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Episodes
Candid conversations with music industry leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and people pursuing alternative lives. Join audio engineer, punk, and business man Dave Swillum in the thick of pursuing a creative passion in a serious way.
Episodes
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
E111:
Today’s episode with Justin Ashbrook. Mixed discussion between starting a business in the comic book space to make it more accessible to more people, NFT’s for creatives, the music industry from recent Berklee Grad thoughts, and a lot more. Justin and I go through these topics and how they may apply to you. NFT”s have a bubble of excitement right now but I firmly believe in their long term success for creatives so check them out if you haven’t yet. The music business is changing all the time like most and it’s never been easier to make it on your own with the DIY spirit.
In This Episode We Cover
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Making the arts more accessible
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What type of business is right or you?
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Solving your industries problems
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Simply the process
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Smaller publisher and business advantages and disadvantages
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Making decisions fast
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Speed
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Trying new ideas as the market changes
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Running tests on your creative business idea
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Work life balance in your business
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Purpose over product
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Getting testimonials to start showing the feedback from your first client
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NFT’s for creatives
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Labels aren’t magic
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DIY has never been more possible
Quotes
“I think people can enjoy them they just need to learn how to enjoy them.” - Justin Ahsbrook
“When you first start up a business you must constantly innovate but once you get the size of Disney or Warner Brothers you get successful, you get an ego, and at that point because of your success it becomes really difficult to innovate.” - Justin Asbrook
“Jeff Bezos started in a garage.’ - Host Dave Swillum
Resources Noted In The Podcast
The Lean Start Up
By Eric Riles
Good To Great
By Jim Collins
Gary Vee’s NFT Platform
Justin's Links
Justin’s Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMI3Bp6spfbDV9A-x99ZX6g
IG @justameme20
@justawhocomics
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
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Starting my apparel line
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Getting harsh feedback from mentors
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Musician and designer
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Stage presence
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Panic attacks
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Bad interviews
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Some people don’t like what you do
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Keep going
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Bet on yourself
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Seeing your work in real life
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The process of coming up with a design
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Being resilient
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Getting crushed
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Getting better
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
E109:
I always love to chat with creatives that have multiple universes that make up their day to day. On todays episode I interview folk musician, Youtuber, & cowboy boot enthusiast Jeremiah Craig. We speak on content strategy, music and tour life, and never holding regrets. We speak through his tips and tricks to look into what type of content to make and how all of these facets of his life come together.
In This Episode We Cover
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Done is better than perfect
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Starting out as a song writer
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Making content on what you love
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How to sustain your creative from income
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Community is everything
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New England life
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Connecting with people through your content
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Growing a Youtube channel
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Make as much content as possible and don’t judge
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Content sprints
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Creating from what you know
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Writing music off of stories
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Life is for taking chances
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No regrets ever
Quotes
“ As a songwriter you know the first fire songs you write are horrible! I wrote 100’s!” - Jeremiah Craig
“ Places have a big input on what you make and how you feel.” - Host Dave Swillum
“ It’s my goal for people to always be behind on my content because that means I made enough.” - Jeremiah Craig
“ There’s not enough channels until everyone has their own thing, why the hell not?” - Jeremiah Craig
Resources Noted In The Podcast
Google Trends
For Content Creators
Gary Vee
https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/
Jeremiah Craig Links
Website
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/c/jeremiahcraig
https://www.facebook.com/jeremiahcraig.music/
IG
@jeremiahcraigmusic
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / Clubhouse
@davewakeup
My wife Meg Swillum
@wakeupproperties
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
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Starting out with dump salvage material
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Saving your body from hard labor work
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Getting ideas in dreams
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Investing in creating even if it doesn’t finish that day
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Creating new sounds
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Trying new things
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When ideas won’t leave you alone
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Things happen for a reason
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Doing things your way
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Selling physical products across the world
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Dealing with injuries
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Endorsing artists
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Toxic social
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
E107:
This episode I had to talk about the biggest issue in the way of every creative and entrepreneur out there….IMPOSTER SYNDROME. This is something that luckily is talked about a fair bit in modern self help but with over 100 episodes in on living a life you and want and living creative full time I knew this was something we had to speak on. Whether you know what is or don’t this episode is for you. We work through how to identify imposter syndrome in yourself with common indicators, how to work through it, and examples/common place on this very frequented feeling of high achievers and many others.
In This Episode We Cover
- Things to detect imposter syndrome in yourself
- All types of people experience imposter syndrome in all stages of their career.
- When you are living in imposter syndrome
- Self awareness
- It comes in waves through life at different stages
- There are always people better and worse than you at what you do
- You are something to someone regardless of your opinion on yourself
- No one cares what you’ve done in the past if your results are what they want.
- Why achievers are disproportionately affected by imposter syndrome
Quotes
“ You build a universe inside your head that makes you feel this way like you’re underserving of that title even if you’re in it.” - Host Dave Swillum
“If you’re procrastinating it why are you doing that?” - Host Dave Swillum
“ People will always be better than you and always be shittier than you. No matter how long you’ve been doing whatever it is that you’re doing you have to remember whenever you’re judging yourself off of others people are always going to be better than you at something and always be shittier than you at something!” - Host Dave Swillum
Resources Noted In Podcast
Imposter Syndrome Definition
Harvard Business Review
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / Clubhouse
@davewakeup
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing
www.broadwingband.bandcamp.com
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
E106:
Ever wanted to travel the world while working doing what you love? Consider being a digital nomad then. It’s possible in today’s age with the tools we have at the ready to work a creative business and travel the world and we hear a bit about it from Max Sher of the Sher Agency. Max works with a agency team he put together in some unique ways to work from moving every couple months to explore while creating custom websites for customers. We talk through the process of doing something like this, scaling a creative business, and overall killing ego so you can let others work in your business with you so you can help more people and live with more freedom.
In This Episode We Cover
- Being a digital nomad
- Starting an agency
- Starting up a business in college
- Networking in new places
- Challenges of travel life
- Getting into the digital nomad life
- Controlling your overhead
- Looking at real estate choices of overhead
- Bringing in income online
- Tricks to get a better rate at long term airbnb
- How to manage a creative business team remote
- Niching down in your business
- Working with a team across different countries and states ,,,
- Taking a step back to go forward
- Growing pains
Quotes
“I feel like everywhere I go, this is where I’m staying but then someone tell’s me some cool place I should go then I go.” - Max Sher
“We had to spend the night at a gas station. We were in our chairs sleeping in this car at a pump waiting for a tow truck that was not coming!” - Max Sher
“It’s a game of I need to keep my overhead down, I need to control the overhead that I induce and I need to control and generate income from something that can be facilitated perfectly online.” - Host Dave Swillum
Max’s Links
IG
@max_sher
Website
Episode Recommended Resources
Atomic habits
by James Clear
Hiring contract work:
Virtual workers from the Philippines
Podcast I love!
The Six Figure Home Studio Podcast
https://www.thesixfigurehomestudio.com/
Online Mastering Software I Use A lot!
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / Clubhouse
@davewakeup
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing
www.broadwingband.bandcamp.com
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
E105 :
On this episode we interview Rene Mata from Reach NYC after his band came out with their first release in over 17 years! We learn why they gap and why the come back with his hard rock band. The podcast was recorded while Rene was in studio to work after the show so we also hear from band guitarist Nick Cavagnaro and producer and former guitarist of Anthrax and current lead guitarist for Volbeat Rob Caggiano. We talk through stories in the scene, working in the music business, and unfortunately the groups experience with their friend Chester Bennington of Linkin Park’s passing. Very interesting but heavy episode hitting these topics. Let us know what you think.
In This Episode We Cover
- Growing up as a 90’s kid loving music
- Music appreciation and perspective
- Long term friendships in bands
- Early hardcore and metal influences in music
- Getting turned down from record labels
- Connecting people
- When things go down with your record release
- Working for labels
- Managing producers
- You need to go all in
- Being honest with yourself and your clients
- Dealing with a close one’s suicide
Quotes
“ I’m gonna give you respect I don’t care if you are a garbage man or if you’ve sold 20 Million records I’m gonna treat you the same.” - Rene Mata
“You’ve gotta be committed to going all the way for it, there’s no putting your foot in, you gotta go all the way. But you do have to be honest with yourself. What am I lacking?”
“You need the friction sometimes to make good art.” - Host Dave Swillum
Reach NYC’s Links
IG
@reachnyc
FB
https://www.facebook.com/reachnycmusic/
Video Release
https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-reachnycs-new-video-back-dead-featuring-papa-roach-singer
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / Clubhouse
@davewakeup
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing
www.broadwingband.bandcamp.com
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
E104:
Speaking to Angie today we get the insight of another creative working in a physical creative space coming from a background in craft paper molding, Yoga, creative business coaching, and more there is a lot in this episode. We talk through mindset topics, health tie’s to creative and following the right path for you or not, and identifying yourself as a creative or not. Angie and I jump into what can happen when you get some early win’s and prove your concept and talent verses practice. What is talent? Let’s talk.
In This Episode We Cover
- Following the path you were meant for
- Tie between flow space from Yoga & Creative Space
- Different threads that make up who you are
- Creativity isn’t simple
- Every person is creative
- We box things in
- Getting confidence it can work
- You can do this, this can happen
- Talent verses practice
- What makes talent?
- Environment factors
- Don’t should yourself
Quotes
“It’s not simple, the reason why we do all these other weird things is because if you’re a creative you’re a creative. Creativity is not simple or linear. It’s in every person and it’s about where is that coming out? What’s the travel method of that? - Host Dave Swillum
“I paid for our honeymoon from an art show when I was right out of college.” - Angie Follensbee-Hall
“Don’t should all over yourself.” - Angie Follensbee-Hall
Angie’s Links
Angie’s Website
https://angiefollensbeehall.com/
IG
@angiefollhall
FB
https://www.facebook.com/angiefollensbeehallcreativepurposementor
Angie’s Recommended Resources
Christo: Running Fence
https://christojeanneclaude.net/artworks/running-fence/
To Be A Water Protector
By Winona LaDuke
The Practice Shipping Creative Work
by Seth Godin
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / Clubhouse
@davewakeup
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
E103:
Have you ever felt away from your center? Like you have plans and actions you are taking but float away from the why and what is happening past the calendar? I think this year of any we all particularly have felt drifting from our center selves after being out of our norm for so long or locked up inside away from socialization. I took a long weekend away off grid in a cabin where I saw no other people just playing guitar, reading, and thinking. This helped me get back out of it a bit and keep marching forward. I’ve found I need to stir things up either by displacing myself, making it so I need to live differently day to day or shake it up in some other way to keep my compass and stay fresh. Let’s talk about ways to stay or get back to center.
In This Episode We Cover
- Getting centered and staying there
- Being aware and being proactive
- Keeping true north
- Taking time to reflect on your own actions
- Shaking things up
- True quite helps me
- Do things different
Quotes
“ When we’re not centered and we don’t have a true north and know what’s going on it’s really hard to tell why we do anything that we do.” - Dave Swillum
“ How cool am I with me? Those are hard questions to ask and they aren’t always frequently asked.” - Dave Swillum
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / Clubhouse
@davewakeup
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
E102:
Local artists are so important to my life as an audio engineer and local musician myself. I think there is a lot that can be done to make music be a business on every level. Today I’m joined by Kimayo a NH based Folk Pop artist on the Unlable record label from our previous discussion on the show. Kimayo brings serious talk on self worth, abundance verses scarcity mind set, making a living off your original music as a local artist, getting past large life hardships and challenges, and lots more. Great conversation for mindset and music business. Go check out her music! She’s a great person and artist.
In This Episode We Cover
- Using music and creative as an expression
- Pretending to be someone you’re not
- Impactful interactions
- When others have confidence in you but you don’t yet
- Working to not live with regret
- Living to live without regret
- Making decisions out of fear or abundance or possibility
- Shift in perspective
- Getting clear
- Sharing YOUR story
Quotes
“Other people had confidence in me being a musician that I didn’t. As I had this nudge from other people I started asking if they’re so confident in my ability then why am I not?” - Kimayo
“It’s one thing to have a clear vision, to play out, to gig. It’s a different approach to treat being a musician as a business and running it as a company.” - Kimayo
Kimayo’s Recommended Resources
How To Make It In The New Music Business
Ari Herstand
18 minutes
Peter Bregman
Braving The Wilderness
Brene Brown
Untamed
Glenon Doyle
Hubspot Academy
Links
Website
www.kimayomusic.com
Social
FB, IG, Patreon, YouTube
@kimayomusic
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / Clubhouse
@davewakeup
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
https://www.patreon.com/wakingupfromwork
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupfromwork/about/
wakeupfromworkpodcast@gmail.com
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeddF25VuWn8Eg3Fhy13fQ?view_as=subscriber
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Band Broadwing