Bandhive

Being in a band is fun when you have the right group of people around you and you’re playing music that makes you feel alive. That’s how it should be!

But as soon as you step off that stage (and before you ever get on it, in fact), the other 90% of running your band’s business kicks in. The time where you have to schedule social posts, book shows, review agreements, network with other artists, etc. etc.

That’s why we want to highlight all the work outside of playing music in this episode - so you can understand the true scale of what’s needed for a music career.

Listen now to learn how you can handle the 90% of being in a band that isn’t music - from driving the van to crafting your branding!

What you’ll learn:

• What being in a band means - aside from playing music
• Which tasks in your back are easily delegated
• Effectively managing your social media brand to grow your fanbase
• Hiring a driver for your tours
• The way to getting consistent sound for your shows
• What happens when you sign a bad record deal
• How to pay your manager and agent
• When to pay flat rate vs. a percentage
• The importance of having a good circle of contractors and staff

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/205

Sometimes the best guests are right in front of your nose… I’m ashamed to say it’s taken 204 episodes to get my long time friend Brian LaClair of Better Things on the show.

There’s a silver lining, though, because this interview has perfect timing - we dive deep into the creative digital marketing techniques Brian and Better Things are using for their long-awaited reunion show.

Listen now to learn how you can get creative with your marketing efforts to bring more people out to your shows on a consistent basis!

What you’ll learn:

• Why James no longer manages bands (hint: it’s Brian’s fault)
• How Better Things began their career as a band
• Planning your first show in six years - at the state’s best venue
• Building a lineup for a massive comeback show
• Using creative promotion to generate awareness of your shows
• Humor in marketing? Yes, please!
• Why images with lots of text are terrible for social media posts
• Understanding why venues rely on artists to bring their fans
• The perks of saving your best content for your archive

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/204

When it comes to booking and playing shows, there’s a hidden person who doesn’t get nearly enough of the credit for making the show happen: your promoter.

Whether the promoter is independent or working for a company, they are investing hours, even days, of their time into making your show a success.

They also happen to be someone who can break up your band if you make them mad… Take a listen to find out how.

That aside, there are many ways to mess up your relationship with a promoter - as well as tons of ways to grow that relationship.

Listen now to hear promoter Derek Flores discuss his experience as a promoter and artist, and how you can keep promoters happy!

What you’ll learn:

• Derek’s journey: From music biz novice to expert promoter
• Launch secrets: How to kickstart your band and sustain momentum
• Power of community: The key to supercharging your band's success
• Breaking new grounds: Booking shows in new markets
• Avoiding pitfalls: The most common and costly mistakes artists make
• Expanding your horizon: The underrated magic of looking beyond your hometown
• Strategic sellouts: Why playing smaller venues can be a master move
• The delicate dance between artist and promoter: A mutual success story
• Stand out: Promote your own shows for a memorable impact
• Building lasting relationships: How to become a promoter's next big thing

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/203

Building a community is something we’ve discussed often on the Bandhive Podcast - but Ky Farrar and Late 9 take a slightly different approach.

Instead of funneling all the fans to one platform, they meet their fans where they are - fostering connections on their social media pages rather than behind closed doors.

Ky even became friends with Chris Motionless, and got to perform on stage with Motionless In White, because of his skills at nurturing relationships online.

Listen now to hear Ky share his thoughts on growing a digital fanbase, and how you can do the same!

What you’ll learn:

• What inspired Ky to start playing music and launch Late 9
• Using collaborations to grow your digital following
• Growing a community as an artist
• Using posts from fans as free content - and showing your appreciation
• What makes a good song that fans can connect to
• How being somewhat ambiguous helps fans connect with your lyrics
• Growing your Spotify Monthly Listeners with organic marketing
• Building a fan community for a long-lasting career
• How to end up performing on stage with your favorite band
• Using social media to nurture relationships

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/202

We all have that one Facebook friend who constantly whines about the littlest things - everything in their life is awful, and they want the world to know that they’re a victim.

In some cases, people really do get dealt a bad hand… But many times, it’s simply a case of victim mentality, where the person feels as if everything is beyond their control and life is out to get them.

The bad news is, victim mentality is highly prevalent in amateur music circles. The good news, on the other hand, is that it’s possible to overcome a victim mentality to grow your career as a musician.

It all starts with recognizing what’s going on.

Listen now to learn more about victim mentality, and how you can help someone who is struggling to grow in life.

What you’ll learn:

• Why victim mentality is a toxic attitude for musicians - and everyone else, too
• How this mindset limits a person’s long-term growth
• Signs of victim mentality to look out for in yourself and your network
• How taking accountability gives you higher chances of success
• Methods of helping your friends who have victim mentality
• Controlling your reactions to situations
• Setting realistic goals so you don’t feel defeated
• Understanding what is within your control and how you can achieve the best outcome
• Practicing self care to keep a healthy mentality and mindset
• The importance of a growth mindset

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/201

It’s hard to believe that we’ve made it to 200 episodes over the past four years, but here we are!

Even more mind boggling is the fact that the world shut down for two of those four years, yet live music is back and bigger than ever before.

Join us for this special episode of the Bandhive Podcast as Matt and I reminisce on our favorite episodes and industry-changing news over the last four years!

What you’ll learn:

• What changes we’ve seen in the industry since we launched the podcast
• How touring has changed in the last few years
• Why live streaming shows are a thing of the past
• Our ten favorite interviews on the Bandhive Podcast
• Why these interviews are important for you to hear
• Lessons learned over 4 years of the podcast
• How to suggest guests for the show
• The big news we’ve observed during the last 4 years
• How you can get on the road now if you want to!

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/200

A lot of bands ask me about setting up a basic in-ear monitoring rig so they can hear themselves better, and use… shhh… come closer.

Backing tracks (collective gasp).

Here’s the thing, even though holier-than-thou amateur musicians scoff at backtracking elements of a live set, when done with taste backing tracks can add impact and power to your set, without making a show “less live”!

The key is not to replace what’s happening on the stage, but to supplement it. For example you can add synths, piano, strings, or some extra percussion elements, all without hiring an extra member of the band (or trying to get your drummer to grow a third arm).

Listen now to learn more about IEM setups and backtracking so you can make your stage show more exciting for your fans!

What you’ll learn:

• How you can add extra production elements to your set without breaking the bank
• What’s needed for basic backing track usage
• Why it isn’t “cheating” to use backtracks in your live shot
• A proper mix for backing tracks
• What tools my band, NRVS, uses for backing tracks
• A crash course for in ear monitoring
• Why extra production elements are important (and fun!) for your band

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/199

Whether you're a seasoned musician on tour or a new band gearing up for your first shows, the unpredictability of the road looms above your head. From vehicle breakdowns to personal emergencies, the journey is riddled with potential hiccups. Are you prepared?

The key to a smooth tour isn't just about nailing your performances, but also having all your bases covered off the stage. 

Planning ahead for emergencies on the road, in the venue, or the human body, is absolutely vital to playing shows - you may think “we don’t need to do that”, but emergencies can happen at any time. When those bad moments happen to you, you’ll thank yourself for thinking ahead!

So, whether you're about to hit the road or just planning your next gig, this episode is your go-to guide for a quick and dirty emergency plan. Listen now to learn how to be truly prepared for the rollercoaster that is a musician's time on the road.

What you’ll learn:

• How you can be prepared for anything on the road
• Setting aside an emergency fund for your band
• Basic vehicle maintenance practices
• Why planning is more important than the plan itself
• Preparing for personal emergencies
• Basic first aid essentials for your van
• Staying charged up in the digital age

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/198

Today on Bandhive, we dive into one of the most transformative aspects of music: guest features and collaborations. Every artist big or small can benefit from joining forces with another artist for their next release, including you!

Through these connections, both artists can tap into new audiences, create amazing connections, and foster a network of genuine relationships.

But collaborations aren't as simple as just calling up a friend to join a track. We'll be exploring the nuances of choosing the right collaborator, the line between guest spots and co-writing, and how to “make the ask”.

Listen now to learn more about guest features and collaborations, from choosing your collaborator to ensuring your song gets exposure on Spotify.

What you’ll learn:

• Why collaborations are incredibly important for artists of all sizes
• Who to look for as a potential collaborator
• Guest vocals/instrumentals vs. co-writing
• How guest appearances can benefit larger artists, and vice versa
• Connecting with your collaborators
• The reason not to let all your friends have guest spots on your songs
• How to approach someone for a collab
• Maintaining professionalism when negotiating with potential collaborators

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/197

Social media is a daunting, massive landscape with few rules for bands to follow - and the rules that we do know about seem to change almost daily.

Unfortunately, careful social media creation and curation is vital to any band’s success these days.

That doesn’t mean you have to be on every platform (go ahead, take that sigh of relief). There are a few key platforms, though, which are not optional - and others that will be best for your band.

Listen now to learn which social media platforms will work best for your band, and how you can grow your fanbase with a digital presence!

What you’ll learn:

• Why paying attention to social media is important for bands
• How to choose your main social media platform
• Which social media platforms are optional - and which are requires
• Preparing yourself for a music career
• Nurturing a connection with your fans via social media
• The differences in content and vibe on various social media platforms
• Why TikTok is so incredibly powerful
• Apps to use to make social media management easier for your band
• The importance of consistent branding across your social media
• Why getting consistent engagement is vital to your success

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/196