Musicians Can Thrive

One of the things I’m most interested in this year, is how artists get real people off the couch, out of the house, and in the venue as part of the crowd they’re performing for. Social media followers and streams are great, but developing an audience that will make the effort to see you perform and hear your music live… It’s a critical piece of building momentum as a musician. And in those early days, those shows are often the biggest revenue generators. So Alfred Banks shares a perspective on audience building that leverages live shows and merch first, social media second. Alfred Banks has gone on tour opening for artists like Tank and the Bangas, and I caught him in Austin this summer just before he did a series of Texas shows opening for Devon the Dude. He’s a hip hop artist, based in New Orleans. Links: Visit Alfred Banks’ website for merch, videos, and more. https://www.underdogcentral.com/ Listen to Alfred Banks on Spotify Listen on Apple Music Subscribe on YouTube Follow Alfred Banks on IG @unde

Recovering from burnout is a slightly different process for everyone. But, there are a few ways creating and trying new ways of approaching your music/ art can help you recover faster. Personally, I’ve reached the burnout point more times than I can count in the past 7 years. That’s not a pattern that’s conducive to long-term momentum as I develop this podcast, my songwriting, or any other creative project I want to make. So how do you prevent burnout? How do you find ways to recover that can feel sustainable, and make you more resilient so you don’t reach the same burnout point again? There was a big shift for the better 12 months ago when I tried a new approach. If you’re impatient, I get into those details about 10 minutes into this episode… This episode features clips and examples from the king of “consistency” and content creating himself, Gary Vee. As well as a talented Austin-based rapper named RAH. He’s also built quite the content library across multiple social platforms, YouTube, and his music. Link

Welcome back to Musicians Can Thrive! We're going to kick off this new season with the stories you know and love. Featuring a variety of independent artists developing their own definition of what it means to thrive in the music industry. A few things are going to change though. You might hear from multiple people in the same episode. I have stories that I'm going to weave together so you can see different perspectives right next to each other. There are also some live show interviews I did at an event called Tillery Live, during South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. I actually co-hosted this rap, R&B, and hip hop showcase with my friend Abhi at PRMTD. Entertainment. It was very fun. And it's also my first experiment with interviews that have video to go with the audio. So you'll find those short-form interviews on YouTube. Go ahead and subscribe to the channel so you don't miss the rest of the videos I have coming.  If you're a returning listener, you already know I'm interested in how people are bui

Vintage Jay is a rapper and entrepreneur here in Austin, TX, with a deep love of the creative process, and a desire to use his music as a means of supporting the local community that helped him become the man he is today.

Cody Brandell is an R&B artist with a passion for telling stories through his music. He's also an artist with a vision for how he can build a life around music, that doesn't get held back by having a "plan B."

D.Harmon has a vision for his music career. He's a versatile creator, unafraid of moving to a new country to support his art.

I talk with Tree of Lyfe about the positive difference practicing accountability and having a plan for your creative path makes.

With hints of pop, hip hop, and even a little electronic house touch, nearly every song of Jonny's makes your body start moving to the beat before you're aware of what you're doing. And his hooks have a finely honed catchiness to them that many independent artists struggle to find in their first few projects.

Yandi shares his approach to collaborations, and his perspective on when getting paid is a priority, and when it's more important to focus on your music's reach.

Mama Duke is a gifted storyteller, and a rap artist capable of giving J.Cole a run for his money.

Asante is creating a world where independent artists can thrive financially and artistically.

One of my favorite things we discuss in this episode is why it’s so important to separate the kinds of work that you do in one day. Creative work like songwriting and recording uses one part of your brain, and strategic work like planning your next steps for the quarter, and coordinating new gigs or partnerships uses the opposite side of your brain.

Shadyvice identifies himself as a producer first, artist second. Learn how he's building a resilient career with multiple streams of income. And creating a captivating sound at the same time.

New here? Here's a quick introduction to what Musicians Can Thrive is exploring through interviews with independent artists and creators in the music industry. Subscribe on YouTube if that's where you prefer to watch your videos and podcasts. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gabrielle-pitman/support

Joey van Leeuwen just might be the modern definition of a renaissance man. A talented composer who plays several instruments, Joey also teaches percussion. And he helps musicians organize to create better working conditions.

This is the second half of a two-part interview with the indie rock band Strange Cadets. We have quite a few

Strange Cadets is an indie rock band that came from El Paso and I'm thrilled to say that they are now Austin locals. In this case, Strange Cadets decided to make that quintessential choice of moving to a “music city" to pursue a better opportunity for their careers as musicians.

Morgan Davis is an artist manager based out of Austin, TX, in addition to being the Editor in Chief of the local publication OVRLD (Overload). By merging that publication with his management business, Morgan is able to help a diverse roster of artists that he personally manages, while also amplifying the music of other indie artists - often Austin locals themselves. He’s also someone who’s been in the trenches as a DIY musician himself, so he knows what it feels like being on both sides of the stage.

What would you do if you finally “made it”? If you got to go on tour in Brazil opening for a BIG artist, regularly tour around the US, and you didn’t need a day job anymore? Tribe Mafia accomplished all these things. But this might be the best part: they experienced all this “success,” AND they still consistently make an effort to help other indie artists who are not as well known.

I met Susannah Joffe at a show that was presented by New World Audience, during what would normally have been SXSW Music Week. I had this incredible surprise when this girl gets up on stage with no one but a guitarist and the mic in her hand. And she starts singing... The amount of richness that was in her music with nothing but her voice, and an electric guitar... It was mesmerizing. Turns out, Susannah has found a way to carry her storytelling to a second outlet, and to diversify the sources of income she’s able to make as a musician. But that part will come later.