Bridge The Atlantic

Crowdfunding can feel daunting, but understanding your goals is key. Learn how to set realistic financial targets by budgeting for recording and marketing. Assessing your current audience's support is crucial—remember, crowdfunding doesn't build an audience. Explore the pros and cons of different platforms, and design appealing rewards through audience polling. Finally, discover how to ask for contributions gracefully, while ensuring transparency throughout your campaign to maintain trust.

Joining us this week from Germany is Friedemann Findeisen - an award winning songwriter and producer, and founder of Holistic Songwriting, the most complete collection of commercial songwriting techniques on the web.Highlights:On songwriting techniques and music theory: “It doesn’t help you to have a toolbox if you don’t know how to use the tools” - Friedemann FindeisenFriedemann shares that almost every songwriting rule has a counter argument, so you can really do anything in songwriting“There are no rules in songwriting - it depends on the effect you want to achieve” - Friedemann FindeisenWe talk about using classical music theory as an analytical tool rather than a creative toolFriedemann shares some common mistakes he sees songwriters making in their careersWe hear what holistic songwriting means to Friedemann, and how taking the holistic approach can benefit songwritersGuest Links:Website: holistic-songwriting.comYouTube: Holistic SongwritingTwitter: @holisticsongsFacebook: /holisticsongwritingSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're looking at what you need to know when applying to festivals. We've got some tips from two festival organisers in here too; Darryl Hurs of Indie Week, and Nathan Fleet of the Hamilton Film Festival. Enjoy! Highlights:We talk about the main benefits of performing at festivals and showcasesWe talk about the benefits of attending festivals and conferences as an attendee, as well as a performerWe discuss how you can actually get in front of the festival organisers and get accepted onto the lineupDarryl Hurs of Indie Week talks about the festival application processWe talk about applying for the most relevant and suitable festivals vs applying for every festival you can findNathan Fleet shares what his team at the Hamilton Film Festival look for when sorting through festival applicationsSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspired by our interview with Tim Schmoyer, this week's B-SIDES episode is all about community, and why you should build a community around your music. Enjoy, and let us know what you think over on our YouTube channel! Highlights:We talk about different types of online communities and the ones we use regularly“The strongest communities revolve not around interests, but common beliefs” - Tim SchmoyerWe talk about how musicians can create stronger relationships with their audience by building communities around their musicWe talk about Marcio's Facebook group and how it's helped him and other fans connect with one another"Your personality is almost as, if not more, important than your music - because people are more likely to support you if they feel some kind of connection with you and share the same interests and values." - Ross Barber-SmithWe discuss ways you can start building a community around what you do"Keep in touch with your audience and make them feel appreciated!" - Marcio NovelliSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's B-SIDES episode is all about session musicians: how you can find sessions, what you should expect when going into the studio, and also what NOT to do in a session. Enjoy! Highlights:We talk about the importance of networking when it comes to becoming a session musicianBuild connections with record studios, as they may recommend you if artists are looking for session musiciansWe talk about creating a showcase or portfolio of your work online so people know you are available for session work“Make sure you advertise the fact that you are available for hire!”We talk about what artists need to do when hiring a session musician to make sure they are prepared for the studio“In the studio, be clear and direct about what you need”We share some experiences of sessions that have gone horribly wrongSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us this week out of Brooklyn, New York is session drummer and YouTuber Kristina Schiano! Kristina has become well known on YouTube for her wide array of covers of popular songs on the drums.Over the past few years, she’s amassed over 400,000 subscribers and over 28 million views on YouTube, with no sign of slowing down! We’re excited to get to know Kristina and hear the advice she would offer to her fellow musicians, so let’s jump right in!Highlights:Kristina tells us why she started posting drum covers on YouTube“My fans are the people who keep me going as I know they are learning from my videos” - Kristina SchianoWe talk about how covers can introduce you to a new audienceKristina tells us about the opportunities that have come her way via posting videos on YouTube“Just covering other people’s songs has power!” - Kristina SchianoWe hear the advice Kristina would offer to other creators on YouTubeKristina shares her advice on getting started in session work, and how YouTube plays a roleKristina tells us about the role of consistency and patience in growing a YouTube channelKristina Schiano on creating YouTube videos: “Focus on audio quality over video quality!”Guest Links:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ggnoka82Twitter: @drumgal95Facebook: @KristinaSchianoDrumsSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're looking at the importance of building a team and collaborating with the right people. We also talk with producer/engineer Nick Blagona about artists a successful experience with a producer, but then ended up working with someone else when they signed to a label. Enjoy! Highlights:"Often, DIY is taken too literally in the music industry, but your career should be a balance of doing some things yourself, and delegating others" - Marcio NovelliWe talk about what you should be looking for in a potential team member or collaborator"Relationships are so important - especially if you’re going to be working with this person long-term. There should be a mutual respect and understanding" - Ross Barber-SmithWe talk with Nick Blagona about collaborating with different people, and what can happen when people have different agendas"Just because someone has worked with certain people, it doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for YOU!" - Marcio Novelli"If you find people you collaborate well with, stick with them! It’s really hard to find a team of people you trust and work well with, so when you DO find them, treat them well and keep making things happen together." - Ross Barber-SmithSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first Indie Spotlight features singer/songwriter Cindy Rainne, where we talk about her new album "Unmasked" and how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign as an independent artist. Guest Links:Website: cindyrainne.comTwitter: @cindyrainneInstagram: @cindyrainneFacebook: /cindyrainneSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're talking about growing an audience online, and some of the habits you can get into that will help you to do this. Past guest Damian Keyes also joins us to talk about consistency, and the questions he gets asked most by musicians. Hope you find this one useful - enjoy! Highlights:"Remember that overnight successes are never overnight - they’re often working for years before they get the type of success they’re experiencing" - Ross Barber-SmithWhen growing an audience, it’s not just about the numbers - it’s about the quality and relevanceWe talk about ways you can get your music in front of new people, both offline and online"Once you’ve caught the attention of people, you need to keep providing them with a steady flow of content to keep them interested and engaged" - Ross Barber-SmithWe talk about ways you can keep your followers engaged onlineDamian Keyes shares the questions he's asked most often by musiciansWe hear all about the importance of being consistent with your content from Damian KeyesSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us this week out of Ontario is Nick Cino. Nick was the Evening Announcer and host of the Indie Show at radio station Y108 in Hamilton, Ontario from 2010-2018. Nick is also a singer, songwriter and musician, currently fronting Fool’s Union.Nick has spent the last 20 years performing in various bands including Neoprene, The Misssissippi Kings, City and The Sea, and The Coverboards, playing in venues across Canada, United States and Europe. In this interview we hear the advice he’d offer to musicians and other creative professionals.Highlights:Nick shares the biggest thing he’s learned from touringNick Cino on touring: “You have to get people on board before you show up in their town”We talk about the importance of being active on social media as a musicianNick talks about what radio programmers look for when adding music to a radio playlist“A lot of the decisions on radio programming are based on the presentation that the artist puts forth” - Nick CinoWe talk about the importance of getting feedback as a band or musicianNick shares advice for bands getting their music in the hands of a radio programmerGuest Links:Website: http://vigilantedetective.comTwitter: @thewalkingnickInstagram: @thewalkingnickSponsors:Social Surge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.