"How can I work in music industry?" Giggs Founder, Nikki Sanz, answers the most frequently asked question by sharing 18 practical strategies to break into the music, live event, and touring industry. In this episode, she organizes insights from top professionals and her personal experiences to provide actionable advice, moving beyond the typical "just meet the right people" suggestion. This episode is all about strategies you can put into practice.

#1 - Build Your Network
#2 - Research & Cold Calling
#3 - Volunteering & Internships
#4 - Attend Networking Events
#5 - The 15-Minute Phone Call
#6 - Always Ask for Introductions
#7 - Stay Top of Mind
#8 - Maintain a Clean Online Presence
#9 - Find Mentors
#10 - Research Local Production Companies & DMCs
#11 - Never Say No to a Gigg
#12 - Take Every Gigg Seriously
#13 - Follow Up After Giggs
#14 - Be a Sponge & Learn from Mistakes
#15 - You Are Your Own Business
#16 - Celebrate Others' Successes
#17 - When One Door Closes, Another Opens
#18 - Get on Giggs

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

The duo behind one of the tour collective: The Beehive. Founded in 2016 by Vinnie Ferra and Jonny Stiegler, The Beehive was built to make the touring experience better—for artists, yes—but more importantly, for the crew. What started as two friends backing each other’s clients has become a full-service operation combining tour management, musical direction, custom arrangements, and crew development. They’ve helped shape the live sound and stage for artists like Gracie Abrams, Halsey, Masego, T-Pain, Gryffin, and Madison Beer, with a focus on long-term partnership and crew growth.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

Stay up to date:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Sean Porter - better known as Big Daddy - spent years touring with acts like Cage the Elephant, Elle King, Lifehouse, and American Idol. After one too many late nights with nothing but gas station snacks and cold pizza, he had a simple idea: start serving up real food to the late-night crowd. That idea turned into Daddy’s Dogs - a now-iconic Nashville brand with carts, shops, stadium booths, and a huge local following. Named Best Hotdog and Best Late Night Eats year after year, Daddy’s Dogs has become a cultural staple in Music City. With bars and new concepts on the horizon, Sean is building a business with soul, scale, and serious flavor.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Brian Kaplan is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Down Home, the media company he launched alongside Tim McGraw and Skydance. He also co-founded the Music City Rodeo—Nashville’s first PRCA-sanctioned rodeo—which sold out three consecutive nights at Bridgestone Arena.

Before that, Brian launched the first-ever digital department at Interscope Geffen and went on to lead digital strategy at both Sony and Universal Nashville. He’s also played a key role in building Tim McGraw’s brand from the inside out.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Michael Strickland is the Founder and Chairman of Bandit Lites. He started the company at 12 years old, grew it while working as Kenny Rogers’ production manager, and turned it into a global leader serving artists like Queen, Aerosmith, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, and hundreds more.

He’s also an advocate for the live event workforce—testifying before Congress, leading pandemic relief efforts, and helping pass the Save Our Stages Act. Michael is the only non-musician to ever receive both a CMA and an ACM award, and he’s also earned everything from Pollstar’s Heroes of Live Award to the Parnelli Lifetime Visionary Award.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Ryan Whelpley is a Touring Director at Red Light Management with over 20 years of experience in live production. He started out mixing front of house at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, then hit the road full-time tour managing the Gin Blossoms. For The Lost Trailers, he did it all—tour manager, front of house, production manager, merch, van driver. He ran pre-show, carpentry, and automation for Tim McGraw, then spent nearly seven years as Kip Moore’s tour manager. These days, Ryan oversees budgets, vendors, staffing, advancing, routing—anything and everything touring—for a roster of artists at Red Light.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Tiffany Kerns is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations & Philanthropy at the Country Music Association and the Executive Director of the CMA Foundation. She leads strategic programming for CMA’s 6,000+ members and drives over $30 million in music education funding across all 50 states. Whether it’s mental health support, DEI initiatives, or national advocacy for the next generation of creatives, Tiffany is doing the work that makes a real difference.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

Stay up to date:
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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

On this episode, we’re diving into the side of the industry that keeps everything running—business management and entertainment law. Tate Henshaw and Farrah Usmani break down the hidden costs of touring, must-know contracts, when to bring in a lawyer, and why ChatGPT shouldn’t be your legal team.

Tate Henshaw is the Co-Founder of ARC, a business management firm based in Atlanta. He works with everyone from Grammy-winning musicians like Ne-Yo to NBA All-Stars like Blake Griffin, helping them navigate financial planning, taxes, royalty tracking, tour budgeting, and long-term wealth strategy. Named one of the Top 40 Accountants under 40, Tate is shaping a more transparent, tech-forward future for creatives.

Farrah Usmani is an entertainment attorney based in Nashville who advises everyone from indie artists to chart-toppers on how to grow their careers without giving away their rights. She’s negotiated with every major label and music publisher, worked on major touring and streaming deals, and has been featured in Billboard, Variety, and The Tennessean for her work on everything from tour contracts to AI voice protection.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

Stay up to date:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Producer: Annabelle Wiedower