DIY Artist Route Podcast

In the 2nd part of our conversation with indie musician Timothy Palmer, we pick up where we left off in the previous episode of The DIY Artist Route Podcast (listen to past episodes and the podcast archive here)Curiosity and questions are the driving force behind some of the best creations on earth.What drives the curiosity engine?Learn how can you strengthen your curiosity to engage with your own ingenuity and creativity to produce your best and most engaging work.When Timothy Palmer isn't making great music he's leading people in a quest for truth and introspection. It turns out that many of the answers we seek externally are found inside us through looking at our experiences and the teachers who have imprinted their brilliance on us.This conversation is an exploration of these elements so that you will take the proactive steps to become more curious about yourself, your relationships, your journey, and the work you produce.One of the key elements that comes up in every conversation I have with Tim is the depth of questions we ask each other.It's what Timothy says inside this conversation when he says,"Especially in the United States, we can't get away from the questions of morality, ethics, politics, or religion. Because even if we are not interested in that, everyone else around us is."Which is a fascinating truth. I don't consider myself to be one who spends much time in politics. Actually I avoid political discourse a lot because of the argumentative nature it has become.As you know, I'm all about harmony, unity, and bringing people together. But Timothy makes some incredible points in this discussion that pertains to this subject because avoiding the discussions that people are having is not a way to bring harmony.What do you think?There are several places in this episode where we ask you to join into the discussion. You can do that through connecting with us both on social media. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Here's where to engage and follow Timothy Palmer:Timothy Palmer on TwitterTimothy Palmer on FacebookExperience an in-depth discussion on the power of curiosity. We also dive into areas involving Fear, being known and the power of love.And we close with a little chit chat on the power of tattoos. Both Tim and I have adorned our bodies with art that represents who we are and what we're all about. Which is another way I'd love to invite you to connect with us. Share your tattoo stories (and pics if you have them) in the comments below or through social media. Hit me up on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In.Share this episode to bring more people into the discussion. I look forward to talking more with you soon!

You've heard his music, even if you think you haven't. Timothy Palmer has been Tryin‘ to help you us all navigate the journey of the creative entrepreneur and musician for years. His song (by that same name, Tryin') is the theme song to the DIY Artist Route Podcast, a brilliant track found on the critically acclaimed Half Boy EP.On top of being a brilliant songwriter, he's also one of my closest friends. Every time we have a conversation, he shares so much incredible wisdom and philosophy that I wish I had been recording it to share with you.This is the fulfillment of that dream for us to talk openly about our stories, and the pursuit you share with us in taking our creative work to new levels of success.Tim is an avid reader, which you hear in his quotations of great writers, musicians and sages in this conversation. It's his uncanny ability to relate story with philosophy and real life perspective that make him such an incredible leader and speaker.This is the first in a two-part episode where we dive deep into the philosophy of being human, in particular creative people who want to make a difference in the world. I know that's your mission and passion, otherwise you wouldn't be here.In the interest of time, I've split our conversation up into two parts. This first portion serves as both an introduction to him and his work, as well as lay a solid foundation for the role that philosophy plays in how each of us see ourselves, our role in the world, and the work that we do individually and collectively. The collective part is where you join in too. And I invite you to join into the discussion we have here.Connect with him to share your perspectives, stories, and ask questions:Timothy Palmer on TwitterTimothy Palmer on FacebookTimothy Palmer on Instagram As always, I invite you to join me in this conversation too. What thoughts and feelings do you have about what we discussed here? What curiosity thread are you unwinding as you listen to us talk?Share your thoughts and feelings! I want to know what ideas you have, as well as any struggles you're working to overcome. If you're feeling stuck, or if these perspectives that we talk about has your mind racing, let's talk about it. I want to hear from you.Set up a free 15 minute strategy session with me here.

In part 2 of my conversation with Rob Lawrence (host of Influential Creatives & podcast coach), we look at how to prep for an interview that will totally rock. In this episode you'll discover ways to ensure that your interviewer loves you after the interview is over. And you'll learn how to engage with the host/interviewer so that the audience follows you and becomes your fan too.

One thing that everyone in the media industry pays attention to is how well an interview is done. Rob Lawrence, host of Inspirational Creatives, is one of the best there is at doing amazing interviews. That's why I invited him to join me on the DIY Artist Route Podcast to share his wisdom.What we discovered in our conversation is that it's important for hosts who interview and guests being interviewed, can both gain clarity on how to have the most kickass interviews.When the guest and host connect on a deeper level than just a basic Q&A, the audience gets the best experience. Everyone wins.This is not something I'm seeing a lot of lately, in terms of discussing how to create amazing interviews. Which is why this podcast is a great resource for you because Rob gives some clear insights and very actionable suggestions to help you be a better interviewer or question-asker in any medium.My Perspective On Great InterviewsMy background is in public radio. I cut my teeth in learning the art of doing captivating interviews for KACU FM in Abilene, Tx way back in the early 2000s. My inspirations are folks who have made NPR a standout media platform for decades. I'm talking about radio icons like Scott Simon (one of my personal heroes), Steve Inskeep, David Dye, and Linda Wertheimer.Those folks really know how to go deeper than the questions to get to the heart of their guests, and ultimately create heart-connections with their listeners.It's something that comes from what Rob Lawrence calls "having a natural curiosity."This podcast session ended up being something that led to a different kind of production for me: a two-part episode.Closer Look At Part OneHere in the first part, we take a closer look at how podcasters, radio hosts, bloggers & writers, and other media personalities can create the bedrock for a truly engaging interview.It's a How To Be A Great Interviewer 101 lesson, from one of the best podcast interviewers there is.Rob has a gentle presence, a great voice, and enters discussions with both his mind and his heart. There's a noticeable kindness in his presentation, which makes him both intriguing, engaging, and easy to talk with.These qualities make for a conversation that moves both the question-asker, and the answer-giver. Aka, the person hosting and the person being interviewed.You'll notice that we switch roles a few times, another mark of a great interview. When an interview feels more like you're sitting in on an intriguing conversation, everyone wins. Because you feel like you're joining in a rousing chat that is more than just a "let me pick your brain about XYZ" kind of experience.If you've watched any of Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, you see a very similar dynamic. Sure, there's a bit of comedy and humor involved, but essentially Seinfeld is asking a lot of questions to learn more about his friend. In the process, we all gain both an intellectual and entertaining experience.What Makes For A Great InterviewWhen both the mind and the heart are engaged in what's going on, you find yourself challenged to think differently, and also feel something in the process.What makes for powerful media, audio in particular, is the presentation of something that connects with the audience's emotions. That makes for great songwriting and musical performance, as well as any creative medium.The mind and the heart. Nail the engagement with both of those vessels and you have the makings for a seriously kickass interview.There's a whole lot of gold in this podcast episode, and there's even more in part 2 where we will talk about how to best prepare t...

It's been about ten years coming that Tommy Darker and I sync our powers together to help you grow. Here's a guy totally committed to the art of success. Who has stayed in the fight for musicians and creatives to win in a complicated digital space for a long time.Tommy has recently launched a platform called MusicPreneurHub. It's a fantastic outlet that provides educational resources, mentoring and artistic development for artists. Students there really take their music to the next levels. I'm honored to get to be a part of this platform too.Tommy Darker Has A Specific Focus & So Does Our ConversationThe overall focus in this podcast is on overcoming challenges all of us creatives face. From fear of failure to lack of education. To blaming others and making excuses for not reaching goals to failure to learn the lessons from everyday teachers.It’s a combination of practical and brilliant philosophy with specific ways of changing your mindset. If you, "change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” That is a great quote by one of my favorite teachers Wayne Dyer from a book called The Power Of Intention.Honesty and vulnerability create better ways for people to connect than anything else. We go to places philosophically that built a stronger connection between Tommy and I.By learning from this example and from insights in our conversation, you’ll learn at least 3 new ways to connect better with other people and practice growth farming well.I've discovered that most of the guests brought onto the podcast get into philosophy and psychology with me in our conversations. This is possibly the most philosophical conversation I’ve ever had with someone that’s recorded.What You Learn In This Podcast Episode To Take Your Growth To New HeightsHow to mix your roots musically with the things you’re passionate about.Gain leverage to overcome obstacles and find solutions by picturing your life as a movie where you're both the writer, director and lead actor.Learn how to create a unique value proposition for your individuality.How to claim your freedom as an artist to connect more with yourself and with others.Learn how to challenge yourself in the right ways to go beyond the goals you set.That's just the tip of the iceberg.A Few Powerful Quotes From This Episode“I never publish things that I learn. I publish things that I do. It’s experiential knowledge.” -Tommy Darker“Not giving yourself room for excuses is how you make it (your goals) happen.” -Tommy Darker“If you start seeing your life as a movie, you start having fun. And the character, which is you, will learn something along the way because movies are always about character growth.” -Tommy Darker“We all get to be scientists and play around with these different potions and chemicals and methods and tactics and strategies. My results might differ from yours. Actually they should because I’m living my story and you’re living your story. And that’s just the way that it’s supposed to be.” -D Grant SmithWhat To Do When It's Your TurnAt the end of this podcast, I talk about how my tribe is passionate and will share his wisdom with at least 3 people.That's you. Your turn now.Go spread the love you just received from Tommy and I with at least 3 people in your world who want this kind of wisdom, love and success in the work they do.You can send an individual note or email with this link or you can click Share and spread the love on your social profiles.Either way, Tommy and I appreciate you! Thanks!!!Before You Go:  Plant the right seeds to grow a stron...

The latest episode of the DIY Artist Route Podcast is here! And it features none other than my good friend Angela Mastrogiacomo.Aside from being one of the most inspiring and kick-ass people I know, Angela excels at the real heart of PR and marketing work: relationship building. That's why I had to have her on the podcast to share her insights with you.As a music curator and media host, there are a lot of marketing and PR people who contact me every day, usually for the same reasons. They have an artist or band they want to promote. Maybe there's a new single their artist just released and they want media feature on my radio show. They want a review or feature of some kind.This are some of the traditional ways that music promoters, publicists, and PR companies operate. Tragically though, many marketing and PR endeavors fail. Whether it's a company that charges and arm & a leg for their work or it's a do-it-from-scratch solo artist reaching out to media for feature, the key element in this puzzle is…….you guessed it, relationship building.Which has become somewhat of a buzzword these days. When subjects as important as relationship building become buzzwords, it's easy to lose the meaning of the concept. Which is another big subject we dive into in this podcast.One big thing that trips creative entrepreneurs like you and I up is our own negative mindsets. Wait, what does that have to do with marketing, or with relationship building? Everything my friend!Our ego can be our worst enemy. For some artists, the ego says that who they can't connect with a music influencer with their story or music. So they try to parrot the work that other bigger artists do to promote themselves. It's not genuine, therefore it doesn't connect in the best ways that a sincere approach to relationship does.Other artists struggle with a more arrogant form of ego, one that tells them they should be treated like royalty. So talk yourself up like you're a god, and have the media eating out of your hand. And if they don't respond to you this way, screw 'em!That's the ego talking.When you work on marketing yourself, building genuine one-to-one relationships takes you further than anything. It's what's made Angela so successful with her work on Muddy Paw PR and Infectious Magazine. She's written tons of articles for Sonicbids and other music-centered publications, all covering the subjects of marketing, PR, and relationship building.We all deal with ego. Ego affects our mindsets, creates fears and insecurities, and if not dealt with can cause struggles that aren't overcome. One weapon against the work of the ego is vulnerability. Sounds strange right? How can vulnerability be the antidote to ego? Angela and I discuss this at length in the podcast.I'm being fairly overt here. Listen to the podcast. Download it. Share it. Then connect with both of us and share your story with us.Here are some ways to connect with Angela. She wants to hear from you so reach out to her and tell her you heard her on the DIY Artist Route.Muddy Paw PRInfectious MagazineFacebookTwitterShe gave her email at the end of the podcast, but in case you missed it you can contact her via angela@muddypawpr.comFears and mindsets are struggles for everyone. Honestly, dealing with personal fears and negative mindsets has been a very big part of my year in 2017, which is why you haven't seen me post as many blogs or pieces.

Is it strange or interesting to find another drummer on the podcast?We're just multifaceted artists, not just musicians with sticks who like to hit things, ha!I was intrigued by Roberto Hernandez from the first message he sent me. Perhaps that's because he chose one of the most unique ways to introduce himself.Instead of the same generic "Hi this is me and let me give you my bio and a zillion links so you'll pay attention to me" intro message, he did something different.He took a page out of the DIY Musician's Radio Handbook and reached out in a personal way.  How Roberto Hernandez Proved His Uncommon-nessRoberto made a video specifically for me. He talked about listening to The DIY Artist Route Podcast and what he enjoyed from it. Then he mentioned his book, The Unstarving Musician's Guide To Getting Paid Gigs.Then he asked what it would take to jump on the podcast.I was interested from the beginning. That's how it works. That's not just how it works with me, it's how it works with most music curators and media hosts. It's how it works with people.That's the story behind how I heard about Roberto Hernandez and why I brought him on the podcast. It's why I read his book. It's how we became friends.What Being Specific & Relationship Oriented Gets YouSince this podcast episode was recorded, I've connected him with many folks in my network including past podcast guests because I believe in him and what he's doing. He has a great message to spread to musicians to get one BIG piece of the puzzle figured out: how to get gigs that pay you.If you're tired of doing free shows for "exposure" or struggle with the How-To of gigging, Roberto is your man. I highly recommend his book for not just musicians and bands, but also anyone who is trying to get paid gigs including speakers. His method works.This podcast is about more than just gigging. It's a closer look at effective strategies for that oh-so-difficult introduction to people you don't know.When I said that friends can ask for gold but strangers can't even get candy, this is what I'm talking about. Part of the difficulty in getting people of influence's attention is the perspective we lack when we make that introduction.Appealing To The Basic Human NatureWho's the #1 person you're the most interested in, or the person you want others to know most?It's human to say it's you.Even the most empathetic people in the world have self-interest. That's not a bad thing. It's an honest thing.Yet most of the time, we greet a new person that we want to connect with by talking exclusively about ourselves instead of appealing to the person we want to talk with. That little bit of extra time, even if it's 30 minutes, goes a long way. It appeals to the primary interest of that person.It's also a way to show you're not just reaching out to get a handout and a back scratch.Back scratches are the "hook me up with a review or an interview or a feature on your platform" ask.I'm not in the back scratching business, and neither are any music curator, media host, or booking agent worth their salt.Take Your Relationship Building & Submission Outreach To The Next LevelHow can you go from being a stranger to being connected? Listen to this podcast episode (player at top of post) and be enlightened. Add Roberto's book & podcast to that mix, as well as my new Ebook that covers the introduction for music ...

"I'm just a music super fan who likes to dress up in silly clothes and dance."That's not only a great line from my good buddy, fellow musician coach, platform leader and hero, it's who he is. It's who Carlos Castillo is that makes him a dynamic leader in the music space.There are a LOT of "experts" in our communities of musicians. Many people who come in with big claims and big promises all trying to get your attention and your dollars.Sadly a lot of these folks are all talk. Not only do many not really know the stuff they talk about, they also don't always have your best interests at heart. Fortunately for us, there are uncommon people like Carlos.If this is your first introduction to Captain Schwilly (as several musicians and creative entrepreneurs know him as), then I hope you'll do yourself a favor and follow his leadership not just in growing your community of fans but also in giving back to the community with your service.Giving is the hallmark of success. Read any book by a credible source of success like Seth Godin, Tony Robbins, Amanda Palmer, Oprah Winfrey, and the like and you'll see a pattern of giving among those who have reached the levels of notoriety and prominence that we all dream of.That's the heart of Carlos Castillo too. I share that with him, as do all of the past guests on the DIY Artist Route Podcast. Double check what I just said. It's the truth.You know what makes a super fan? It's someone who is genuine in what they say and do. Actually, people who become super fans fall in love with the person and the experience they have with them more than just the music or art or work itself. Anyone can make art. A good musician makes good music. But a great person? Those are harder to find.It's this line of thinking and operating that Carlos specializes in from experience. It's also what he advocates for in his courses and his online communities like the Schwilly Family Musicians. I'm a member. Are you? If not, join up here.By participating in the lives of the people you want to connect with, you become the leader that inspires and transforms. You gain not just an audience member. You gain someone whose passions align with your own. Their support transforms your career because it hits on a level that's beyond just art. It's personal.Every guest I have on the DIY Artist Route Podcast teaches me something in our conversation. They've taught me a lot leading up to the podcast chat. One big thing Carlos continues to teach is that online relationships are very real. Music is just a starting point. Keep that in mind as you cultivate the connections with your audience, your marketing endeavors to media, your network, and your communities of fellow musicians.I encourage you to follow Carlos via his online FB group and his Schwilly Family Musicians on Twitter. They're both great resources for you to grow on a regular basis. His email list is pretty badass too.And if you haven't signed up for my email list, jump in with me by signing up in the right hand column. I share things with my Growth Farming tribe that no one else is privy to. It's all about building real, powerful and supportive relationships so all of us grow together.

I believe that helping other people in life is the key to being successful. It's a philosophy shared by Zig Ziglar, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Palfreyman, and the incredible Bree Noble.Bree is the creator and powerhouse behind Women of Substance Radio, Female Entrepreneur Musician Podcast, a musician and coach for musicians. She's an inspirational person and a wonderful ally in the quest to help creative entrepreneurs grow.The DIY Artist Route Podcast continues to showcase remarkable and uncommon people who are making a massive difference in the creative industries. Bree Noble is certainly in the top ranks of world-changers.Bree Noble On The DIY Artist Route PodcastThere are several reasons I wanted her on The DIY Artist Route Podcast. First, I've been following her work for years, going back to when I was running a radio station and seeing her name pop up as an influencer in the music industry. I also first heard her music then and appreciated her sound.In a culture that places an expectation on most female artists to have to conform to some sort of  objectivity in order to be noticed, Bree joins the fight to combat this messed up ideal. Her work with both her radio station, her podcast, and her coaching helps both women and men combat unhealthy and negative stereotypes that are pervasive in the creative industries, music in particular.What's noticeable about Bree Noble from the moment you see her is the love in her smile and facial expressions. My good friend Bird Thomas has that superpower, and so does Amanda Palmer (illustrated in her book The Art Of Asking). To communicate love through your eyes and your smile is something that truly remarkable people who live life as love do. It's inspiring and it makes a huge difference in the lives of people.You can tell right away in our conversation that helping people through love is Bree Noble's mission. If it wasn't music, it'd be something else where she's helping people by loving them. That's inspiring. Let's follow that example!Overcoming Obstacles For Creative EntrepreneursThere are several things that hinder growth and success for artists, musicians, and creatives. Guess what? They're the same hindrances that investment bankers, world leaders, Olympic athletes and everyone else in the world face: negative mindsets. Doubt is a big challenge we all face as human beings. How do we overcome doubt? We proactively change our mindsets. Bree and I discuss this practice in the podcast.“Do the thing that scares you the most.” -Bree NobleHow To Create The Change You Want In Your CareerOne other big point Bree makes in our conversation, and one I want to highlight here due to my work on The DIY Musician's Radio Handbook and the Indie Radio Promotion Course is that information doesn't create change. Actions do. We live in a historical era of bountiful information available in nanoseconds. Similar to the fact that there's more music produced in a year than we can consume, the same is true for information.The amount of books, podcasts, online courses, and seminars that teach us how to do everything (25 different ways to do anything) could lead us in circles chasing the next "How To" method. Instead of spending your time learning everything, do the thing you learn.Choose your teacher, and choose people whose values align with yours. You're reading this blog,

If you want to talk to someone who has proven time and again how to build a strong audience base, you talk to Rick Barker. The man behind Music Industry Blueprint and the former manager of Taylor Swift is not stranger to building a passionate following. He's also ready and willing to dish out tons of great advice to artists willing to do the work.That's the one kicker he shared with me in this podcast conversation that makes the biggest difference: having the work ethic to get stuff done.Putting The Advice Of Rick Barker To WorkThere is a lot (A LOT) of information being produced every nanosecond on "How To Do XYZ" for your music career. Creative entrepreneurs of every kind have more resources and guides to grow than any point in history. However, what makes the real difference between those who do and those who dream is simply the act of doing.“The difference between a great artist and a super star is work ethic.”Being someone who has committed my life to helping artists and business people grow personally through mindset training and build audience through Growth Farming coaching, Rick was a treasure to connect with. His insights and methods fit perfectly within the scope of what is shared here on the blog and other episodes of the DIY Artist Route Podcast. Discussing The Benefits Of Radio With Music PromotionIt's also interesting to follow our conversation as it gets into the realm of radio. Rick Barker spent years in the radio industry, but on a different side of the curtain than I have. His experience comes from the commercial side, which I've long been critical of.As we discuss the benefits of radio, you'll notice a slight disagreement in our individual feelings on the role radio plays, as well as the benefits of radio airplay alone to grow your music. Here's the thing, it's important for us to talk with people who have a differing viewpoint than we do. In doing so it sharpens our perspective while also discovering new things.I won't shy away from heralding the benefits of public and indie radio in the growth of your audience base. Where that piece of the chat may seem like a dissenting viewpoint, it brought us closer together in discussing the real meat and potatoes of radio airplay: relationship building.However, as Rick states, radio alone isn't going to skyrocket your music career. You need more than that, which includes audience engagement and great customer service. You are a business as a musician. His tips on specific actions to take to make that happen are spot on.“You get radio airplay and exposure anywhere you possibly can. It’s what you do with that (airplay & exposure) afterwards that’s important.”We also agree that far too many artists try to promote their music to radio before they're actually ready. You need to have 3 key things before radio is going to work for your career. I highlight those 3 specifics in the Get Radio Ready ebook (free). Grab it.Get more on Rick Barker and his incredible work on Music Industry Blueprint.If you gained anything from this podcast episode, let me know in the comments below, share this post and leave a tip. Thanks!

Greg Wilnau has been on my radar for a long time. He's a fantastic human being and someone who intentionally wants to help people. It's clear in the way that he engages with you in conversation, and illustrates the power of valuing others as a key to growth.Greg is a fellow drummer and host of the Musician Monster Podcast. He also is a coach for musicians in helping to build a strong career with gigging and growth. Get more on him at his website here.Mindset is a big part of our conversation. Personal responsibility is a giant piece of how mindsets work. It's up to you as a musician, creative entrepreneur, and builder to reach the levels of success you dream of.It's not anyone else's responsibility. Realizing that and owning it will help you take leaps and bounds towards achieving the goals you have.New Territory Covered In This Podcast EpisodeI'm going to Just come out and say something up front that is a big part of my conversation with Greg. We dive into mindset changes that delve into personal responsibility and focus that have been instrumental in my own personal success, as well as his. We also talk about religion and faith.I haven't gone down this road with anyone on the DIY Artist Route Podcast before regarding religion or faith. Honestly, I used to be a very religious person. I used to go to church 2 or 3 times a week and stay for 3 or 4 hours at a time.In my religious days, I had a different set of priorities and my concept of belief meant something completely different than it does now.Though I may not be as religious as I used to be, the focus on love as the highest value and greatest objective in life is VERY real to me. Greg and I both share this perspective on life.It's not my intention nor does it come out in our conversation to say or imply anything that is condescending towards religion or faith. Still the subject is something that we talk about early on. Our concepts of God and faith does impact how we interact with each other regardless of your belief system.How Your Experiences Pair With Others For GrowthWe also talk about the power of empowerment. Greg Wilnau illustrates how talking with people who are going through the sames things that you are empowers you to keep going (22:15). This is especially true for musicians who are in the early stages of your career, trying to figure out your next steps. It's essential to community building as well.Other key quotes and subjects presented in our talk include:[On where the shift happened to go from dead end to growth]“The biggest thing I struggled with that I didn’t know I struggled with was I would start projects strong and things would fizzle out. That was happening because I would constantly blame other people for my problems instead of taking ownership of them and figuring out how to fix them.” -Greg Wilnau[Dealing with the human condition to model what we see]“There are tons and tons of information being passed around, and there’s all these ways we’re told of what we need to do to succeed. But we actually model more of the things we see than what we’re told we need to do."We see people blaming others for their problems, and regardless of whether we know it’s not optimal, we often pattern that based on what we see, instead of what we know is best until we choose to change.” -D Grant Smith[On what success actually is]“The way people used to do things was they would build it…even launching music. You would write this album, create this masterpiece,hide up in your studio and then launch it. Then fame and glory would  come to you."Today that’s not the best way to do it. Making sure that what you’re doing with impact others before you actually do it, or doing your best to involve other people in w...

Music Business Keys To Success with Rodney HolderWhen it comes to business success, the entrepreneur path is essential. Most musicians are recognizing that more and more as time goes by. One of the premier places where musicians have experienced insights into how to take their careers to new levels was the Music Launch Summit, created by my good friend Steve Palfreyman last year. There, over 50 of the world's biggest names in the business came together to help musicians grow. Rodney Holder was a standout in that series.I was both an attendee and a masterclass speaker. Being in that summit with many of my good friends and colleagues including Carlos Castillo, Wendy Parr, Yann Ilunga, Benji Rogers, and Cari Cole, it was incredible to experience the insights of so many really incredible people.After watching Rodney's session, I knew I had to talk with him. Not only is he a fellow drummer and Australian (I love the Aussie's!!!), but his methodology of relationship building, learning from experience (which includes embracing failure) and the power of mentorship are hallmarks of what make for uncommon people.A Little Insights Into Rodney HolderRodney is certainly uncommon. You can sense that in every response to my questions in our conversation. He's also someone who has taken the process of growth and used each experience to bring a new piece of insight to share. That's really a remarkable element to the science of growth.He's a podcast host of Music Business Facts, the top music podcast in Australia. He's also a metal drummer in  Alchemist Tripsis (so he's got serious skills behind the kit) and seasoned musician. He also teaches Music Business Studies at Taffe University in Australia.What I Learned From Rodney In This PodcastI'll be honest, one of the best things about hosting the DIY Artist Route Podcast is getting to learn first hand from some amazing people. I know a lot about how to build relationships and a good bit about radio. But I don't know everything about either of those subjects. And there's a TON of stuff in the industry I don't know. That's why having conversations and asking good questions are important (if you want help with asking the right questions, reach out to me and we can talk).Sometimes we learn things by how they're phrased. For us creative entrepreneurs, the business side of what we do involves positioning our creations as products. Did you know that every aspect of your creation is a product that you're offering to your audience? It's like Rodney tells us“You are a product, your songs, your shows, your work are all products.”Kinda different way to think about things, huh? You are a product, not just what you make. That's a game changer, and it's just the tip of the iceberg.3 Keys To Music SuccessOne of the big questions, that was kind of a trick (oops, you caught me) was when I asked Rodney if there was just 1 thing you could do to become successful today. In my experience, there's not magic button that if you master it, all your cards will always be winners.No poker hand works like that. Life doesn't either.On the flip side, there are a few ingredients that typically produce great results the more you do them. Three of those are hard work, continually putting yourself out there (marketing, outreach, gaining experiences), and luck.Wait,

Every musician wants to get more gigs, book better venues and be able to perform regularly. Performing for some artists is one of the main methods for profiting from the business of being a musician.However, getting gigs is getting harder and harder. Fortunately for all of us, there's Dave Ruch.Dave Ruch Is Great At Getting Paid GetsDave is a seasoned musician with a history of performing and creating new opportunities to perform.One thing that sets him a part from most musicians, is the types of gigs he gets. Instead of competing with every cover band in the coffee shop/bar-type venue, he's found a truly uncommon method of getting PAID gigs.Yeah, you read that right.One of the best places for musicians to get in front of a captivated (and paying) audience is to go to places that thrive on educational opportunities.Schools and libraries are two of the best places where both education and supportive audiences await you.If only you know how to book at their locations.How To Book Gigs That Give You More Time With Friends & FamilyThat's the specialty of Dave Ruch's blog, a thorough resource for musicians of all walks to find ways to perform in places that keep you active in the daytime so that you can spend time with your family or friends in the evening.How many of you have families (spouse and kids or grand kids) that you don't see as much because you're always on the road or playing late night gigs?Dave's method of performing allows him to work during the daytime and be home in the evenings/nights with his wife and kids.Even if you're in your 20s or 30s and haven't settled down with a family, the rewarding nature of being a part of children and youth's future by providing an educational and entertaining presentation during their school day is a great opportunity.Helping others is the mark of truly influential and powerful people. In these ways, Dave shows us how to get better at helping others through booking a different kind of gig.Make The Most Of Your OpportunitiesDave says, "Most public libraries have missions of entertain and educate audiences." This is a natural fit for a musician to make new connections.As a musician and creative entrepreneur, your main job is to build relationships with people and give them something powerful to experience.This method of booking a different kind of venue opens up new ways for you to grow.  It gives another avenue to take the method of The DIY Musician's Radio Handbook and apply them to a new group of people to create success opportunities for you.In a way similar to the past several DIY Artist Route guests (like Jeremy Young, Chandler Coyle, & Andrew Apanov) education in this music space is much more than a classroom experience. We all learn from each other.Sometimes we have opportunities to take our art into new places to positively change the lives of others. In Dave's method, you can get paid to do that too.Quotes To Key In On"What happens in the present is more important than being known in the end." -Dave Ruch“We’re all looking for hard, fast wins in the digital world. But few people are taking the time to build real relationships. When we miss building the relationship, we miss the chance to get real gold out of the exchange.” -D Grant Smith

Dave Ruch joins the DIY Artist Route to discuss his unique method of getting gigs as a musician: booking through schools, libraries and venues off the beaten path.Dave is an excellent storyteller, and excels at educating both students and musicians on the art of doing work that makes a difference. Through his music, and his uncommon method of performance, he's able to balance time with his craft and his family. He shares his insights and wisdom from the road here.

Education for musicians and creative entrepreneurs is at an all-time high. There are multiple courses, books, seminars, trainings, workshops, blogs and everything in between for all of us to become the finest, brightest, and best at our creative endeavors.Jeremy Young is one such educator. A musician, blogger, and education specialist with Soundfly, Jeremy has spent the past several years blending his experience with music with knowledge and expertise. The results are a powerful combination of expertise and know-how that he shares with us here.Insights Into Jeremy YoungJeremy is a student and musician. He's taken his experience in the realm of musicianship to discover different methods of growth for not only his music career but also his entrepreneurial path. One of those methods is creating different music related companies. This little nugget of insight was really cool to talk about.There's a mention of Palover Press in our chat. It's a company he created to pair audiobooks and authors with musicians. There's a market for this kind of collaborative connection between 2 different types of creators. It's a path no one has carved yet, and one that he's still exploring. I'm diving into this too, in a little bit of a different way. Grab my audiobook on Noisetrade to see more of what I'm talking about.On the surface, it may seem like a wild pairing, authors and musicians in one product line. If it seems like a stretch, that's the results of great education. Great teachers, mentors, and coaches know how to stretch their students to a place where they do more and become more than the common student. Or to put it this way,“Growth happens by stretching and being challenged. When you stick to just what’s manageable, you’re really exchanging opportunity for frustration instead of exchanging opportunity for opportunity.”Aside from performing with his band Sontag Shogun, Jeremy teaches courses on guitar and business at Soundfly. He also has a few music related businesses. He loves helping musicians grow by way of the Soundfly blog, Flypaper. Go there to get some fantastic articles.The Pairing Of Values Creates Bigger WinsWhen was the last time you saw your core values as a connection point with other people? This is a big subject that has a lot to do with who you attract to your audience tribe, and who you connect with on a collaboration/networking presence.Values are the beliefs and ideals that drive what you do. For some, it's authenticity in their creative expression (meaning they're going to be themselves instead of adopting a 2nd personality when in "music mode"). For others it's relationship growth. Values drive what we pursue and how we pursue growth. It's like Jeremy says,“Interpersonal relationships are always more important than the project itself.”Our values help to define how we connect with people. Too often, musicians look at their creative process and the end result as something independent of other people. The best results for your work will come from how you pair yourself with strong relationships, and shared values among other people. This is a common theme in The DIY Musician's Radio Handbook. How To Create Opportunities For CollaborationI first met Jeremy Young through the avenues of curiosity. As I said in the podcast, I read a blog he did for Sonicbids where he talked about the 5 best books every musician needed to read. I had just published The DIY Musician's Radio Handbook

Mark Steiner is the co-founder of GigSalad, an online marketplace for musicians, entertainers, speakers and event planners. He joins us on the DIY Artist Route to talk about his success in entrepreneurial business and music. He also shares insights into what it means to win in business despite not living in a major metropolitan city. And how emotional intelligence has been the key to his company's ongoing success.

In the 16 years I've worked with for profit and nonprofit businesses, particularly in radio, media, and the entertainment industry. There are a few key things that make for thriving organizations.I knew from the first conversation I had with Mark Steiner at GigSalad that he had cracked the code too. In this podcast episode we both share our perspectives on what makes growth work for entrepreneurs, small businesses, artists & musicians. We find common ground and a lot of perspective that helps to put the art of Growth Farming to work.Mark Steiner On The DIY Artist Route PodcastPart of what put me on Mark's radar is the platform he created and owns that is a marketplace for both musicians, entertainers, and speakers to land better gigs. Every musician I talk with struggles to figure out how to get booked at better venues and how to make their tour schedules work. GigSalad is one method that musicians, artists, entertainers, and motivational speakers can use to land more gigs. Building your reputation in the process is also what drives growth and success here.I wanted to talk with Mark Steiner because of GigSalad but also because he's an entrepreneur who has illustrated very specific key points to the Growth Farming method. One particular point he's lived out is illustrated about 35 minutes into the podcast where we discuss the difference between being selfish and loving yourself:“If you truly love yourself in the purest sense of the word, that you’re patient with yourself, you’re kind, not rude, you have compassion and love. Then the absolute natural, the absolute natural manifestation of that is love that you give to others. It just oozes out of you. So if you have people who are not expressing love then they’re not loving themselves.”Throughout our conversation you hear a man who has come to terms with life itself, battled his own sense of identity and made some amazing discoveries in the process. We also talk about the idea of the Heart Garden, which is core to Growth Farming as a means of success.Inside each and every one of us is a garden. The fruits that come forth out of our lives (our words, actions and attitudes) come from what we plant inside of us. Mark's success in his business as an artist and entrepreneur illustrate his growth in building the right kind of garden.One of the past DIY Artist Route Podcast guests, Steve Palfreyman, shares a similar ethos. There's a lot here that pertains to emotional intelligence, which is a key point to success for any entrepreneur, business, or organization. It's very much what Mark says here:“I know my strengths and what I’m good at and I follow what comes natural to me, which is emotional intelligence. I’m comfortable there. I can talk about my feelings and other people’s feelings and relationships. I think those are the driving forces to any successful business.”There's a lot of joy that is gleaned from this podcast experience. There's also a lot of wisdom. What does it take for you to really build success over time, cultivate strong relationships with people to open new doors, and see real fruits come forth? Adopt the method and advice that Mark Steiner illustrates in this conversation.More On GigSalad & Growth OpportunitiesOn a side note, I've been using GigSalad as a way to get my name out for more opportunities and the system is well setup. Their support team is a group of fantastic people who are easy to work with and will help you along the way. I really believe in this marketplace, and I'm not being paid to say that.You can get more info on Mark and get signed up for free to use GigSalad here. Putting it all together for your artistry is also illustrated in both

 When I read someone with a massive influence talking about some of the same things I do, I take note. Michael Zipursky wrote a recent blog piece about how to get published in industry publications to boost your exposure. He's been featured in big media platforms like Huffington Post, Fox News, American Express' Open Forum and more. Turns out his methods are incredibly similar to what you've heard me talk about here.Learning From People In Different IndustriesYet we work in 2 completely different fields. Michael works with consultants in business. I work primarily with musicians and entrepreneurs in the creative industries. His methods for getting big media companies and the people behind the publications to take notice are very similar to what is detailed in The DIY Musician's Radio Handbook. Did I know Michael's methods when I wrote my book? Nope. However, like attracts like.A few of the past DIY Artist Route podcast guests have come from non-music related industries. There have been a few people on social media who balked at learning non-musicians about music growth. Here's the thing: growth principles are bigger than any industry.  Don't choose to close your mind off to people in a different field or industry because it seems to not apply. That's a dangerous place to live.Instead, have a teachable mindset. Teachable folks can learn from anyone. If you want to know how to do something someone else is doing, or you want to connect with them, it's not hard. After reading his blog article, I reached out to him and made a connection. The result of that connection is this podcast conversation.Michael Zipursky Secrets To Media ExposureHow do you get someone to pay attention to you? You start by paying attention to them. It's what Dale Carnegie talks about in How To Win Friends And Influence People.  Remember this quote from Carnegie: "You gain more friends in two months showing interest in other people than you can in 2 years trying to get other people interested in you." That matters when contacting media to get their attention.The majority of emails sent to media are Spam. Same is true in business when people are trying to get the attention of others. It doesn't work.“It’s all about the relationships. When you can establish a relationship with an author or editor, you’re going to get a lot more focus from them than if you send a Spam message.”In the podcast, Michael lays out 5 specific steps to take to get yourself and your work in front of big media publications. The method is the same for getting in front of radio. The step-by-step process is detailed in 9 videos, a comprehensive training workshop, and coursebook in the Indie Radio Promotion course.As a coach to coaches, I pay close attention to what Michael talks about on Consulting Success. His platform is about how to be a better leader, how to guide leaders to create more wins, and how to keep growth happening on a regular basis.His success is in leading people of all walks of life to achieve more using systems and structures. The most successful people in the world have coaches and mentors who work with them to make magic happen in their lives and professions. No one gets to the top on their own.“One of the big keys to success for every successful person I know and every successful person out there is having a coach. Music artists, athletes, actors and so forth all have a success coach. They identify who is out there and who can they learn from to get that help...

I've been a fan of Michael for several years. His email and blogs are fantastic resources for creators and coaches to find ways of growing our platforms. One recent blog of his talked about 3 key tactics he's used to get media coverage with publications like Huffington Post. His methods and my methods are nearly identical, meaning they work. I reached out to him to talk about how musicians and creative entrepreneurs can get press and media coverage. He shares his insights and much more in this podcast episode.

 Kevin Kelly is a man with a rich background in writing and science. His wisdom and thoughtfulness is pervasive in not only his writings but also his lectures.He's someone with an eye and ear to the future, looking at both trends and technology paired with the human psyche to see what futures await us. The artistic side of this approach to vision casting is brilliant. It's also intriguing.How I came to understand and embrace Kevin's theories on growth goes back a few years to when I was starting my first endeavor in the creative entrepreneurial realm.The Birth Of The SuperFan IdeaBack in 2008, while starting the initial syndication build for The Appetizer Radio Show, I first met an artist who would become a good friend. William Fitzsimmons had transitioned from one career as a therapist into becoming a full-time musician. He wasn't famous, but he did have a really strong core audience that propelled his growth.Years later, I'd connect with several other artists who'd share with me how they'd built their growth strategy around reaching 1000 true fans. It was a theory created by Kevin Kelly in an article he wrote that was published a few decades ago. Intrigued, I looked it up and found it contained the exact formula I was using to build my platform.Fast-forward to this past summer. My good friend (and fellow DIY Artist Router) Chandler Coyle told me of an opportunity to speak with Kevin. Kevin has a new book out called The Inevitable, and was looking at some artistic, entrepreneurial and marketing related podcasts to get on to promote the book. I put my name in the hat and was privileged to get to connect with him.The result of that connection is this podcast episode. It's been several months in the making, but it's brilliant on a variety of levels. The are several things I loved about talking with Kevin Kelly, especially how down-to-earth and open he is. It was like talking with an old friend.He's also incredibly objective, which is refreshing for someone who has done so much in their careers.A Brief Bio On Kevin KellyKevin Kelly is most known for being a writer, author, and co-founder of Wired Magazine. He's also got a rich history in science, photography and digital marketing. He's the founder of The WELL, a virtual community created with Stewart Brand.He's written for publications like The Economist, Esquire, GQ, and the New York Times. His lectures cover subjects ranging from marketing and economic growth to scientific and technological innovation.His writings and books include New Rules for the New Economy: 10 Radical Strategies for a Connected World (Penguin, 1999) and"Forward: 1000 True Fans," pp. 3–8, in Be The Media, David Mathison, editor, (2009), which is where the concept of the SuperFan was born.More insights into Kelly available on his website.Notable Quotes From This Podcast Conversation With Kevin Kelly"The best way to do research on the Internet is to say something and people will tell you that you’re wrong. Numbers aren’t as critical as just doing it.""The Internet was inevitable but the kind of Internet we have (wasn't). (There's a) shift to Internet of experiences away from an Internet of knowledge. Much more emotional and experiential overlay will take place.""Marketing (The Inevitable) on Twitter was something we did well. Tweeting once a day with a quote from the book was very successful."

Kevin Kelly is the innovative thinker behind the concept of "1,000 True Fans." It's what has become the principle theory and idea of growing an audience to SuperFans to have a thriving and successful career in every industry. Kevin sits down to talk specifics about this theory, look at what growth is possible in the next 20 years for musicians and innovators, and more.

Every now and then the "recommended" notification on Twitter will suggest someone to you who is actually a good fit. A few months back, the recommendation was for Jon Nastor. After looking at his profile and seeing that he's a drummer, and entrepreneur, and an author, I had to see what this guy was about.That led to an exploration of his site, diving into his podcast and realizing that he and I share a lot in common. We both love punk rock, both play drums (him far more successfully than I). We both have working in the music and entrepreneurial space for a while. We have also had excellent conversations with some of the same people on our podcasts like Tom Giles, Kevin Kelly (episode coming soon), and Seth Godin. I knew I had to talk to this dude.Jon is a great conversationalist, and a truly comfortable person to engage with. He was gracious in extending the conversational love to me in letting me join him on Hack The Entrepreneur Podcast shortly after we talked. Listen to our chat on his podcast here.His insights into what success actually means, how to combine our passion and our freedom to do what we want, and what growth actually is are spot on.I highly recommend his book Hack The Entrepreneur, the book and the podcast. It's insights into what real growth professionals like the individuals mentioned earlier and several others give to show the way forward.Episode 26 with Jon Nastor Show NotesJon gives a Cliff Notes definition of "Growth Hacking" for musicians in first 10 minutes of conversation.You don't have to have a ton of experience before starting out. If you want to do something do it. It's how Jon created his podcast and wrote his book. The backstory and his insights are perfect for helping you get started.We talk about how annoying auto-DM messages and auto-responders are when first making new contacts with people on social media. This is particularly insightful for musicians who do this on Twitter. What Jon says about this is how most professionals in media and with an influential audience feels if you auto-DM them right out of the gate.We cheer for the underdog in the story but we tell other people we're the giant. Why that is and how that hurts us about 3/4 into the podcast.Jon Nastor Podcast Quotes“Do work that matters. What matters to me might not matter to you. But it’s worth talking about.”“I like my businesses like I like my music: fast and independent.”"If you have an idea and you put it onto paper, and then in a digital format, and put it out to the world, that is entrepreneurship.”“We all go against Goliath in real time, and cheer for David, but then we try to pretend to be Goliath in what we do. Then we lose that personal connection. Everything I write and everything I say is for 1 person. If I treat them well enough there will be that connection personally.”Listen, download and share via this player:

Jon Nastor joins us to discuss the power of being an entrepreneur, how to define freedom in what we do and live in that freedom, the power of being a punk rock business person, and more great tips perfect for both musicians, startups, and entrepreneurs in growing your platform.

I have to admit to having some excitement about this podcast episode. I've been a big fan of Rachael Yamagata‘s music for a long time. Going back at least to 2003 when I first heard her self-titled EP and then in '04 with the release of Happenstance.Great musicians write songs that connect with our individual stories, and those stories become a soundtrack to our lives. Happenstance was that for me in many ways. The driving beat and stinging lyrics to Letter Read remain one of my favorite songs. It's probably one of the best sad/breakup songs out there. Add her piano-driven, jazz-styled songwriting to the rest of that album with tracks like Under My Skin, Reason Why, and Be Be Your Love and you have plenty of reason to explore her songbook.This past Friday, she released her latest album Tightrope Walker. It's simply brilliant. And it's already getting featured all over the place. The Appetizer Radio Show is showcasing it, as well a great indie radio platforms like Mountain Stage, NPR Music, and more.I've wondered what it would be like to have a conversation with someone whose music I've followed for years but not ever talked with. I finally had the chance to find out. I want to give a big thanks to my good friend and past DIY Artist Route guest Chandler Coyle for helping to make this wonderful conversation happen. Chandler is a connector, and one of my favorite people.Here's what I discovered right away in talking with Rachael: the music connection is the tip of the iceberg. It's really a heart connection that draws us towards the artists we love.By heart connection I'm referring to the philosophies and ideals we live by. For me, I believe that love is the highest calling we can have. Inside of each of us is a garden. What we plant in our hearts turns to fruits we produce with our lives. My mantra each day is to plant love inside my heart and mind so that it can be reaped to give to others. This is the heart of Growth Farming.There's a principle of Like Attracting Like and that's certainly something that every one of my friends who are past guests on the podcast have in common. We all believe that joining forces to help others is the path to take to succeed. Rachael is a wonderful example of just the heart and mind to do that for artists and entrepreneurs alike here.Big Takeaways In This Podcast With Rachael YamagataMy wife Mrs. Smith was very pleased to learn that, like her, Rachael is a very big cat fan. She shares a bit of insight into her love for her cats in this conversation. I thought that was just perfect. One day we'll have to find a way to get Mrs. Smith and Ms. Yamagata together to compare cat notes, don't you think?Writing relationships in their ups is not always easy, but writing about the downs comes more naturally. Some people try to figure out why relationships go the way they do instead of just complaining about what didn't work. For songwriters who dive into this side of the story, it takes on a whole new thing. We also learn why my friend William Fitzsimmons and Rachael should do a co-write together.The entrepreneurial side of art and music is certainly within the grasp of any artist who wants to be successful. However, the ball is in your court. If you want to win in this realm, you have to learn everything you can about how to be a business with your music. It's the realm of what Rachael refers to as "Artist As CEO.

Rachael Yamagata joins us to share her stories on her new album Tightrope Walker and her incredible affinity for cats. She also dives deeper into her process for adding the right team members to her music business to be successful over the years, and illustrates how she's modeling "Artist As CEO."

Listen/Download the Podcast conversation here: Shaine FreemanAs a musician, you've heard a whole lot of people talk about why you need to build your contact list, grow your connections with people in the music industry as well as your fan base, and why "who you know" is so important.Guess what? Who you know, though it's a big part of the growth process, is not nearly as essential as who knows you back. This art (and science) is one of the key things that created the connection between my friend Shaine Freeman and myself. His career in music, entertainment and professional sports is vast. So are his connections. But that's only a small part of what makes Shaine dynamic.This dude gets it. He gets relationships and how to build them over time. He gets marketing and growth for musicians and entrepreneurs. He gets the process of vetting the people you listen to for advice. He gets the power of reciprocity. AND he gets growth farming.This podcast episode is full of wisdom, advice, and great perspectives on what folks who do what he and I do (as podcast hosts and music industry professionals) as well as what goes through our minds when people ask certain questions. There are some things that you should be careful what you ask for with certain people. Gaining instant access to someone's contact list, particularly someone you just met, is a tale of caution.I highly recommend subscribing to Shaine's podcast The Miews. Each episode has great conversations and insights into how to build, grow, and be more successful with your music project. There are a few podcasts I'm a proponent for, and The Miews is one of them. It's connecting with podcast hosts that's one of the big secrets to getting the attention of music industry influencers. If you want insight into how to do that, contact me and we'll talk.Podcast Notes & Quotes:[Why we need to experience loss and failure]: “At the end of the day you wouldn’t be who you are if you didn’t have those (negative) experiences.”[Why growing connections and building relationships takes time & you can't shortcut  it]: “This is an important step in your process to grow the relationship. You don’t get to pull the Game Genie out and advance to Level 30 in the relationship process when you’re barely on Level 1.”[Why you need to check out the people you want to connect with before you do it]: “If you don’t have the decency to go and at least see what someone’s done before you ask a question, you’re not going to get anywhere.”“How many musicians would give up their only guitar to someone they don’t know who said they needed a guitar? You probably wouldn’t. That’s how it is if you ask me ‘hey Mister, can you give me the contacts that you spent 9 or 10 years building, can I get that today, and I don’t really know you?”[On how much you need to know versus how much you actually know]: “When I was 18,19,20 years old I thought I knew everything. My father told me to get out now while I knew everything. There was a strong message behind what he was saying. You’ll go through some realizations that you don’t know everything.”There are SO many more great quotes in this podcast (essentially every time Shaine talks or answers a question) to list here.One key thing we talk about over and over again is the process of networking and building relationships with your fan base AND with music industry & media folks. We talked about some of the big things artists get wrong. If you want to change your game and get them right, pick up the manual for making that happen with the DIY Musician's Radio Handbook.

There's an ongoing term or phrase I've been using when artists talk about how they want to "know" certain people. It's one thing to know a music professional. It's another thing for them to "know you back."That phrase originally came from one of my first chats with Shaine Freeman. Shaine is a passionate and insightful music industry pro, with a lot of experience on all sides of the business. I brought him on the DIY Artist Route to talk all things relationship building, networking, reciprocity in our growth and what it means to really get our music in front of people who will help us grow it. Bring a pen and paper to this one. You'll want to implement his suggestions today to get massive transformation in your growth process.

Steve Palfreyman is a musician who is passionate about helping fellow artists and creatives succeed with their creation. His methods of helping include promoting empathy and collaboration. In this podcast he shares his love for community and insights into how to grow dynamic communities through art. And info on the upcoming Music Launch Summit.

Ryan Kairalla is an entertainment attorney, author, and podcast host of Break The Business. He's dedicated to helping musicians navigate the legal side of the music business, as well as build a solid entrepreneurial footing for artists. He shares his unique perspectives and insights into how to excel at the business side of music, and avoid pitfalls that even major label artists suffer from.

Amy Schmittauer is the founder of Savvy Sexy Social, a great platform for creative entrepreneurs in the realm of video and content creation online. Her video on the power of radio airplay for musicians is how I found her. In no time we had a conversation about growth farming going, which led to this podcast interview. Discover effective methods of how to engage your audience to build growth in the digital realm and social media.

Have you ever wanted to build your own music platform? Have you thought that starting your own label would be the best way to be able to grow and distribute your music? What about direct-to-fan? If you've thought or wondered about any of these methods of growth, Tom Giles is the man to talk to.Tom and I dive into the path of direct-to-fan from the angle of relationship building. Even if you consider yourself introverted, or approaching new people makes you nervous, Tom's advice and counsel will help you make the most of networking and relationship building opportunities.Tom Giles is the founder of StageBloc, a direct-to-fan online platform recently acquired by Full Screen to further help musicians, artists and creative builders grow their tribes. Get more at https://www.fullscreendirect.com/

Brandon Gaille is an inspirational dude. I'm drawn to folks who overcome obstacles, and Brandon certainly has overcome much in his quest for success.One big thing he's faced and risen above is being bullied every single day as a kid. For someone who faced some bullying in my youth, I never dealt with the terror that Brandon did. Yet he overcame.He also was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Then he found out that his pregnant wife had cancer. Talk about serious challenges and potential setbacks. When I start to feel overwhelmed at the challenges in front of me, I think of this guy and his perseverance.Did he overcome the brain tumor? Yep. Did his wife successfully deliver their baby without complications? Yep. And deal with cancer? Yep, that's right.So what does any of this have to do with building our online audience? I reached out to Brandon to learn more about his story and discover how he has drawn over 1 million people to his blog every month. That's right, a million people read his content each month. Those are pretty good numbers.Did I Change Course By Talking To Brandon Gaille Away From Growth Farming?Let me be clear: I'm not a "massive growth," "big audience," "look like a rock star with a zillion fans" kinda dude. You know me. I'm big on slow growth, farming for stronger connections. So why on earth would I double back and talk to a guy whose platform is all about building a massive following?The answer is simple: Brandon Gaille is an uncommon person who overcame big challenges and rose above them to do big things. That by itself warrants a closer look at his work.Plus, building relationships and connections with folks is one of my biggest passions. Getting to talk with him on his podcast was a real joy and honor. AND he talks about stuff I really don't know a lot about.Despite the fact that I do marketing online for a living, there's a lot of what he talks about that I'm still learning. It's also interesting to me that his growth methods take a little bit of time, a lot of focus on details, and dedication to the process. I'm big on that and talk about it a lot.So…..even if you want to build a massive following of fans or audience members, the magic beans theory of overnight success is a crock. The Blog Millionaire's philosophy and methods will get you many more online viewers to build your audience. It won't happen overnight.Overnight successes disappear just as fast as they arrive. Be different. Be uncommon. Be like Brandon Gaille.Listen and download from Spreaker:

Being a radio host, I'm plugged into different parts of this industry. I'm connected to radio stations, artists, managers, radio promoters, and listeners alike. I see things from the perspective of a radio station manager, music director, program host, and curator when it comes to music submissions. I do also see things from the perspective of the artists. It might seem like these are two opposing viewpoints, but they're not.Not if you look at it the right way.Jesse BarnettJesse Barnett (Right Arm Resource) is one who sees the harmony between the musicians and the media platforms who showcase their work. It's a team effort, where both sides win when they work together. Look folks, there's no I in team. We know that. It's cliched. But how often do you, musicians, look at your music promotions to radio as something that offers a benefit to the station you reach out to other than them "getting to play" your music? Radio and musicians win when there's a relationship connection in place. That's why public, community, indie and college radio continue to be powerhouses in the modern media-rich world. Relationships matter. Make that a focus and you'll see bigger and better wins in your music promotion.This podcast episode is about just that: relationships. Jesse is the best in the business of radio promotion because he puts relationships first. He has worked with and represented some big names in indie music including Damien Rice, They Might Be Giants, Cage The Elephant, and others. And he works with smaller indie labels and artists too, quite successfully I might add.We talk about the power of networking and relationship building a lot in this episode because it's the real key to achieving anything that lasts. Trust me. Or better yet trust Jesse. We're both proof of this. Radio is a conduit between people who share interest, love, and stories driven by music. When radio works best is when it builds communities together of people who share these areas. That's not the same thing as it being a platform that just plays music and has listeners. That's boring commercial radio, which you're not listening to.One other thing that is mentioned a few times in this podcast episode is The DIY Musician's Radio Handbook, which illustrates the exact things we talk about in a How-To format. Jesse has read it and shares his thoughts on it. It's easy for me to tell you that you need this book. However, you decide how much you want to succeed. If you want to win, and you want long term wins, go grab the book here. After you listen to this, if you get just 1 thing out of it (which I know is an understatement because you'll get way more than that), do your part in the growth farming process and plant a seed with 3 of your music friends (i.e. share the episode). Cultivate it with me here, and let me know what 1 thing you got the most from in this conversation. We'll talk soon!

Brandon Gaille is the man behind The Blog Millionaire Course and Podcast. His blog generates over 1 million visitors per month, and he shares his wisdom and stories behind how he's done this. The keys to online branding, platform building, and overcoming obstacles are great advice for entrepreneurs, musicians, and creative builders.

Radio promotion is the best way for musicians to grow their audience, when you do it right. I talk about how to do it right on my blog and in my book. This time, I wanted to bring on someone who DOES it right, and has built a solid business doing so. What does that mean? Relationship building and networking with stations. Jesse Barnett shares tips, tools, and methods to do radio promotion and networking the right way, so you can do it on your own.

Andrew Apanov took an experience in helping to build Ultimate Guitar online to helping DIY and unsigned musicians grow their digital presence. His Dotted Music platform is a resource for musicians building an online brand. He shares his insights into how to use the web to boost your fan growth, create new opportunities, and the #1 thing every band needs to have to succeed in the digital space.

Derek Webb, the founder of Noisetrade.com and former guitarist for Caedman's Call is also a solo musician who has been growth farming his audience for over 2 decades. He shares his insights into how data is the driver behind how to build your fan base, how using free music giveaways has brought him exponential success and more insights into how to navigate the pathway forward for musicians and entrepreneurs.

Me with Brandon and Justin of The Rocketboys and their Golden Fork AwardBrandon Kinder and I go back quite a few years. Not only did we attend the same university, but we helped cultivate a growing indie music culture in Abilene, Texas. In 2005 the music scene here was on the verge of really exploding. Over a decade later, the music culture continues to expand in my West Texas town. Brandon took his band The Rocketboys to international indie fame, and relocated to Austin. There the band has shifted members and created some outstanding new music, including The Appetizer Radio Show Golden Fork Award-Winning album 20,000 Ghosts.Brandon isn't just the frontman for the band who has played Austin City Limits, Daytrotter, and other prime indie spotlight gigs. He also has a solo project called The Wealthy West, which is the result of years of songwriting for The Rocketboys with music that never made it to light. The story behind the creation of the Wealthy West (as well as how he came upon that great music brand name) is in this podcast episode.With his side project The Wealthy West releasing a brand new album this year, and with the growing success of The Rockeboys, Brandon was an ideal candidate to bring on the podcast. He's a fantastic songwriter, and proof that you can create great music in a small town and go on to do very big things. Our conversation in the podcast dives into stories behind the songs, including his obsession with ghosts real and figurative, what it takes to get good band managers, and why songwriting has to remain pure to be effective.I encourage you to also dive into the newest album by The Wealthy West, which is currently being showcased across the country on a variety of great indie music platforms (including my own). The album Long Play is available for streaming here.

Jay Coyle, Music Geek ServicesSo far on the DIY Artist Route Podcast we've connected with fellow Super Fan building advocates like Benji Rogers (Pledge Music), Michael Brandvold, and Chandler Coyle (Berklee Online & Music Geek Services). Recently I was blessed to get to chat with Chandler's brother and Music Geek founder Jay Coyle on the gospel of super fans for musicians.Jay Coyle has a storied past with music and music marketing. His approach to helping musicians market themselves is an outside-the-box perspective that made me instantly pay closer attention. It's the way that I've gone about building my audience for The Appetizer Radio Show, and help musicians connect with their fans for years. And best of all, it's really easy.What does your fan base want most from you?Think about that. Put yourself in the shoes of your audience to see what you can do for them to garner more of their support, AND how you can build stronger connections with them.Jay Coyle thinks like a Super FanChances are you're a big fan of at least 1 band or musician. What lengths would you go to in order to see your favorite band live? What about adding their music to your record library, even if that's digital? Let's throw some merch in too, because most of us Super Fans have merchandise from our favorite artists. What is it that we most want from our favorite artists, and why are we so passionate about them?It's these keen insights into what makes the super fan army move in your direction that Jay is so great at. It's how his company Music Geek Services has helped many small-to-medium sized bands thrive in a constantly growing music market with new artists emerging daily. More competition creates more noise and less room. No musician in this industry can get by on trying to be all things to all people and expect to win. Instead, focus on your core audience of super fans and make them your prize.Jay Coyle is one more advocate for the essential piece to your audience growth-Super Fans. Take his insights, tips, and advice to heart and to action. What stood out the most to you in our conversation on this podcast? Comment here and let's chat about it. Subscribe to the podcast for past episodes (mentioned above) in the right margin.

Matthew Mayfield went from being the frontman on a rising rock band signed to a big label to being on his own. The DIY Artist Route is the path Matthew has spent the past 7+ years of his career charting. He shares his wisdom from the road, diving into what it means to be a Blue Collar musician, the power of Noisetrade, gigging til you make it and more.

James Moore is the founder and owner of Independent Music Promotions, a resource for musicians in building a digital brand. He joins us to talk PR and publicity for musicians, how to use the web for your betterment and not detriment, and why having your own website is paramount to using Bandcamp or Reverbnation.

How do you get someone you don't know but highly value to notice you?It's no secret I'm a fan of Seth Godin's work. His book All Marketers Are Liars/Tell Stories is on my book list from 2015. When I started the DIY Artist Route Podcast last year, he was on my bucket list to get as a guest. I honestly didn't know if that would ever happen, but it has.I talk a lot about being Uncommon. It's a subject Seth covers in detail in his book Purple Cow. Seth Godin is an uncommon person who shows us how we can be too. A part of it is this idea that all of us in the creative realm are looking for the Promise Land (i.e. that place where our dreams will come into fruition). At the same time hoping to find a Moses in the wilderness to help take us there. That desert and Moses is a big part of our conversation in this podcast episode. Seth Godin has been like a Moses for a lot of people, including me.Seth used to have his own record label. His affinity for art, music, and expression is fairly obvious, but these little pieces of newness make for an even more enriched story line.Stories are a big part of everything we do. I'm learning more and more about the power of them in how growth and enrichment works in the communities we build. The power of stories are talked about in our conversation, both our own histories and our present work. It's important for our communities to better connect with each other through storytelling.Learn more about what makes for powerful connections with an audience who supports you and how to spread that passion in this episode.

Michael Brandvold shares insights into identifying your Super Fans, how to connect with them and bring them into your work to gain more success. A music super fan himself, Michael has worked with KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue and other successful bands to grow their audience. He also coaches DIY musicians on how to do the same thing. His insights are invaluable here.

This time we're joined by Justin Wayne, the creator and host of the wildly engaging indie music podcast The Justin Wayne Show. Justin shares with us his insights into what radio programs are looking for when adding new music from submissions, as well as tips on how artists can position themselves better to gain airplay.We'll also discuss an interesting notion that Justin has about the power of indie music being similar to a religious conversion. And we'll hear how both Justin and I have feline accomplices who help us do our jobs a little better.

Marketing is a big field, especially for DIY musicians. Fortunately we have pros in our corner like Chandler Coyle.Chandler is a professor of music marketing at Berklee Online. He stays up on news, trends, and tips from across the spectrum to help musicians, performers, and anyone trying to figure out the music industry. He shares some amazing music marketing tips to help you gain more fans, sell more music and be successful today.

What is it about Batman that makes him so powerful as an individual (without super powers) able to fight the mob and a series of rogues in his city? Aside from wealth and kick-ass ninja training, it's unparalleled focus.It's that line of thinking that led me to connect with Matthew Belair. Matthew is a coach for athletes in the art of mental toughness. If athletes benefit from mental zen, musicians and entrepreneurs can glean insights into how to use our minds and focus on the right things to win in our industries. We talk more about Mental Zen in this podcast conversation.

Liza is my guest this time in an episode geared for both musicians and entrepreneurs. Several years ago when The Apprentice featured actual business professionals instead of celebrities vying for another 15 minutes of fame, Liza was not only on the show, she was a finalist. She took that experience to Austin and later Corpus Christi to start 2 nonprofits. She shares insights into community building, entrepreneurial growth, and ways to bring others together so that everyone wins.

Benji Rogers is my guest this time and this is one of the best episodes for any DIY, unsigned or indie musician to hear.Why?Benji dives into 2 of my big mantras, one being the absolute power of growing your audience base one fan at a time. Two, he identifies specifics behind what you can do to connect with the members of your audience who matter most: your super fans.This is the tip of the iceberg, so listen to the podcast for the fullness.Benji Rogers is the founder of the crowdsourcing platform PledgeMusic. He's also a huge music super fan himself and a really cool industry pro to connect with.

My guest this time is award-winning musician, actress, and teacher Jerzy Jung. Jerzy is an artist's artist, dedicating her life to the fullest pursuit of her artistic dreams. She shares with us the glories of working on TV shows like Orange Is The New Black and Louie, as well as ways musicians can build collaborative opportunities through HitRecord, and insights into her latest crowdfunding adventure.

The new year is kicked off with a new episode featuring my close friend and community building maestro Bird Thomas. Bird is the brains behind a monthly art event that brings people together through the arts. In our conversation she's share her secrets for community building for artists, how to have the mindset for winning, and we'll experience together the power of focus to make something happen right here in the podcast.