The Johnny Fiacconi Podcast

When you’re a new band, saying yes to most opportunities can be exactly what helps you grow. You need the experience, the footage, the relationships, and the confidence that comes from being on stage.

But at a certain point, saying yes to EVERY opportunity can keep your fees down, make you overplay your market, and stop you from creating the bigger, more meaningful opportunities you might actually want. In this episode, I talk about finding that balance and making sure every gig is moving your band forward.

Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconiMy band:www.instagram.com/thedreamboatswww.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠‪‪https://www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

In this episode, I break down the five things that I genuinely don’t think a cover band can grow without. I’m talking about what it takes to move beyond just getting through gigs and start becoming a band that people remember, recommend, and want to book again.

There are lots of talented cover bands out there, but talent alone doesn’t always lead to bigger opportunities, better-paying gigs, or a real following. These are five areas I believe every band needs to work on if they want to stand out in their scene and build something that can actually grow over time.

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

When we started our band The Dreamboats back in 2009, we really had no idea what we were doing. Over the last 17 years we've made lots of mistakes, learned some hard lessons, and slowly figured out what actually helps a band grow. In this episode, I'm sharing five of the biggest lessons I've learned from building our band—from leadership and goal setting to finding your niche and creating standards that actually move your band forward. I hope this episode helps you avoid a few of the mistakes we made!

Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

www.johnnyfiacconi.com

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠ 

www.youtube.com/thedreamboats

This week I had a great conversation with creator, former Meta AR creative, and author of the new book "Auragami: How to Unfold and Find Your Own Form," Lianne Baron.

We had an in-depth discussion about what it really means to stay relevant as you get older...not by trying to "stay cool," but by staying curious, adaptable, and open to change. We also talked about breaking free from the "manuals" that society often gives us, how AI is changing the creative landscape, and why artists and entrepreneurs have more opportunity than ever if they're willing to be open-minded and evolve.

Whether you're a musician, creator, entrepreneur, or just someone who's trying to build a meaningful life and career, I think you'll take away a lot from this conversation. Please share your comments below.

Get Lianne's Book "Auragami: How to Unfold and Find Your Own Form" in eBook and Audiobook HERE: www.liannebaron.com

FOLLOW LIANNE BARON HERE:

www.instagram.com/itsliannebaron

www.liannebaron.com

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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 special episode, I share an interview I did with Canadian music legend (and friend) Robbie Lane. A key figure in Toronto's legendary Yonge Street music scene of the 1960s, Robbie performed alongside Ronnie Hawkins, became the house band on the national Canadian television show "It's Happening," and has spent decades entertaining audiences across Canada.This interview is about the timeless principles of performance, stage presence, audience connection, and building fans who keep coming back. Robbie shares lessons that are just as relevant for artists today as they were sixty years ago.Whether you're a musician, performer, or creator, you'll find valuable insights packed into this short interview.About Robbie Lane: https://www.citizenfreak.com/artists/97928-lane-robbie-the-disciplesFollow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconiwww.johnnyfiacconi.comMy band:www.instagram.com/thedreamboatswww.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠www.youtube.com/thedreamboats

In this deep dive episode, I sit down with performance coach and stage mentor Luther Mallory to talk about authenticity, stage presence, artistic expression, and what it really means to embrace your uniqueness on stage.

We dive into why so many performers hold themselves back, how fear shows up on stage, the importance of taking risks, and how both extroverted AND introverted artists can become more connected to themselves so that they can create more meaningful experiences on stage.

Whether you're a musician, speaker, entertainer, creator, or anyone who performs in front of people, this conversation is packed with insights on finding your voice and becoming a more compelling performer.

FOLLOW LUTHER MALLORY HERE:

YouTube: ⁨@Luthermallory⁩

Instagram: www.instagram.com/luthermallory

www.luthermallory.com

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Follow me for daily content:

www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi

tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi

www.youtube.com/@JohnnyFiacconi

My band:

www.instagram.com/thedreamboats

www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠

www.youtube.com/@TheDreamboats

For years, I handled almost everything in my band's business. Flights, hotels, contracts, emails, settlements, schedules, etc. I told myself it was because I cared, and honestly, I genuinely believed I was the band member best suited to handle those things. And maybe part of that was true...but over time, I realized something: I had become the bottleneck.

In this episode, I talk about the leadership lesson I'm learning right now, the 80/20 rule, why delegation is harder than it sounds, and why leaders need to spend their time on the things that ONLY THEY can do.

Whether you're a musician, entrepreneur, creator, or team leader, this episode is about letting go of the small stuff so that you can focus on what actually moves the needle with your band.

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 episode, I share how our band slowly broke out of the $400 bar gig trap in the early days, why standing out matters so much, and how creating demand for what you do can completely change the opportunities that come your way as a musician.

Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconiMy band [The Dreamboats]:www.instagram.com/thedreamboatswww.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠www.youtube.com/@TheDreamboats

I've now read The Science of Scaling by Benjamin Hardy and Blake Erickson twice, and it's become one of the most influential business books I've ever read. It has completely changed the way I think about growing a band, building systems, leadership, consistency, and long-term success. In this episode, I share some of the lessons that stood out most on my second read-through and how we're applying them to our journey as a growing band.Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconiMy band:www.instagram.com/thedreamboatswww.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠​

In this episode, I talk about the side of being a bandleader that not many people fully understand unless they’ve lived it themselves. The pressure, the responsibility, the constant thinking, and the realization that eventually somebody has to carry the vision. I’m still figuring a lot of this out myself, but I wanted to share some honest thoughts on leadership, ownership, and what it feels like to be the person steering the ship.

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