Behind the Space Bar

Pretty much anybody can learn how to do something or develop a new skill. But experts go beyond just learning how to do something. Today’s throwback episode is from an episode I did in January of 2022 where I talked about the one thing people need to focus on to be successful. The difference between a good guitar player and a great guitar player isn’t how well they can play a difficult part. The g...

Why can some people persevere through learning something hard while others give up? This video is a look back at a podcast episode I did in January 2022. In the episode, I talked about how I noticed a difference in people who would stay subscribed and get the most out of my course subscription at From Studio to Stage vs. those who would cancel and not get that much benefit. 10 months later, I feel...

Bands make these 5 mistakes all the time when running tracks, and it kinda ruins everything. Here’s what they are and how to avoid them. If you’re running tracks on stage or you plan to soon, make sure to avoid these 5 mistakes that way too many people make. Mistake #1: Faking It Don’t have your lead vocal or a blazing guitar solo in your tracks with someone trying to mime it. Unless you’re a famo...

What’s more important for your musicians, playback techs, and engineers: knowledge or experience? Well, you need both. Here’s why and how to get there. Each of us leans towards one or the other. Maybe you love learning but have some fear or hesitancy when it comes to applying your knowledge. Maybe you love diving into the performance without really thinking everything through. Just let the music f...

Click and tracks shouldn’t be universally used by anyone performing on stage. Here are 4 reasons you shouldn’t use them. Every once in awhile, I get someone commenting about how “real musicians” don’t use click and tracks. I’ve spent plenty of time debunking that myth, but I will concede there are times when you shouldn’t use click and tracks live. When is running click and tracks a bad idea? 1. Y...

These 5 tips will help you get out of your creative rut and start churning out work. Everyone gets stuck when they’re trying to create something. Even the best artists deal with it. But they also know how to get out of it. Here are 5 tips that I regularly use to get myself out of a rut and start creating. 1. Say it out loud 2. Schedule a pity party 3. Keep going! 4. The perfection myth and focusin...

Ableton doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are 3 simple tips for saving money when purchasing or upgrading Ableton. Tip 1: Ableton for free? Yep. You can get a starter version of Ableton for free. Tip 2: Already have Ableton? Save when you upgrade. Tip 3: Discounts for qualified users: students, churches, etc. Bonus Tip: Discount for From Studio to Stage paid subscribers! Go to fromstudiotostage...

I've been running tracks for over 18 years, and I believe these are some of the best free tools out there to add to your Ableton Live setup. S Some will save you time. Others will grant you access to the power of automation. And all of it will cost you $0. Links to resources and tools 👇 MIDI Monitor https://www.snoize.com/midimonitor From Studio to Stage's Free Ableton Tracks Template fromstudiot...

If you’re going to use a click, don’t do it like this. Playing with a click track can be a game changer for your band. It can make you sound tighter and also open the door to playing with tracks that can fill out your sound. But there are 5 common mistakes I see bands regularly make. Listen to find out what those mistakes are and why you should avoid them. ★ Support this podcast ★

Why do bands do this to themselves?! These are mistakes that are EASY to avoid and ensure you don’t embarrass yourself in front of or distract your audience. 1. Change things right before getting on stage Trust your preparation! If you have a moment of inspiration, write it down as something to try later that you can iron out in a rehearsal.    2. Update software Don’t update your software after s...

I made a pretty big mistake 15 years ago when running tracks for a new gig. What I learned still guides the way I run and teach running tracks with Ableton today. It even inspired the unofficial motto for From Studio to Stage: Humbly Confident. Humbly Curious. In this podcast, I talk about the mistake I made and how you can avoid it. PODCAST: Humbly Confident. Humbly Curious: https://podcasts.appl...

These 6 tips will help you land (and keep) a gig as a playback tech. 1. Start with another role — most playback techs are also guitarists, drummers, or guitar/drum techs that learn Ableton to help their band switch to in-ears and start learning tracks. 2. The Little Mermaid Principle: be where the people are. 3. Show up and genuinely serve. 4. Be a “good hang.” If you want someone to invite you on...

WARNING: 🌶 spicy takes inside. Learn what I think is wrong about the way we approach buying music gear and three suggestions for how to do it better. It may sound cool to think PF Flyers are guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher. But if you’re skipping leg day, there’s really no hope for you. Music gear is really only as good as the sound coming into it. It’s easy to get entranced by...

Tips & tricks to help everyone in the band stay on the same page when things get off the rails. Good bands aren’t perfect bands. Things can go wrong even for the best. But when they do, they have ways to communicate with each other to avoid any noticeable errors. In this episode of Behind the Space Bar, you’ll learn four ways the pros communicate with each other on stage. 1. Hand signals (on s...

It requires two hands and two feet to play drums. So yeah, sure, let’s add the highly technical responsibility of tracks to the drummer’s plate. Makes sense. Bands that successfully run backing tracks think intentionally about who will be responsible for them. Here are 7 tips to help you choose the right band member to run click and tracks in your band: 1) Avoid the drummer 2) Consider having the...

School’s out for the summer, kids. I won’t be making any new content this week, but there are some links below to some recent content you might have missed. I’ll be back at it next week so stay tuned for some exciting new stuff I’ve got coming your way.  Thanks for subscribing, watching, and/or listening in. Because of you, I get to do this full time, and it means the world to me. See you next wee...

Learn how to get your computer ready to use on stage.  If you’re going to use Ableton Live on stage, you’ve got to make sure your computer is setup and configured properly. In this episode of Behind the Spacebar, you’ll learn the best practices and best steps to follow to get your computer ready for the stage.   Should you update to Ableton Live 11.1?  https://youtu.be/gMMeqkmCwtM Download Free Re...

If you're using click and tracks on-stage with your band, you don't have to sacrifice your transitions. In this episode of Behind the Spacebar, we discuss some of the most common mistakes we make and how to improve your transitions between songs.  Download Free Resources for Running Tracks https://fs2s.link/free  For all episodes of Behind the Space Bar: https://fs2s.link/bts  ★ Support this podca...

Learn what a redundant playback rig is, and why you should use one. If you're using tracks on stage, you should be using a redundant rig. In this episode, I explain what a redundant rig is and why it's essential if you're using tracks on stage.  Download Free Resources for Running Tracks https://fs2s.link/free  For all episodes of Behind the Space Bar: https://fs2s.link/bts  Radial SW-8: https://w...

Learn the best process for learning new software, quickly. In this week's episode of Behind the Spacebar, I share a simple process you can follow to learn any new software quickly. Download Free Resources for Running Tracks https://fs2s.link/free  For all episodes of Behind the Space Bar: https://fs2s.link/bts  How to Become an Ableton Live Certified Trainer: https://youtu.be/vCQY7mkgp1E ★ Support...

Learn how to improve your performance by improving your sound check. In this week's episode of Behind the Spacebar, I share 4 easy ways to improve your sound check. Improving your sound check will lead you to a better performance, and make you more comfortable on stage.  From Studio to Stage Line Check Template: https://fromstudiotostage.com/product/line-check-template/ Oaktone Line Check Device:...

Here’s why you should create a connected stage.  In this week's episode of Behind the Spacebar, I share why you should consider creating a connected stage. Download Free Resources for Running Tracks https://fs2s.link/free  For all episodes of Behind the Space Bar: https://fs2s.link/bts  ★ Support this podcast ★

Is NAMM Dead? Is it still worth it? In this week's episode of Behind the Spacebar, I recap my experience at NAMM and share my thoughts on if NAMM is still worth it or if it's dead. Download Free Resources for Running Tracks  For all episodes of Behind the Space Bar: https://fs2s.link/bts  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's episode of Behind the Spacebar,  recorded live from the NAMM 2022 show, I share that despite how fun gear is, it matters less than you think. See all my NAMM 2022 coverage: https://fs2s.link/namm2022 Download Free Resources for Running Tracks https://fs2s.link/free  For all episodes of Behind the Space Bar: https://fs2s.link/bts  ★ Support this podcast ★

Want to improve your in-ear mix? Here's how without spending any money. With a few simple changes, you can improve your in-ear mix without needing to spend any money. While new in-ears, and a brand new in-ear monitoring system would help, there are simple steps you can take, right now, to instantly improve your mix.  ★ Support this podcast ★