Bridge The Atlantic

Joining us this week out of California is artist manager Michael Kaminsky. Michael is the founder of KMGMT, who have had a decade of worldwide success starting with multi-platinum artists 3OH!3. Since then, KMGMT has discovered, developed, and delivered some of pop-punk’s most recognizable names, most-anticipated albums, and biggest sold out tours with artists like Neck Deep, Creeper, Tonight Alive, As It Is, The Summer Set and more.Most recently, Michael launched Adventure Cat Records – a new independent label from the artist management team at KMGMT. Adventure Cat Records is KMGMT’s commitment to continue to build a supportive community for their favorite genre of music. They bring together expertise in management, writing, publishing, production, marketing, publicity all in one place. In this interview we learn more about a manager’s role, why Michael started Adventure Cat Records, and the advice he’d offer to bands and musicians today.Highlights:Michael shares some of the misconceptions bands have around a manager’s role“A manager’s role is to amplify things that are already there” – Michael Kaminsky“Whatever the day holds, you have to be proactively coming up with ideas or plans to make things happen” – Michael KaminskyMichael tells us what a typical day in the life of an artist manager entails“We can be most effective when we take something that is defined, and build a team around it” – Michael KaminskyWe hear about the story behind KMGMT and why Michael started Adventure Cat RecordsMichael tells us what sets Adventure Cat Records apart from other labelsMichael shares his vision for Adventure Cat Records being known for a certain quality of musicWe talk about the benefits of signing to a label vs taking the DIY routeMichael tells us what bands need to be doing themselves before bringing a manager or label on board“What’s interesting to anyone in the industry is a band who’s out there hustling and it’s working” – Michael Kaminsky“It’s not a short game – it’s a very, very long game, and many bands just quit too soon” – Michael KaminskyGuest Links:Website: kmgmt.com / adventurecatrecords.comInstagram: @kmgmt / @adventurecatrecsTwitter: @kmgmt / @advcatrecsFacebook: KMGMT / Adventure Cat RecordsSponsors:Christine Infanger @ Thirty RosesMusic Entrepreneur HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us this week out of Cleveland, Ohio is music publicist Jesea Lee. Jesea is a publicist with High Road Publicity, a team of highly passionate PR professionals with a combined 30+ years experience.High Road Publicity have developed an uncanny system for developing and launching an avalanche of emerging bands that are signing to some prestigious labels including Revival Recordings, Artery Recordings, Rise Records, and Equal Vision.In this interview, Jesea breaks down some misconceptions bands have around publicity, how to make your band publicity-ready, and what to look for when hiring a publicist. Enjoy!Highlights:- We hear what led Jesea to pursue a career as a music publicist- Jesea tells us how an internship led him to becoming a publicist full time- We hear about the misconceptions bands have around publicity- Jesea tells us how he manages expectations around a band’s publicity campaign- “One of the biggest misconceptions bands have is that press is instantaneous” - Jesea Lee- “Press is not a sprint, it’s a marathon - you have to build up to bigger features.” - Jesea Lee- “One of the biggest benefits of press is covering all the spots where your audience are going to be” - Jesea Lee- Jesea tells us what bands should know before starting a PR campaign- We hear that if you are hiring a publicist, you need to have something new to promote!- Jesea tells us about the role social media plays in a publicity campaign- Jesea tells us what artists should be asking and looking for when choosing a publicist to work with- “Ask publicists for previous examples of their work” - Jesea Lee- Jesea tells us what bands should do to make themselves as publicity-ready as possible- We learn that Jesea wrote a bio for Finch and tried to pick up a bartender with that fact!Guest Links:- Website: http://highroadpublicity.com- Instagram: @highroadpublicity / @jesealee- Twitter: @highroadpub / @jesealeeee- Facebook: /highroadpublicitySponsors:- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses- Music Entrepreneur HQ---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Halloween! Instead of a B-SIDES episode, we've got a special Halloween episode for you this week. We didn't record a special last year due to technological issues (more about this in the episode) but we found a way to make these specials work, so we're back, baby! This episode features past guests Michael Grubbs of Wakey Wakey and Third Eye Blind/XEB guitarist Kevin Cadogan, as well as a history of BTA specials and some paranormal-themed stories. Enjoy!Highlights:- We talk about our illustrious history of Bridge the Atlantic specials- We talk about why the format of our specials has changed - and you guessed it, it's all because of technology!- We share how we always have to learn the hard way - because we're both ambitious but stubborn. Mostly stubborn.- We play a game of Two Truths & A Lie with Wakey Wakey's Michael Grubbs- Marcio talks about his love for all things paranormal- Marcio shares a terrifying paranormal experience he had as a teenager- Marcio's story confirms why Ross would never want to play with a Ouija board- Ross shares a different kind of paranormal experience involving Twitter and a TV host...- We play Two Truths & A Lie with Third Eye Blind / XEB guitarist Kevin CadoganSponsors:- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses- Music Entrepreneur HQ---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re joined by a fellow podcaster, Mark Fraser from Glasgow. Mark is the host of The Curator Podcast, an interview based show which focuses on creativity and passion. His show has featured guests such as Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World, Ian Mackaye of Fugazi, Laura Jane Grace of Against Me, Scottish broadcaster Vic Galloway, and singer/songwriter Allison Weiss.Mark is also a keen musician, currently rocking guitar and vocals in False Hopes. He was also the editor and co-founder of the music website Daily Dischord until 2014 and hosted the Daily Dischord radio show on Subcity Radio. In this interview we talk about the importance of interviews for musicians and creatives, how to prepare for a podcast interview, and some of the challengers we face as podcasters.Highlights:- Mark shares why he thinks interviews are important for creatives- “In a podcast interview, you get an authentic feel for what an artist is saying” - Mark Fraser- Mark shares how the connection you can make with an artist through a podcast is unprecedented in journalism- Mark’s advice for approaching a podcast interview: “Be real and be genuine”- “If you don’t know how to be interviewed, then your message is going to get lost” - Mark Fraser- We talk about the give and take between interviewer and interviewee- Mark shares how the human interaction is one of the biggest draws of podcast interviews- We hear about some of the lessons Mark has learned through running The Curator Podcast- Mark shares some of the challenges he faces with The Curator Podcast- “The way you present everything that you create and curate is what makes your brand work” - Mark Fraser- We talk about how publicists, managers and podcasters can work more effectively together- Mark shares one of his pet peeves when approaching publicists about setting up interviews- Mark shares his advice for making yourself as podcast-ready as possible- We hear the advice Mark would offer to people who want to start a podcast- “If you stick at podcasting for yourself, it will be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do” - Mark FraserGuest Links:- Website: http://thecuratorpodcast.com- Twitter: @thecuratorpod- Facebook: /thecuratorpodcastSponsors:- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses- Music Entrepreneur HQ---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us out of Vancouver is recording artist and author, Bif Naked. Bif has had an extremely successful career as a musician, with 10 studio albums and countless tours to her name. She is a celebrated and diverse artist and writer known for sliding easily between her punk roots, to rock, pop, alternative, and contemporary genres of music. Bif’s music has been featured in TV shows such as The Tonight Show and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and she’s been described as “Princess of Punk” and The “Rock Goddess.”An artist with an unquestionable work ethic, Bif insisted on working throughout her cancer treatment in 2008, and as a result of talking with other patients, found her passion for advocacy work and joy in speaking and lecturing. In April 2016, Bif released her memoir, “I Bificus” which documents her career, and her personal struggles and triumphs. She is currently bringing her “Songs and Stories Tour” to the world, combining readings from her book with acoustic performances.In this interview we hear all about Bif's experience in starting her own label, how important her advocacy work is to her, and the advice she'd offer to her fellow musicians. Enjoy!Highlights:- We hear how Bif started her own label out of necessity in the mid 90s- Bif shares what she learned through starting and running her own label- “I’d like to go into music management when I become an adult, someday!” - Bif Naked- Bif shares the impact she feels the internet has had on the music industry- “Write music, release it, and tour to support the product” - Bif Naked- Bif shares how touring is the main revenue stream that most artists have- We hear how Bif feels it’s important as an artist to get your message out there through social media- “On social media, one thing I CAN control is how I come across to people” - Bif Naked- Bif talks about how she approaches her vegan advocacy on social media- Bif tells us about her cancer diagnosis and how it impacted on her life both personally and as an artist- We hear about Bif’s Songs and Stories tour, and what the audience can expect from a show- Bif shares advice for artists who want to achieve longevity in their career- We hear the one thing that Bif wishes she could tell her younger selfGuest Links:- Website: http://bifnaked.com/- Twitter: @bifnaked- Instagram: @theoneandonlybifnaked- Facebook: /theoneandonlybifSponsors:- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses- Music Entrepreneur HQ---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us this week out of Los Angeles is actor and musician, Riley Smith. Riley’s TV credits include recurring roles in 24, True Blood and Nashville, as well as a leading role in the CW series, Frequency. These roles got him in front of the people, but his love for music introduced him to them in a way unlike any other role he has played.Musically, Riley’s past successes include supporting Jordin Sparks, a residency at the iconic Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles and a European tour. He’s also had major radio play and numerous film and TV placements. In this interview we hear more about Riley's acting career, his time in Nashville, and his new EP. He also shares some great advice for aspiring actors.Highlights:- We learn that Riley collects Starbucks coffee mugs - now you know what to get him for Christmas!- We talk with Riley about how people are more interested than our pets and/or kids on Instagram- Riley shares some of the highlights and turning points from his acting career- “Every project has been a turning point as it leads to the next one” - Riley Smith- Riley shares how he tries to choose acting roles that will make a difference in his career- We hear about the opportunities and experiences that starring in Nashville gave him- “Any opportunity you get in life, is a great opportunity to have” - Riley Smith- We talk about how Riley seized the opportunity of being in Nashville to write and record his new EP- Riley shares how he’s very goal driven and how he works to achieve them- “I usually try and go into projects with a clear goal of what I want to achieve from them” - Riley Smith- Riley tells us what he learned about songwriting during his time in Nashville- On songwriting: “Know what you want to write about and give yourself a clear direction” - Riley Smith- We hear about Riley’s new EP and the inspiration behind it- Riley shares how life on the road and as an actor can be lonely - which is a big theme of his EP- We hear how the songs Riley was writing for the EP coincidentally related to his character on NashvilleGuest Links:- Website: rileysmithofficial.com- Twitter: @RileySmith- Instagram: @RileySmithOfficial- Facebook: /rileysmithSponsors:- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses- Music Entrepreneur HQ---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our sixth episode of B-SIDES we talk about getting started with crowdfunding; how to decide how much to ask for, what you should offer your backers as rewards for their support, and how to ask for help. We've also got a bonus segment from our recent interview with Amanda Palmer, where she talks about keeping it personal when communicating with your fans (and how she didn't always approach things that way!)Highlights:- We talk about how to decide how much you need to raise in your crowdfunding campaign- Knowing how much you need to make your project happen is so important as it will help to set your initial crowdfunding targets- On setting targets: "how much do I need vs how much can I actually raise?"- We talk about the additional costs that you'll need to factor into a crowdfunding campaign eg marketing / printing costs etc- We talk about how crowdfunding doesn't provide you with an audience who will support you - you need to bring that audience with you- "Be realistic with the audience you already have, and think about how much you could expect them to contribute"- We compare different crowdfunding platforms and Marcio shares his experience of the ones he's used- We talk about the different types of crowdfunding campaigns that are available, and the pros/cons of both- We talk about what you can offer to your audience in exchange for their support and some examples of what other artists have offered- "With your rewards you can be creative and offer something exclusive people can't get anywhere else"- We talk about getting your audience involved and asking them what rewards they would like from you- "Make your audience feel involved and that they are getting something in return, rather than you simply asking for money"- "It has to be a two way relationship, it's not all about asking - you have to give back"- Amanda Palmer shares some mistakes she made in the early stages of her career around communicating with her audience- "Being able to talk directly to your audience - I had to learn how to do that" - Amanda Palmer- "Things seem to go a lot better if I present the most honest thing possible" - Amanda Palmer- We hear how Amanda Palmer used to send out emails in the third person, but soon realised that wasn't effective!- "Who am I serving by being anything less than real, especially when I CAN be real?" - Amanda PalmerSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses- Music Entrepreneur HQ---More:For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this week is Kevin Cadogan out of Berkley, California. Kevin is a founding member of Third Eye Blind and performed with the band from 1993 to 2000. He co-wrote some of the band’s most notable hits, including "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Graduate."Since parting ways with Third Eye Blind, Kevin has released solo material and has also began touring with XEB, a band made up of ex-Third Eye Blind members. In this episode we hear more about XEB, Kevin's experience in the music industry, and the advice he'd offer to bands early in their career.Highlights:- We talk about Third Eye Blind's early record deal and Kevin tells us about his experience- On Third Eye Blind's first record deal: "I knew that we had a great shot and there were great people behind us" - Kevin Cadogan- We talk with Kevin about the perception people have of signed artists compared to the reality- Kevin shares some of the backstory behind him parting ways with Third Eye Blind- "Parting ways with Third Eye Blind was down to business and the ownership of the band name" - Kevin Cadogan- "How a band is set up as corporation is the last thing you want to think about when you're creating" - Kevin Cadogan- "The single most important thing I did was copyright my material" - Kevin Cadogan- We hear about XEB and what we can expect from a live XEB show- "The DMV - bringing people together"- Kevin shares how doing a podcast episode helped bring past Third Eye Blind members together to form XEB- "For XEB, all's well that ends well" - Kevin Cadogan- "No-one cares about the band member individually - it's the band they care about" - Kevin Cadogan Advice:- "If you're a band, make sure you have equity in the band" - Kevin Cadogan- "The destination you're hoping for is a difficult one, and it has to be about the journey" - Kevin Cadogan- Success is not an instant overnight thing- Stay in control of your trademark and social mediaGuest Links:- Website: http://kevincadogan.com- Twitter: @kevincadogan- Facebook: /xebofficialSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses- Music Entrepreneur HQ---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us this week is musician and bestselling author Amanda Palmer. Amanda is the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist of the duo The Dresden Dolls, and has released numerous solo records to critical acclaim. In 2012 she became the first artist to raise over $1m on Kickstarter, with the resulting album, “Theatre Is Evil” charting in the US top 10. Her TED talk on The Art of Asking went viral and was quickly followed by a book expanding on the subject which became a New York Times Bestseller. Hugely respected in the independent music industry, Amanda has a ton of advice to share. In this interview, we hear more about how artists can ask for the support of their audience, dealing with insecurity as an artist, and how artists can use crowdfunding effectively. Highlights: - Amanda shares how artists don't like asking for money, and how there is a stigma around crowdfunding - "I'd like to think now there's less shame around crowdfunding" - Amanda Palmer - We share how we think Amanda has played a huge part in changing the perception around artists asking for support - "Are we really convinced that we're better off not helping each other?" - Amanda Palmer - "You can't think of asking for something as taking something from someone else - it's a relationship" - Amanda Palmer - Anyone who has something to offer is asking for the structure to create something that matters to others - "There's a real pleasure and honour in supporting artists to make the important work in society that needs to happen somehow" - Amanda Palmer - "We want music, and need it. How do we make sure those who create it are taken care of?" - Amanda Palmer - "You can't put an exact value on a song or piece of journalism, but you know it's important" - Amanda Palmer - When you ask someone in a way that gives them freedom to say no, they're more likely to want to help you - We hear how Amanda feels insecure when comparing herself to other artists, and it's something we can all relate to - "I find the best way of dealing with feelings of insecurity is to share them" - Amanda Palmer - "The best part of the job is when you put yourself on the line and create a connection" - Amanda Palmer Advice: - Part of your job as an artist is to hone the skill of asking for what you need - The ninja skillset is to be able to ask someone for support in a non-demanding way - "When you're asking, make the other person feel totally comfortable saying no" - Amanda Palmer - Crowdfunding doesn't supply you with an audience - you have to bring your own audience Guest Links: - Website: http://amandapalmer.net - Twitter: @amandapalmer - Facebook: /amandapalmer - Instagram: @amandapalmer Sponsors: - Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents - Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses - Music Entrepreneur HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us this week out of Alabama is Grammy award winning producer, Trina Shoemaker. Trina has worked on records for artists including Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlisle, The Dixie Chicks, Queens of the Stone Age, and Josh Ritter, and in 1998 became the first woman to win a Grammy for Best Engineered Album.Trina is partnered with Dauphin Street Sound, a world class recording studio run with heart and soul in Mobile, Alabama. In this interview we hear more about her experience as a producer, the advice she'd offer to singers going into the studio, and her Grammy experience. Enjoy!Highlights: "I mix my life as I walk through it" - Trina ShoemakerWe hear how Trina approaches a session and how there's always anxiety in the run up to a new sessionWe hear how Trina prepares for an artist to come into the studio - preparation is key!Trina tells us how invested she is in the quality of an artist's record as that's how they make a livingWe talk about comping vocals and how it doesn't take the authenticity out of a recordingWe hear how Trina believes singers used to be better because they couldn't rely on pitch correction in the past"People hear autotune so much that it's now embedded in our collective listening experience" - Trina ShoemakerTrina shares how technology has changed people's access to music - both consumers and those in the industryTrina tells us how technological advances have enabled her to become a more affordable producerWe hear about Trina's experience of being the first woman to win a Grammy for best engineered albumTrina shares some advice for singers approaching a recording in the studio"A song is the artist's gift to the listener" - Trina ShoemakerAdvice: To be a producer, you need to find the confidence to believe your taste can be malleable and universalOn producing - "Your ego can only be a part of it in that it's the driver to work for 10 hours on a mix" - Trina Shoemaker"You have to believe that what you're good at what you do and are putting out quality" - Trina Shoemaker"You have to spend a great deal of time with music and learning how to craft it" - Trina Shoemaker"Singers need to understand that in the studio, their voice is an instrument" - Trina Shoemaker"You need to set yourself aside from your ego and insecurity and perform" - Trina ShoemakerGuest Links:Website: http://trinashoemaker.comFacebook: /dauphinstreetsoundInstagram: @trinashoemaker / @dauphinstreetsoundSponsors:Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton PresentsChristine Infanger @ Thirty RosesMusic Entrepreneur HQ---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.