Everyone says “support local music.” Very few people understand what that actually means.

In this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek Clark and Mikey pull the curtain back on the realities of running a live music venue and building a sustainable local scene. They talk openly about Free Fridays, booking decisions, why pay-to-play hurts everyone, and what bands need to do if they want more than a 20-minute opening slot.

The conversation covers:

• Why venues take real financial risks on local bands

• What “support local music” actually looks like in practice

• Why strong EPKs and self-promotion still matter

• How bands move from openers to real bills

• Why mentorship between bands matters more than ego

• The difference between exposure and exploitation

• Why consistency beats talent alone

This episode is required listening for local musicians, promoters, venue staff, and fans who want to understand how scenes grow—or quietly die.

🎶 Learn more about upcoming shows and how to play The Boardwalk:
👉 RockTheBoardwalk.com

Booking shows isn’t just answering emails and filling dates and in this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek breaks down exactly why.

From the real cost of opening the doors, to why “pay-to-play” is usually a misunderstanding, to what venues actually need from bands in 2026, this episode pulls back the curtain on live music booking. Derek and Mikey talk partnerships, marketing responsibility, oversaturation, and why creating demand matters more than playing everywhere all the time.

They also cover:

• Why venues carry the financial risk
• What bands consistently get wrong when submitting to book
• Why some great bands struggle while others grow
• The future of the Boardwalk, including Free Fridays
• Community giving, blood drives, and giving people a hand up
• New plans for Palm Tree Brewing Company and the rooftop patio

If you’ve ever wondered why it’s “hard to get booked,” or what venues are really looking for, this episode answers it honestly.

🎧 Listen, share, and if you have something to say, say it. Just know Derek will read it.

If you want to see how live music actually survives, stop guessing and start showing up.

Check the calendar, buy a ticket, and support the rooms that keep bands on stages.

👉 RockTheBoardwalk.com

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End-of-year reflections, real talk, and hard lessons from behind the curtain.

In this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek Clark and Mikey Muscatello close out 2025 with an honest, wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to run an independent live music venue without losing your mind, your money, or your values.

Derek breaks down lessons learned from a year of wins, losses, sold-out shows, disappointing nights, promoter problems, and the reality of running a venue where culture, community, and sustainability matter more than hype. From cruise-ship epiphanies to booking mistakes, from Pablo Cruise to Mateo Mancuso, from staffing costs to why small venues are disappearing, this episode pulls zero punches.

They also look ahead to 2026, including Free Fridays, bigger artists, smarter booking strategies, new production upgrades, and how The Boardwalk plans to survive while still giving back to musicians, charities, and the local community.

If you love live music, care about independent venues, or want to understand what really happens behind the scenes, this episode is required listening.

Follow Between 2 Palms for real conversations about live music, venues, and the business nobody explains.
New episodes recorded live from the Boardwalk Stage.

In this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek Clark and Mikey Muscatello deliver a full, transparent breakdown of what’s happening at The Boardwalk, one of Sacramento’s longest-running independent music venues.

Derek addresses online complaints directly, from ticket pricing and bar costs to band quality and the lingering stigma of the old Boardwalk, and explains the real economics behind running a music venue in 2025.

The guys also announce the launch of Free Fridays, a new monthly event bringing free, all-ages live music to the community starting January.

They talk about why the venue streams every show, how national acts are booked, and why local bands will have new opportunities to perform.

Derek opens up about growing up poor, fighting through bullying, dealing with haters, and why giving back through blood drives, charity partnerships, and community programs is at the core of the Boardwalk mission.

The episode also covers the New Year’s Eve show, special ticket deals, returning-customer offers, Derek’s volunteer flights with Angels Flight West, and the upcoming launch of Palm Tree Brewing Company.

This episode is packed with insights for musicians, concertgoers, Sacramento locals, and anyone curious about how modern independent music venues survive and evolve.

Email [email protected] for New Year’s Eve ticket deals or returning-customer offers.

This week, Derek and Mikey break down one of the most important parts of venue life: the bad nights. From promoter misfires and accountability issues to bands melting down on stage, they dig into what really causes a show to flop and how all sides can avoid disaster. Derek shares behind-the-scenes stories about tough nights, surprise sellouts, national acts coming through, and the mindset it takes to make every show work. They also talk upcoming events, blood drives, holiday plans, and the future direction of The Boardwalk.

Book your show or learn more at RockTheBoardwalk.com
Follow The Boardwalk on social for updates, announcements, and new episodes.

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Derek and Mikey break down what really sets The Boardwalk apart for local bands — from how to get booked to what artists actually receive when they play here. They walk through everything from building a proper EPK and using social media wisely to the marketing support, professional sound, and full multi-camera recording setup that make The Boardwalk a rare kind of venue.

If you’re a local musician looking to step up your game or finally land that Boardwalk show, this episode covers exactly what you need to know.

Want to play The Boardwalk? Start here. Subscribe to Between Two Palms on Spotify, Apple, or anywhere you get podcasts to learn how to get booked, grow your band, and make the most of every show on The Boardwalk stage.

🎸 Learn more or book your band now at rocktheboardwalk.com

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Live from The Boardwalk Stage — Derek and Mikey pull back the curtain on what it really takes to run an independent music venue. From financial risks and booking headaches to artist expectations and passion-driven purpose, this episode dives deep into what keeps the lights on and the amps loud at one of Sacramento’s most iconic stages.

Derek opens up about the realities of concert economics, why The Boardwalk markets harder than anyone, the importance of artist partnerships, and how they're building a non-profit mindset into everything they do. Expect honesty, humor, a few F-bombs, and some serious love for the local scene.

🎧 Presented by The Boardwalk — Sacramento’s home for live music, community, and culture.
📍 Learn more or book your band: rocktheboardwalk.com

🎸 Want to play The Boardwalk?👉 Email [email protected] or [email protected]📞 Or come see a show, meet the team, and make it happen in person.🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube and follow @RockTheBoardwalk for more Behind-the-Scenes stories.

Live from The Boardwalk Stage, Derek Clark and Mikey Muscatello sit between two palms and dive deep into what it really takes to run a legendary local venue. Derek opens up about battling COVID, his incredible staff who kept the ship afloat, and how passion—not profit—keeps The Boardwalk alive.

They get brutally honest about ticket fatigue, lazy marketing, and the harsh economics of live music—breaking down how venues actually make money, how artists dilute their demand, and why grassroots hustle still beats social media algorithms.

It’s raw, real, and a must-listen for anyone who loves the Sacramento music scene, runs a venue, or plays in a band that wants to get booked.

🎤 Featuring: Derek Clark (Owner, The Boardwalk) & Mikey Muscatello (Muscatello Media / NOT That Damn Show / Mikey In The Pit)

📍 Recorded Live: The Boardwalk Stage, Orangevale, CA

🎸 Subscribe to Between 2 Palms wherever you listen.
🎟️ RockTheBoardwalk.com for upcoming shows, tickets, and band bookings.
🎧 Produced by Muscatello Media — Sacramento’s home for podcasts, live events, and production.

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Live from The Boardwalk Stage! Derek and Mikey dive deep into the state of live music.
This week, Derek admits something you rarely hear from a venue owner: “I was wrong.”

From rising costs and ticket scams to corporate monopolies squeezing out small venues, this episode pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening in the independent concert world. Derek shares eye-opening stats from the National Independent Venue Association, explains how predatory resale practices are crushing stages nationwide, and reveals how The Boardwalk plans to fight back by putting local music first.

The guys talk Aftershock’s $30M impact on Sacramento, the economics behind bar and ticket margins, and what happens if small venues disappear. Spoiler: no stages, no new bands.

The Boardwalk is doubling down on community, charity, and local talent and this episode is your insider look at how.

Support local music.
Come out, buy a ticket, grab a drink, and be part of the movement to keep live music alive in Sacramento. Every show helps The Boardwalk give back to the community.

🎟 Submit your band: rocktheboardwalk.com
📧 Booking: [email protected]

Follow Between Two Palms wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode to help spread the word: independent venues matter.

A local band blasted The Boardwalk online for “not paying,” but the truth wasn’t what they thought. In this episode of Between Two Palms, Derek and Mikey lay out exactly what went down, why promoters and communication matter, and why posting your frustrations on social media only hurts your band.

We dig into how ticket sales really work, the difference between pay-to-play and partnerships, and how legendary LA spots like Whisky a Go Go, the Viper Room, and the Troubadour handle their booking. If you’re in a band trying to book shows, build a following, or just understand why venues ask you to sell tickets, this one’s a must-listen.

👉 Follow @RockTheBoardwalk
👉 Bands: want to play The Boardwalk? Apply at rocktheboardwalk.com.

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