Bandhive

I’ve talked about planning tours on the podcast before, but never from this angle… The thing is I discovered that planning a tour for my own band is a different experience than planning a tour for a client. From the initial phases through to completion of the tour, there are changes I’ve picked up on. Listen now to learn how you can plan your own tours effectively and efficiently to save time and...

Brendan Frey and Hostile Array aren’t your typical DIY band. They’re not afraid to market themselves, or to hire a team to help them on their journey . Instead, Hostile Array embraces collaboration where necessary, and the band is better off for it. Brendan discusses the shift from the “Myspace days” to the current situation on social media, harnessing the waterfall method to grow your streaming n...

Let me tell you now, no one gets excited for a $5 show. I’d rather play a free show than any show with a $10 (or under) ticket. Playing ridiculously cheap shows just makes a band look bad, as if they are desperate and don’t feel they are worthy of payment. A free show, on the other hand, can be marketed as a special event, a treat, or even a party. Everyone can imagine having a good time there, wh...

It’s not every day I get to have a chat with someone as knowledgeable and experienced as Nick Mishko of 10 and 8 Management. Not only has Mishko worked for “the big guys”, he’s also a well-known artist manager for independent artists. From finding $85,000 in royalties owed to his clients within a few months of starting, to coaxing artists into using social media, Mishko has a handle on the situati...

Summer tours come with some of my best memories - as well as flashbacks of sunburns, busses exploding, heat stroke, you name it. Even if it hasn’t happened directly to me, I know someone who it’s happened to. As much fun as a summer tour can be, if you dive in head first without any preparation, chances are it won’t go well. That’s why in this episode, Matt and I discuss what we’ve learned over ou...

We’ve all seen a band getting raked over the coals on social media for an “insanely priced” VIP package, right? Well, it’s time for you to be that band - but without the negative reaction. Ultimately, what makes a VIP package “worth it” depends on the level of the band, what the offer contains, and how exclusive it is. Paying $1,000 to meet a local band for a photo? No way. Justin Bieber? Take my...

Ticket fees are a divisive subject, and with good reason: they’re often excessive, equal to nearly 50% of the face value of a ticket. Reasonable ticket fees are justified though, as they keep money in the artist’s pocket - money that the artist would be spending if ticket fees were built into the price of tickets. Listen now to learn when fees are appropriate and why they’re charged, as well as so...

When it comes to playing shows, you’d think it’s all about just showing up and playing the set, right? Wrong! There’s so much more that goes into playing a show, and it’s important to follow proper etiquette every step of the way - otherwise you might not get a chance to play that venue again. Listen now to learn how you can make the most of every aspect of booking and playing a show, so you can b...

The Bandhive Podcast may be focused on business most of the time… But, sometimes, we need to have a little fun, too! That’s why this week, we’ll dissect what you can learn from the music video for "The Rock Show" and Blink-182's musical journey. Listen now as we explore the genius behind Blink-182's brand and help you understand how to apply these insights to your own music career! What you’ll lea...

In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of communication. From using the right tools for efficient group chats to maintaining an empathetic tone with your bandmates, you’ll learn best our practices. We'll share valuable advice  to help your band streamline communication, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and miscommunication is kept to a minimum . But that's not all – we'll also...

Hey, we all know live sound engineers can get a little cranky… Or sometimes very cranky. Well, it's my turn to vent a bit - I'm spilling the beans on 16 ways you can annoy the sound engineer at your shows, and how that could totally mess up your night. At best, they won't put much effort into mixing your sound, and at worst, they might even make you sound terrible on purpose . But let's be real, y...

You know what’s super awkward? When a band plays a show and afterwards asks to get paid - even though payment was never discussed before the event. Yeah, not getting paid sucks, but why would you expect pay if nothing was offered in advance? If the talent buyer doesn’t make a clear offer, then it’s your responsibility to ask about payment terms before confirming the show . Ideally the venue or pro...

When you’re playing shows, there is one key element that sets the amateurs apart from the pros: the advance. Amateurs will show up entirely unprepared, sometimes even clueless, as to what is being requested if the venue asks for a stage plot and input list. Professionals will proactively send the necessary information and more to the promoter, venue, and production manager, to ensure the show goes...

Let’s say you’re about to head out on your first real tour. Are you using a cohesive, well-branded promotional campaign, or is your tour branding a messy mix of random posters created by the locals in every market? To really make a dent and turn heads, having a well-defined brand is not an option. That’s why Saving Vice plans out all of their assets in advance and makes it incredibly easy for prom...

Want to make it big as a musician in the 21st century? It's all about being easy to find online! Your band name and song titles play a massive role in your discoverability. Let's face it - if people can't find your music on streaming services, they're not gonna listen to them. It's that simple! Tune in now to learn the secrets of picking killer song titles for your tracks and how to dodge common b...

It takes a lot to keep one project going for over a decade - and even more to do so while being known as one of the nicest people in the music scene. Troy Millette has managed to both. Not only has he made amazing friends along the way, he’s become known as one of Vermont’s leading artists. He even played 143 shows during 2022, that’s 2.75 shows per week, on average! So how can you build up what T...

Chad Kowal has been in bands. He’s been a professional topliner. But there’s something new in Chad’s life, too… He’s now a solo artist performing under his own name. Navigating the change from band to solo act isn’t easy, but it becomes a lot more palatable if you build a good team around yourself, and that’s exactly what Chad has done. Listen now to learn how you can apply what Chad is doing to y...

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, we interviewed Todd Barriage about the work he was putting into growing his fledgling YouTube channel. Ok, it wasn’t that long. It took about two years of grinding away before Todd realized he needed a break - and that’s what we’re here to talk about today. You see, if we stay on the grind too long we’ll become burned out. That will lead to any chance of a...

Connor Frost’s band Dizzy Bats spent two weeks in January on the road, traveling from city to city to bring their music to fans across the country. Along the way, they faced challenges such as amps blowing up as they navigate life on the road. But it's not all hard work - we'll also see some of the fun and exciting moments that make touring with Dizzy Bats such a thrilling experience. From meeting...

You’ve heard it a billion times by now: merch is where touring artists make their money. That’s truer than ever, because according to the 2022 atVenu merch report, merch income is up over 40% compared to 2019. Great news for artists - if you know how to harness the power of your merch table! Listen now to hear us dig into the 2022 atVenu merch report, as well as our takeaways on how this will affe...

Mental health is often swept under the rug in the music world - only noticed when a celebrity has a public meltdown or takes their own life. The good news is that the stigma surrounding mental health has been eroding over the past two decades, making it more acceptable to seek help and discuss mental health openly. Going to a therapist can seem daunting, or even terrifying, but the reality is they...

Bandhive is all about teaching you how to run your DIY band as a business… But we always say that DIY does not mean do everything yourself. Instead, it’s decide it yourself - making informed decisions about your business while harnessing the power of a team. For some of you, that might include working with a label, so we’re stoked to have Jason Davis of One One 7 on the podcast this week to discus...

Are you an extrovert or an introvert? For extroverts, making friends and maintaining relationships can seem easy… But you need to heed the introvert. Introverts often need space, and if an extrovert comes on too strong they will retreat back into their shell. That doesn’t change the fact that musicians need to build relationships with each other and their fans to have a successful career. The good...

This week on the Bandhive Podcast, I’m speaking with Ryan Camuto of Royal Hearts. At first glance, Royal Hearts may seem like any other regional band… But that’s where you’d be wrong. You see, not only can Royal Hearts bring 50 people to a show, Ryan does it (almost) alone as the rest of the band lives several hours away and can’t offer “boots on the ground” promotional efforts. Royal Hearts are d...

Are you a musician who's feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from the demands of your band? Are you struggling to balance a crazy schedule and a busy personal life while creating content, booking shows, and creating music? If so, this episode is for you. In it, we'll look at how to effectively manage life as a musician and avoid burnout. We’ll discuss how you can avoid spreading yourself too thin an...