Produce Like a Boss - with Kris Bradley

This week the tag team duo is back and I am joined once again by P.LAB team member and co-host Patrick Clark.

This week’s topic: The Power Of Hiring A Virtual Assistant.

This one move could make or break a musician’s career as they try to scale. Bringing on a Virtual Assistant changed the game for me and my business and I’m spilling all the tea in the latest episode of the Produce Like A Boss Podcast!

So, if you’re ready to find out how you could increase your productivity, income and happiness within your career, episode 88 should be your first stop!

It’s time to spill the tea for all my fellow starving artists out there.

Because I spent years in the starving artist rut but today I’m sharing what changed the game the for me.

It was a few mindset and lifestyle habits that made all the difference and you can hear all about it in this week’s episode of the Produce Like A Boss Podcast!

I hope you enjoy the show!

And if you’re really ready to break free from the starving artist MYTH and want some 1:1 help growing your music career, go ahead and book a call to chat with our team and see if you’d be a good fit for our VIP coaching program.

We are back from the winter hiatus!

On this brand new episode of the Produce Like A Boss podcast I am once again joined by P.LAB team member Patrick Clark to talk all about the mindset of money.

This topic has been something we’ve been wanting to dive into for a while now and I love where the conversation led.

We talk all about the stigma around money within the music industry and the romanticized starving artist ideology.  We also touch on some tactical ways that you can shift your perspective when it comes to money and pivot into an abundance mindset.

Our goal was to run through the entire financial journey of an artist and the pitfalls that come up along the way.

And as always, if you’re looking for some more hands on advice in building your 6-figure music career, feel free to book a call with our team and see how we can help.

Hey hey!

In this solo episode I’m sharing what my 2023 plans are as I expand into business coaching, and share all the juicy details with you!

You can follow my new podcast “The Kris Bradley Show” here:

We are joined on the podcast this week by the talented Tyler Summers!

Tyler is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and leading figure in the world of sync and licensing, especially when it comes to placing music in ads.

He has an entire catalog of sync placements and has worked with dozens of brands from Subway, to Starbucks, Mcdonalds to Toyota.

Today we do a deep dive into Tyler’s story of how he cracked the code of getting his music placed with some of the top brands around and how you can do the same.

Tylers drops bomb after bomb in this episode of incredible insight on how to navigate getting your music placed in commercials and advertisements.

This is an episode you won’t want to miss, and if you’d like to join us for our FREE masterclass where we will be going even deeper into all of the secrets you need to crack the code of sync & licensing, just click the link below to reserve your spot.

Episode 82 is all about building your offer!

For musicians this might be one of the most overlooked tools available.

Being able to build an “offer” is what can separate you from the herd and lets you stand alone in the marketplace.

But because of things like Spotify, musicians are being trained to treat their music like a commodity and as a result are tremendously undervaluing themselves.

But not anymore!

In this latest episode, I am once again joined by P.lab team member Patrick Clark, and we take a deep dive into how to craft your offer as a musician.

This episode is jam-packed with must-have info, and it’s yours for the taking!

Also, if you’d like to see how Produce Like A Boss can help you build your offer and use a simple home studio to generate 6-figures, click the link below to book a call.

We are joined in this Episode by the one and only ADAM IVY!

Adam is an American music producer, brand strategist, professional YouTuber, award-winning creative marketing specialist, and founder of the Sell Music Academy, and he's joining us today to talk about why musicians have to focus on more than just their art.

And we dive deeeeeep into it!

We had such a blast discussing the new music industry, and all the dos and don'ts of being an up-and-coming musician in this day and age.

Plus, we talk about our brand new 3-Day training that we are launching!

Adam and I have teamed up to bring you a FREE, 3-Day challenge where they're going to teach you practical strategies for building a holistic career and how the partnership of building a sustainable artist brand combined with profitable back-end music business can give you the life and career you've always wanted!

Spots are filling up pretty fast, so if you wanna reserve your seat, just hit the link below!

In the past few episodes of the podcast, we’ve taken a deep dive showing you HOW to go about building your home studio. But today’s conversation is all about WHY you should be building a home studio.

Ultimately, the “why” is going to be different for everyone, but I think once we understand how to truly evaluate our goals as musicians and how to be intentional with our work, it becomes so clear how instrumental a home studio can be in accelerating your career.

I am once again joined by our P.LAB team member Patrick Clark and we explore all the doors that open for you when you start to scale your career using a simple home studio.

So, if you’re ready to discover what a home studio can offer you, look no further!

And if you’d like to see how Produce Like A Boss can help you scale your music career to six figures, book a call with us through the link below.

Episode #79 of the Produce Like A Boss podcast is like no other!

I’m so excited to be sharing this one with you guys!

A few months ago we hosted our first Alumni Round table where we asked a few of our absolute rock star students to join us for an interview where they spilled the beans of everything they were doing right now that was making their home studio a money-making machine!

Outside of that live call this has NEVER been heard by anyone else.

But it was filled with so much FIRE we couldn’t help but share it with you.

So, if you want to see what REAL students are doing right now to generate consistent and profitable income, this is the episode for you!

We dive into everything from Custom Songwriting, Sync Licensing, Beat Leasing and more!

It was such an inspiring conversation and I hope you get as fired up from it as we did!

If you want to see even more rockstar results from our alumni check out the link below:

The grand finale is here, part 4 of 4, of "The 6 Figure Producer Blueprint," has arrived.

Today I sit down with P.LAB team member Patrick Clark to discuss how your problems as a producer evolve as you grow your career and tactical ways that you can overcome all of them.

Missed the first three parts? Listen to them here:

In part 3 of this 4-part podcast series, "The 6 Figure Producer Blueprint," I sit down with P.LAB team member Patrick Clark to discuss how to stay authentic as a producer!

Missed parts 1&2? Listen to them here:

In part 2 of this 4 part podcast series “The 6 Figure Producer Blueprint”, I sit down with P.LAB team member Patrick Clark to discuss how to price your services!

Missed part 1?  Listen to that here:

Have you ever really sat down and evaluated what your future music career looks like?

In part 1 of this 4 part podcast series “The 6 Figure Producer Blueprint”, I sit down with P.LAB team member Patrick Clark to discuss what it really takes to get started as a producer and how powerful it can be to take the first step.

In this episode, we break down everything from the limiting beliefs musicians tell themselves to all the industry myths around getting started as a producer!

Plus, as a bonus, we’re giving away our exclusive home studio starter kit, which shows you the exact tools you need to start building your home studio today.

Download your free copy at the link below:

https://www.producelikeaboss.com/homestudiostarterkit

Additional resources mentioned in this episode:

What kind of producer are you?

I got a chance to sit down with Austin Hull from “Make Pop Music.”

Austin is a music producer, songwriter, and artist based out of Orlando, Florida, and runs the company "Make Pop Music," which has an incredible following on both Facebook and YouTube.

In the past five years of being a producer, Austin has worked on over 1000 tracks for artists across the world and grown his YouTube channel to over 135,000 Subscribers.

Hit content is top shelf, all killer, no filler, and he’s been an incredible role model for the producer community.

If you’re a fan of what we do here at P.LAB, I think you’re really going to like this.

You can find Make Pop Music here:

The episode you’re about to listen today is 4 of 5 in a powerful series I’ve put together especially for my aspiring producers called “Boss Producer Business”.  If you haven’t checked out the first three episodes of this series,  I want you to go and listen to them now.  Just head to producelikebosspodcast.com/business.

In this series, I’m going to walk you through the steps it takes to go from being an unpaid amateur to a paid professional.

I’m also going to give you a sneak peek into how I run my 6 figure production company at a high level of performance and profitability.

In today’s episode, I talk all about systems that will help you scale!  This includes everything from file and project management, to templates, to hiring a VA!

Links mentioned in today's episode:

In this episode, I show you everything you need to set up your production company!  This includes everything from choosing a name, setting on a business entity, taxes, expenses and more.

And don’t worry, I know this stuff can be BAMBOOZLING, so in the spirit of P.LAB, I keep it SIMPLE.

Links mentioned in today's episode:

The episode you’re about to listen to today is 2 of 5 in a powerful series I’ve put together especially for my aspiring producers called “Boss Producer Business”.  If you haven’t checked out the first episode of this series, #69 The Starving Artist Vs. The Boss Producer, I want you to go and listen to that now.  It’s the episode just before this one and I’ll link it below!

In this series, I’m going to walk you through the steps it takes to go from being an unpaid amateur to a paid professional.

I’m also going to give you a sneak peek into how I run my 6 figure production company at a high level of performance and profitability.

Today’s episode is called “Making great music is JUST the beginning” because making great music really is the bare minimum to success.   So for my uber-talented ninjas out there, listen up.

Links mentioned in today's episode:

The Starving Artist Vs. The Boss Producer

The episode you’re about to listen to today is the 1st in a powerful 5-part series I’ve put together especially for my aspiring producers called “Boss Producer Business”.

In this series, I’m going to walk you through the steps it takes to go from being an unpaid amateur to a paid professional producer.

I’m also going to give you a sneak peek into how I run my 6 figure production company at a high level of performance and profitability.

In this episode, I talk about the difference between the Starving Artist and the Boss Producer (CEO).  I think the world needs less Starving Artists, and more Boss Producers, so listen to today’s episode to learn about the mindset, habits, and strategies of a Boss Producer!

Links mentioned in today's episode:

In this interview, I sit down with Robert McClellan from Home Studio Simplified where he interviews ME!

We cover everything from where I started, to what my workflow and processes are, to how I beat writer’s block, to how to turn music production into your JOB. 💪🏻

I had such a blast during this interview and I think you’ll enjoy some of the nuggets that were dropped!

In this episode, I sit down with producer Marlon Gibbons of Production Music and we discuss making music for film/tv!

Marlon Gibbons is a multi-instrumentalist & Composer for TV & Advertising.

He’s been in the sync world for almost 2 decades and to date has had thousands of TV placements. In the early 2000’s he had his music featured on the SIMS game franchise “Space Station” and since then, he’s turned “Production Music'' into a full-time career.

A few of Marlon’s credits include The Bachelor, Dancing With The Stars, Temptation Island, America’s Got Talent, Master Chef, Discovery ID, Archer, Access Hollywood, American Idol, Top Gear, F-Word, and more.

Marlon and I discuss….

…and more!

In today’s episode, I sat down with the Director of Artist Talent for Songfinch, Jake Tuton.

Songfinch is a business where buyers, looking to gift a top-notch custom-written song to a loved one, submit their request on their website alongside their preferred genre, the mood, and occasion for the song.

Here’s what we cover...

Don’t forget when you head over to Songfinch.com to let them know Produce Like a Boss sent you to get VIP treatment!

Are you ready to learn how to produce your own music so you can create more opportunities in the new music business and skyrocket your career? Head over to the link below to get started 👇🏻

AirGigs is an online marketplace where producers connect with and hire award-winning session musicians, vocalists, and recording engineers online.

As a producer and musician, I have personally found Airgigs to be an excellent place to stay busy. We cover everything from how to sign up for Airgigs, to how to optimize your profile so you can get hired, to the booking terms.

Today I have SYNC WARRIOR Mike Genato back on the show to discuss “Micro-Licensing” which in short, is direct to consumer licensing.

Mike has credits including advertising campaigns for Lexus, Infiniti, Nissan, Nike, Adidas, and Mountain Dew; promos and show open for HBO, SYFY, MTV, and BET. He has also worked with such heavy hitters as Netflix, Discovery Networks, Viacom, SOUTH, Elias, Massive Music, MAS, and Expansion Team.

We discuss everything from the definition of micro-licensing, to how to set your rates, how to handle transactions, what terms you need to put in your contracts, to how to set up your website, to how to find libraries/agents that will represent your catalog for you so you don’t have to be your own “sales rep”.

This entire episode is chock full of GOLD so I would TAKE NOTES!!

Want to learn more about how to make money with your music? Click the link below! 👇🏻

Ever wondered HOW to market yourself as a producer?  Or struggled with showing up consistently on social media?

Do you know the difference between marketing and branding?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this interview is for you!

Adam Ivy is not only an artist and a music producer, but he’s a brand strategist, a professional YouTuber with over 13 million views, a marketing specialist, and he’s the founder of the Sell Music Academy

In this interview, Adam and I chat about how he got his start in the industry, how artists can use social media to build an audience, and we talk about the difference between marketing and branding.

Find Adam Online

Have you ever felt guilty for being multi-passionate or being a jack of all trades?  If so, then stop right there, this episode is for you!

In today’s interview, I sit down with the author of the amazing book “How to Be Better at Almost Everything” Pat Flynn and we discuss the advantages of “skill stacking” and discuss why it’s BETTER to be a GENERALIST than an EXPERT.

Learn how to tap into your inner power and regain CONFIDENCE as a songwriter with Lisa McEwen!

Lisa McEwen is a Nashville Published Songwriter and Recording Artist who has written songs for Major and Indie Artists, and Theme songs for various charities, podcasts, & YouTube channels.

Lisa is also the founder of The Successful Songwriter Within, where she teaches songwriters of all levels how to minimize doubt, overcome fear and resistance, and successfully shift into creative alignment as a songwriter.

In this interview, I sit down with my soul sista Lisa McEwen from Music and Mindfulness and we discuss everything from meditation and breathing, to mindfulness, to confidence, to affirmations and crushing anxiety, and how this all helps us to achieve success with our songwriting!

Custom songwriting businesses are HUGE right now and popping up everywhere!

This simply means that you write a song for somebody for a special occasion.  Could be a birthday, wedding, anniversary, you name it.

I sat down with a new friend of mine Leo Saunders who is the CEO of TuneRiver and talked to him about his custom songwriting company.

In this interview, you’ll learn about how his artists are compensated, how much he pays, and his collaboration process!

In today’s episode, I sit down with the chief of music for Epidemic Sound, Niklas Brantberg.

Epidemic Sound, the market-leading platform for restriction-free music, is headquartered in Stockholm, heard around the globe, and on a mission to soundtrack the world.

The company has democratized access to music for storytellers. Its innovative digital rights model paves the way for creators - everyone from YouTubers to small businesses to the world’s largest brands - to use restriction-free music to take their content to the next level, whilst simultaneously supporting the musicians it works with both financially and creatively.

This company is taking the industry by STORM with its innovative (and disruptive) approach to licensing music.

In this discussion, we talk about how the company was founded, how they pay their artists UPFRONT money (before the songs are placed), and how they carefully vet the artists they work with.

Want to learn how to make money with your music?

What Kind of Producer Are YOU? 

What is a producer anyway?! 

This is a term whose definition has expanded tremendously over the past two decades. As technology has evolved, the roles in a creative team have too!

The days of studio engineers wearing white lab coats and being the only ones allowed to touch the equipment are looooonng gone, and for good.  As the limits on those roles have lifted, the concept of what a producer is and does has become more and more up to the individual.

Does that have you scratching your head about where you fit in?  Don’t worry - we gotchu!

In this episode, Kris breaks down the various types of producers, and helps you identify which role suits you best. Which one sounds like the producer you’re meant to be?

Are you ready to learn how to produce your own music so you can create more opportunities in the new music business and skyrocket your career? Head over to the link below to get started 👇🏻

Are you like just about every artist ever?  Do you sometimes wonder why you do this thing, and if it’s really what you want to do for a living? 💰

The intersection of Art Ave. and Commerce Dr. is a busy one, and sometimes the signals just aiiiin’t telling us when it’s safe to cross.  🚷🚦🚸

Let’s have a chat about it!

In this episode I share an interview I did with Alise Koa from the Musicians Secrets Podcast.  We discuss how to turn music production into a career, as well as how to start thinking like a business owner, so you can make your music more than a side hustle. It can be your FRONT HUSTLE!

Are you ready to learn how to produce your own music so you can create more opportunities in the new music business and skyrocket your career? Head over to the link below to get started 👇🏻

In today’s episode, I sit down with Tik Tok Expert and Coach, Robbin Marx,  to discuss how you can grow your brand and your business as a musician on Tik Tok!

Links:

You can find Robin Mar here:
https://www.instagram.com/robbinmarx/

Are you ready to learn how to produce your own music so you can create more opportunities in the new music business and skyrocket your career? Head over to the link below to get started 👇🏻

In this episode, I sit down with the CEO of Studio Linked Evin Groves.  We chat about his journey from music producer to software developer, his new plugin “STUDIO” by Studio Linked, and we discuss when it’s ok to use melodic loops.

In this episode, I chat with one of my students Derick Sebastian as he shares his journey from performing ukelele extraordinaire, to learning how to produce during the pandemic, which led to getting his music picked up by a major music library and an online business as a session player!

Gabe Schillinger is a music producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop like Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Too Short.

His music production business is called Legion Beats, and in addition to that, he also teaches entrepreneurs in music and other industries how to grow and scale their businesses!

In this episode, we discuss Gabe’s transition from the ‘industry game’ to becoming not a 6, but a 7 figure producer, and it all started with leasing beats!!!

We also talk about the hardships and anxiety that come with being an artist, and how to power through.

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Are you having a blast learning all the new skills and making music that sounds pro?  I hope so, cause that’s why we do all this!  But we also want you to be able to turn that into a successful business if that’s what you want  to do!

On today’s episode, I’m excited to share with you a success story with one of our first students. Johnny Walker is now leasing his instrumentals, guitar tracks, and beats online after taking “From Voice Memo 2 Demo” and “How to Make Money From Your Home Studio”. 

Join us as we discuss how he has grown his business from his home studio, using what he learned from Produce Like A Boss!

Have you ever been “in the flow”, spouting ideas in your DAW as fast as you can record them? Feels great, right? But then maybe you heard a sound in your head that would be awesome, and the next thing you know, it’s 45 minutes of messing with your synth later, the flow has slowed to a bare trickle, and your muse has packed up and left for a cooler party somewhere down the street… If that sounds familiar, then you’ve got to hear today’s episode!

Today, I am sooooo excited to have Dean Palya from Slate Digital as my special guest!

He’s going to show off their new, super cool synth, ANA 2 ULTRA. But he’s not just going to make some bleep-bloops and leave us to figure it out on our own!  We’re going to dive into 3 SIMPLE things you can do to start tweaking synths TODAY.  You’ll even learn how you can get ANA 2 Ultra as part of Slate’s All Access Pass FREE for 30 days!!

Dean is the VP of Product at Slate Digital, where he leads the team to create educational content for Slate Academy, Sample packs, Mix Templates, plugins, and more.

Outside of Slate Digital, Dean is also a songwriter and producer. He loves to create tools and products that help producers and songwriters around the world create better music.

Are you ready to learn how to produce your own music so you can create more opportunities in the new music business and skyrocket your career? Head over to the link below to get started 👇🏻

In this episode, I talk about developing a strategy to be a BOSS 💪 at sound selection, and how to avoid the “is this the right snare? What about that one???” rabbit hole!  Having all the hot sounds and plugins is fun, but how do we keep our focus on the music and flow when it comes to the digital playground of sound libraries?

In this episode, you’ll learn my 3 simple steps to set yourself up for sound selection success! 🏆🙌

Are you ready to learn how to produce your own music so you can create more opportunities in the new music business and skyrocket your career? Head over to the link below to get started 👇🏻

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about what skills you need to run a production company.

A production company is a company that allows you to provide services as a music producer.  This can increase your opportunities and revenue as a musician and can be a GODSEND if you’re tired of being put in a box as an artist! 🤩

Dive in to hear 5 skills you need to build your production company today!

Links mentioned in today’s show:

Today I’m sharing some of the wisest words I’ve ever encountered from one of my first energy healers back in the day...  “By the time you ARRIVE, you'll feel like you BELONG...”

Truer words have never been spoken and it took me years to realize what it actually meant!

In this episode, you’ll learn

Links mentioned in this episode:

In this episode, I chat with one of my amazing students Dano!

Dano shares her journey from classically trained OPERA singer to fronting a rock band, and how she finally broke out of a long hiatus from music after several years.

We also talk music production, how she got started with Produce Like a Boss, as well as some sweet wins she’s gotten since taking From Voice Memo to Demo!

One of the most powerful things you can do to increase the odds and promise for your success as a producer is to have multiple irons in the fire. Create multiple streams of income and opportunities for yourself! Don’t ever put all of your eggs in one basket. 

Over the years, this is the most valuable thing I have learned to keep my business healthy and stable.

Here’s my new spin on an old saying… “Plant Many Seeds, but DON’T watch them grow!” Instead, plant as many seeds as possible, then, trust mother nature. Trust that as you keep hustlin, keep building your opportunities and network, the fruits of your labor will come full circle and you can reap the rewards.

Want to become e a badass producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and more? Sign up to get on the waitlist for my new course - Home Studio Boss.

This is Part 2 of the Series: "The Slight Edge - Stop Trying to “Make It”, Quantum Leaps are BS"

I’m rereading one of my favorite books “The Slight Edge” right now, which is about how it’s actually the little things we do everyday that contribute to our success, not HUGE quantum leaps. In other words, there’s no overnight success. 💪⚡️

In this episode, I break down the habits I needed to form to get to the point where I am today, what my daily routine was while building my production business, and then I give some insight into how I operate now to stay on top of two businesses and continue to produce! 🎧

The music business is growing and changing and there has never been a better time to get in and make money with your music. I am working on a new advanced course for you right now, as well as a mentorship program, and I am soooo excited to share it with you in the coming months. 💜

In this episode I talk about a few lightbulb moments I’ve had over the years that have had a lasting impact on my life. One of the biggest epiphanies was sparked by reading a book called The Slight Edge, and it taught me that “quantum leaps are bullsh*t.” 😆

We can score the big wins, they are out there. But, after really coming to terms that what it takes to get there is actually the small steps and consistent work we put in everyday, I made some choices and changes and started to get results. I started to make money with my music, and I started my business. 💪

The answer to getting those big wins is not “prepared meets opportunity”.

It’s “being prepared”. Period. This is how you create opportunity!

In today’s episode you are going to get a hilarious and wild story about something that I went and challenged myself with a few months ago! 🙈🙊 This experience was so wacky and funny that I really don’t want to spoil it in the notes here, but what I will say is that I came away from it with a powerful lesson and reminder:

In life, we are going to fall, we are going to fail, we are going to have to face fears and challenges… and no matter the outcome, the real success is SHOWING UP!! Just by showing up in life, following your heart, facing your fears, saying "I can" when you think you can't, and openly experiencing the journey - you’ve won. You've made it. 🏆💯

Have you ever found yourself trying to hang with producers in the studio, feelin’ all cool 😎 like you know what you’re doin, and then all of the sudden you realize everyone around you is talking like they are from another planet? 👽 Saying words like "comping, flying, overdubs, boomy, airy, ADSR, EQ, sibilance"… Well if you’re anything like me, you know what I'm talking about. 😛

In this episode, I go in-depth and break down a ton of terms you will find not only in the studio 🎧, but in your DAW 🖥 too (Digital Audio Workstation). I even get in there 🎙🎶 with some very specific examples of EQ 🎚 to show what the sound differences actually sound like!

Setting up your first home studio can feel scary and overwhelming… am I right? Well, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be overwhelming OR a multi thousand dollar investment. ❤️

If you’ve been putting off building your home studio, there really are just a few things you need to get started and never look back! If I can do it with just a few hundred dollars collecting used gear, so can you! These days it’s no longer a luxury to record from home, it’s a necessity.

If you want to maximize your opportunities in the industry you must be able to record yourself.  This isn’t just for my producers out there, this is for my singers, instrumentalists, songwriters, ya’ll, now is the time to become a TRIPLE THREAT! 💪💪💪

So here is the breakdown:

Have you ever had someone approach you and ask you to sing on a track, do a mix, or produce their song? You might be familiar with the excitement that comes with it until they ask the dreaded question, “What do you charge?”.

And then you’re TORN, because you LOVE making music and helping people 😍 but on the other hand… time ain’t cheap y’all! 💁‍♀️

Maybe you haven’t charged anyone for your service before, and then you’re expected to pull a number out of a hat that’s fair, but also values your skills, and… now you’re uncertain. And that makes clients uncertain about you.

But that’s not going to be you! 😤 Whether you’re ready to start charging, you’ve been in business for a while, or you’re just honing your skills for the moment, you can learn the things you need to know to create the most success for your business! 👊

Get the scoop right here in this week’s podcast and don’t be caught off guard when it’s time to shine!

Happy New Year friends, and welcome to 2021! 🥳

After the hot dumpster fire that was 2020, I think we can all agree, this year we’ve gotta come back stronger, more determined, and with more 🔥 FIYA 🔥 than ever!

Just like it’s a new year, there’s TONS of new ways to make money in the music industry. With a little digging, you can uncover so many streams of income it’ll make your head spin! 🥴  And take it from me, I’ve been doing this for a while; I started as a session singer, then a topliner, then when I got my producing chops up, I was making demos for songwriters, producing full songs for clients, and people were paying me left and right for it all!

But these aren’t the only ways! In fact, that’s just scratching the surface 😏

In today’s podcast, I talk about what it takes to make a living from your passion for music, and all the wonderful ways you can do it!!!

In this episode, I sit down with Steven Slate, who co-founded Slate Digital: a GIANT in the audio world, with plugins, sample packs, gear, classes, and so much more! I use their plugins ALL THE TIME, and you might have seen the Slate VMS-1 in some of my videos; it's one of my favorite mics!

So needless to say, when Slate reached out to me and told me they loved what I was teaching,  I was DYING with excitement!  I may be fangirling a little bit as well ;)

As it turns out, Steven and I have a common goal: we both want to make it as easy as possible for songwriters to make music on their own terms...AND less scary!

Steven does this by creating the best plugins, equipment, samples, etc. he can and making it affordable, and I do this by teaching people how to use those tools to make the music that's in their hearts!

Two different approaches with the same end goal: to get YOU to be your own producer!

Are you ready to learn how to produce your own music so you can create more opportunities in the new music business and skyrocket your career? Head over to the link below to get started 👇🏻

Have you ever caught yourself ‘white-knuckling’ your way through life trying to make things happen a certain way? 😤

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Especially in the music biz.

I used to think the only way for me to ‘make it’ was to get a major pub deal or record deal, and if I wasn’t “Beyonce Big” then I had failed. Boy was I wrong! Do you know how much money is floating around for creatives to make money outside of the “music industry”?

Truth is, I just wanted to make a great living with my music, and I wanted to make an impact.  And once I realized that I didn’t need to define the how or what was going to get me there, I discovered a whole new world...

And that world was music production and custom songwriting. What started off as a necessity because I couldn’t afford to hire producers soon became an obsession and a passion 😍

Learning how to produce opened doors I could have never imagined. It created opportunities I could have only dreamed of. I just think to myself now, imagine if I would have INSISTED that a “record deal” or “pub deal” would be my ONLY path to success. CRAZY.

We’ve all heard the saying, “you make plans, and God laughs…”  I imagine him saying something like “those are your dreams?! That’s cute kid….hold my beer” 😂 🍺

Once I learned how to produce, here’s just a few things that happened:

Now I’m helping other artist/songwriters learn how to produce and record so they can do the same!

In this episode I tell you a little bit more about my back story, what prompted my decision to go full time with my music, and how learning to produce has changed my life.

I’m SO excited to bring on the new guest in this episode!!! 😊

This is a personal friend of mine, and an absolute GENIUS in the music industry when it comes to marketing yourself, growing a fan base, and presenting your best self to the world. He’s the former manager of Taylor Swift (😱 ),  the host of the podcast Music Industry Blueprint, a co-author of the book $150,000 Music Degree, and a consultant on growing artist fan bases. Basically, if you want to know how to get your music HEARD, Rick Barker is your guy! 🤩

Chatting with Rick is always a treat, because he drops truth bombs EVERYWHERE! 💣💥 In this episode we talk about having the right mentality, the right and wrong ways to engage your fans, and what it takes to get noticed in the modern music scene.

With 25 years of experience in the 🎶 business, he’s just about seen it all, so let’s all learn a thing or two from my brilliant friend, Rick Barker!

As musicians, we often think that the path to success is simple; we just have to be better than the other person, better than the other people in line, and better then the rest of the choices, and we'll make it. But the truth, though it's uncomfortable, is that the less-talented guitar player is going to get hired for the session sometimes, and the less-talented vocalist will get that cut.

The thing that separates you from the crowd isn't always going to be talent. Being good at your craft is a prerequisite nowadays, and the way to get ahead is to put yourself out there effectively, and take control of the business that is YOU. 

The people hiring musicians for remote session don't want an artist who needs their hand held to send them .wav files, and they won't sign a contract with someone who doesn't know what a PRO is. They're going to choose the musician who has their act together!

To be successful musicians, we need to OWN our business, and treat it like one! Learn what's going on behind the scenes, market yourself effectively, and know how the industry works. Sometimes we think having talent is enough, but talent is just a stepladder on the mountain of success. 

Learn how to produce your own music in this FREE workshop! --->>>

It starts like any other story: Girl meets boy. Girl writes song about tortillas. Girl gets invited to perform at a huge music festival. Right?? 🤔  Ok so maybe it's not the most relatable story for you now, but the thing is that could be. I never thought a song about any kind of food would land me in one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world, South By Southwest. 

But it didn't happen because I fit in with all the other musicians attending and performing at the festival, it was because I STOOD OUT.  Take a listen to the journey of a song from creation to success, and you'll see why they say “the riches are in the niches!” 🎧 🎼

Hey producers and producers-in-the-making,

You ever feel like you’re frustrated with where you’re at, maybe even a little stuck? Perhaps you’re a busy body (like me) but lately you feel like you’ve been standing still, even though you’re busier than ever!  Even though we've all been reassured that feeling stuck is normal, it's more than that: it's part of the process to get from where you are to where you want to be. 

Maybe I can reframe things for you: instead of being stuck, you might just be the rubber band in a slingshot, feeling like you're going nowhere, or maybe even backward, but if you stick with it, BAM! Like a slingshot, you'll shoot forward as a result. 

You might be in a place where all you need is a little push or something to set you up to launch. 

Check out this free resource, and see if it can help you get moving again!

https://www.producelikeaboss.com/freelooptutorial

We've all been there; we've all had days where the creativity fountain seems to stop flowing, and good ideas avoid us like the plague. But what if this was something you could control? Is it possible to keep the fountain on all the time? 

Pro songwriters know that inspiration is the result of action; not the other way around. When you start working on something without knowing where it's heading, ideas start to pop up and say "Hey! Try me!". If you never look for them, you'll never find them! 

One great way to get moving and start hunting down a song is to start with pre-production. Create an outline or a blueprint for yourself, select some sounds, get the vibe going. The rest will follow.

DON'T sit around waiting for that magical feeling, go out and get it!

In this episode, I share my take on using pre-made loops in your own original music.

Since the evolution of hip hop, producers have been taking pre-recorded music and ‘sampling’ it to make new music.  Anything from taking the original sample of the music and adding drums and bass, to ‘flipping’ it and completely repurposing it to something unrecognizable.

So... is it actually better to make your own sounds from scratch, so that you can be truly original? Not necessarily!

Most people don't care if you make your own sounds and loops, they just care about one thing: does it sound good? 

Loops are a tool, and you should use them when it sounds right to do so. No one is looking over your shoulder to say "You didn't make this yourself, you're a fraud!" because loops are, quite literally, made for YOU to use! No one expects you to be an expert in Latin percussion technique and play your own Bossa Nova rhythms, so take that groove, write a song, fill in the rest, and be proud that you made something uniquely YOU.

Links mentioned in show:

This episode is for the singers out there.

Do you ever wonder what gives an artist that “star power”?  What distinguishes a great vocal from a good vocal?  What’s the difference between the demo singer and the artist?

In this episode, I talk about falling in love with the voice you've got... and what exactly that means! Sometimes the work calls for a solo artist, and other times it calls for a demo singer; there's nothing wrong with either! But do you know how to fill those shoes? 

In this episode I interview Michael Walker from Modern Musician, and host of the annual “Success with Music Conference”.

Michael shares his story on how he and his band went from living in their cars, to touring with their favorite band and playing selling 24,000 albums in 6 months and reaching #2 on the iTunes Alternative Charts!

Michael also takes us behind the scenes of his company Modern Musician where he’s helping tons of artists create a lasting career in the music industry by providing them with the proper tools they need to succeed.

Are you an artist getting ready to release your music into the world and not sure where to start when planning your release?

In this episode, I interview Bree Noble from Female Entrepreneur Musician.

We talk about strategy and the long game of releasing an album, or series of singles.

Here’s the link to the LIVE training we’ll be doing this Wednesday, May 6 @ 6 PM Central/ 7 PM Eastern / 4 PM Pacific.

In this episode I cover:

Here's the book I'm raving about :

"Do the Work"- Steven Pressfield

This episode is all about why I don’t charge by the hour. I go on a bit of a rant keeping it 100% real. I talked about:

-specific situations in the industry where hourly rates aren’t actually cheaper for the consumer

-why time spent does not always equate to the value of service provided

-when it MIGHT be acceptable to charge hourly

If you’re ready to start making money from your home studio there is no better time than now.  Right now we’re in the middle of a global pandemic.  People are losing their jobs left and right, including the gigging musicians and my heart aches for them.  

But you know who’s still surviving?  Studio musicians that can engineer themselves.  

If you can record yourself, you can make a living.  If I can do it, you can do it!

In this episode I cover:

The Links mentioned in this episode:

Wondering how to take your songwriting or production to a 'competitive' level? How much are you listening to modern music and using reference tracks? 

Let's discuss!!

Grab your FREE copy of the Producer's Toolbelt here:

https://www.producelikeaboss.com/producertoolbelt

I’ve noticed a common misconception in the community lately among songwriters and artists who believe that co-writing a track with their producer is a tool of leverage for negotiating the price down.  In this episode, we’re going to talk about why that couldn’t be further from the truth.

https://www.producelikeaboss.com/producertoolbelt

Whether you're looking to save money on demos,  or you're an artist releasing your own music or trying to break into sync licensing world, learning how to produce or simply record yourself can benefit you TREMENDOUSLY as a songwriter!

Also....I'd love to hear from you!!  

On this podcast, I interview Mike Meiers from Songwriting For Guitar.  

In order to get killer sounding guitars, you need to understand different playing styles, voicings, and much more!   Not only while recording, but playing live too!     

Use this link to get 15% off his course "Songwriting For Guitar":  

https://www.songwritingforguitar.com/offers/uCA95FjF?coupon_code=PRODUCELIKEABOSS15

Are you feeling a bit discouraged with your music?  Feeling like maybe you’re just not getting the right opportunities?

In this episode, I talk about why YOUR MUSIC IS NOT ALWAYS YOUR RESUME and some of the tools you need to get ahead if you want to build a business as a producer, artist or songwriter!

How to Make Money From Your Home Studio

So many people think you're either BEYONCE big or you're BROKE as an artist.  Fortunately for us indies, that couldn't be further from the truth!

In this episode, I'm going to teach you how to make money from your home studio, even if you're just starting out and even if you don't have fancy gear!

Have you ever sat down to create a track and gotten totally lost, looking up at the screen to hieroglyphics, asking yourself...where the hell am I and what am I trying to do here exactly?  Omg, this used to happen to me ALL THE TIME.  

In this episode I talk about how to SEE your production FIRST, so you can save time and get your music out of your head FASTER!

It is understandable that as musicians we want to get our music out into the world.  We want to connect with an audience or a market that really resonates with what we’re doing.

So many musicians are inquiring about opportunities for their music, especially when it comes to Film/TV placements.

Here’s the thing though. Their music, most times, is NOT ready to pitch.

Make sure you're ready for opportunities when they present themselves by following these steps.

And remember, Don't knock until you build!

Grab your free copy of "The 4 Step Plan to Licensing Success" here:  

Perfectionism is procrastination disguised as productivity.   Don't let the myth of "one day when I finally have the gear...." stop you from taking action now with your music!

**Please forgive the kitty cat podcast bomb at 2:31 :) 

Want to build your home studio and not sure WHERE to start ?  

Download my FREE PDF guide The Home Studio Starter Kit  here: https://www.producelikeaboss.com/homestudiostarterkit

Already up and running with your studio and want some boss tools to take you to the next level?

Download my FREE PDF guide The Producer Tool Belt here:  https://www.producelikeaboss.com/producertoolbelt

Have you ever caught yourself saying things like… “When I have the money I will…” or “When the timing is right I will….”

How about….when I can afford the right gear I’ll be able to make great music.

It’s always fascinated me how we can be so wired to argue for our limitations. Why do we do that?

I think for artists and producers one of the biggest hurdles is gear.  And so I wanted to just share a quick little secret with you.

I started doing this FULL time and landing placements using NOTHING but an apogee duet and a RODE NT1A as my only setup, besides my computer and DAW.  The apogee duet interface cost me $350 used, and the Rode mic is a $200 mic.  I did not buy a pre-amp, or any other hardware.  I simply worked in the box (in the computer) and used what I had.

Now,  I definitely procrastinated for a LONG time leading up to that.

Gah…One of my biggest excuses was:  I only have stock sounds, so I can’t produce good quality tracks.  I literally let that stop me from even creating!

Omg…I realize now how self-defeating that was!

So why do we argue for our limitations?

The answer?  Perfection.

Perfectionism is procrastination disguised as productivity.

Let that sink in.

So here we are…with good intentions, really just wanting to present our best selves to the world. And what a great story to justify our standstills, right?

But can we get real for a second?  We’ve just cracked the code.

Perfectionism is procrastination disguised as productivity.

And procrastination is simply fear.  Whether it’s fear of failure or fear of success, whatever it is, it’s fear.  Fear of rejection, heartbreak, expansion, you name it, it’s all fear.   And the only cure for fear is action.

So we can wait for everything to be perfect, and do nothing.

Or we can just take action and do something.  Anything. Just move.  Take 1 step forward.

Do it Like a Boss.  Xoxo

Welcome to the first episode of Produce Like a Boss!

In this episode, I talk about the juggling act of writing, performing AND producing your own music!

Doing ALL the things at once can be a bit overwhelming when you're wearing multiple hats, especially when you’re still developing and mastering those skills separately, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this video, I talk about how you CAN do ALL the things without losing your mind. 

Links: