Musicians Tip Jar

Are you a musician feeling the weight of financial stress? In this essential episode of Musicians Tip Jar, hosts Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin dive deep into the often overlooked realities of debt for musicians and the transformative power of investments for musicians. 

Discover how carrying debt doesn't just drain your wallet, but also stifles your creative freedom and limits your music career longevity. We expose the hidden costs of debt, from missed opportunities and delayed investing to reduced creditworthiness and overwhelming stress. Learn why a "broke artist" mentality is a phase, but a "financially trapped artist" is a...

Want more gigs, better collaborations, and fewer awkward misunderstandings? It all starts with how you communicate. In this episode of Musicians Tip Jar, Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin break down the 10 essential communication habits every musician needs to succeed in today’s music industry. From booking shows and negotiating deals to handling creative conflict and building strong relationships, we cover the specific scripts, tools, and strategies that turn musicians into trusted pros. If you've ever lost a gig, missed an opportunity, or struggled with unclear expectations — this one’s for you. 💡 What you’ll learn:
How to write emails that actual...

In this episode of Musicians Tip Jar, we bust the myths around cover gigs and show you how to turn them into a powerful income stream for your music career. Whether you’re playing weddings, bars, or private events, cover gigs can fund your original projects, build your audience, and sharpen your live performance skills—if you approach them with strategy. We break down how to price your sets, brand yourself without selling out, manage gear and expenses, and maximize every opportunity these gigs bring. This episode is for every working musician who wants to earn more and stay true to t...

In Part 2 of our conversation with multi-platinum producer Vince DiPasquale (Madonna, Timberlake, Mariah Carey), we dive deeper into what it really takes to build a sustainable, creative, and fulfilling music career. From co-founding FaderPro, a groundbreaking music education platform, to remixing hits like “4 Minutes” in just four days, Vince shares the lessons learned across two decades in the industry. He breaks down the myth of “whatever it takes,” the realities of burnout, and why being fun to work with often matters more than gear. 🎧 Topics We Cover:
The creation of FaderPro and its real-world education modelChoosing art over hustle with new ba...

In this episode of Musicians Tip Jar, hosts Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin interview multi-platinum producer Vince DiPasquale. They explore Vince's journey from his early love for music, through his education and struggles in the music industry, to his eventual success as a producer and educator. The conversation highlights the importance of saying yes to opportunities, the value of diverse income streams, and the role of mentorship in shaping a successful music career. Vince also shares insights on the challenges and decisions that come with pursuing a career in music, culminating in the founding of his online education platform, Fader...

Title: S5 E14 – How to Gauge Your Progress as a Musician Description:
In this episode of Musicians Tip Jar, we dive into one of the most overlooked parts of building a sustainable music career — tracking your progress. Whether you're just starting out or deep in your professional journey, knowing where you stand helps you grow faster, stay focused, and celebrate the wins along the way. We break down simple ways to measure your creative, financial, and personal development. From tracking gigs and income streams to evaluating your skill growth and building a performance confidence log — this episode is packed with p...

In this episode of Musicians Tip Jar, we break down the 5 most powerful ways to get personalized help in your music career:

🎯 Mentorship
🤝 Accountability partners
🎤 Music community
📚 Formal instruction

📖 Self-guided learning Learn how to find a music mentor, build a strong network, stay motivated, and grow both creatively and financially as a musician. Whether you're just starting out or hitting a plateau, these tools will accelerate your success. 📈 Real stats, actionable steps, and resources included!

💡 Featuring non-profit spotlights like Women in Music and practical tools to level up your skills. 👉 Subscribe for more musician-focuse...

Build a clear mission for your socials and turn every post into progress with SEIDS, the Logic Pro X–savvy producer who’s grown 250K+ followers by posting with purpose.

In this episode, SEIDS breaks down how to: Define a goal-driven content strategy so your feed works like an algorithmic GPS Reuse your everyday work as shareable clips—one activity, two outputs, zero extra hours Charge what you’re worth by asking for the budget first and walking away if it’s too low Foster community through transparency: share real rates, celebrate “one fan a day,” and recruit 1,000 superfans rath...

Join Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin as they sit down with powerhouse creator SEIDS—producer, singer, educator, and content strategist—who turned a 2020 gig drought into a six-figure home-studio career and 250K+ social media following.

In this episode, SEIDS breaks down how to treat every setback as a launchpad (her “butterfly effect”), why learning to produce during COVID was a game-changer, and how to build an “irresistible” personal brand that makes dream opportunities come to you. Discover her rule for posting only mission-driven content, the art of “controlled controversy” to spark meaningful conversations, and the 4-M framework (Music, Mindset, Marketi...

🎶 Boost your productivity, creativity, and success in music by harnessing the power of dopamine! In this episode of Musicians Tip Jar, Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin dive deep into dopamine—the brain chemical responsible for motivation, reward, and pleasure—and reveal practical strategies musicians can use to turn dopamine into their greatest ally. Learn how to optimize your habits, enhance your creativity, and stay motivated on your journey to musical and financial success. 💡 Key takeaways:
What dopamine really is and how it affects musiciansProven techniques to harness dopamine for greater productivityHow to avoid dopamine distractions that derail your goalsPractical action ste...

🎙 Episode Title: S5 E8 – The Financial Scale and How to Use It

💰 Overview:
In this episode, we introduce The Financial Scale—a 7-note system designed to help musicians grow wealth the same way they build musical skill: through fundamentals, repetition, and intention. Just like mastering a new scale on your instrument, mastering your finances starts with learning the notes and practicing how they work together. Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin walk through each "note" of the Financial Scale—A through G—and explain how applying these steps can harmonize your creative and financial life. 🎼 The Financial Scale:
A – Advance...

Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin kick things off with a playful “Mani-fest” pun that sets the tone: mindset and money go hand-in-hand for working artists. The hosts remind listeners that you can dream big and get paid for it. Why Manifesting Belongs in Your Business Plan
79 % of surveyed DIY musicians say mindset directly affects their income—yet few have a structured routine for it.Manifesting is presented as a practical goal-setting framework, not magical thinking. When paired with budgets and calendars it becomes a performance multiplier.The 5-Step Musician Manifesting Method
Get Crystal-Clear on the Dream – Define revenue, venue si...

🎙️ Podcast Summary: S5 E6 – How to Structure Your Music Business
Welcome to Musicians Tip Jar, where we talk about musicians and money. In this episode, Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin dive into one of the most important (but often overlooked) elements of running a sustainable music career—structuring your music business. Whether you're a solo artist, band leader, or music entrepreneur, selecting the appropriate business structure can help you save costs, safeguard your assets, and create opportunities for funding, branding, and growth.

From sole proprietorships to LLCs to S-Corps, we break down the pros, cons, and key considera...

Today we have one goal: to get everyone in our community prepared for the next illness that might be headed your way. It’s a constant concern for many of us (especially singers) and can threaten our livelihood. The good news is there are things we can do to minimize that threat and manage things in a way that allows for easier decision-making and time for healing with less stress.

When you are healthy, you have 100 problems to deal with, but when you are sick, you have 1

FoCoMA’s mission is to support all Northern Colorado musi...

Today we complete our interview with our good friend Ayo Awosika.  We put a spotlight on the often misunderstood term “making it in the music industry” as well as diversifying revenue streams by simply pursuing your interests and some vocal tips from an absolute Pro.

Quote:“(With success) there is no arrival point, you continue to arrive and take the next step and the next…”  - Ayo Awosika

Ayo Awosika is an LA-based vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. She is also a vocal/performance coach, music director, and arranger. She has toured and sung background vocals for artists incl...

Today we sit down with the powerful Ayo Awosika and explore how diversifying her skills has been one of the most powerful ways to create new opportunities, increase adaptability, and ensure long-term success in her career and creative endeavors.

Quote:“(The music business) truly is about referrals, community and connection” - Ayo Awosika

“Your health is your Wealth”  - Ayo Awosika

Ayo Awosika is an LA based vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. She is also a vocal/performance coach, music director, and arranger. She has toured and sung background vocals for artists including Miley Cyrus, Sam Smith...

🎧 Episode Title: How Musicians Can Prepare for a Recession | Musicians Tip Jar S5 E2 In this episode of Musicians Tip Jar, co-hosts Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin tackle one of the most pressing concerns for independent artists and music professionals: how to recession-proof your music career. Whether you’re a gigging musician, songwriter, producer, or educator, economic downturns can disrupt your income streams. This episode offers 7 actionable strategies to build resilience, boost income, and stay financially secure during uncertain times. ✅ Key Topics Covered: 🎯 Diversify Your Income:
Live shows, virtual concerts, and digital contentStreaming royalties, merch, licensing, and PatreonTeaching music lessons an...

We are really excited to be back for season 5 of Musicians TIp Jar.  Thank you for being here; just by listening, you are supporting the cause and belief that all musicians can be free from the fear of money forcing them to quit. Today we are also excited to announce that our first of a series of mini-courses has launched, and we thought this would be a perfect time to show you how you can launch your very own courses too!

Building Dreams Through The Arts Founded in 1999, Prairie Music & Arts (formerly Prairie Music Academy) is a non-profit 501(c...

Just like my opening lines, we are all over the place today, highlighting our favorite moments and concepts from Season 4. These condensed tips are a powerhouse of ways to expand your reach and success in the music industry. Hard to believe we are at the end of another season here at Musicians Tip Jar.

This has been an incredibly value packed season full of inspiring guests and profitable insights. As is tradition here, we have done our best to condense the ideas and concepts that have had great influence on us each individually in hopes of giving you...

Today we explore the rich world of FI or Financial Independence. We show the various strategies you can apply from this way of life to ease your stress and improve your money habits, allowing you more freedom.

THE ALLIANCE FOR LIFETIME INCOME is a non-profit educational organization based in Washington, D.C., that creates awareness and educates Americans about the value and importance of having protected lifetime income in retirement.. The Alliance provides consumers and financial professionals with educational resources, interactive tools, and actionable research and insights to use in building retirement income strategies and plans.

 T...

Today we complete our chat with front range blues musician Mike Maurer.  We discuss the journey we take to finding our style, showing the market your value and keeping your heart on the most important part of being a musician.

“All the money and all the details will go away, what really matters is how you make people feel” - Mike Maurer

Mike Maurer is a Colorado based musician who began playing guitar at a very early age, studying with Jock Bartley of the hit band, Firefall. After his debut release, Chasing Pearl , Mike toured extensively, shari...

Today we chat with Colorado, front range, blues musician Mike Maurer. Together we discuss how breaking out of bad habits makes room for the good stuff to come your way, more ways to multiply your earnings, and defining the vision of your future.

“What I really do for a living is carry music gear around and play Tetris with time.” - Mike Maurer

Mike Maurer is a Colorado based musician who began playing guitar at a very early age, studying with Jock Bartley of the hit band, Firefall. After his debut release, Chasing Pearl , Mike toured exte...

Today we complete our interview with the sync-artist, creative, and mentor, Jared Oluwa.  We examine his two year rule strategy, discuss how his biggest placement to date came about, and share the value of joining organizations that align with your passions.  

“I've been without money and felt like i've had all the money and had all the money and felt I had no money and wasn’t happy” - Jared Oluwa

Jared Oluwa is a 35 year old artist from Los Angeles who is an instrumentalist and vocal producer. Growing up in a musical family, he tends to work...

Today we discuss the simple power of showing up. We expose how this simple idea is often the reason why successful people, well, succeed. It exposes the reality that often its not what we NEED to do but instead how to get ourselves to SHOW UP and do the damn thing!

Jared Oluwa is a 35 year old artist from Los Angeles who is an instrumentalist and vocal producer. Growing up in a musical family, he tends to work closely with his youngest brother (Beats MadeByFresh) who plays a big part with instrumentation. Together, they have landed placements on...

This long journey and pursuit of being a full-time musician is full of growth, plateaus, dips and more growth.  But there is a point when the path begins to need more to keep up the pace, grow, and truly level up. Today we discuss the concept of Multiplying your time, how it applies to musicians and our efforts to 10x this life…

“You will never ‘find’ time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” -Charles Buxton

The Great River Folk Festival is the longest running nonprofit music festival in La Crosse, Wisconsin.​The Mission of th...

If there is anything you have heard us say too many times it's that diversification is key to creating a wealthy musician’s income. We go at that goal from a different angle today.  Instead of spreading out your talents, we stack ‘em up! This has been a very useful technique for me personally to increase my productivity and value in the music business and I think it can do the same for you!

“The idea of a talent stack is that you can combine ordinary skills until you have enough of the right kind to be extraordinary.” - Scott A...

Maybe you are looking for ways to make money today because you need to pay some bills quickly. Or perhaps you want to take that special person out for that special evening and need some extra cash!?  Well, we got you!!  Today we give you our favorite eight ways to make some cash!  At the end, we will also toss in a bonus for more mailbox money.

“Chase your passions and money will come, chase money and you may never find your passions” - Colin Wright

We are so lucky to have an occupation that gives us SO m...

Today we complete our interview with Tina and Chris from Big Fish Booking Agency. They demonstrate how every problem has a solution, just as every failure is filled with opportunity. Big Fish Booking Company is an artist-run boutique agency based in Chicago that specializes in booking and artist management.

Owners Chris Weller and Tina Priceman started booking shows for themselves and some of their close friends under the guise of Big Fish in 2016 in an effort to better support their own musical endeavors. The hard work and “fake it till you make it” attitude slowly paid off as new...

Today we get a high dose of Vitamin Sea with Tina and Chris from Big Fish Booking Agency.  We follow their story and how it organically grew from saying yes to opportunities in the music industry to booking tours around the world for incredible left-of-center jazz talents.

Quote: Why would anybody else invest in us and do these things for us if we couldn’t do some of it for ourselves? - Tina Priceman

Big Fish Booking Company is an artist-run boutique agency based in Chicago that specializes in booking and artist management. Owners Chris Weller and...

Today we complete our interview with the Singer/Songwriter, Brenden James.  We cover “being ready,” Crowdfunding and sustaining your career while balancing the things you value most!

Brenden is very open and giving with his story, and we picked up today after hearing him tell the journey of being independent after two major label deals.  This is when his biggest career success truly started. He gives advice on carving out your own long, happy career, let's go!

This action is to go back to your MTJ forecasting tool and look at how your year is turning out. ...

Today we jump into the story of our guest, Brenden James.  Hey takes us on the journey of starting late with a career in music, racing to the top with not just one but multiple major label record deals and finishing those just to find he is at the starting line of what would become his most successful career in music and songwriting.

Quote:“All these labels were seeing this clay in me and this raw thing, but no one could refine it except for time, experience and touring.”

Brendan James is an American Singer-Songwriter in the p...

Today we discuss the campaigning and process of submitting your music for the Grammys, as well as setting your ticket prices and building your catalog with our guest, the talented Megan Burtt.

Megan Burtt is a notable singer-songwriter with a series of accomplishments in the music industry. She graduated from Boston's Berklee College of Music in 2008 and has since established herself with a blend of Americana, roots, and pop influences. Her career highlights include winning prestigious awards like the Kerrville NewFolk, Rocky Mountain Folk Festival, and the Westword Music Award.

Action: For all the s...

Welcome to Musicians Tip Jar where we talk about musicians and money. We want to help give you all the resources to fund your goals.  I’m Chris Webb, joined by my co-host and the best resource for raising your mood, Dave Tamkin.

Today we chat with Denver music scene icon, Megan Burtt and her recent successful Kickstarter campaign. We break down strategies, best practices and the correct order to make sure you get what you need.

Megan Burtt is a notable singer-songwriter with a series of accomplishments in the music industry. She graduated from Boston's Ber...

Welcome to Musicians Tip Jar where we talk about musicians and money. Where we intend to live to 100 and still have the moves like Jagger.  I’m Chris Webb, joined by my co-host and the guy who’s got more moves than Dick Van Dyke, Dave Tamkin. 

Episode mission/Overview:Speaking of Centennials, this is our 100th episode of the Musicians Tip Jar podcast!  Congrats Dave and a special thank you to all our listeners for your continued support of making this show successful. 

We felt it appropriate to make today's episode about the true meaning of wealt...

Today we continue our conversation with Pressed PR founder, Dawn Jones.  She discusses tracking your progress, creating fan funnels, and building an easier process to gain better results in music promotion.

Dawn Jones is the founder of music promotion house, Pressed PR.  Deeply rooted in the music industry, Pressed PR was originally founded as a passion project that would empower other independent artists to succeed. Dawn wanted to develop a modern company that embodied the essence of intentional, personal, and innovative marketing with a team that displayed the strongest work ethic for their artists. Named one of “The 10 Best...

Today we chat with PR company owner Dawn Jones. We hear her story of growing from fiddle player to fiddling with promotion as an intern to full-on “one stop shop” for artists with her company, Pressed PR. We break down tracking results and what it means to be ready for PR.

Dawn Jones is the founder of music promotion house, Pressed PR.  Deeply rooted in the music industry, Pressed PR was originally founded as a passion project that would empower other independent artists to succeed. Dawn wanted to develop a modern company that embodied the essence of intentional, perso...

Welcome to Musicians Tip Jar where we talk about musicians and money. Where we have been unintentionally quoting Taylor Swift for years. Hi I’m the problem, it's me, Chris Webb, joined by my co-host and front desk attendant at the tortured poets department, Dave Tamkin.

“Being fearless is having a lot of fears, but you jump anyway” - Taylor Swift

Limiting beliefs among musicians can be all over the place depending on individual experiences, backgrounds, and aspirations. However, here is our list of the top ten most common.  Our hope is to help you identify how you...

Today we conclude our interview with Singer/Songwriter, Andy Sydow, and focus on how the journey is often full of small destinations that just lead you to the next path. You don’t need to just pick one thing and do only that, in fact, as small business owners and creatives, we always run our legs in different directions to build our passions. It is through this process and pursuit that we find our main goals often come into clearer focus.#finance Songwriting with Soldiers believes that together, we can empower veterans through music.

In a few short ye...

In this conversation, Dave Tamkin and Chris Webb interview musician Andy Sydow. They discuss technical difficulties, reaching out to guests, preparing for interviews, upcoming gigs, and more. Andy shares his background and early musical influences, as well as his decision to pursue music as a career. They also talk about the challenges and rewards of being a full-time musician and booking gigs. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the music industry and the experiences of a professional musician. Andy Sydow discusses his journey as a full-time musician, including his transition to being a full-time musician, moving to Nashville, starting the...

In this episode, Chris Webb and Dave Tamkin discuss how musicians can make decisions about which gig opportunities to accept. They explore the factors to consider, such as time commitment, travel, hidden costs, and hidden benefits. They also discuss the importance of setting limits, saying no for health and balance, and aligning opportunities with personal goals. The episode concludes with a reminder to trust instincts and assess opportunities based on their alignment with overall objectives.



Takeaways
Consider the time commitment and travel involved in a gig opportunity.Be aware of hidden costs, such as accommodations...