Most artists think saying yes to every opportunity is how you build a career. ANATTA proves the opposite is true.

Since our last conversation, ANATTA has mastered one of the hardest skills in this industry - strategic rejection. He turns down more bookings than he accepts, including clubs he's been dying to play and gigs that could pay six months of rent. This isn't about being difficult or playing hard to get. It's about understanding that every yes to the wrong opportunity blocks you from the right one.

In this conversation, ANATTA breaks down his approach to selective booking, reveals his genius content creation hack that involves ditching your phone entirely, and explains how fashion and visual identity play into building a recognizable brand in dance music.

Key Takeaways:

→ The camcorder hack for creating better tour content without distractions
→ How to know when to turn down bookings
→ Why planning content while traveling beats scrambling for posts later
→ The real reason top artists say no more than they say yes
→ How fashion choices impact your brand identity as a producer

If you're struggling with FOMO around opportunities or don't know which bookings to take, this episode will shift your entire approach to career strategy.

Want personalized guidance on building your brand and making strategic career decisions? Schedule a one-on-one session with me on GreenRoom where we can dive deep into your specific goals and create an action plan.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

The world is at 134 BPM right now. Your sound sits at 125. Do you adapt or wait for the trend to pass? This is the choice every producer faces, and Dutch house legend Ferreck Dawn has navigated it for over two decades.

Fresh from Amsterdam Dance Event, Ferreck breaks down how he's built a career that's lasted through multiple industry shifts, sound evolutions, and market changes. From his signature "clock" element that's hidden in every track to balancing a touring career with family life, this conversation reveals what it actually takes to build longevity in dance music.

Key Takeaways:

• How to distinguish between creative evolution and chasing trends
• Why consistency and discipline matter more than viral moments
• The power of having a signature sound (even if it's subtle)
• Navigating the pressure to speed up your BPM when the market shifts
• Why the work never stops - no matter what level you reach
• How touring impacts family life and what sacrifices look like
• The importance of having your own sound versus following what's popular

The industry will keep changing whether you're ready or not. But artists who last are the ones who know when to adapt and when to hold their ground.

Want personalized guidance on navigating your own career decisions? Book a strategy session with me on GreenRoom to gain clarity on your next steps and build a career development plan tailored to your goals. Chat with me on GreenRoom.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists agonize over when to quit their day job. Malóne spent 9 years building his career strategically until the timing was finally right. After nearly a decade of playing Miami clubs, growing his WHYNOTUS label, and building the right relationships, quitting his corporate job before Miami Music Week wasn't a risk - it was the natural next step.

This conversation reveals the real timeline of building a sustainable music career. From playing for $200 as the "promoter DJ" to touring Europe all summer, Malóne's journey shows why patience and strategic thinking beat impulsive leaps every time.

Key Takeaways:

• How to know when the timing is actually right to go full-time
• Why years of grinding creates sustainable success
• The hidden truth about "dream labels" vs. labels that actually support artists
• How to build a label that puts artists first while staying profitable
• The real financial considerations when you have a family depending on you
• Why some of the best opportunities come from labels you never considered

Ready to build your own sustainable music career? Book a strategy call with me on GreenRoom for personalized guidance on timing your transition, building your brand, and creating multiple revenue streams in dance music.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists think gratitude is just feel-good fluff. But what if I told you it's actually one of the most powerful business strategies you can use to transform your career?

In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing the exact gratitude practice that took me from making $30,000 a year in a job I hated to building multiple businesses in the music industry. This isn't toxic positivity or woo-woo manifestation - this is strategic psychology that changes how you show up, make decisions, and attract opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

• The brutal rejection that forced me to bet everything on myself
• Why operating from gratitude beats desperation every time
• The psychology behind why your brain can't tell the difference between real and imagined success
• How to use gratitude strategically (not just "be thankful for what you have")
• The difference between genuine gratitude and toxic positivity
• My exact morning practice that rewired my entire career trajectory
• Why grateful artists make better business decisions and attract better opportunities
• How to maintain gratitude during setbacks (like when my studio flooded)
• The strategic gratitude framework you can start using today

The Bottom Line: When you operate from genuine appreciation instead of desperation, you become magnetic to the people and opportunities that can transform your career. Your dreams aren't just possible - they're inevitable when you align your energy with them.

Stop chasing success from a place of lack. Start attracting it from a place of gratitude.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists compartmentalize their lives - music over here, other interests over there. Rebūke shows how to fold your entire self into your music career. The same kid who got pulled out of geography class to fix teachers' computers now creates stunning 3D visuals that have transformed his live shows and opened entirely new revenue streams.

While other artists outsource their visual content, Rebūke taught himself Cinema 4D, Unreal Engine, and AI visual generation. His shows now feature production value that looks like a massive team but runs with just him and his VJ, sometimes creating content on planes between gigs.

Key Takeaways:

• Why learning adjacent skills can become your biggest competitive advantage
• How to identify which of your existing talents could enhance your music career
• The strategic decision between outsourcing vs. learning new skills yourself
• How visual content has expanded his career beyond traditional DJ bookings
• Why being the "computer nerd" in school set him up for success in modern music
• The mindset shift from "I just make music" to "I create experiences"
• How childhood interests can become professional superpowers
• Why artists who embrace technology early gain massive advantages

Stop limiting yourself to just music production. Your "other" skills might be exactly what sets you apart in a crowded industry. Hit play to learn how to identify and leverage the talents you already have.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most DJs burn out, fade away, or get replaced by the next big thing within five years. Jamie Jones has been dominating dance music for over two decades. So what's his secret to mastering the long game?

In this rare, in-depth conversation, we dive into the strategic decisions and mindset shifts that have kept Jamie relevant while countless others have disappeared. From his isolated beginnings in rural Wales to building Paradise into a global phenomenon, this is the blueprint for sustainable success in dance music.

Key Takeaways:

• The mindset shift that transformed his relationship with performing and creativity
• The strategic psychology behind moving Paradise from DC-10 to Amnesia
• Why he evolved from being mentored to becoming the mentor everyone credits
• How his 8-year sobriety journey transformed his relationship with performing and creativity
• How he restructured his entire life around family without sacrificing career momentum
• The counterintuitive approach to scaling a brand globally while keeping its soul intact

This isn't just another "how I made it" story. This is a masterclass in longevity from someone who's watched entire generations of DJs come and go while he continues to thrive. If you want to build something that lasts in this industry, this conversation is essential.

REMINDER: You have ONE WEEK LEFT to secure your Chicago Music Nexus pass! This is the industry event of the year - don't miss your chance to connect with the people shaping dance music's future. Get tickets now before they're gone.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most people think inclusivity is the key to building a successful venue or event. Dom Brown built his empire doing the exact opposite - and he's not apologetic about it.

As the founder of Porn & Chicken (Chicago's most legendary weekly party), owner of Never Have I Ever bar, and touring manager for Green Velvet and Shermanology, Dom has one controversial principle: not everyone deserves access to everything.

While other promoters were chasing numbers, Dom was implementing no-phone policies in 2010 and hand-selecting who could enter his parties. The result? A cultural phenomenon that grew from 150 to 5,000 people weekly and is still talked about fifteen years later.

Key Takeaways:

• Why saying "no" at the door created safer spaces and legendary experiences
• How the no-phone policy became Dom's secret weapon (years before it was trendy)
• The psychology behind why exclusivity creates more demand than inclusion
• The difference between being seen vs. creating genuine experiences
• Why artists need to give authentically to the community before expecting anything back
• How door hosts became the "ethos" of successful parties
• Why themed events require every element to serve the overall experience

The Controversial Truth: Dom openly admits "I am discriminating" - and explains why this approach built multiple successful businesses while creating genuinely safe spaces for marginalized communities.

Actionable Strategy: Learn why your standards aren't gatekeeping - they're brand building. Discover how scarcity creates value and why the most powerful word in your vocabulary might be "no."

Stop chasing everyone and start curating intentionally. Hit play to learn how exclusivity became Dom's path to building a legendary career in dance music.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think you know who your most valuable fans are? This conversation with Ritesh Patel, co-founder of Ticket Fairy, will completely flip your understanding of fan value and event data.

While most artists focus on big spenders and VIP customers, Ritesh has discovered through processing over $300 million in ticket sales that your most valuable fans are actually the ones who spend the LEAST money. Why? Because they're the early adopters buying early bird tickets and bringing their friends along.

From throwing underground events at a loss for a decade to building the "Salesforce for live entertainment," Ritesh breaks down how data intelligence can transform any artist's career - whether you're throwing 30-person pop-ups or planning festival expansions.

Key Takeaways:

• Why your early bird buyers are more valuable than big spenders (and how to identify them)
• The 3 essential data points every artist must track from their first 30-person event
• What $300M in global ticket sales reveals about fan behavior and market opportunities
• The difference between vanity metrics and revenue-driving data
• How to turn casual fans into people who travel to your shows using data insights
• Why most artists completely misunderstand what their audience actually wants

Stop guessing and start knowing. Your fans are giving you all the data you need to build a sustainable career - you just need to know how to read it.

Looking for more insights on your artist journey? Join us November 22nd at The Joinery for industry education, networking, and career-defining connections. We're covering the same essential topics as the major conferences - monetization, brand building, industry evolution - plus professional headshots, pitch consultations, and premium food and drinks. We sold out last year, so don't wait. Get tickets at chicagomusicnexus.com

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx