The Career Musician
Learn the secrets of the music industry and how to build a lasting career!
Episodes
December 8, 2025 • 81 mins
How a versatile bassist built a career touring with today’s pop stars
From Six Flags shows to Coachella, Bonnaroo, and headline runs with modern chart-toppers like Dominic Fike and Remi Wolf, bassist Sean Sobash has built a sustainable touring career through community, versatility, and smart business decisions.
He shares how jam sessions led to major gigs, how to negotiate fair pay, when to say no — and why prioritizing relations...
Mark as Played
November 30, 2025 • 32 mins
In this episode, host Nomad sits down with Ron Perry, aka RPP, a seasoned outbound sales leader and former aspiring guitar hero, to unpack the universal principles of success in music and business. Broadcasting from Breckenridge, Colorado, they dive deep into why building a strong personal brand is just as important—if not more so—than mastering your craft.Key
Topics: Why “brand” matters as much as talent for musicians and profes...
Mark as Played
November 24, 2025 • 17 mins
Inside the House Band: What It Really Takes To Play an Elite Hollywood Awards Show
with Joel Meza — Drummer/Playback Tech, The Career Musician House Band
Most musicians see the glitz, the cameras, the red carpet, and the highlight reels…
But very few ever get to experience what really goes down behind the scenes of an elite Hollywood awards show—like the Hollywood Music in Media Awards—especially from the vantage point of the hous...
Mark as Played
November 17, 2025 • 96 mins
🎙️ The Career Musician Podcast — Featuring Rob Garland
From England to Los Angeles, navigating soul bands, jazz fusion, and iconic guitar hero moments.
Rob Garland has built a lasting career through sheer passion, persistence, and the willingness to evolve. From teaching 40+ students during the pandemic to interviewing legends like Steve Vai and Dweezil Zappa, Rob embodies what it means to be a true Career Musician — adaptab...
Mark as Played
November 10, 2025 • 73 mins
The Imaginaries | Dynamic Duo of Music and Business
From Norman, Oklahoma to Muscle Shoals and Hollywood, The Imaginaries — the husband-and-wife duo of Maggie McClure & Shane Henry — are carving a bold path as artists, entrepreneurs, and relentless creators. Whether they’re touring the country in their Honda Pilot packed with gear, releasing music infused with Americana soul, or taking business risks that lead to major wins, the...
Mark as Played
November 3, 2025 • 74 mins
🎙️ The Career Musician Podcast — Featuring Carly Lyman
From the mountains of Colorado to the heart of Los Angeles’ music scene, Carly Lyman has carved a dynamic path as a songwriter, producer, performer, and creative visionary. As VP of Music for Devin Powers / Powers Music Group, Carly has been at the helm of projects spanning K-Pop chart-toppers, indie artist collaborations, and music for film, trailers, and commercials.
Her c...
Mark as Played
October 28, 2025 • 71 mins
Introduction & Background
Casual, authentic conversation with insights into the music industry.
Focus on TV and film scoring, specifically unscripted reality TV and production music.
Personal stories illustrate industry evolution and building a career.
Industry Insights & Knowledge
Importance of building client relationships ("clients, clients, clients").
Overdelivering as a key to standing out and s...
Mark as Played
October 21, 2025 • 46 mins
Nomad kicks off TCM’s new Talk 'n Tunes jam-in-the-round format with drummer Joel Meza (new TCM co-host) and bassist Maxx Diaz—two working pros with real-world receipts.
We break down Maxx’s “audition” that wasn’t an audition at all (a full day at Disneyland to test chemistry), the mindset shifts that beat imposter syndrome, and why saying yes (fast) often beats over-preparing. We also trade stories from the road, touch the four ...
Mark as Played
October 20, 2025 • 24 mins
🎟 Grab your ALL Access VIP Pass here:
https://thecareermusician.com/membership/all-access-vip-pass/
Host and creator Nomad welcomes drummer & playback tech Joel Meza as a guest and officially announces him as the new co-host! Together, they dive deep into the realities of touring, the secrets to building a successful music career, and reveal a brand new show format: 🎶Jam Talk 🗣
Episode Highlights
✈️ Life on the Ro...
Mark as Played
May 13, 2025 • 23 mins
🎙️ EPISODE 187: Real Talk: Banding Together as Career Musicians
SUMMARY:
Feeling stuck, isolated, or overwhelmed in your musical journey? You're not alone. This episode highlights the power of community, emphasizing how important it is for career musicians to band together, support each other, and rise collectively. Nomad shares real-life insights into overcoming challenges, navigating responsibilities, and maintaining your pa...
Mark as Played
May 7, 2025 • 13 mins
In this energetic episode, Nomad takes listeners on a ride to a non-music event, demonstrating firsthand the power of his four essential rules for building meaningful relationships and standing out as a musician.
Key Takeaways:
Rule #1: Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up
Nomad emphasizes the importance of physically showing up to events, even when you’re not explicitly required to attend. Commitment and presence are key.
Rule #2: C...
Mark as Played
May 1, 2025 • 10 mins
Tired of chasing gigs? You’re not alone.
In this real talk session, NOMAD flips the script and explains why letting go may be the key to making work come to you.
Show Notes:
Why "work begets work" in the gig economy
The trap of hustle culture and how to escape it
How creating your own momentum leads to unexpected opportunities
Practical advice: build your rig, finish the project, and stay ready
Key mindset: The gigs are co...
Mark as Played
April 28, 2025 • 11 mins
Getting ghosted sucks — especially when it’s a gig you really wanted.
Here’s how to deal with the silence, follow up like a pro, and protect your mental space.
Show Notes:
The emotional sting of being ghosted (we’ve all been there)
The “3 strikes” method for professional follow-ups
How to close loops, track your contacts, and stay mentally free
Create a contact spreadsheet to manage outreach
Let it go — and keep moving forw...
Mark as Played
April 24, 2025 • 9 mins
Ever met a musician who pours on the love… but disappears when it matters?
In this episode, NOMAD calls out fake support and makes the case for keeping it real.
Show Notes:
What “insincere sincerity” sounds like in the music world
How to spot it, avoid it, and never be that person
The difference between honest encouragement and hollow hype
Why integrity and authenticity matter more than ever
Be the real one in a room full o...
Mark as Played
April 21, 2025 • 9 mins
Feeling lost in your creative journey? You’re not alone.
This honest episode dives into the emotional weight of being a creative and how to push through the fog.
Show Notes:
What it means to have an existential crisis as an artist
Why creativity often comes with emotional and spiritual weight
The power of reflection, community, and self-awareness
Tips to navigate the “Why am I even doing this?” moments
You’re not broken. Yo...
Mark as Played
April 18, 2025 • 9 mins
You’re not making music for other musicians — you’re making it for people.
This episode is a wake-up call to shift your focus and build a real audience.
Show Notes:
Why musicians aren’t your target audience
The problem with making music just to impress your peers
How to build a connection with real listeners
Serving the song, not your ego
Want to get hired? Want to get heard? Then play for the people.
💡 This one hits har...
Mark as Played
April 17, 2025 • 9 mins
“Play through the changes” is great advice… until it isn’t.
This episode unpacks the deeper meaning behind the phrase — both musically and in life.
Show Notes:
Jazz school lessons vs. real-world career moves
Chops vs. artistry: where the real connection happens
Evolving beyond your training and finding your sound
Letting go of comparison and staying true to your voice
You don’t have to play through every change — you can gr...
Mark as Played
March 25, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode, dubbed "Payday Friday," Nomad dives into the realities of making a living as a career musician. Joined by industry professional Michael Elsener from Master Music Licensing, they stress the importance of learning from others in your field to fast-track your success. Nomad hilariously points out the difference between a musician's lifestyle and the traditional 9-5 worker, emphasizing financial inconsistency in their ...
Mark as Played
March 18, 2025 • 29 mins
In this engaging episode of the Career Musician podcast, host Nomad dives deep into the world of home studios and offers invaluable tips and tricks for musicians looking to maximize their creative flow.
From his own experience setting up a home studio in a 10x10 room, Nomad shares practical advice on optimizing both the acoustics and aesthetics of your space to inspire creativity. Whether you're just starting out or are seasoned ...
Mark as Played
March 5, 2025 • 14 mins
In this episode of the Career Musician Podcast, Nomad dives deep into the significance of protecting intellectual property in the music industry. Nomad shares his personal experiences and insights on copyright, trademark, and the intricacies of publishing and licensing music. Through an interesting analogy involving a unique instrument found at Goodwill, Nomad highlights the importance of owning your creative work. The episode also...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.