Your Band Sucks (At Business)

Marcus recently went on a Canada/US tour with his band Current Swell. We dive into the details of the tour and find out what made it such a successful and positive experience.We also give an update on the future of this podcast! Thank you to everyone who has listened and enjoyed it. You are the reason we were able to do this!   Hopefully you got something out of it.----Get Access To Malcom's Mixing Course with Benedikt Hain, "Mixes Unpacked - Vol.1" from The Self-Recording Band Podcast!----Join our mailing list!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links:Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)show lessSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show

Touring can be dangerous. Playing at sketchy bars, driving long distances late at night, not sleeping or eating properly, or ending up in the wrong part of town are just some of the ways that things can take unexpected turn. We have had many of these experiences while on the road. We share with you some hilarious and/or terrifying stories and what could be learned from them!----Get Access To Malcom's Mixing Course with Benedikt Hain, "Mixes Unpacked - Vol.1" from The Self-Recording Band Podcast!----Join our mailing list!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links:Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)show lessSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Touring doesn't necessarily mean renting an RV and driving across the country! We discuss the many different ways bands and artists can go about touring, and challenge the stereotype of what traditional touring looks like. Plus some pro tips that will help you save money when you travel.Get Access To Malcom's Mixing Course with Benedikt Hain, "Mixes Unpacked - Vol.1" from The Self-Recording Band Podcast!----Join our mailing list!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links:Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)show lessSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

We are once again joined by recurring guest Kurt Dahl, who is a top-tier entertainment lawyer, drummer for the established rock band One Bad Son, and manager for mixer Brian Moncarz. Check out his website and his Tik Tok! In this episode we discuss Taylor Swift re-recording her album "Red", the legalities surrounding using samples in your music, and your Patreon questions! Nothing is too granular. Check out our other episodes with Kurt:Should You Buy Social Media FollowersMusic Law 101Check out our episode with LA-based producer Stint:Finding Your Path | With Stint (Gallant, MØ, Carly Rae Jepsen, Demi Lovato, and more)----Join our mailing list!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links:Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)show lessSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Getting your music played on the radio means you have to convince the station's music director that your song is a good fit. But what is a music director, and what do they do? To answer that question, we are joined today by none other than Bryan Capistrano, the Music Director for The Zone @ 91-3 (Victoria, BC)!----Join our mailing list!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links:Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)show lessSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Being the opening band for a more established artist can help you grow your fanbase and expand your network. In this episode, we provide some actionable steps towards landing that sweet opening gig at your favourite venue and how that can progress towards headlining your own shows!----Join our mailing list!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links:Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)show lessSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of our listeners! Here is a quick bonus episode for you with a simple Spotify Playlist idea for your next single release.----Get the FREE 5 Step Music Release Guide HERE!----Stuff We Use/Affiliate LinksDistrokid (Our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcom's recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)Back Blaze File Backup Services (Malcom's recommended data backup service)Canva (What we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace Websites Support The Show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Releasing new music? Here's what you need to do BEFORE you announce it to the public (that includes your mom). ----Get the FREE 5 Step Music Release Guide HERE!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Canva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

We had the lovely opportunity to speak with the one and only Kalie Wolfe of the genre bending rock band RIVALS for a very exciting episode of Your Band Sucks (At Business)! Kalie is a force of nature and is amazingly talented. We can't thank her enough for taking the time to share her wealth of experience with us and our audience. Do yourself a favour and check out Kalies music - linked below!---RIVALS WebsiteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

The type of hard truth that everybody hates to hear -  but we are all about tough love on the Your Band Sucks (At Business) podcast! Using a metronome gets some hard push back from some musicians, but the fact of the matter is that its an essential, and basic, skill and requirement for being a world class musician - and if you're a rock band, your music (both in studio and live) is your product - which makes this skill essential. ----Join our mailing list!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

The Your Band Sucks (At Business) podcast is BACK! Plus, we have a great episode explaining what we wish we knew when we started our band, Band of Rascals, and also - what to expect for the future of the podcast!We are so glad to be back, and thanks for sticking with us during the hiatus! ----Join our mailing list by clicking HERE!Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service): Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

The world is re-opening, we need to train an editor, and Marcus and Malcom are both INCREDIBLY BUSY! What does this mean? It means we are taking a few weeks to stockpile episodes and will be back in September! Its the first missed episode since we began our podcast about a year and a half ago, so it's bittersweet - but we will be back, stronger than ever! Again, thank you for all your support - it means the world to us!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Stephanie Maksimow is the owner, founder, and director of publicity for her company Whoa, That's Fresh Marketing & Publicity.This was an exceptionally exciting episode for Marcus and I because,  even after over a year of doing this podcast, we were yet to have a specialist publicist come onboard! Steph was the perfect person to check that box. She is incredibly knowledgeable, strategic, and an all around badass human being to talk too! We can't thank her enough for her time and expertise!This is definitely an episode that we think our entire audience should be listening too. ----Want the FREE 5-Step Music Release Guide? Click HERE!----Stuff We Talk About In This Episode:Whoa, That's Fresh Marketing & Publicity (Steph's companies website)WTF Instagram pageRivals (Band Steph Reps and mentions in the episode)---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution  service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

We are following up last weeks episode (which was all about generating assets before a tour) with an episode all about generating the assets you need before a music release! If there was ever an episode to take notes to while listening, this is it. Make a checklist and make sure you tick these off each and every time!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

The world is opening - which means live music is back and bands are starting to hit the road again. Here is an episode on what you need to do before your band hits the road and how these touring assets can save you time, money, all while making your tours more successful than ever! ---Enjoy the Your Band Sucks (At Business) podcast? Join our Patreon membership and support the show! Click Here!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

What happens when Marcus and Malcom don't manage to get together and record an episode? You get a story about what's coming up in the future, where Malcom's career is headed, and how one clever band caught Malcoms attention! It's a short and brief one, but we hope you enjoy it - and of course, we will be back next week with a full episode as usual! ---Join the YBS Family by clicking here!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

We asked our listeners to send in their "opening band horror stories' to feature in the episode and I must say - this was probably the most fun we've ever had making an episode! There isn't much to say in this blog post, other than: Try to be a good opening band and not become one of the bands in these stories! Hope you enjoy the episode and have a good laugh ;)---Want to get awesome perks and support Your Band Sucks (At Business)? Join our Patreon membership HERE!--Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Ben Erikson is a Producer, Mixer, and Drummer based out of Toronto, Canada - but he wasn't always!I first met Ben as we both came up in the music production scene of Victoria, BC, Canada, and was lucky enough to work with Ben many times. So when he told me he was moving to Toronto a few years ago, I was first and foremost dismayed to be loosing access to such a talented engineer, but also excited to see what new opportunities would arise as he entered an entirely new city on the other side of the country. To say that Ben leveraged himself into a new network in a bigger way, and faster, than I expected would be an understatement. Ben just finished engineering an album alongside the likes of GGGarth Richardson, and is currently putting the finishing touches on his new studio location in Toronto! If you're a band or musician considering moving to a new city or bigger market - this episode is for you. Listen to the episode now to find out how he did it! Want the free 5 step  music release guide? Click Here!---Want to support us? Become a Patreon member!--- Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Ben EriksonLinebacker (Victoria band)Garth RichardsonThe Farm Recording StudioPterodactyl ProblemsLeon Harrison - Bandwagon Workshops / The LazysDead Levee (Band Ben went to record)Michael Fong (Bens studio partner)Silverside SoundTrophy Dad----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

In this episode of the Your Band Sucks (At Business) Podcast we discuss the differences between how the music industry does business, and how the rest of the world does business - and there are some shocking differences! How we handle money, loans, responsibility, reimbursement, ownership, and more - it's all upside down once you enter the music business! Have a listen to this episode and consider how you can do things differently, for the benefit of you, your band, and those you do business with. Want the free 5 step music release guide? Click Here!---Support our podcast and become part of the YBS Membership Team!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service): Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

When we heard Jesse Cannon saying that NFTs are the most important thing to happen to the music industry since Spotify, we got VERY curious. Marcus and I started doing some digging, figuring we had to find out what all the fuss was about - and let me tell you: we got confused. And while we did learn some cool things about it, in the end we decided that we would be much better off just getting the master of Musformation himself back on the Your Band Sucks (At Business) podcast for another episode to discuss all things NFTs! As always, Jesse Cannon brought a refreshing perspective to the current music industry - in NFTs and more! Listen to this episode to find out how, and why, NFTs could be transforming the music business as you know it. ----Want the free 5 steps to a successful music releases? Click Here!---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Jesse Cannon's Youtube Channel - Musformation - (Seriously, check this out). Feedly RSS Feed AppFoundation (Artistic NFT Partnering Platform)---Support The Your Band Sucks (At Business) Podcast and become a Patreon Member!Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Brittney Slayes is the lead vocalist for Canadian heavy metal band, Unleash The Archers. Unleash The Archers has had a long and successful career in the global metal scene, but they seem to only be getting started with (at the time of our recording) a Juno nomination for best metal album of the year! Brittney and the band are originally local to the area that Marcus and I are from so when we heard they were up for a Juno we just had to ask Brittney onto the show - and we are so glad we did! Brittney was incredibly giving with her time, knowledge, and experience and was able to shed light on what it's like coming up as an indie band, all the way to a major label signing. We also chatted about what their relationship looks like with their label in the day to day of being UTA - and it was fascinating! Check out the episode and enjoy!----Want the Free 5 Step Release Guide? Grab it here!----Support our podcast and Your Band Sucks (At Business) by becoming a Patreon member and getting some awesome perks! Click here!Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Unleash The ArchersNapalm RecordsJuno ResultsStuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Every band in the world has to go through this right of passage: being an opening band - often for years and years while they build up their own audience. If you score an opening spot for a big band you might think you've just gotten your big opportunity to hit the big leagues - but what you may not know is that it is just as easy to damage your career in the opening spot as it is to elevate it. There are unspoken (and sometimes unknown) rules that are important for you to know. Knowing them may be what decides if you get called back for another gig! This was a funny episode as we've been on both sides of a lot of these situations (specifically drinking all the headliners beer) so I'm sure you'll enjoy the stories! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Spotify has become synonymous with marketing for bands and musicians around the world. The seemingly overnight success of a Spotify editorial playlist has led many to believe that their future as a full-time and successful musician relies on just that - the luck of being chosen by Spotify's algorithms. But, even if you did get lucky and wound up on a massive Spotify playlist - does that really mean you're going to be on your way to fame and glory? Listen in to this weeks episode of the Your Band Sucks (At Business) podcast and we discuss how success on Spotify may not be as empowering as you'd think! Want the free 5-steps to a successful release guide? Click Here!--- Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

In this weeks episode of Your Band Sucks (At Business) we discuss the pros and cons of using paid advertising to promote your band, music, merchandise, and more! Paid advertising is an ever transforming medium that can be extremely effective, but it can also be a complete waste of time and resources. We try to highlight pros and cons of why you may, or may not, want to experiment with using paid advertising to promote your release and what some common mistakes are.If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend! ----Want the free 5-Steps To A Successful Single Release Guide? Click Here!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Your Band Sucks (At Business) just had it's first ever virtual meet up with our Patreon subscription members and it was FANTASTIC to meet everyone and hang out. So much so that we decided we needed to make an episode highlighting how important placing yourself in strategic and constructive communities can be on your life. I'm a HUGE believer in getting yourself into the right ponds. Getting this right can be like adding rocket fuel to your career. The connections you make organically in these communities will literally transform your life (I'm honestly not kidding). In this episode we chat about both online communities, as well as in person communities - and why you shouldn't neglect either. If you enjoy our podcast and would like to support us, please consider joining our Patreon membership (which will allow you come to our next virtual meet up and be part of the community!) You can join our community here!----Join our mailing list and get the Free 5 Step Release Guide!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Ever gone to see a movie and within the first 15 minutes you can tell that it's going to be terrible? Let's just assume you said yes so that I can ask you the next question: did you leave, or stay and suffer through the terrible film?Most people probably decided to stick it out and get their moneys worth - which is ridiculous when you think of it, because the money is already spent. It makes no difference if they watch the movie or not. This is the infamous sunk cost fallacy, where we feel falsely tied to our investment of time or money into something and thus are unable to make rational decisions about how we should treat it. Falling victim to Sunk Cost is like saying you're going to drink some spoiled milk to get your moneys worth. I love this example because, not only is it obviously irrational, it's also bad for you - which most sunk cost based decisions ultimately are. In this episode we discuss:How to recognize when you might be falling victim to the sunk cost fallacyHow the music industry is just as guilty of making these bad decisions.Ways you can avoid falling into the Sunk Cost Fallacy trap!Want the free 5-Step Guide To A Successful Music Release? Click Here!---Support us by becoming and Patreon member (and get some cool perks!) Click Here!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Imposter Syndrome is probably a term that you've heard before. And if you're like other musicians, it's probably also something you've experienced, even regularly. Unfortunately, we tend to care about what other people think of us, and that destructive train of thought usually also leads us to start comparing ourselves to others - which can cause us to start questioning our qualifications, abilities, and even our purpose on earth. In a nutshell, imposter syndrome can stop you in your tracks and completely derail your career if you're not careful. Luckily, it's also pretty easy to spot and, with the right techniques and support, it's also easy to deal with. In this episode we discuss different types of imposter syndrome that you may or may not relate to, to try and help you identify the clues that the doubt you're feeling is in fact imposter syndrome. This has been a hugely requested episode and I personally feel that it's one of the most important episodes we've ever done. If you enjoy it, please share it to your friends - you never know, it might be just what they need to hear! Want more great content and to join a community of like minded people? Join Our Patreon Membership! ----Get The Free 5 Step  Music Release Guide Here!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

The eternal struggle of balancing your day job with your music career - and if you should (or should not) quit one to further pursue the other.Get the Free 5 Step Guide To A Successful Music Release Guide HERE!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

We often look to others for guidance when we are unsure of what to do next with our careers. How did 'that' band market their last release? What was 'that' singers last music video like? Eventually, without realizing it, we stop creating original ideas and start recycling them from our peers. And it seems rational! We perceive that the other musicians we are watching must know what they are doing! But stop and consider the fact that if you are lost, they probably are too. And there is power in that too.Get The 5 Step Guide To Releasing A Single Here!Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Being a band isn't cheap. Recording, gear, marketing, touring - it can all take an enormous amount of money! Luckily (and hopefully) there might be some funding options available to you right now that you aren't aware of! In this episode we discuss getting and applying for grants and funding to further your careers as professional musicians. Want The 5 Step Release Guide For Releasing Your Next Song? Click Here!Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

When you're in a band you end up spending an incredible amount of time with your bandmates - often in an incredibly close proximity too. And, if your band is experiencing even modest success, the same can be said for your fans - they become a part of everyday life! And like a frog in a pot of water, you might not notice that the situation is getting out of control until it's too late. So with that in mind, we decided to make an episode on how to handle such a close proximity, and how to communicate and set expectations amongst not only your bandmates and team, as well as your fans. If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a member of our Patreon membership! -------Stuff We Mention:The Self-Recording Band Podcast (Malcoms other podcast)Joel Wanaseks episode--------Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Joel Wanasek is a music mixer and producer who has worked with bands such as Machine Head, Bless The Fall, Monuments, and more. He is also an incredibly successful entrepreneur, most notably with his heavy music mixing platform, URM (Unstoppable Recording Machine).In short, Joel is one of those people who will work harder than anyone, and absolutely crushes whatever he sets his mind to. And sometimes, some of the things his sights on are incredibly entertaining to observe!One of the examples that we are specifically discussing in this episode is the creation of an entirely fictional band that Joel pretended to produce - and boy, he not disappoint. He released music, promo assets, and did a full Spotify campaign, all while pretending that this band actually existed - and it worked! In less than two months, this fictional band went from 0 streams, all the way to 80k. In this episode of Your Band Sucks (At Business) we discuss exactly how Joel went about marketing this band, and we didn't stop there! This is the 50th episode of Your Band Sucks (At Business) and Joel was the perfect guest to have on for this milestone episode. It's the longest episode we've done to date, and Joel brought his considerable knowledge to the table and he didn't hold back. Getting to pick the brain of someone like Joel for nearly two hours is not something that happens everyday and we can't thank Joel enough for taking the time to lend us his experience, without holding back in the slightest. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did! -----Releasing New Music Soon? Get The 5-Step Release Guide Here!-----Stuff We Mention In This EpisodeURM (Joel's Mixing Educational Platform)Drumforge (Joel's drum software company)Brian Hood / 6FHSJoel Wanasek's InstagramArtist Growth Agency (The Spotify Promotion Platform That Joel Recommended) - Use discount code 'YOURBANDSUCKS" for 5% off! (Affiliate Link) ***Please note that YBS has not vetted or used this service. Joel's recommendation is the only knowledge we have with this service and we encourage you to do your own research to if this service is reputable and right for you.***-----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Tracking down the contact info for playlist curators, blog writers, and other promotion avenues can be hard and time consuming work: but there is a service out there that aims to help you with that! Enter: SubmitHub.com - a website that connects you to the above described providers in an effort to get your music where you want it. But the big questions remain: does it work? Is it worth the expense? Is it a scam? Well I feel we can say pretty certainly that it is not a scam, and we've got some great information for you on the other questions as well! In this episode we draw from the experience of Marcus Manhas as he used the service to promote his own music project, to some pretty fantastic results. This is a case study of Marcus's experience with the platform, and it should be noted that this by no means guarantees the same results for yourself. Also - this is not a paid, or even asked for, promotion for SubmitHub. It's just something we wanted to do since we thought it would help our audience! (Side note, none of our guests have ever paid to be on our show! Just straight up good folks coming on and teaching what they know)!If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends and tag us on instagram! ----Want the 5 Step Music Release Guide? Click Here!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Our guest today is an extremely exciting one for us. Stint (Ajay Bhattacharyya) is a Canadian producer & songwriter currently residing in California. His incredible list of work includes legendary artists such as  Gallant, MØ, Carly Rae Jepsen, Demi Lovato, NAO and Zara Larsson.Stint has followed a remarkable path to get to where he is today, and it was absolutely fascinating hearing about all the twists and turns that got him there along the way. If there is one thing to take away from this episode, it's that its so important to keep iterating and adapting until you find something that feels truly 'right', and that it can be a very different path than you'd expect to take to get there. This was one of our favourite episodes to date and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!-----Want the 5 Step Release Guide for your next single? Click Here! -----Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Stints WebsiteJean DawsonRoss RobinsonMachine Gun KellyData Romance (Stints old band)-----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Has our podcast been helpful for you? Then you will love our 5 Steps To A Successful Single Release Guide E-Book! Get it HERE!----Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Machine Gun KellyNicklebackArianna Grande Flavio The Drum TechErik Ratz ----Join Our Patreon Membership!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace Websites (Build Yourself A Website)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Adrian Sousa is the founder of the popular Youtube Channel, Rabona TV. Aside from being an old friend of Marcus and I's, Adrian is also a wildly successful 'YouTuber'! We are thrilled to have Adrian on to chat about what it actually takes to grow a successful YouTube channel from the ground up - from literally zero followers, all the way to 191K Followers!While Adrians channel is about Football (or Soccer, depending on who you ask), there is a ton to be learnt here from our audience of musicians and bands. As you probably know by now, we are huge advocates of bands building their own long term dedicated audience of true fans via content marketing of some sort. Youtube is one of those options that bands can leverage to build a connection with potential fans! This was a hugely inspiring conversation with a very kind and giving soul. We hope you enjoy it - and please do go check out Adrians channel, Rabona TV! --- Do you want the 5 Step Single Release Guide? Click Here!----If you enjoy and appreciate the content we make please support us by becoming one of our Patreon Members and enjoy some awesome perks as well!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Radio has long been a holy grail of achievement for bands around the world. And for good reason! Getting your music played alongside your favourite artists, being introduced by amazing DJ's, it all really DOES feel fantastic when it happens to you!In more recent years, a focus has shifted from focusing on radio towards Spotify playlists - but there is something lost in that trade that is surely worth consideringJon Williams is the founder and host of What Was That Radio, a world class music enthusiast, and all around one of the most passionate humans I've come into contact with in my life in the music industry. We've been dying to get Jon on the air since he started What Was That Radio, an online internet station that is focused on delivering new music to listeners around the world, to learn more about his new station and what our listeners, and bands around the world, should know about the online radio industry. And hint: It's something that I'm blown away I haven't focused on earlier! There is a WORLD of opportunity out there for bands that are willing to put in the work. Why? Well there are many reasons, but the one that I want to focus on is "trust". And trust, is something more than valuable than nearly anything else when trying to position your band as a legitimate contender in your genre - and it is also something that Spotify, and other streaming apps, does NOT give you! Why does radio give more trust to listeners than streaming apps like Spotify? Well the big one is that radio has DJ's, and listeners develop very real relationships with their DJ's. So if a DJ recommends your music to their audience - you can bet your bottom dollar that their audience is going to take that suggestion serious. We talk about this, and plenty more, on this episode of Your Band Sucks (At Business) with the one and only Jon Williams! ----Do you want the FREE 5 Step Single Release Guide? Click Here!---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:What Was That Radio (Consider subscribing as a paid member! It really is fantastic!)Band of RascalsFintan (Marcus performs drums live with Fintan!)The Zone @ 91.3 (Great Modern Rock Radio Station that gave us our start in Canadian Radio!)Deep Sea Gypsies (Victoria Blues Rock Band)SpiritboxBBC Pirate Radioradio.co (online radio station platform)---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Canva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Jesse Cannon is a name that you should already know if you're active in the modern music scene. But on the off chance that you don't know him: He is the author of 'Get More Fans' & 'Processing Creativity', he is a podcast host and producer for shows like 'Off The Record' and 'The New Abnormal', as well running the Youtube channel 'Musformation'. He is also a established musician producer, mixer, and mixer in addition to all of this! In short, Jesse Cannon is a complete force of nature who's forgotten more about the music industry than you'll learn in a lifetime. Which makes him the perfect guest for us to have on the Your Band Sucks (At Business) podcast to chat about the modern approach to releasing music on Spotify and Youtube. You'll learn things like:How to differentiate between  different platforms releasing algorithmsHow to take advantage of Spotify rewards certain practices of releaseSpotify curated playlist tips and tricksWhy the 'follow' button should be your primary focus when releasing music on SpotifyHow to extend the life of your singleand much, much more!Listen to the episode now and level up your release strategy! ---Want the 5 Steps To A Successful Music Release PDF E Book? Click Here!---Enjoy our content and want to support us? Become a patron member and get some awesome perks! ---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Jesse Cannon's Website, books, courses, etcMusformation (Jesse's Youtube Channel on building an audience as a band)SpiritboxDillinger Escape PlanEyal Levi / URM AcademyThinking Fast and Slow (book Jesse Mentioned)Ben HowardMatt CorbyThe New Abnormal Podcast (Jesse Is the Producer)Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Canva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Any day that we get an email from legendary entertainment lawyer Kurt Dahl is a good day in our books. Especially when he's got a great topic that he wants to chat about on the podcast! If you aren't already familiar with Kurt, he's an entertainment lawyer at the top of his field, manager for mixer Brian Moncarz, and the drummer for established rock band, One Bad Son. In short, he's a force of nature in this industry thats worth paying attention to. So, to the topic of this episode: Should you buy social media followers? Well listen to the episode to find out what we think, and why!---Get The 5 Step Music Release Guide!---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Brian MoncarzKurt Dahl's Lawyer Drummer WebsiteBo's Bar - Great Red Deer VenueSound & Vision Management (Kurts Management Company)One Bad Son (Kurt Dahls band)Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace Websites Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

What if you could stop your phone from being a huge time wasting distraction, and instead use it to your advantage to constantly remind you to get back to working on exactly what is most important? To find out how, listen to this episode or check out the written breakdown here: Support us on Patreon to get merchandise discounts, join our members only mastermind group, get in-episode shoutouts, and more!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

As a music producer, I've come across this situation more than a few times: an artist is solely handling all writing, booking, managing, and financing their 'band'. My immediate reaction is usually something like, 'Why are you giving away a majority stake in your business to people who do nothing more than play your songs?'. It's an obviously crazy decision when you think about it that way. Take the scenario described above and apply it to a 4 piece band (which is a real scenario I've seen), and the sole operator/songwriter has agreed to give the other musicians equal stakes in the business - meaning that every member in the band is getting 25% of the businesses revenue, even though they aren't doing anything other than performing your songs.Don't get me wrong - performers deserve to be compensated fairly - but are they really contributing to the growth and future of the business? In most cases, no - and instead they should be paid for their services, as a fee rather than in ownership. In this episode we break down:Why solo artists are often too afraid to bring this up with their musiciansThe importance of discussing this with your band as soon as possibleWhy it might be better NOT to go solo (in a lot of cases)And much, much more!Listen to the podcast now to find out more! PS - if you enjoyed this content and would like to support Your Band Sucks (At Business) please share this episode with someone who you think would appreciate it, and consider becoming a Patreon member by clicking HERE!---Join Our Mailing List for free content and other cool stuff!---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Band of Rascals (Marcus and Malcoms band)Canva (what we use for graphic design)---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceQuickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

The legend of Noche is an odd and mysteries saga. No one really knows where he came from, or quite how he became "the Noche", although there are rumours (and he claims to know). All we know for sure is that his real name is Sean Marcy and he is the bassist in Band of Rascals with Marcus and I. Sean joined Band of Rascals a few years into our career, weeks before we got our management deal, and Marcus and I realized that his transition into the band might have been an interesting learning experience for him. Anyone who has ever started a new job can relate to this. The weird feeling of wanting to perform, but not quite knowing what is expected of you by your new employers. It's the same for joining a band that has already existed in some form. Are you meant to do the same thing as the last person, or are you meant to do something new? Are you involved in the songwriting, or is that something you're not privy to? Are you now a part owner of the band and the corresponding revenues, or are you just a hired gun?These are all questions that have to be navigated when you join a band - and it can be a painful experience depending on how it's handled. In this episode, regardless to if you're joining a band, or having a new member join you band, you'll learn: Why it's important to set and determine expectations in advanceThe benefit of a probation periodWhy you need to explain why certain duties are being delegatedAnd more!If you enjoy our content, please share this episode with someone you know, and consider becoming a Patreon supporter by clicking HERE!---Join Our Mailing List!---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Bend SinisterJesse RoperRock The Shores Music FestivalRedwood Green (Seans old band)---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

When the pandemic hit the music scene (if we are honest) died. And while some parts of the industry are still lifeless, it's not entirely dead either! For most, and not sure in the music industry, the gut instinct was to halt business, and more or less just freeze. Things can't get worse if we don't do anything right? Well, as we now know, this pandemic is lasting a lot longer than we thought it would have - making us have to reassess the question that has been on a lot of bands lips: "should we wait for the pandemic to end before we release our new music"?Spoiler alert: As you will find out in the podcast, we strongly feel that you need to release. There is just no way to accurately gauge when this will end, and even when it does end, there is no guarantee that the industry will return to "normal". The music industry has changed, and we need to adapt. If we had released at the beginning of this pandemic you could already be releasing another release by now! I love to draw comparisons between the stock market and the music industry, and one of the statistical facts of the stock market is that 'time in the market trumps trying to time the market'. I can't help but believe that the same is true for the music industry. Why?Opportunity cost. Opportunity cost is the expense you incur by NOT releasing music. When your music isn't released you are missing out on potential opportunities - no record A&R reps, no booking agents, no festivals, no one is hearing your music and considering using it. Your song might not hit its stride until years after it's released, but that can't happen if you don't release it. Time in market = more exposure to opportunity. We cover this, plus plenty more, in this episode so go and listen now and update your strategy accordingly!---Support YBS and the podcast by clicking here now!---Want free stuff and cool tips? Join Our Mailing List HERE!Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

It's that time of the year again. Time to dust off the thinking cap and try to plan your life out for the next 12 months for what hopefully will be an incredibly transformative year! Well Marcus and I decided that we had better make an episode to help you out with your goal setting. To help ensure that your goals go further than the page that you write them on, there are some incredibly useful tips to consider following. In this episode you will learn:How to utilize the SMART principle to your goalsWhy it's important to actually write your goals down (and say them out loud)Why your subconscious DOES care about manifestation. And much more!Enjoy Your Band Sucks (At Business) and our content? Consider supporting us by clicking here!---Join Our Mailing List!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Rewinding many, many years, back to my fledgling years as a gigging musician, I found myself at a little invite only showcase concert for an artist named KO during Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, in 2010. I can't remember if my drummer and I had won tickets, or if we just showed up in hopes of getting let in - but in any case, we did get in - and, as fate would have it, were sat down next to this episodes guest: Oscar Furtado, owner of Tandemtracks, one of Canadas premier Radio Promotion agencies. We covered a huge variety of topics, ranging from: How your current relationships will affect your career later in lifeWhy Oscar is still trying to build new networking connections, even after all his successThe importance of having passion for what you put your energy intoThe stakes of playing Foosball in Spain.What a radio promoter actually does!and much more!This was one of our favourite conversations to date and Oscar has been a guest that I have been wanting to get onto the Your Band Sucks (At Business) podcast since we started up - and it was a complete blast finally connecting for this. We thank him for his time, his knowledge, his infectious good attitude, and for taking the time. Enjoyed this content and want more of it? Join our Patreon membership and get some amazing perks!---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Tandemtracks (Oscar Furtados Radio Promotion Company)Nettwerk Record LabelCanadian Music Week (CMW)IndieweekBilly Decker (Music Mixer)Machine (Music Mixer)KO (artist playing when Malcom and Oscar met. Oscar was promoting KO's radio campaign)Dave Sawchuk Jason MrazSound and Science (Malcoms old band)R3hab---Join Our Mailing List!---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport Your Band Sucks (At Business) via Patreon!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

If there is one thing I love, it's the unexpected results of making new connections. For example, we previously had entertainment lawyer, Kurt Dahl, on the podcast and had a fantastic conversation - which led to Kurt introducing us to a gentleman named Brandon Charlesworth - who happens to be an accountant with experience helping bands and musicians! Obviously we jumped at the opportunity to pick Brandons brain, and the chat was very informative. As he mentions in the episode, having a conversation with an accountant for your band is often something that happens later than it should, and it could be costing you money! Brandon had a wealth of knowledge that he was able to share and we truly appreciate him taking the time to share it with us and our listeners. ----Support The Podcast HERE! (NEW TIERS AVAILABLE!)----Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Brandon Charlesworth / Robbins And Company WebsiteRobbins And Company Instagram: @robbinsandcocpaRobbins And Company Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/robbinsandcompanyKurt Dahl (Entertainment Lawyer / Drummer For One Bad Son)----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

The guest on todays episode is a good friend of mine, and a very talented gentlemen. Not only is he a content creator for Neural DSP (which for those of you who don't know, is a leader in the guitar amp world, and soon to be in the physical market as well with their new Quad Cortex model), but he is also a gifted musicians, audio engineer, and just frankly one of the most honest and genuine people I've had the pleasure of knowing! I'm talking about, of course, Steven Ward! Steven and I met, many digital moons ago, via an online mixing community called URM - Ultimate Recording Machine. I needed an assistant engineer to take on some editing work for me and somehow I found Steven, and I remember that I instantly believed that he'd get the job done. That gut instinct proved to be correct and we worked together for awhile afterwards, but all that while, Steven had his own ambitions in the works - in which he succeeded at fantastically!In this episode you'll learn: Why the worst events in your life can push you towards making the best choices of your life.How Steven became a full-time content creatorHow to pivot careers at the drop of a hatand much, much more! This episode is really the success story of one of my friends, but if you aren't able to pull good business advice from this story - you aren't listening! This is a 'how to get ahead' cheat code to the game of life, and Steven tells us exactly what type of mindset it takes, as well as touching on some very important things, like how content marketing could be a great avenue for your band. If you'd like to hear (and see) more of Steven Ward, head to his Neural DSP Youtube Channel here!---Please support Your Band Sucks (At Business) and our podcast by clicking here!---Stuff We Mention In This Episode:Neural DSP (Stevens employers and amp creators)Neural DSP Quad Cortex (New amp they are developing - looks bonkers)Jordan PetersonURM / Nail The Mix (Mixing community that Steven and I through. Also host the summit we attended and talk about in this episode). Spiritbox / Mike Stringer (who just put out a new song by the way!)Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

How do you build a connection with potential fans visiting your website/socials? The answer: lead magnets! In this weeks episode we break down some great ideas on how you can implement lead magnets into your own bands marketing. ---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

People sometimes make the mistake of thinking that business and creativity are unrelated. Their assumption being that business is a more logical processs, rather than creative - which is something that I couldn't disagree with more. In fact, I believe that creativity is the foundation of business. Because what business really boils down to is problem solving - which requires creativity!But creative creatures tend to be very habitual - and we realized that, for many, the Covid 19 Pandemic has disrupted their creative process. In this episode you'll learn:How different obstacles can yield fantastic resultsHow to give yourself a creative dietWhy you should try creating with other creativesand more!Want more YBS content? Join our Patreon here!----Stuff we mention in this episode:Ryan Holiday (Author who we recommend)Chris Graham (Host of The Six Figure Home Studio Podcast)Nothing But Thieves (band mentioned in episode)Band of Rascals (our band)The Self-Recording Band Podcast (Malcom's other podcast)Splice (Software / SaaS  for creating and producing beats)----Join Our Mailing List!----Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

 We aren't a finance podcast - but we also can't ignore that getting your finances in order is directly correlated to both your own personal well being, as well as that of your band/businesses. Also, it happens to be a topic that both Marcus and I (Malcom) are quite passionate about - and we like making podcast episodes about things we feel strongly about! In this episode we cover:How to protect yourself from disaster with an emergency fundHow to get momentum paying off your debtWhy delayed gratification is essential to having a positive net worthWhy the best time to begin saving for the future is nowand more!---Stuff we mention in this episode:Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert KiyosakiThe Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)

Ever bit off more than you can chew? I do it all the time. But despite the best of my intentions, sometimes things just come up and you just can't fulfil all the obligations that you've wound yourself up in. It's a mistake born of good intentions. Sure I'll get that mix done for you by the end of the week. No problem, we can sell out this venue for sure! It's an easy trap to fall into, and one that we make all by ourselves! Enter: the brilliantly simple principle of underpromising and overdelivering - where you simply do as it states: Underpromise (aka give yourself more leniency and time), and overdeliver (get the task done sooner than you said you would). At first glance, it's easy to dismiss this idea; after all, underpromising seems like a lacklustre way to perform professionally and surely people wouldn't respond to that very well - but in fact, it's genius - because it's all about how we frame things.The principle of underpromising and overdelivering is actually about NOT overpromising and then underdelivering. Peoples trust, and expectations in you, are based solely on how you act and treat them. Missing a deadline might not be malicious, but you did miss the deadline, and they are going to begin to not depend on your word. Now, say you told them a different deadline, one that was two days later than the date that you actually thought you'd have it done by. Two possible scenarios now present themselves: things go accordingly and you finish, as you had expected, two days earlier than what you told the other person. They are now thrilled - you over delivered. Scenario #2 - Something comes up and it ends up taking you a little longer, but because of the two day buffer you installed by telling them a slightly delayed date, you now still finished on schedule - it's not an over deliver, but it was consistent with your word and they will be happy. It comes down to your word, and by being slightly clever and utilizing the underpromise and overdeliver principle, your word will be considerably more consistent and trustworthy - which  should be of the outmost value to you, no matter what field you are working in. Plus, as a bonus - you'll be way less stressed out by your deadlines ;) Jump on in and listen to the episode and we hope you enjoy it!---If you'd like to support Your Band Sucks (At Business) and our podcast please become a Patreon supporter here: https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness---Stuff We Use / Affiliate Links: Distrokid (our recommended music distribution service)Close.IO (Malcoms recommended CRM)Transistor.FM (A great podcast hosting platform)BackBlaze File Backup Services (Malcoms recommend data backup service)Printful - Print-To-Order Merchandise ServiceCanva (what we use for graphic design)Quickbooks Accounting Software (What we use to run our books and process credit card payments)SquareSpace WebsitesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourbandsucksatbusiness)