The Johnny Fiacconi Podcast

As your band grows, the things you used to “wing” start catching up with you. In this episode, I talk about some of the growing pains that come with leveling up, from setlists and pre-show routines to evaluating whether a gig actually makes financial sense, managing expenses, and changing how the band gets paid. The bigger the operation gets, the more structure you need behind the scenes to keep everything working.

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

www.tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

In this excerpt from one of my recent webinars, I discuss why being open-minded is so important when building a career in today's music industry. From embracing social media and AI to exploring alternative ways to make money and taking the side-door approach to new opportunities, I share why thinking beyond the traditional path can help musicians build sustainable, long-term careers.

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

In this live Q&A episode, I answer questions about building a better band both onstage and behind the scenes — from handling unresponsive crowds and creating memorable moments in your set, to splitting gig money, treating your band like a business, planning your career, and navigating changing band dynamics.

I also share some of the decisions and lessons that have shaped The Dreamboats over the years.

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

Recorded live at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Canada on Sept 12, 2026, I join a panel with Asma Ansari of Spotlight Social Media for a conversation about social media and it's place in an artists' career. We discuss the power of consistency, what musicians miss by ignoring social media, and the benefits and challenges of navigating it intentionally. Hosted by Arlene Paculan

Follow Asma Ansari / Spotlight Social Media

www.instagram.com/spotlightsocial.media

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

A lot of bands wonder whether moving to a bigger city or music market will create more opportunities. Well in 2022, my band did exactly that when we relocated from Mississauga, Canada, to Palm Springs, California. In this episode, I break down the pros and cons of moving your band, and whether I think it’s worth it.

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

Should a band be a democracy, or does someone ultimately need to make the final call?

In this episode, I share my experiences playing in both democratic and leader-led bands, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how too many opinions can sometimes turn strong ideas into compromises. At the end, I explain the structure that’s currently working best for me.

Have you experienced either approach in a band? Leave a comment and let me know which one you think works best.

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

In this Q&A episode, I answer questions from musicians about getting better gigs, building a stronger live show, and using social media to create bigger opportunities for your band.I talk about how to break out of playing small college parties, design a great setlist, and choose standout songs that other cover bands don’t typically play. We also get into content strategy, the importance of consistency, how to figure out what type of content actually works for your band, and the power social media can have when you use it intentionally.I also share my thoughts on whether non-English-speaking artists should write in English or their own language, whether certain genres of music are actually “dead,” what it takes to get a visa to perform in the United States, and more.If you’re trying to grow your band, stand out from the crowd, and create more opportunities both onstage and online, there should be something in this episode for you.Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

Do any musicians actually learn their parts anymore? When I was growing up, it felt normal for musicians to learn the iconic guitar hooks or drum fills or bass lines, etc… the stuff that made great songs great! But in my 20 years of music, it seems like “good enough” has started becoming normal.In this episode, I talk about why learning the actual parts matters—especially if you want to audition for bands, get hired, and keep getting called back. Talent matters, but preparation, professionalism, and simply being easy to hang with can make a bandleader’s decision incredibly easy. If you want the gig, make it hard for them to choose someone else.Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconiMy band:www.instagram.com/thedreamboatswww.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

For a lot of original artists, playing in a cover band feels like a step in the wrong direction...but I've seen (first hand) how it can actually make you a much STRONGER original artist. From stagecraft and crowd connection to professionalism, musicianship, and understanding what audiences really respond to, there are huge lessons from the cover band world that translate directly into building your own project.

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

The foundation of the music business (and any business really) is creating value for everyone involved. It’s not enough to simply make good music and expect venues, agents, promoters or audiences to care... In this episode, I talk about how the industry actually works in my experience, what it means to bring real value, and why the bands that understand this are the ones that give themselves the best chance to build a lasting career.

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠

www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats