Feeling like your creative goals are always bogged down by poor execution? Whether it's bad planning, lack of communication, or simply not following through, our ambitions often outweigh our accountability. Despite our good intentions, time keeps slipping by and nothing seems to get done. If this sounds like you, it's time to get organized and start working like a professional creative team.

In this episode of Secrets from the Scene, I'm excited to welcome Mike Borell, a local musician and experienced project manager. Mike's got some fantastic insights, drawing from both his corporate gig and his music projects, to share actionable strategies for building and managing effective creative teams.

Here's what we dive into:

Full Transcript and Show Notes

Interested in my free song diagnostic?

🎵🧰 ⁠Fix my song!⁠

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 13 Arrows

🔗 Midnight Horses

Featured Song

"I Can Roll" by 13 Arrows

🎧 Listen on Spotify

👀 Watch on YouTube

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Secrets from the Scene, I sit down with Maria Coyne, Faith Boblett, and Laura Hugo to discuss the unique challenges faced by women in the music industry. Our discussion spans various issues such as underrepresentation, ageism, societal pressures, harassment, safety concerns, and the impact of social media. Emphasizing the importance of camaraderie and mutual support amongst women, Maria, Faith, and Laura reflect on overcoming cultural conditioning and inappropriate advances while advocating for a more professional and respectful music scene. This episode aims to foster understanding and empowerment, offering advice for young women pursuing their musical passions and advocating for the creation of a safer, more inclusive environment for all artists.

Full transcript and show notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Maria Coyne

🔗 Faith Boblett

🔗 Laura Hugo

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

Most indie musicians have heard of sync licensing and have a general idea of what it entails. It's often one of those things that gets put on the back burner as "something I should probably look into." Sound familiar?

Even if you've dabbled in it—maybe signed some tracks with a sync agency or opted in for sync opportunities through your music distributor—chances are you still don't feel entirely clear on the details.

I can relate. Despite having extensive experience in sync licensing, I still find the topic complex.

If you search "What is sync licensing?" online, you'll find countless articles on what makes songs good for sync, the importance of clearing songs, and tips for pitching your music to sync agents or music supervisors. While this information is valuable, I believe there's some essential knowledge you need before diving into any of that.

One of the biggest challenges I faced initially was understanding the differences in best practices within the sync industry. This confusion arises because the sync industry encompasses a variety of companies with vastly different business models, serving different end users, and working with different kinds of artists and composers.

In this episode, I'm joined by my good friend and long-time sync collaborator, Dan Luedke. Dan is a talented composer with hundreds of tracks in sync libraries and has graciously agreed to co-host this episode with me to help explain the intricacies of the sync licensing industry. (He's also the co-writer with me for this podcast's theme song!)

We explore the various types of sync licensing models, including production music libraries, royalty-free libraries, and sync agencies. We discuss their similarities, differences, and specific applications. We also share the pros and cons of each model, personal experiences, and offer advice for indie artists and composers looking to enter the sync world. This conversation serves as a primer for the sync industry, providing a broad overview to help musicians like you understand where you might fit in and how to navigate the complexities of sync licensing.

Keep a look out for future sync episodes, as the topic is vast and requires more than one episode to be certain. But I hope this primer helps get the big picture in slightly better focus for you. Enjoy!

Full Transcript and Show Notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Vivid Pop Music

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

Community building is crucial for independent artists. In this episode, I chat with Sarah Morris, a celebrated artist and community builder in the Twin Cities music scene. Sarah shares her journey and insights on creating and nurturing communities through music.

Have you been looking for ways to better connect with your fanbase? Or maybe you're trying to deepen your relationships with other artists and creatives? This conversation is packed with examples from Sarah's own career that have not only supported her impressive music journey but also helped her network and connect with people she otherwise wouldn't have met.

Sarah is constantly finding ways to support and connect with other creatives while creating entertaining content that bolsters her own brand and artistry. From her unique web series, "Toilet Tunes," to her Patreon membership, artist newsletter, blog interviews, and songwriter workshops, Sarah demonstrates a win-win approach that’s both smart and effective.

Instead of constantly promoting her work on social media, Sarah focuses on creating value for the community she'd like to connect with. This approach leads to organic fan growth and genuine connections, all while doing something she believes in and enjoys. If you can do this authentically, it's a win-win-win for you, those you're connecting with, and the larger musical community.

I find Sarah's mindset and actions around her communities truly inspiring and worth learning from. I hope you enjoy the episode!

Full transcript and show notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Sarah Morris Website

🔗 Sarah Morris Instagram

Featured Song

"Ruthless" by Sarah Morris

🎧 Listen on Spotify

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

Building a fanbase is no easy task. Building one from scratch in a new city is especially challenging. That’s the challenge Clayton Ryan faced last November when he relocated to the Twin Cities from Los Angeles.

From his humble beginnings performing bar gigs in South Dakota, composing for sync in LA, and his strategic approach in the Minneapolis music scene, Clayton Ryan shares his journey's challenges and triumphs on this episode of SFTS.

Our conversation brings to light the significance of artist-fan connections, crafting a recognizable brand, and the benefits of genuine fan engagement both online and in person. With a focus on being intentional about one's target audience, Clayton shares invaluable strategies on crowdfunding, merchandise, old-school promotion tactics, and the impact of personal interactions and social media engagement on building a dedicated fan base.

Worthwhile tangents include practical advice for musicians on connecting with fans, the best open mics in Minneapolis, and gratitude towards supporters. Check out this episode for a blueprint for cultivating a dedicated audience.

Full Transcript and Show Notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Clayton Ryan Instagram

🔗 Clayton Ryan Website

Featured Song

"Wild Man" by Clayton Ryan

🎧 Listen on Spotify

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

Dive into the music-filled world of a full-time guitarist with David Feily. With mastery across multiple instruments and a role as an educator at MacPhail, Feily epitomizes the essence of a committed artist. He plays with notable names like the BZ3 Organ Trio, Minneapolis String Project, and LA Buckner, to name just a few.

Beyond his extraordinary guitar-playing abilities, Feily understands the multifaceted nature of sustaining a successful career as a guitarist. In this episode, he sheds light on his everyday routine, providing a detailed account of his work, how he manages his busy schedule, the skills he has honed to juggle it all, and how he balances the various demands of his profession.

Topics we cover:

If you've ever wondered about the dynamics of maintaining a steady stream of guitar gigs year after year, David's insights are invaluable. As a highly sought-after musician, he offers a wealth of advice and insights into his day-to-day life. Enjoy!

Full transcript and show notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 David Feily Instagram

🔗 David Feily YouTube

Featured Song

"Too High Feat. Julius Collins" by BZ3 Organ Trio

🎧 Listen on Spotify

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

What do Pitbull, pop saxophone, and pushing your boundaries have to do with one another? 

After finishing her degree at McNally Smith, Lucia Sarmiento read Ari Herstand's book "How To Make It in the New Music Business" and decided to write down her goals and dreams for her music career. 

On that list, she included:

Whether you attribute it to manifestation, luck, or hard work, talent, and courage - they all play a role.

Sarmiento's story is compelling. She's a remarkably talented multi-instrumentalist and, as you'll discover in this episode, quite brave, too. I think her willingness to push her own boundaries and take BIG risks when the opportunity presents itself is pivotal to her impressive successes so far. 

In this episode, Sarmiento discusses her experiences performing on huge tours with Pitbull and Karol G and also shares her mindset and strategy around growing her social media to an impressive 100k followers across Instagram and YouTube. There are some real gems in this one. I gleaned a wealth of knowledge, and I trust you will, too. Enjoy!

Full Transcript and Show Notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Lucia Sarmiento Website

🔗 Lucia Sarmiento Instagram

Featured Song:

"Escape" by Lucia Sarmiento

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

Deciding where you’d like to record your first project can be a little daunting. Like many industries, the advancement of technology has made for an incredible amount of choices. For this reason, a lot of people just opt for the path of least resistance: choosing to work with someone they know, a place nearby, or whatever is cheapest. For others, the natural first choice is to start doing it on their own.

While there is no single right or wrong way to make a record, there may be a right or wrong way for you. And the last thing anyone wants is to find out the hard way that they're working with the wrong producer or studio. Or to invest a lot of money into a home setup only to discover that they don't have the time, energy, or skills required to meet their own expectations.

It can be tough to sort through every option and weigh the potential tradeoffs to find the right path forward for your situation. Fortunately, Matt Patrick, owner and producer at The Library Recording Studio, joined me for this important conversation to weigh in on all the essential factors that go into this decision. Matt has been producing records for nearly 2 decades and is among the most respected producers and studios in the Twin Cities.

We discussed setting goals and expectations for your recording project, understanding the investment, how to choose a producer, thinking through the recording experience, and much more. Matt shares a ton of wisdom in this episode about producing music and shares many stories to demonstrate the variety of ways it can be done.

If you've been wondering where to start in your search for recording options, this episode will help you think through the major pieces and make the best decision for you. Enjoy!

Full transcript and show notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 The Library Website

🔗 The Library Instagram

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

There are three essential components every musician must have to successfully pitch their music for gigs: an artist brand, an EPK, and the ability to craft effective emails. Missing any of these can potentially cost you the gig.

In this episode, David Ostrom joins me to delve into the art of "packaging the pitch." David, the brains behind Ostrom Entertainment, an agency specializing in entertainment and bookings for local artists, shares insights on:

With five years of experience as a booking agent for the Minnesota Music Coalition, David has facilitated numerous gigs for Minnesota artists both locally and regionally. His exposure to countless EPKs and email exchanges provides valuable insights into what works and what doesn't.

Whether you're just embarking on booking your own shows or seeking to enhance your pitching skills, David generously shares his wealth of knowledge and even suggests some invaluable resources for DIY artists towards the end. Enjoy the episode!

Full Transcript and Show Notes

Episode Links:

🌐 How to Connect with Your Audience: A Branding Guide For Musicians

🌐 Indie on the Move

🌐 Tip Tree

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Ostrom Entertainment Website⁠

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

Ever put off getting professional photos for your artist profiles because of the dread associated with staged photo shoots? You're not alone. For many, the process is nerve-wracking, struggling to bridge the gap between imagination and actual capture.

I've had my fair share of awkward photo shoots; it can be intimidating. Thankfully, Maddi Waldo joined me on this episode to give insider advice on prepping for your next shoot so you can feel confident that you'll get the results you're after.

With extensive experience covering weddings, couple portraits, band sessions, and concert photography for the likes of First Avenue and Twin Cities Media, Maddi offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

In this episode we cover invaluable insights on how to prepare for your next shoot with confidence. From researching your vision to effective communication with your photographer, navigating the shoot itself, and understanding rights and credits, Maddi shares practical tips and tricks to ensure that your next photo session yields the results you desire.

Tune in and equip yourself with the tools and strategies necessary to transform your apprehension into excitement, and turn every photo shoot into a rewarding experience. Enjoy!

Full transcript and show notes

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Maddi Waldo Instagram

🔗 Maddi Waldo Website

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠