Bandhive

The music industry is a mess right now, and it's hard to know what the right way to go about things is. The last 18 months have wreaked havoc on artists worldwide.

David Ryan Olson joins us on this episode of the Bandhive Podcast as we talk through six important takeaways from the last 18 months.

Listen now to learn how you can shore up your band so you’re able to keep the lights on during unprecedented times and be stronger at the end of it.

Be sure to listen to part 2 of the episode on the Music Business Mindset Podcast!

What you’ll learn:

• Why you shouldn’t focus on just one income stream
• How (some) venues diversified their income streams, and why they’re the venues that are still operating
• Why it’s never too early for merch
• How to categorize your fans for a better understanding of your business
• What you can do to turn casual fans into superfans
• Why replying to every social media comment is vital to your success
• How to add value to your fans’ lives without playing shows
• What kind of content fans want to see
• Why confidence in your performance matters
• Why just do it is great advice for all artists

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/86

You want to get back on the road, but you're not sure if it's a good time.

The music industry is changing and there are more opportunities than ever before for musicians to make money from their art… But each slice of the pie seems to get smaller and smaller.

In this episode of the Bandhive Podcast, Adam Loellke of Pickwick Commons and Dynamic Talent International shares his thoughts on the return of shows and touring. Listen now to learn more!

What you’ll learn:

• Why Adam works two jobs in addition to his work with Pickwick Commons
• Why Pickwick Commons decided to push ahead with new content during 2020
• How the timing of a “punk goes pop” cover matters
• Why bad local shows now will reduce attendance at future local shows
• Why many promoters are starting small as shows open back up
• How you can take advantage of your position now – instead of waiting until 2022
• What safety precautions venues are taking for shows in 2021
• How you can find out what “caveman mathcore” is

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/85

Being a full time artist can be exhausting, demoralizing, and detrimental to your health. It’s something that no one ever wants to face, but most artists do at one point or another.

Andy Wilson-Taylor made it through a dark time in his life and came out stronger, wiser, and with a brand new goal: turning an abandoned farmhouse in Southern France into a fully functional destination studio for artists around the world.

Because of Andy’s willingness to learn new skills, never say no, and pure willpower, that conversion is almost complete! His first project in the new studio was his own band, Midgar, whose album Unity was released just a few weeks ago.

Listen now to learn more about Andy Wilson-Taylor of Midgar, and what you can learn from his life and career!

What you’ll learn:

• How to start working as a composer for film and TV
• Why Andy pivoted from music to restoring a French farmhouse and turning it into a bed and breakfast
• How the film and TV composition business runs
• Why “yes” is the right answer when opportunities present themselves
• Why stories matter for every release
• How Andy sets himself apart from the crowd by being open to learning new skills
• How being open to new opportunities leads to leaps and bounds in your career
• Why Andy has a drive for knowledge – and you should, too

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/84

Being a one-man-show can be difficult. Now throw in a band where you’re the only one running the business, and things get even more complicated.

But, it’s not impossible – that’s exactly what Troy Millette is doing with his band, The Fire Below.

Not only did the band play almost 200 shows in 2019, they played 50 live streams and socially distanced shows in the past year… More shows than many DIY artists play in a “regular” year.

Listen now to hear how Troy does it, all while keeping his cool and being a positive influence on the music industry!

What you’ll learn:

• How Troy’s band moved from a modular band to a solid act
• What Troy did to stay relevant during the pandemic
• How to handle a mountain of emails
• Why a tight-knit community is a benefit for artists
• How booking shows has changed since before the pandemic
• Why Van Halen’s infamous “no brown M&Ms” clause was a good idea
• How Troy stays organized when playing 50 to 200 shows a year
• Why having a shared band calendar is vital to your business
• How to keep your audience’s attention between songs
• Why the energy of a live show is vital to your career
• How to avoid burnout as an artist

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/83

A lot of artists aren’t convinced that using Patreon is the right way to go. They think their fans won’t be willing to support them financially.

But Patreon isn’t just a platform to earn money. It’s also a platform that lets you build a closer relationship with your fans and followers – it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

Lords of the Trident has been using Patreon for four years and now has over 300 patrons supporting them on this platform every month. Ty Christian, vocalist and founding member of Lords Of The Trident, joins us today to share his experience and advice with you!

What you’ll learn:

• How the band got their entrepreneurial spirit
• Why the band launched their own festival
• Why merch quality matters
• How you can get started on Patreon
• Who should have a Patreon for their band
• Why every band should be on Patreon
• How your Patreon grows and changes over time
• What Patreon rewards are valuable to fans
• How to create content for your Patreon page
• How to get advice for setting up your Patreon

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/82

Self-producing is a tricky minefield to navigate – if you don’t do it just right, your end result won’t be great.

But, self-producing is also an avenue to becoming a full-time producer and making a living from creativity, which is exactly what Todd Barriage of Theatria is on the show to talk about.

Not only does Todd self-produce Theatria’s music, he also works with artists from all over Canada (and the rest of the world) to craft stellar-sounding music that artists can be proud of.

Listen now to learn how you can become a better producer for your own music, as well as go full time in a creative field!

What you’ll learn:

• How being a producer is a benefit for songwriting
• Why self-awareness is key to being a modern artist
• How to become a full-time creative and ditch your day job
• Why you need to dive in 100% and do the thing
• How to learn production techniques without spending a ton of money
• How to get more video videos for your band
• Why creative merch ideas gain traction
• How self-producing affects band dynamics
• How you can stay relevant on social media
• What you can do to make recording sessions as productive as possible

For full show notes visit https://bandhive.rocks/81

How do you know if your music career is going in the right direction?

Do you have a plan of action that outlines what you want to accomplish over the next few years?

Are you constantly refining and tweaking that plan as time goes on?

If not, then it's possible that your goals for your music career are either too vague or non-existent.

Connor Frost of Dizzy Bats joins us this week to talk about overcoming your fears and setting effective goals. Listen now to learn what steps you should take to plan your career!

What you’ll learn:

• Why learning experiences are important to a career
• How to make your band appealing to a manager or label
• How to reach your goals consistently
• Why DIY doesn’t mean “do it yourself, always”
• How to overcome your fears of releasing music
• How to define good goals
• Why time-management is a loaded term
• How to become a better artist by constantly learning
• Why coaching might be the right fit for you

For full show notes visit https://bandhive.rocks/80

For artists who want a more organic, raw sound for their commercial releases it can be difficult to find the right producer.

Sometimes, that means self-producing is the right choice – though it all depends on the experience you have with self-recording and producing.

Many incredibly famous albums by artists like Billie Eilish, Bruce Springsteen, and more were recorded at home… But they all had one thing in common: professional mixing and mastering engineers.

Greg Lloyd joins us to discuss his work as a mastering engineer and how you can make great music while self-producing. Listen now to learn more!

What you’ll learn:

• Why you shouldn’t be afraid of “competition”
• How being open to change can positively affect your career
• Common mistakes not to make when self-producing your music
• How many artists adapt the “lofi-hifi” method to successful commercial albums
• What goes into a good lofi release
• Why putting time and effort into your release is important – even for a lofi release
• How to make your music interesting and appealing
• How choosing the right producer boosts your creative success
• Why production matters to your fans

For full show notes visit https://bandhive.rocks/79

Many artists who play in a band think that being in a band is the way to make a name for themselves – and while that’s definitely one route you can take, it’s not the only way.

Of course there’s the solo singer/songwriter path… But that isn’t what we’re talking about today.

Today, Chad Kowal joins us to talk about his path from playing in a rock band to writing and performing vocals for well-known DJs around the world. It’s called toplining and it’s a bigger industry than you may expect.

Listen now to learn how you can add to your band’s income with toplining, while growing your own name in the process!

What you’ll learn:

• How singers and songwriters can earn money to supplement band income
• What the pros and cons of toplining are
• What you can expect if you become a topliner
• How music changes over the years, and why you need to keep up
• What you can take inspiration from when songwriting
• How to stand out in your scene
• What it takes to “make it” as an artist
• How you can grow your fanbase
• Why you don’t need to fit in to your scene
• How to get started with toplining

For full show notes visit https://bandhive.rocks/78

You’re a DIY musician who's tired of the major label system… We feel your pain.

Or maybe you do want to get signed – in which case you should pay close attention.

Brian Mazzaferri and his band I Fight Dragons have been on both sides of the major label fence, and they've seen firsthand how hard it is for artists to get their work out there without being tied down by a label.

But, there’s good news as well.

There are methods that will allow you to keep your independence while still getting your music heard by millions of people all over the world!

Listen now to hear Brian Mazzaferri of I Fight Dragon describe how you can use creative techniques to keep your band afloat and make music that your fans will love, without paying out of pocket!

What you’ll learn:

• How the 1,000 true fans model has become more viable over the past decade
• Why having the right manager (not just a manager) is important to your career
• How I Fight Dragons was able to negotiate out of a major label deal
• What opportunity cost is and how it affects your career
• How to use creative fundraising techniques for your band
• Why unique, limited edition collectibles are a value-add for your fans
• Why targeting fans of big bands isn’t the right way to grow your fanbase
• What you can do to adapt Patreon to your needs
• Why you need to shift from what you want to what your fans want
• How hustling grows your fanbase

For full show notes visit https://bandhive.rocks/77