The Boardwalk Podcast - Between Two Palms

Knowing everything we know now, would we still buy The Boardwalk?

That's the question that sends this conversation in a lot of directions.

Derek talks openly about the mistakes he made rebuilding The Boardwalk, what he would have done differently, how difficult it is to preserve the history of a venue while still running a business that can survive today, and why the answer is somehow still yes.

We also get into one of the biggest disconnects between bands and venues: draw.

Putting your band's name on a flyer doesn't automatically put people in the room. Selling tickets, creating demand, promoting shows and giving people a reason to care are all part of building something.

Then there's the other side of it.

Tribute bands. Rising costs. Online criticism. People wanting The Boardwalk to operate exactly the way it did decades ago. The pressure to keep ticket prices reasonable while paying staff, production, insurance, artists and everything else nobody sees when they walk through the door.

Most importantly, we talk about why any of this is still worth doing.

Because live music matters.

Small stages matter.

And The Boardwalk is still here.

Tickets, upcoming shows and more:
rocktheboardwalk.com

Booking / inquiries:
[email protected]

The Boardwalk Podcast is back and plenty changed while we were gone.

Derek and Mikey break down the work that went into transforming The Boardwalk’s outdoor patio, the return of Thursday-night karaoke, the shows that exceeded expectations, and the mistakes that taught the team what needs to happen next.

They also address the brutally hot Lynch Mob show, explain why some concert bookings simply don’t make financial sense, and have an honest conversation about why artists must help promote their own shows. Plus, Derek shares what finally feels different after three years of owning one of the Sacramento area’s most historic live music venues.

It’s an honest look at the progress, growing pains, questionable decisions and future of The Boardwalk in Orangevale.

See upcoming shows and get tickets at RockTheBoardwalk.com.

This episode closes out Season One of Between Two Palms with Derek and Mikey reflecting on the first year of the show and the current state of The Boardwalk.

The conversation starts with the closing of iconic local and music venues, then shifts into what it takes to keep a place like The Boardwalk alive. Derek talks openly about the financial pressure, the learning curve, music licensing, and the challenge of booking shows in a tough economy.

Mikey pushes the idea that The Boardwalk needs to become more than just a place where people check who is playing. The goal is to create a consistent experience where people know they can show up Thursday through Sunday and have a great time, whether it is rock, country, metal, line dancing, acoustic music, or a bigger national act.

The episode also highlights Freedom Weekend, the upcoming patio improvements, the need for vendor partnerships and sponsored nights, and the long-term vision of making The Boardwalk cool again.

Season One ends with a possible summer break and a clear direction for Season Two: growth, focus, and rebuilding The Boardwalk one smart move at a time.

Get tickets to a show or play a show go to RockTheBoardwalk.com

Derek’s back from Portugal and immediately gets pulled into one of the most misunderstood topics in the live music industry: radius clauses and how they impact concert venues, ticket sales, touring bands, and independent promoters.

What starts as a travel recap from Portugal quickly turns into an inside look at the real business of live music, including Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s monopoly problems, rising concert ticket prices, venue booking strategies, contract disputes, and why independent music venues are struggling to survive in today’s economy.

Derek breaks down how radius clauses actually work, why “as the crow flies” matters in venue contracts, how bands and managers can accidentally damage ticket sales, and the behind-the-scenes realities of operating an independent concert venue like The Boardwalk in Sacramento.

The conversation also dives into the future of live entertainment, community-driven events, charity work, nonprofit partnerships, Palm Tree Brewing Company, Flying with D, and how The Boardwalk is trying to build something bigger than just another music venue.

Meanwhile, Mikey attempts to understand geometry, auctioneering, Air Canada flight disasters, and why every vacation somehow requires another vacation afterward.

Topics include:

• Radius clauses explained
• Ticketmaster & Live Nation controversy
• Independent venue struggles
• Concert ticket pricing
• Music industry contracts
• Booking shows & tour routing
• The Boardwalk Sacramento
• Palm Tree Brewing Company
• Charity & nonprofit work
• Portugal travel stories
• Live music business insights
• Community outreach & events

On this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek and Mikey get into the real reasons venue policies exist at The Boardwalk, from moshing and crowd safety to minors at all-ages shows, weed rules, alcohol laws, and the headaches that come with running a live room in the real world. Derek also talks about the hate mail, the balancing act between letting people have fun and keeping the venue open, and why some rules are not about killing the vibe ... they are about protecting people, staff, and the future of the room.

The episode also shifts into a bigger conversation about ticket prices, community support, and why the Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters show is such a major moment for The Boardwalk, with proceeds tied to the Firefighters Burn Institute and the Aloha Initiative. If you want the behind-the-scenes version of what venue owners deal with, this one is for you.

For tickets and to see what shows are coming up, go to RockTheBoardwalk.com

Derek and Mikey go live from The Boardwalk stage in Orangevale to drop huge news: Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters are kicking off their tour in an intimate, 200‑person room right here in the Sacramento area. They break down how the deal came together, the risk of spending tens of thousands on a major act, why this show will feel more like a private party than an arena nosebleed, and how the night will also raise money for the Firefighters Burn Institute and local families.

🎟 Tickets & availability: RockTheBoardwalk.com

Inside the Ticketmaster Monopoly

On this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek and Mikey pull the curtain back on Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and how their “partnership” turned into an illegal monopoly that’s choking out independent venues across the country. From ghost companies scalping their own tickets to 200-mile radius clauses that block bands from playing rooms like the Boardwalk, Derek explains what this looks like from the venue side in real life.

They break down the proposed Department of Justice settlement, why a $280 million fine and 13 amphitheaters is basically a rounding error for Live Nation, and how fees “capped” at 15% just get baked into higher ticket prices anyway. You’ll hear stories about tours getting wiped out when Live Nation buys and shuts down venues, small festivals getting crushed by last-minute chargebacks, and why 70% of sub-500-cap rooms in the U.S. are struggling to survive.

Derek also talks about what the Boardwalk is doing to stay alive—free Fridays, bringing in local acts, and slowly changing the “roadhouse” image—while still trying to give upcoming bands a real stage and keep tickets somewhat reasonable. They get into NIVA (the National Independent Venue Association), grassroots advocacy, and what fans can actually do besides just complaining about fees online.

If you’ve ever wondered why ticket prices exploded, why it feels like Live Nation owns every show, or how long small rooms can hang on, this one will make you look at that “service fee” line a lot different

The Boardwalk: rocktheboardwalk.com

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What makes more money... all ages shows or 21+ nights?

The answer isn’t what you think.

In this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek and Mikey pull back the curtain on how small venues actually survive. From bar sales vs ticket sales to why some Saturdays go 21+ and others don’t, they break down the real math behind concert programming.

They also get into:

• A national touring artist throwing a backstage tantrum
• A band that blew their headline slot for 20 minutes opening somewhere else
• Venue poaching and behind-the-scenes music politics
• Why persistence gets you booked (and ego gets you blacklisted)
• Police presence affecting genre decisions
• And how a rock club ended up partnering with the American Red Cross and saving 70+ lives

This isn’t theory. It’s the real-life economics of running an independent venue in 2026.

If you’re in a band, trying to get booked, or just wondering why venues make the decisions they do, this one’s for you.

See what’s coming next, grab tickets, and check the full calendar at👉 RockTheBoardwalk.com

And follow along for show drops, announcements, and and giveaways 👇📲 @rocktheboardwalk

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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