarah MacCarthy who heads up Dandelion Artists, a booking agency that specializes in nailing high profile venues for children's musicians like Jazzy Ash and The Okee Dokee Brothers! Is a booking agent in your future? Will it help? Are you ready? Do you really really need them? What does it cost? How does it work? Are you allowed to say "Book 'em Sarah!"? (Spoiler alert, you are not).

Lucy Kalantari and The Jazz Cats have cut a wide swath in children's music with a Grammy win and frequent plays on KPL! It got me thinking, does an artist who digs deep into a specific music style have an advantage or disadvantage when it comes to gaining traction in the overall genre? Lucy joins me this time to talk about what it is like to focus on one specific style of music, how they got there, and how they works to expand musical options for kids and families. Also a cool track, a chat about call and response, and a continuing dialogue about how I am totally not stalking Lucy despite the creepy language I seem to use that would make it seem otherwise. (I AM NOT STALKING LUCY I JUST LISTEN TO HER MUSIC!)

KindieComm time! Listen to a convo with Robert Drake, producer of Kid’s Corner since 1988 with Kathy O’Connell. Everything you need to know if you plan on attending a conference specifically for kid’s music performers. We also have a really enlightening discussion on the difference between “children’s” music and “music for kids”, I get Robert to pin down who coined the term “Kindie” (spoiler, her initials are SM and she has a consulting agency), we grapple with the word “interesting” and go deep into the evolution of the kid’s music genre and where it might be headed.

(To the tune of Mr. Bassman) Hey Randy Kaplan, you sure do sing some songs... When is comes to mechanical licenses, you do not steer us wrong... Oh Mr. Kaplan, your distinct voice is perfect to explain, (spoken) things like derivative lyrics,  Nirvana covers and public domain! (end song). That's right my lovelies, this episode the award winning songster Randy Kaplan gives a funtasic overview of what to do should you want to record a cover song. Also a brief chat about dirty rats who steal your tunes, fishing with Bob Dylan, and why to never cover a Prince song. Lots of trippin' round the virtual mitten on this one!

Radio waves! Oh the days of Wolfman Jack may be behind us but there are still class acts spinnin' stacks of wax from the back of the racks to fast track attack the... the... um... ok can't think of another one. But still! There are a few really nifty radio shows that can get your music to a whole new flock of listeners! This time we talk to the most excellent DJ from Ashville who lays out a weekly 2-hour show called Radio Active Kids. Sagan Thacker and I talk about what they like to see from artists as far as press kits, how they select music for the show, and a few choice dos and please do not do that we recording artists should heed! Stick around until the end to hear how and where you can see if anyone played your tune on the radio and also get a not so veiled threat of fiddle if you don’t like and share the podcast!

Behind the scenes there is a great deal that goes into being a children's musician, and managing the emotional rollercoaster of awesome shows and missed expectations can be a challenge. In this episode we chat with Heidi Gjefle, a LCPC about how to stay healthy when things aren't going your way. This sounds an awful lot like a therapist session, which it sort of is!

Few in the children's music genre are more prolific than Seattle-based and Grammy-nominated kindie rockers Recess Monkey, who have released 13 albums in as many years. So who better to chat with about cranking out the hits than Drew Holloway, the monkey responsible for oh so many, many, many tunes! We chat process, using technology, collaboration within the band, and knowing when to invest in a song to completion and when to dump it. Also a brief side-chat with a common issue called "chasing the demo"! GET BACK HERE WITH MY DEMO SOUND!

Ventriloquism is an art that requires years of practice and dedication to perfect. However, talking to someone who is a master ventriloquist simply requires a podcast! This time we welcome Val Smalkin to the Barn to chat about tips and tricks on ventriloquism, crowd control, managing a cast of characters, and some fantastic insight into being a children's entertainer in your local area. Oh also labial explosives, which I still contend sound really dangerous...

Gear time! Performing on stage is awesome but getting out into the crowd can really create an outstanding time for everyone. But getting into the mix means getting rid of the mic cables and being free with the arms. We chat with the amazing Andy Z about his gear of choice, tips and tricks for getting the most out of wireless headsets, and what is is like to perform 300+ times a year!

Curious about Fids and Kamily? Let's go! This time a chat with Jeff Cohen, aka Mr.Jeff2000, who has reviewed over 500 children's CDs, often is picked to debut videos by artists, and sometimes even reviews live shows. His perspective is unique and our conversation is packed with insights from one who has heard almost everything out there, and knows almost every player on the national stage. Also, a timely conversation as the Fids and Kamily awards were just announced, as well as news that the poll is packing it in. Mr. Jeff was a voting member and he explains a bit of the behind the scenes process that that group used to go through to come up with their annual list. Yeah, coulda used this podcast 6 months ago.

Oh yeah... a sit-down with the Grammy winning hip-hop innovator Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. This conversation roams to all the good spots talking about empowerment, faith in yourself, grabbing the brass ring and riding the White Bull. Tons of tips from someone with a unique perspective on children's music, specifically about the business of staying in business while pursuing your dreams of family entertainment. A couple killer tunes thrown in too!

Is it a songwriters dream to write on assignment? How about writing for Jim Henson? Or Disney? Or DreamWorks? You want to learn how one industry professional did it? Well now is your chance! This time on Barn Banter we talk with humanitarian, singer, songwriter, and all around amazing guy - Dave Kinnoin.

In this episode we chat with 3 time Grammy Nominee and prolific writer/performer Justin Roberts about The Recording Academy, The Grammys and do's and don'ts when chasing your dream of catching that specific brass ring! Many tips and tricks, illuminations, a cool song, and more!

Howdy and welcome to Barn Banter, the podcast for children's musicians, by a children's musician! Our genre is exciting and challenging, it combines all the requirements of traditional performing musicians with the wonderful and often unexpected joy of children, parents, and unique venues. This podcast is about who, what and why - Barn Banter. Welcome!