Want to move from background bar sets to premium, repeat bookings? Americana artist Steve Boucher breaks down how he built a calendar of corporate, wedding, and listening-room gigs—plus the guitar tone & setlist strategies that keep clients calling.

What you’ll learn (fast, practical takeaways):

Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show on Podbean, and leave a rating/review on Apple Podcasts. Have a takeaway or question? Drop a Podbean comment or DM us on Instagram.

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Connect with Steve Boucher & Boucher Guitars

BOUCHER GUITARS — OFFICIAL & SOCIAL

Support The Shift with Mike & Joe

Image & Sound Media (Joe)

Joe Bryan Music

Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike)

Michael Waskey Music

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Podcast Production Gear

EPISODE 19 — Bobby Woolley (The Edge 360, Stevensville, MD)

How do you build a gym that becomes a community engine? In this conversation, Bobby Woolley of The Edge breaks down the evolution of Edge Training Academy, Edge Arena, and the Giving the Edge Foundation—collectively “Edge 360”—from athlete development to after-school programs and county-wide field days.

Bobby shares the playbook: hybrid training that blends skill and human performance, a “do good first” business model (no contracts), and why confidence is the most powerful byproduct of youth sports.

WHAT WE COVER

TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS

GUEST

GUEST LINKS

FOLLOW THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE

CREATOR LINKS

Joe Bryan Music

Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike)

Michael Waskey Music

PRODUCTION NOTES

"When I was homeless or in prison, people that had what I wanted gave me hope."

Keith Edmonds Jr. learned to tattoo in prison — mixing ink from the soot of a Vaseline candle and building machines out of CD player motors and guitar strings. Ten years later he walked a red carpet at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for a documentary about the shop he owns.

In Episode 18 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, Keith is back at the table to tell the whole story. He's co-owner of Ink or Dye Studio in Centreville, Maryland, coming up on seven years in business, and this is the most candid conversation we've had on this show.

Keith walks us through the addiction that led to homelessness, crime, and prison time — and the recovery house on the other side of it, where he met his now-wife Cheryl. He tells us how he talked a guy with 25 years of experience into teaching him everything he knew, how the prison tattoo economy actually worked, and what it was like to get out with nothing but a 400 credit score and the clothes on his back.

Then the build: knocking on five shops before one said yes, a tattoo machine his brother bought him in exchange for a tattoo, and opening Ink or Dye on $17,000 — Cheryl's wedding money plus whatever was left on a credit card. It wasn't enough. What made it work was the recovery community: plumbers, electricians, drywall and flooring guys who either discounted the work or did it for free. As Keith puts it, this community built this shop.

We also get into "Ink or Dye," the short documentary directed by Lane Michael Stanley, who came up through the same Baltimore recovery circles. It got into Dances With Films — one of the top ten festivals in the country — and Keith and Cheryl scrambled to get to LA on three weeks' notice. And yes, Joe worked on the film's audio, using a phone held inside a plastic dog cone.

The back half turns into a genuinely useful business conversation: how the shop actually makes money, why more artists means a better shop rather than a bigger paycheck, commission structures and why deposits protect the artists more than the owner, and a long stretch on marketing — reading analytics, knowing your audience's age, why Ink or Dye leans on Facebook over Instagram, the Tuesday-morning posting window, and how a $500 geo-targeted Facebook ad pulled 48,000 views and 6,000 link clicks for their event.

We also talk about recovery houses and how they fail, the ten trips through rehab it took before it stuck, losing his mom and what that did to his recovery, free cover-ups for gang and hate-related tattoos, tattoo removal, aftercare, whether tattoo culture has gotten watered down, and the ongoing struggle to be present at home while running a business.

And we get the full rundown on Tattoos for a Cause — September 20 in Centreville, two streets shut down, five bands, ten artists, forty vendors, and the first Eastern Shore showing of the "Ink or Dye" documentary at 7 PM. The 2023 event raised $14,000 for the Recovery Awareness Foundation.

Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life?

CHAPTERS

CONNECT WITH KEITH EDMONDS JR. & INK OR DYE STUDIO

"INK OR DYE" — THE DOCUMENTARY

TATTOOS FOR A CAUSE

SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE

CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE

Image & Sound Media (Joe)

Joe Bryan Music

Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike)

Michael Waskey Music

PODCAST PRODUCTION GEAR (EPISODE 18)

The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media.

#TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow #KentIsland #EasternShore #Centreville #MarylandPodcast #TattooArtist #RecoveryStory #InkOrDye

In this episode of The Shift, we sit down with Dale Walls, a former Marine turned entrepreneur, leadership consultant, and host of The Lion’s Guide Podcast. Dale opens up about the lessons that shaped his journey—from boot camp to building a leadership consultancy—and how embracing discipline, responsibility, and self-leadership transformed his life.

We talk about:

• The difference between leading others and leading yourself

• How Dale overcame the chaos of his early entrepreneurial years

• Why leadership starts long before you’re “in charge”

• Tactical frameworks he teaches business owners to scale with clarity and integrity

Dale’s mission is to equip people to live their best lives, lead with purpose, and leave a legacy—and this conversation is packed with mindset-shifting insight you’ll want to take notes on.

From bootcamp lessons to the boardroom, Dale breaks down how military principles shaped his leadership style, how to cultivate discipline without burnout, and how to unlock the high-performing version of yourself.

🎧 Full episode now available

Listen, subscribe, and explore more at 👉 www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com

💸 Support the podcast

Help us grow! Donate here: theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1

🎬 This podcast is produced by Image & Sound Media

🎥 www.imagesoundmedia.com

In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Ray, a local alt-country artist and Army veteran who’s diving into his music career after recently returning home from Kosovo. He shares stories from his military service, what inspired his songwriting, and how he’s building a creative life post-deployment.

We talk about growing up homeschooled, rediscovering identity through music, and the beauty of authentic storytelling in songwriting. There’s also plenty of laughter — Joe forgot to hit record (again), Mike roasts him, and we debut our ridiculous new podcast theme song… vocally.

We’re officially back on our biweekly schedule, and we’ve got awesome guests lined up soon: Dale Walls, Keith Edmonds, Steve Boucher, and more.

🎧 Available now on all major platforms.

EPISODE 15 – Shea Springer of Sweetfoot Studios: DIY Recording, Studio Life & the Art of Sound

In this episode, Mike & Joe sit down with local musician, producer, and self-taught engineer Shea Springer — owner of Sweetfoot Studios in Easton, Maryland. From building a control room in his basement to running cables through the living room, Shea shares how he transformed a split-level home into a fully functional recording studio.

We talk about room acoustics, mic techniques, tracking full bands in a house, and what it’s really like running a creative business from home. Shea also opens up about lessons learned, favorite sessions, and how his wife helps run the operation behind the scenes.

After a short hiatus, we’re back on track with our biweekly release schedule — and we’ve got more incredible guests on the way!

In this engaging episode of *The Shift with Mike and Joe*, the hosts welcome local musician Colby Sard for an in-depth conversation about his journey as a full-time musician, his experiences gigging around the Chesapeake Bay area, and his path to sobriety. The episode covers a wide range of topics, from the challenges and perks of performing live music to the realities of staying sober while working in the music scene. Key highlights include: - Colby shares humorous and candid stories about his gigs, including memorable tips and navigating tricky venues like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge commute. - The hosts discuss the unique pressures musicians face on stage, such as dealing with distracted audiences, live streaming performances, and the balancing act of playing popular covers versus original music. - Colby opens up about his six months of sobriety, the struggles of performing sober for the first time, and how sobriety has changed his perspective on music and life. - The conversation delves into the mental health aspects of addiction and recovery, emphasizing coping strategies, self-forgiveness, and the importance of taking sobriety one day at a time. - They also explore the behind-the-scenes work of booking gigs, working with agents, and the realities of making a living as a musician. - Mike and Joe share their own reflections on sobriety, the challenges of balancing creativity with personal well-being, and the evolving culture of sobriety in the music industry. - The episode includes lighthearted banter about music gear, favorite songs to play, and creative uses of AI tools like ChatGPT for designing flyers and managing projects. - The hosts discuss podcast production insights, distribution platforms, and the evolving landscape of video podcasts.

🎙 Episode 14 – Steven Dunn | Fishing, Gigging & Figuring It Out

In this episode of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with local legend Steven Dunn—gigging musician, charter boat captain, and full-time hustler on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. From navigating the waters of the Chesapeake to playing shows across Delmarva, Steve shares what it’s like balancing two unorthodox careers, building a business with his dad, and learning the art of not burning out.

Also covered:

🎣 Life on the water

🎸 Gig life and self-employment

🧠 Mental health, sleep, and the occasional loop pedal

😂 Footwear debates, food rants, and a ChatGPT confession

Whether you’re a creative, a fisherman, or just someone figuring it out—this one’s got something for you.

Watch, laugh, relate. And maybe book a charter.

In this episode of The Shift, Mike and Joe sit down with Joey Mitchell, a seasoned upright and electric bass player deeply rooted in the Eastern Shore music scene. Joey shares his journey from touring in England to performing with bands like Swampcandy, Mixed Business, and the Joey Harkum Band. He discusses his unique perspective as a sideman who also excels in booking music venues, offering insights into the dynamics of the music industry from both the stage and behind the scenes. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of balancing performance with venue management, highlighting Joey’s multifaceted role in the music community. It’s a candid and insightful discussion that sheds light on the often-overlooked aspects of a musician’s life.

In Episode 11 of The Shift, Mike and Joe sit down (again) with Austin Smale, owner of Tiger Lily in Easton, MD, for a second—and even better—round of conversation after technical issues spoiled their first recording. Austin shares his entrepreneurial journey from blending birthday cakes at a senior home to running one of Easton’s most creative restaurant concepts. They dig into the realities of restaurant ownership, from staffing struggles to noise ordinances, and explore everything from tip culture and hiring practices to business coaching and SEO. Austin also opens up about personal growth, the importance of routine (shoutout to the gym), and why the Tiger Lily patio is a game-changer. Oh, and yes—Joe’s infamous noise complaint story resurfaces. It’s an insightful, funny, and wide-ranging chat with one of the area’s most driven young business owners.