Shows
The Unstarving Musician308 Wearing All the Hats: A Guide to Balancing Your Music CareerHey musicians! It's Robonzo here, and I've got a fresh episode for you that's all about the juggling act we call being an independent musician. In this episode, I'm diving deep into the challenges we face as music artists, marketers, managers, and producers all at once. I'm sharing real talk about the constant chase for education and income in our ever-changing industry. We'll explore how to find balance in this crazy journey, tackling everything from time management to the art of focusing on one task at a time. And yes, we'll chat about how AI is shaking...
2024-09-2715 min
The Unstarving Musician303 Donations As A Monetization Option For Indie MusiciansThis episode of The Unstarving Musician explores how independent musicians can effectively use donations as a viable income stream. The conversation covers: The historical precedent and modern relevance of fan support Crafting compelling donation requests Popular donation platforms and payment options Creating a dedicated donation page Offering incentives to encourage support Tips for successful crowdfunding campaigns Whether you're just starting out or looking to diversify your income, this episode provides practical strategies to engage your fanbase and help sustain your musical journey through donations. Learn how to communicate your needs, maintain transparency, and build stronger connections with...
2024-07-1920 min
The Unstarving Musician299 Selling Band Merch, Music, And VIP Packs To Deepen Fan RelationshipsThe 2023 Unstarving Musician listener survey indicated that many Unstraving Musician listeners and Liner Notes subscribers were interested in learning more about selling merch and music and how to do it better. Music royalties are a long game, and most musicians won't earn much in royalties in the beginning. An alternative is direct-to-fan music sales. Physical merch and VIP packs are viable means of generating additional revenue for musicians. Furthermore, merch sales can be a way to deepen relationships with your fan base. It can be an opportunity to create new and better experiences for your audience. This...
2024-03-0822 min
The Unstarving Musician298 How Musicians Can Create GigsThis episode is about how musicians can create gigs. I have written much about finding and booking better gigs, but my perspective has expanded since I started the podcast. If you'd like to read about how I started finding and booking gigs consistently, check out The Unstarving Musician's Guide To Getting Paid Gigs. This episode is inspired a strategy fellow musician Arlene Paculan (featured in episode 112) shared with me and how it has applied to my world. Arlene shared the idea of creating gigs. Her approach lead to Arline performing regularly and winning music awards. I cover deta...
2024-03-0119 min
The Unstarving Musician296 Julia A. Miller, Delmark Records – The Evolution of Delmark's Business Model, How Labels Can Serve As Business Partners To Musicians, And Practical Advice For Leveraging Your Record LabelIn May 2018, Julia A. Miller became the CEO & President of Delmark Records LLC. That same year, Delmark Records LLC purchased Delmark, the oldest continuously operating jazz and blues independent record label in the United States. Delmark was founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1953. Julia and company celebrated Delmark's 70th anniversary by releasing a 70th Blues Anthology and a forthcoming 70th Jazz Anthology. In this conversation, Julia shares with me her background in music and academia, the evolution of Delmark's business model, how labels can serve as a business partner, how musicians can best leverage their labels for...
2024-02-1648 min
The Unstarving Musician294 Athxna – Upcoming Releases & Recording Projects, Signing A New Sync Contract, Working In The Music Business, Moving To Nashville, The Blues Music Dilemma, Style Influences, Social Media StrategyAthxna is a Nashville-based, New Orleans-raised R&B pop singer who started her musical journey on piano at age five. She has a new release coming very soon, recording sessions in her home town of New Orleans, and plans to release more music this year. Athxna has a new sync contract, which she attributes to pursuing a music business education and career. She works for an all female PR firm based in Nashville and has a bachelor's degree in music industry. Athxna is methodically designing a life and career within the music business. We talk about her...
2024-02-0251 min
The Unstarving Musician292 Terry Carleton – Remixing Vince Guaraldi Peanuts Cartoon Soundtracks, Bones & Knives Recording Studios, Meeting the Mendelson's, and the Arc Of Terry's Music CareerTerry Carleton of Bones & Knives Recording Studio has recorded music for major TV shows, indy films, commercials for radio, and, in some cases, has led to helping clients procure major record deals. Terry studied classical, jazz, and composition on full scholarship. Playing in bands for the better part of 40 years. Has played live with many notables, including rockabilly legend Link Wray, pop and gospel vocalist Maria Muldaur, and jazz B3 icon Tony Monaco. As a member of Daddy-O, Terry helped back The Drifters, The Coasters, The Platters, The Marvelettes, Al Wilson, and Motown pioneer Mary Wells, to...
2024-01-191h 14
The Unstarving Musician288 Johnny Burgin – Queretaro Mexico, The Queretablues Festival, His Guitar Masterclass And YouTube Channel, Moving to Memphis, Leaving Chicago, And His Forthcoming Album Johnny Burgin has been making waves in the U.S. and abroad as a blues player entrenched in the Chicago blues style. He has performed and recorded with blues legends like Tail Dragger, Sam Lay, Billy Boy Arnold, and Pinetop Perkins. Johnny made a name for himself in the late 90s in Chicagoland blues clubs, a record deal with Delmark, and several European tours. He plays on average more than 200 shows a year, which is why he has such an appreciation for the stage, audiences, and other blues players. I performed with Johnny in and...
2023-12-0147 min
The Unstarving Musician285 Johnny Burgin (Rewind) – Chicago Blues, Music Festivals, The Magic Of The Stage, Pinetop PerkinsThis is a rewind episode featuring blues guitarist Johnny Burgin. What is a rewind episode? It's a previously published episode, one of my favorites, and one that I think merits re-publishing. I give these episodes a fresh edit, which means you will find it even more enjoyable from a listening perspective. Johnny Burgin, the coast-to-coast (intercontinental) Chicago blues man, first appeared in episode 31 back in December of 2017. We performed a house concert on February 11 2020 at Tranquilo Retreat in Panama. He's coming to Querétaro to perform the 9th annual Querétablues Festival, which you can find on Fa...
2023-10-2750 min
The Unstarving Musician195 Performing Alongside Blues Icons–Reverend RavenSince 1990 Reverend Raven has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, the Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tommy Castro among many others. He and I are acquainted by way of mutual friend The Worldwide West Side Guitar Man Johnny Burgin. Reverend and Johnny have been pals since '99. We recorded our conversation in November of 2020, during which time I had asked several former guests for their thoughts on personal branding. Johnny Burgin was among those asked and in his reply, Johnny suggested I speak with Reverend. We had a great...
2021-04-0935 minThe Unstarving Musician183 Loss, Songwriting and the Blues–Brian YoungBlues guitarist, singer-songwriter Brian Young is a member of the Unstarving Musician community–the list. A while back, he reached out to check in with me. I'm always asking the community and you listeners how you're doing. Like Ezra said last episode, music is a collaborative experience between community and musician and I feel that extends into what I'm doing here. Brian took time out to thank me and to share his own personal update. He shared with me that he'd lost his wife Becky of 43 years to cancer. Becky was also manager of his blues band. Br...
2020-11-1346 minThe Unstarving Musician168 Building Community–Shannon Curtis and Jamie HillThis episode's featured guests are Shannon Curtis and Jamie Hill. They're both alumni of this podcast, and were recently mentioned in my article Six Skills All Indie Musicians Need Today. Shannon is the queen bee of house concerts in my world. She led me to learn more about the house concert scene and is the reason I played my very first house show earlier this year, with Johnny Burgin. Jamie is Shannon's producer and faithful partner. My wife and I attended one of their virtual house shows earlier this week, which was more than just...
2020-07-241h 13The Unstarving Musician138 Listening for That Phrase—Johnny Burgin Part 2Maybe you know him from his years as Rockin' Johnny Burgin. Maybe you know him by his new handle, The Worldwide West Side Guitar Man. Performing up to 250 shows a year in Europe, Japan and coast to coast in the US, it's possible you've heard him and don't even know it yet. If that's the case, you're in for a treat. Rejoining me on the podcast for the first time since his appearance at end of 2017, Johnny's been around the world a couple times since then. He's here to tell us about his travels, what it's like to rebrand...
2020-02-2843 minThe Unstarving Musician118 Aki Kumar Signs with Sony IndiaOnly a few episodes ago I was joined by Bollywood Blues artist, Aki Kumar. Aki had some exciting news at the time that was under wraps, so I wanted to have him back to announce his signing with Sony Music India and the release of his single Dilruba. Episode Highlights We start by discussing the Sony Music India launch of his music video, and go on to discuss: How this opportunity has opened him up to a new yet familiar market The unusual nature of a Hindi artist in a Blues world How his relationship with...
2019-08-2824 minThe Unstarving Musician84 Producer, Musician, and Songwriter – Jamie Hill Jamie Hill is a producer, musician, and songwriter with a soft spot for vulnerable voices. To clarify, Jamie says he's specifically interested in female voices, gay voices, trans voices, and brown voices. He also prefers socially conscious artists and art over entertainment. He's co host of the podcast Misfit Stars, along side his singing songwriting spouse Shannon Curtis. Jamie says the podcast is for their community. It's also a vehicle for their career that involves Patreon and community-only episodes. As Jamie puts it, the more ways you give your community to support you, the more likely they a...
2019-01-041h 08The Unstarving Musician41 Reverb and Whiskey (or Iced Tea)–Singer Songwriter Joe GeorgeMusician Joe George (aka Joe Shadid) has a steady gig as a content producer for Reverb.com, where he creates video lessons, demos and more. Reverb is an online marketplace where musicians can buy, sell and learn about new, used, vintage and handmade music gear. A listener of the podcast and long time San Francisco Bay Area friend recently sent me this NY Times article on Joe, suggesting that he'd be a great guest interview. I reached out to Joe via Facebook, he was kind enough to schedule an interview, and he was indeed a great guest interview.
2018-03-0943 minThe Unstarving Musician40 Rolling with Music Industry Changes Via Kickstarter–Tom IrwinTom Irwin grew up admiring and learning songs by the likes of Grand Funk Railroad, Led Zeppelin, and Thin Lizzy. He was a participant of the 80s New Wave scene, but eventually found himself drawn to life as a solo artist. He's been musically genrefied as folk rock and alt country. Willie Nelson once said to Tom about his band's performance after they opened for Willie & Family in 2001, "I like your shirt, and your music, too." Tom was wearing a Hank Williams, Sr. shirt. He has recently worked with John Stirratt of Wilco, who was involved in...
2018-03-0252 minThe Unstarving Musician36 Finding Happiness in the Blues and Howlin' at Greaseland – Stephanie TiceStephanie Tice and I have mutual ties to Greaseland Studios in San Jose. We share an interest in some of the artists that have recorded there. In Stephanie's case, however, it's more. She has fallen head over heels for the blues. Finding Little Lou's , Poor House Bistro & Greaseland Following a big life change, Stephanie found happiness at San Jose blues venues Little Lou's and Poor House Bistro. The blues saved Stephanie when she needed saving. It was during this time that she met Norwegian born Kid Andersen of Greaseland Studios. Stephanie happens to speak Norwegian...
2018-02-0240 minThe Unstarving Musician33 Lisa Leuschner Andersen Has Been Gigging Since Age 7 and Has Opinions About Being a Full Time Career MusicianOn May 9th of 2017 I walked into Greaseland Studios to interview producer Kid Andersen. I was immediately blown away the abundance of musical gear everywhere. The next thing thing that came into my focus was the kitchen. Greaseland is also the home of Kid and Lisa Leuschner Anderson. There in the kitchen was a grand piano. Rather than thinking how rather odd it was to see a grand piano in a kitchen, my focus next shifted to the fact that there was a vocal lesson in progress. I'm not sure who the student was that day, but there at...
2018-01-1142 minThe Unstarving Musician31 Why Musicians Shouldn't Have a Cell Phone on Stage – Johnny BurginRockin' Johnny Burgin is incredibly passionate a about performing, and holds the stage in the highest regard. Johnny resides in the San Francisco Bay area, but came up as a blues player learning and performing in the west side Chicago blues scene. In his early twenties, he was performing at west side black clubs where he says watching bands was like watching a boxing match, a place where musical phrasing came to life. Why move from Chicago to California? Apparently Johnny had toured in California several times, and those tours kept getting better and better. He recalls...
2017-12-2940 min