The Johnny Fiacconi Podcast

Johnny Fiacconi
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The Johnny Fiacconi Podcast is a deeper dive into the ideas and experiences I share across my other channels, focused on building a successful, sustainable career in music. Drawing from years of performing, touring, and leading a working band, each episode explores the realities of the music industry, from gigs, venues, and perception to professionalism, money, and long-term thinking. This podcast is for bandleaders, musicians, and anyone serious about making a life in music. I share lessons I’ve learned, realizations that took years to recognize, and insights I’m still gaining along the way

  1. 5d ago

    Should a band be a democracy?

    Should a band be a democracy, or does someone ultimately need to make the final call? In this episode, I share my experiences playing in both democratic and leader-led bands, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how too many opinions can sometimes turn strong ideas into compromises. At the end, I explain the structure that’s currently working best for me. Have you experienced either approach in a band? Leave a comment and let me know which one you think works best. Follow me for daily content: www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi My band: www.instagram.com/thedreamboats www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠ www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

  2. Aug 24

    Bigger Gigs, Creating Standout Setlists & Finding Your Band’s Content Strategy | Q&A with Johnny

    In this Q&A episode, I answer questions from musicians about getting better gigs, building a stronger live show, and using social media to create bigger opportunities for your band.I talk about how to break out of playing small college parties, design a great setlist, and choose standout songs that other cover bands don’t typically play. We also get into content strategy, the importance of consistency, how to figure out what type of content actually works for your band, and the power social media can have when you use it intentionally.I also share my thoughts on whether non-English-speaking artists should write in English or their own language, whether certain genres of music are actually “dead,” what it takes to get a visa to perform in the United States, and more.If you’re trying to grow your band, stand out from the crowd, and create more opportunities both onstage and online, there should be something in this episode for you.Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi My band: www.instagram.com/thedreamboats www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠ www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

  3. Aug 17

    Do ANY musicians actually learn their parts anymore?? *RANT*

    Do any musicians actually learn their parts anymore? When I was growing up, it felt normal for musicians to learn the iconic guitar hooks or drum fills or bass lines, etc… the stuff that made great songs great! But in my 20 years of music, it seems like “good enough” has started becoming normal.In this episode, I talk about why learning the actual parts matters—especially if you want to audition for bands, get hired, and keep getting called back. Talent matters, but preparation, professionalism, and simply being easy to hang with can make a bandleader’s decision incredibly easy. If you want the gig, make it hard for them to choose someone else.Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconiMy band:www.instagram.com/thedreamboatswww.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

  4. Aug 10

    Every original artist should play in a cover band (at least once)

    For a lot of original artists, playing in a cover band feels like a step in the wrong direction...but I've seen (first hand) how it can actually make you a much STRONGER original artist. From stagecraft and crowd connection to professionalism, musicianship, and understanding what audiences really respond to, there are huge lessons from the cover band world that translate directly into building your own project. Follow me for daily content: www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi My band: www.instagram.com/thedreamboats www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠ www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

  5. Aug 3

    Bands that don't create value are wasting their time...

    The foundation of the music business (and any business really) is creating value for everyone involved. It’s not enough to simply make good music and expect venues, agents, promoters or audiences to care... In this episode, I talk about how the industry actually works in my experience, what it means to bring real value, and why the bands that understand this are the ones that give themselves the best chance to build a lasting career. Follow me for daily content: www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi My band: www.instagram.com/thedreamboats www.thedreamboatsband.com⁠ www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

  6. Jul 27

    The cost of saying yes to EVERY gig...

    When you’re a new band, saying yes to most opportunities can be exactly what helps you grow. You need the experience, the footage, the relationships, and the confidence that comes from being on stage. But at a certain point, saying yes to EVERY opportunity can keep your fees down, make you overplay your market, and stop you from creating the bigger, more meaningful opportunities you might actually want. In this episode, I talk about finding that balance and making sure every gig is moving your band forward. Follow me for daily content:www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconitiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconiMy band:www.instagram.com/thedreamboatswww.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠‪‪https://www.youtube.com/TheDreamboats

  7. Jul 20

    A cover band CAN'T grow without all 5 of these things

    In this episode, I break down the five things that I genuinely don’t think a cover band can grow without. I’m talking about what it takes to move beyond just getting through gigs and start becoming a band that people remember, recommend, and want to book again. There are lots of talented cover bands out there, but talent alone doesn’t always lead to bigger opportunities, better-paying gigs, or a real following. These are five areas I believe every band needs to work on if they want to stand out in their scene and build something that can actually grow over time. Follow me for daily content: www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi My band: www.instagram.com/thedreamboats www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠‪ ⁨ www.youtube.com/thedreamboats

  8. Jul 13

    5 lessons I learned from building a band for 17 years

    When we started our band The Dreamboats back in 2009, we really had no idea what we were doing. Over the last 17 years we've made lots of mistakes, learned some hard lessons, and slowly figured out what actually helps a band grow. In this episode, I'm sharing five of the biggest lessons I've learned from building our band—from leadership and goal setting to finding your niche and creating standards that actually move your band forward. I hope this episode helps you avoid a few of the mistakes we made! Follow me for daily content: www.instagram.com/johnnyfiacconi tiktok.com/@johnnyfiacconi www.johnnyfiacconi.com My band: www.instagram.com/thedreamboats www.thedreamboatsband.com‪‪⁠  www.youtube.com/thedreamboats

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The Johnny Fiacconi Podcast is a deeper dive into the ideas and experiences I share across my other channels, focused on building a successful, sustainable career in music. Drawing from years of performing, touring, and leading a working band, each episode explores the realities of the music industry, from gigs, venues, and perception to professionalism, money, and long-term thinking. This podcast is for bandleaders, musicians, and anyone serious about making a life in music. I share lessons I’ve learned, realizations that took years to recognize, and insights I’m still gaining along the way

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