How I Got Backstage

This week we sit down with the Manager of Music Strategy at CMT, Stacey Cato. After getting his start in Silicon Valley, Stacey followed his heart to Nashville in the late 90s and found himself working at Country.com - an early version of CMT - as a web developer. After 20 years of working at CMT through the digital revolution he’s seen it all and worked closely with the biggest stars in country music along the way. This episode is chock full of advice and anecdotes and also guest stars our surprise co-host Benny Driver - Jade’s mom and Crowd Surf Billing Manager. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Production and artist team Solomon (Soli) Olds and Lauren Olds join us this week for some old time anecdotes from our time working together on rock band Family Force 5 to their current success as a production and writing team working with artists such as Hunter Hayes, Tessa Violet and Sam Tinnesz. We'd suggest turning your volume down, because this episode gets a little loud! ;) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

This week we sit down with 14 year old actor and musician Jet Jurgensmeyer to hear about his southern upbringing hanging out at his parents' honkey-tonk, The Nashville Palace, with legends like George Jones to his success in Hollywood working alongside Tim Allen on "Last Man Standing." Jet is now embracing his Nashville roots and has recently released his debut self-titled country album. Hear about his songwriting process, inspirations and enjoy a live performance! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Johnny Garcia, band director for country artist Trisha Yearwood since 1991, joins us to talk about how the stars aligned to lead him to country music, the new generation of artists he’s working with and how an overheard anecdote from Loretta Lynn lead to the hook in the latest release from his artist Sarah Ryder who joins us to talk about the song and launch of her career. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

At age 16, Ford Fairchild, a street team member, was snuck into a club by Cassie and Jade because he was too young to get in and see his favorite artist Michelle Branch perform a showcase. As a fan, Ford was obsessed with artist imagery and photographs. He ran a successful Michelle Branch fansite, which he eventually sold and used the money to buy his first camera. Ford is now a full time music photographer and videographer and has  professionally photographed artists like Jason Aldean, Greta Van Fleet, Maggie Rose and Lady Gaga. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Continuing our convo with Courtney Allen from BMG on her path to a job she loves while facing many challenges including broken promises, unfulfilling positions and challenges with finding a balance with the music industry and mental health. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

It used to be something nobody talked about openly, but we couldn't be happier that mental health is becoming an open subject that friends and colleagues are able to discuss together. This week we sit down with Courtney Allen from BMG to not only discuss how she got backstage, but some of the personal struggles she faced on her path and how she overcame them to create a healthy work / life balance that she has today! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Recently Ones To Watch published an article written by Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver called: "INDUSTRY INFILTRATION: 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Music Business." In this Mini-cast, the two dig into the article and talk about "the bro deal," chasing checks and karma. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Dive into your dream rock and roll wardrobe with Krystal Douglas, owner of Music City Sewing! Krystal has created custom pieces for everyone from Lana Del Rey to Michelle Obama. WHAT!? We talk boy bands - obviously! - girl boss hustle and ripping the leather panels out of her friend’s dad’s vintage Mustang to make a jacket for Jon Bon Jovi. If that’s not rock and roll, we don’t know what is! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Recorded backstage at the 8 Letters Tour in Nashville, TN - July 28, 2019 - Jade catches up with Eben ON TOUR! So much as happened since we recorded our first episode with EBEN in Nov 2018 and we wanted to catch up on his progress and successes. We talk about life in Los Angeles, closing old chapters and starting new ones and of course, share stories from the road.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

This episode was recorded in Nov 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. Eben has just finished up nearly 2 years of touring with Why Don’t We and is working towards releasing his next EP, Last Hundred Days. We talk about Eben’s early years in music, the boy band that didn’t work and the determination that made him drive his car from Cincinnati to Los Angeles, having everything he owned stolen along the way and knocking on his manager's door asking to learn everything he could about the entertainment industry What is the future of EBEN?. Find out in Part 2 coming Aug 8! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

This week we invited one of our listeners, Maya Kaspi, to come in the studio and share her story about being a fangirl, loving Justin Bieber and Why Don't We and working towards evolving that passion into a budding career. Cassie shares many creepy stories about her young days as a Backstreet Boys fan including being thrown to the ground by a security guard! Glad she got back up and kept going.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Country artist Abby Anderson (Black River Entertainment) joins us in Nashville this week, along with co-host Kaitlyn Gruber from Crowd Surf, to talk about her upbringing, living the dream and life lessons she learned from The Lion King. Remember who you are!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

Time to kick off Season 2 straight from Music City USA! AKA - Nashville, TN! This week we welcome our first guest host, Elise Stawarz, and day to day manager of superstar country act Day + Shay, Lisa Ray of Sandbox Entertainment. For some of us, working in a record store was the ultimate dream and Lisa got to do just that. However, most of you probably never had the pleasure of skipping school and visiting a dirty old record store on a Tuesday morning to buy a new album. It was magic! We talk about that magic as well as the great distinction of being a true fangirl and turning that into a career this week on the How I Got Backstage podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support

COLLEGE! The best time of your life...but don't party too hard because taking advantage of all of those extra curricular clubs, volunteer activities and internships could just jump start your career! MTSU alums Jade and Cassie and Belmont University alums Justin and Bobby talk about what's it's like to go to a music business school and how the hustle starts before you graduate. Wondering if a music business program is right for you? We tell you what to expect and how to get the best experience out of your time on campus. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/how-i-got-backstage/support