The Career Musician

The Career Musician
  • 4.9 (51)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Daily

Learn the secrets of the music industry and how to build a lasting career!

  1. 7h ago

    #209: The Voice of Summer Smith Has a Band?! | Artist Duo

    Nomad Ripoll sits down with Belle & Chain, an artist duo bringing their own musical identity and creative chemistry to the stage. In this in-person conversation, they explore the story behind the duo, the partnership that brings their music to life, and what it takes to build a band around an artistic vision. From developing their sound and defining their identity as performers to navigating the realities of making music and growing as artists, Belle & Chain offer a closer look at the people and creativity behind the name. Whether you're an independent artist, a musician building a project with collaborators, or someone looking to turn your creative passion into a sustainable career, this episode is a reminder that great music is about more than talent alone. It's about collaboration, finding your voice, and building something that connects with an audience. The opportunity usually comes before you feel ready. Don’t wait until the audition, session, tour, or referral lands in your inbox to start treating your career like a business. 👉 GET THE GIG: https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig Talent gets attention. Professionalism gets the callback. The ETHOS: The Career Musician’s Code bundle gives you the mindset, principles, and real-world career framework NOMAD has developed from decades inside the business. 👉 GET THE ETHOS BUNDLE: https://www.thecareermusician.com/ethos Stop guessing what your next move should be. Book a 1-on-1 coaching call with NOMAD and build a strategy around your career, your goals, and your next opportunity. 👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/coaching If this episode gave you value, don’t just scroll away. YouTube: Subscribe • Like • Comment • ShareSpotify: Follow • Rate the show ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Apple Podcasts: Follow • Leave a 5-star rating + review And send this episode to one musician who needs to hear it. That small action helps us bring you more conversations, tools, guests, and resources built for musicians serious about going pro. PA Rehearsal Studios — 20% OFFUse code NOMADhttps://parehearsalstudios.com Courses + Career Toolshttps://www.thecareermusician.com/store Podcast + Latest Episodeshttps://www.thecareermusician.com/podcast JamPlay — Free TrialUse code NOMADhttps://jamplay.com/get-free-access?code=NOMAD Website: https://belleandchain.com/c2fa5405-80db-4b47-a22a-02522dfcb504Instagram: @belleandchainTikTok: @belle.and.chainYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BelleandChainFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelleandChain/ YouTube: @TheCareerMusicianInstagram: @thecareermusicianFacebook: The Career MusicianTikTok: @thecareermusician GET THE GIG. KEEP THE GIG. GO BEYOND THE GIG.MAKE MUSIC YOUR BUSINESS. #TheCareerMusician #MusicianMindset #MusicCareer #MusicianBurnout #MusicBusiness #BelleAndChain 🚨 READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL?📘 BUILD YOUR CAREER WITH ETHOS🎯 WANT PERSONAL CAREER GUIDANCE?🔥 HELP TCM REACH THE NEXT CAREER MUSICIAN🎸 TCM RESOURCES🎤 MEET BELLE & CHAIN📲 FOLLOW THE CAREER MUSICIAN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 5d ago

    Nicholas Payton | Zen Gangster

    Nomad talks to Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton from New Orleans about Black American Music (BAM), breaking genre boundaries, and preserving the cultural roots and history of the music that shaped generations. He shares his journey growing up in a musical household, creating his own record label, Paytone Records, and using his voice and platform to challenge conventional ideas about jazz, artistic expression, and the music industry. They also discuss the importance of an artist’s visual identity, the value of physical music in the streaming era, overcoming self-doubt, speaking out as an artist, and navigating the rise of AI in music. Payton reflects on the legacy of musical pioneers like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis, the responsibility of carrying their influence forward, and why staying true to your art means embracing resistance and creating without boundaries. The opportunity usually comes before you feel ready. Don’t wait until the audition, session, tour, or referral lands in your inbox to start treating your career like a business. 👉 GET THE GIG: https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig Talent gets attention. Professionalism gets the callback. The ETHOS: The Career Musician’s Code bundle gives you the mindset, principles, and real-world career framework NOMAD has developed from decades inside the business. 👉 GET THE ETHOS BUNDLE: https://www.thecareermusician.com/ethos Stop guessing what your next move should be. Book a 1-on-1 coaching call with NOMAD and build a strategy around your career, your goals, and your next opportunity. 👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/coaching If this episode gave you value, don’t just scroll away. YouTube: Subscribe • Like • Comment • ShareSpotify: Follow • Rate the show ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Apple Podcasts: Follow • Leave a 5-star rating + review And send this episode to one musician who needs to hear it. That small action helps us bring you more conversations, tools, guests, and resources built for musicians serious about going pro. PA Rehearsal Studios — 20% OFFUse code NOMADhttps://parehearsalstudios.com Courses + Career Toolshttps://www.thecareermusician.com/store Podcast + Latest Episodeshttps://www.thecareermusician.com/podcast JamPlay — Free TrialUse code NOMADhttps://jamplay.com/get-free-access?code=NOMAD YouTube: @TheCareerMusicianInstagram: @thecareermusicianFacebook: The Career MusicianTikTok: @thecareermusician GET THE GIG. KEEP THE GIG. GO BEYOND THE GIG.MAKE MUSIC YOUR BUSINESS. #TheCareerMusician #MusicianMindset #MusicCareer #MusicianBurnout #MusicBusiness 🚨 READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL?📘 BUILD YOUR CAREER WITH ETHOS🎯 WANT PERSONAL CAREER GUIDANCE?🔥 HELP TCM REACH THE NEXT CAREER MUSICIAN🎸 TCM RESOURCES📲 FOLLOW THE CAREER MUSICIAN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Nicholas Payton | Zen Gangster

  3. Oct 12

    Performance Anxiety Almost Made Me Quit Music

    Episode #207: Proud, But Never Satisfied | Danny McGonegle What happens when you stop waiting to feel ready—and start giving yourself every chance to succeed? Drummer Danny McGonegle joins NOMAD to talk discipline, sobriety, preparation, social media, and the mindset shift that took him from feeling like an underachiever to attacking his career with purpose. His philosophy: be comfortable being uncomfortable. ✅ Why consistency beats motivation✅ How preparation helps kill audition anxiety✅ Building a career instead of chasing the next gig✅ Using social media without sacrificing the music✅ Why most people quit before the work starts paying off✅ Danny’s mantra: “Proud, but never satisfied.” Talent gets you noticed. Preparation gets you hired. 👉 GET THE GIG:https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig Get ETHOS: The Career Musician’s Code and learn the principles behind becoming the musician people call back. 👉 GET ETHOS: https://www.thecareermusician.com/ethos Book a 1-on-1 coaching call with NOMAD. 👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/coaching If this episode gave you value: Subscribe. Like. Comment. Share. Follow.Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + review and send this episode to one musician who needs it. https://www.thecareermusician.com/podcast GET THE GIG. KEEP THE GIG. GO BEYOND THE GIG.MAKE MUSIC YOUR BUSINESS. #TheCareerMusician #DannyMcGonegle #MusicCareer #ProfessionalMusician #MusicianMindset 🎯 IN THIS EPISODE🚨 WOULD YOU BE READY IF THE GIG CAME TOMORROW?📘 STOP CHASING GIGS. BUILD A CAREER.🎯 NEED A CAREER GAME PLAN?🔥 SUPPORT THE SHOW🥁 FOLLOW DANNY McGONEGLE📲 THE CAREER MUSICIAN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Performance Anxiety Almost Made Me Quit Music

  4. Oct 5

    Mitch Beer On Bass

    #206 — Mitch Beer on Bass: What They Don’t Teach You Being a great bass player can get you noticed. But chops alone won’t build you a career. In this episode of The Career Musician, NOMAD sits down with bassist, producer, engineer, studio owner, and music industry lifer Mitch Beer for a real-world conversation about the stuff they DON’T teach you in music school — the lessons you usually have to learn on the gig. 🚨 READY TO GET THE GIG? START HERE:👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig If your next audition, session, tour call, referral, or opportunity showed up tomorrow… would you actually be ready? Don’t wait until the gig is already on the table to figure out the business side of your career. Getting hired is about more than playing the notes — it’s your preparation, relationships, reputation, communication, gear, mindset, and your ability to deliver when somebody puts their trust in you. Your next opportunity could come sooner than you think. Get ahead of it.👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig Mitch has built the kind of multidimensional career we talk about constantly at TCM. He’s worked as a bassist and producer on Lil Uzi Vert’s #1 platinum album Pink Tape, contributed to Tierra Whack’s World Wide Whack, toured with Digable Planets and The Bacon Brothers, and has worked as a studio bassist for nine-time GRAMMY-winning producer Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo. But Mitch’s career doesn’t stop when he puts the bass down. He’s also a producer, recording engineer, educator, content creator, podcast host, and owner/operator of Retro City B Room — making him the perfect person to talk about what a sustainable music career actually looks like in the real world. Because being a Career Musician isn’t just about mastering your instrument. It’s about becoming the person people want to hire again. NOMAD and Mitch get into the real-world lessons behind becoming — and remaining — a working professional musician: 🎯 Why being an incredible player is only the beginning 🎸 The things music lessons and music school can’t fully prepare you for 🤝 Why relationships, reputation, and being a good hang matter 🎧 Understanding the session from more than just the player’s perspective 💼 Thinking like a professional instead of waiting to be “discovered” 🔥 Showing up prepared when opportunity finally calls 🧠 Developing the mindset required for longevity in the music business 🎛 Why learning production, recording, and the technology around your instrument makes you more valuable 🚀 Building a career that extends beyond one artist, one tour, or one gig ❤️ And how to stay in love with music while treating it like a profession This one is for bass players, session musicians, touring musicians, producers, students, and anybody trying to turn musical ability into an actual livelihood. Because eventually you learn the truth: Talent may get you into the room.What you do once you’re there determines whether you get called back. Don’t just practice your instrument. Practice being the musician people can depend on. Preparation. Communication. Awareness. Adaptability. Relationships. Those are chops too. And remember… EVERYTHING YOU DO IS AN AUDITION. Website:https://mitchbeerbass.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mitchbeerbass/ Asses in Seats Podcast:https://mitchbeerbass.com/podcast Ready to turn your musical skills into more real-world opportunities? Start here:👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig L.A. musicians: Get 20% OFF your next booking. Use code: NOMAD👉 https://parehearsalstudios.com/ Sharpen your skills, expand your vocabulary, and stay inspired. Free Trial — Use code: NOMAD👉 https://jamplay.com/get-free-access?code=NOMAD Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thecareermusician/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCareerMusician/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thecareermusician TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thecareermusician Podcast Hub:https://www.thecareermusician.com/podcast Apple Podcasts:https://tinyurl.com/TCM-Apple Spotify:https://tinyurl.com/TCM-Spotify 📚 Online Courseshttps://www.thecareermusician.com/store 💼 Expert Career Coachinghttps://www.thecareermusician.com/coaching 🔖 TCM Bloghttps://www.thecareermusician.com/blog/ The Career Musician exists to empower musicians with strategies for building a sustainable career in music. 🎯 Get the Gig.🔥 Keep the Gig.🚀 Go Beyond the Gig.💼 Make Music Your Business. #TheCareerMusician #MitchBeer #BassPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Mitch Beer On Bass

  5. Mar 17

    #205 Before the Oscars: Performing with Miles Caton at the HMMA Awards

    With the recent Oscars spotlight on Sinners and breakout artist Miles Caton, this episode shares a great behind-the-scenes story from a performance a few months earlier at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA). The TCM Pro Band had the opportunity to perform with Miles Caton during the event, and it turned into one of those classic live music moments that perfectly illustrates what professional musicianship is all about. When you work in live performance, things don’t always go exactly as planned — and that’s where preparation, experience, and teamwork make all the difference. It’s a great reminder of the deeper tradition behind American music as well, including the profound influence of Black culture and artists on the foundation of modern music. This story also connects to a broader conversation we’re having inside The Green Room, where we explore how musicians can navigate the modern music industry — from live performance skills to emerging tools like AI for musicians. A weekly live session for musicians who want to build real careers in music. Topics include: • Getting the gig and keeping the gig • Touring, sessions, and professional musicianship • Music industry insights from 30+ years on stage and in studios • AI tools and modern workflows for musicians 🟢 Live every Tuesday — 6PM Pacific First session is FREE Join here:https://www.skool.com/tcm-green-room Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Feb 26

    Do You Even Gig Bro? pt2

    👉 Join The TCM Green Room Your backstage pass to community, coaching, accountability, and next-level strategy: https://www.skool.com/tcm-green-room-3722/about NAMM 2026 Special – Do You Even Gig, Bro? (Part 1) On this special two-part series, the TCM Pro Team — Joel Meza, Emily Lauren, and myself — hit the floor of NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center to ask some of the baddest players, creators, producers, and industry pros what gigging really means in 2026. Because at TCM, we don’t just talk about playing music… We talk about: 🎯 Getting the Gig 🔥 Keeping the Gig 🚀 Going Beyond the Gig 💼 And ultimately — Making Music Your Business This episode is raw, fast, funny, insightful, and full of gold nuggets from artists who are actually in the trenches. Each one answered the question differently. Some talked about: Staying ready so you don’t have to get ready. The evolution of the modern working musician. Social media vs. stage time. Touring realities. Studio hustle. Faith, consistency, and relationships. Why reputation travels faster than talent. 💎 Themes That Kept Coming Up Across the board, a few Career Musician truths stood out: Your reputation is your résumé. Everything you do is an audition. Consistency vs. clout. Preparation creates opportunity. The gig isn’t just the stage — it’s the mindset. This wasn’t influencer fluff. This was real talk from real working pros. And that’s what TCM is about. 🎯 Why We Did This NAMM is full of shiny objects. But behind every endorsement, booth demo, and viral clip… there’s a musician who had to: Grind. Practice. Network. Deliver. Stay humble. Stay savvy. In other words — live the ETHOS. Because methods change… Principles remain. 🚨 BIG CALL TO ACTION 🚨 If you’re serious about becoming a true Career Musician — not just a hobbyist, not just a content creator — but someone building a sustainable music career… 👉 Join The TCM Green Room Your backstage pass to community, coaching, accountability, and next-level strategy. https://www.skool.com/tcm-green-room-3722/about 🎸 Ready to Land the Gig? If auditions are part of your path — whether live, studio, MD, touring, worship, corporate, or artist support… You NEED this: 🔥 Rockstar Audition Hacks – 3 Proven Steps to Landing Your Dream Gig https://thecareermusician.com/audition/ Because remember… Everything you do is an audition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Do You Even Gig Bro? pt2

  7. Feb 19

    Do You Even Gig Bro? pt1

    NAMM 2026 Special – “Do You Even Gig, Bro?” (Part 1) On this special two-part series, the TCM Pro Team — Joel Meza, Emily Lauren, and myself — hit the floor of NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center to ask some of the baddest players, creators, producers, and industry pros what gigging really means in 2026. Because at TCM, we don’t just talk about playing music… We talk about: 🎯 Getting the Gig 🔥 Keeping the Gig 🚀 Going Beyond the Gig 💼 And ultimately — Making Music Your Business This episode is raw, fast, funny, insightful, and full of gold nuggets from artists who are actually in the trenches. We chopped it up with: Stanley Randolph Eric Moore II Sean Sentdabeat Trevan Music Lington Mitch Gallagher Amayita Davy Nathan Eaddy Yasmine Azaiez J.J. Blair YAGKI Morganizm Knick Smith Sir Cory James Bobby Ross Avila The Mighty Giants Each one answered the question differently. Some talked about: Staying ready so you don’t have to get ready. The evolution of the modern working musician. Social media vs. stage time. Touring realities. Studio hustle. Faith, consistency, and relationships. Why reputation travels faster than talent. Across the board, a few Career Musician truths stood out: Your reputation is your résumé. Everything you do is an audition. Consistency > clout. Preparation creates opportunity. The gig isn’t just the stage — it’s the mindset. This wasn’t influencer fluff.This was real talk from real working pros. And that’s what TCM is about. NAMM is full of shiny objects. But behind every endorsement, booth demo, and viral clip… there’s a musician who had to: Grind. Practice. Network. Deliver. Stay humble. Stay savvy. In other words — live the ETHOS. Because methods change…Principles remain. If you’re serious about becoming a true Career Musician — not just a hobbyist, not just a content creator — but someone building a sustainable music career… Your backstage pass to community, coaching, accountability, and next-level strategy. 🔓 Join here:https://www.skool.com/tcm-green-room-3722/about If auditions are part of your path — whether live, studio, MD, touring, worship, corporate, or artist support… You NEED this: 🔥 Rockstar Audition Hacks – 3 Proven Steps to Landing Your Dream Gighttps://thecareermusician.com/audition/ Because remember… Everything you do is an audition. If this episode hit home: Share it with your band. Send it to your producer. Drop it in your musician group chat. Tag us. Let us know — Do YOU even gig, bro? This is The Career Musician. Where business meets music. Where we help you get the gig…Make sure you keep the gig…And eventually go beyond the gig…So you can build a sustainable career doing what you love. 🎙️ Let’s go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Do You Even Gig Bro? pt1

  8. Feb 3

    Art of the Pivot | Awards Show Shuffle

    Award season is here — and in this episode of The Career Musician, Nomad and the TCM Pro Team sit down for a post-show Green Room debrief after working an awards-show house band gig in the trenches. We kick things off with a real talk “post-Grammys” perspective: why awards can help your career (visibility, awareness, doors opening)… but why music will always remain opinion-based and subjective — and why no trophy should ever define your value as a working musician. 🎸 Grab the free 3-step Audition Guide: thecareermusician.com/audition Then we go full behind-the-curtain and unpack what actually happened on the show day: ✅ the prep… the advancing… the last-minute curveballs ✅ the playback chaos (sample rate drama + tech chain breakdowns) ✅ the “stop and restart” moment that felt like an eternity ✅ a surprise performance rescue where the house band had to jump in and save the set in real time ✅ and the most unexpected pivot of the night: getting told to “stretch the show” and jam with a full orchestra on the spot This isn’t just a story about an awards show. It’s a masterclass in what it really means to be a career musician: professionalism under pressure, adapting on the fly, and keeping the show moving no matter what. We’re joined by Michael "Ace" Baker, Front of House engineer and production pro, who breaks down what was happening from the mix position and why “plan A” isn’t enough when you’re dealing with live production. Ace’s notable credits include: FOH Engineer for Dream Theater (including their touring production) FOH for Sammy Hagar (including major touring runs) Longtime work with Joe Satriani (including the G3 Tour ) FOH history with Chickenfoot Working alongside guitar heroes like John Petrucci and Mike Mangini through touring worlds that overlap at the highest level Also in this episode... The “awards don’t define you” mindset — and why consistency + relationships beat headlines every time A real-world example of submit & omit / send it & forget it The Green Room format debut: how pros *actually* debrief after the show A reminder that rehearsal studios like CenterStaging are where the pros iron out the chaos before the spotlight hits Nomad also references his colleague and friend Harvey Mason Jr., who leads the The Recording Academy — Find Harvey’s episode in The Career Musician archive for an inside look at how the ecosystem really works here 👉 https://megaphone.link/PAN2101942231 🔥 TCM Pro Tip When the stakes are high and the clock is ticking, don’t just “hope it works.” Lock your fundamentals: Advance your assets early (tracks/video/stems) Never introduce mission-critical files at the last second Build redundancy (backups, alternate plans, human fallbacks) And most importantly: practice the mindset of the pivot Because in the real world… EVERYTHING YOU DO IS AN AUDITION!!! 🌟 Nail the Audition and Get the Gig! (Audition Secrets—Free Guide) → https://thecareermusician.com/audition/ 🎛 PA Rehearsal Studios Official Sponsor (L.A.) Get 20% OFF your next booking Use code NOMAD → https://parehearsalstudios.com/ 🎸 JamPlay Guitar Lessons (Free Trial) Sharpen your skills & stay inspired Use code NOMAD → https://jamplay.com/get-free-access?code=NOMAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Art of the Pivot | Awards Show Shuffle
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4.9
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About

Learn the secrets of the music industry and how to build a lasting career!

Information

  • Creator
    The Career Musician
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    214
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2015
  • Show Website
    The Career Musician