Merch done right can double your income, while merch done wrong can double your workload and overhead. Checkout the "Gig Money Mastery" course in the classroom for tried and tested merch strategy that can make you $$$ How do you handle your merch?

I moved to Nashville when I was 18 on a BS writing contract- it fell apart the day I drove in to town. Zero contacts, zero prospects, no family, friends, or direction... I also learned there were about 1million players in that town were "better" than me. I still managed to sign multiple deals including a recording contract that put me on the stage with Pat Green, Gary Allen, Styx, REO Speedwagon, and more. Nashville is a wild place. Is it worth it? Yeah, if you know how to navigate it.

Drawing from personal experiences for raw authenticity builds deeper fan connections and offers therapeutic release, like Taylor Swift's confessional style. Fiction gives creative freedom, but modern trends favor truth: Zach Bryan's honest Americana, Tyler Childers' heartfelt stories, and Sierra Ferrell's soulful tales are dominating streams and engagement over generic pop. Balance both, but authenticity wins today's charts.

Artists complain about low pay, but venues pay what turnout justifies. Want higher rates? Bring more people — consistently. We need passion, persistence, and determination to get butts in seats. 3 ways to boost attendance starting today: - Audit your set list. Drop unpopular songs (even favorites) and add crowd-pleasers. Learn them cold — no cheat sheets. A tight, hit-heavy set keeps rooms full and drinking. - Personally invite your people. Text/call/email your list: “Hey, playing [venue] Saturday — would love to see you!”Out-of-town show? Join local FB groups weeks ahead, post value (covers, stories), build buzz. 10 extra supporters = ~$300–$500 extra bar revenue on average. YOUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO 10X THIS - Daily discipline: Practice: learn new songs. Rehearse: run through the songs you know. Market: post a reel/short/live clip every day. Higher turnout = higher pay. Start with one personal invite today.

Writer's block is real! Here's one tip I've relied on to get past it! Leave a comment and I'll send you my notes on the topic and send you some songs I wrote in practice! What do you do to get past writer's block?