Balanced Breakfast: Nashville. (Photo by Chelsea White; used with permission)
The music industry can be a lonely place if you don’t know where to meet people. Thankfully, there are some amazing communities both online and in person to help you connect with others who truly want to support you. They turn the ever-scary thought of networking into what it’s really meant to be – a way to build relationships and form friendships.
1. Music Launch Hub (Online)
Facebook groups are a dime a dozen, and they tend to lack substance and quality control. That’s where Music Launch Hub steps in as one of the newest, and best digital platforms for connecting with like-minded musicians and industry pros.
What makes the Hub different is because it isn’t a place to spam your music and post quick “dropped a new single!”-style posts that no one is going to listen to. It’s a safe space to ask questions, get to know your peers, and offer advice to those who need it.
If you’re the type of person who is all about “me, me, me,” and if you ask yourself, “What do I get out of this?” before doing anything, then this isn’t for you. But if you’re someone who's genuinely looking to support others in the industry and build strong, meaningful, lasting connections, then sign up here, because you’ve found your tribe.
2. Balanced Breakfast (US)
Balanced Breakfast was my first introduction into how amazing the music community can be. I had just moved to San Francisco and launched my company, Muddy Paw PR, and I was emailing San Francisco blogs in the hopes of a human interest-style feature. What I got was so much more valuable.
It was through one of those emails that I met one of the founders of Balanced Breakfast, Stefan Aronsen, who invited me out to their weekly Thursday meeting from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (“because 8:00 a.m. means you’re serious”).
I ventured out that week and every week after, hardly missing a single one in the seven months I was there. It changed my life. Never before had I met such an amazing, caring, loyal group of people as I did through Balanced Breakfast.
Since then, it’s expanded to 12 cities across North America including Denver, Toronto, and Boston, but its most active cities remain San Francisco, Nashville, San Jose, East Bay, Austin, and Los Angeles. You can see if it’s currently in your city right here.
If you’re not sure where the one in your city currently meets reach out to Balanced Breakfast here, or you can reach out to one of the emails listed under each individual city.
3. Kismet Thoughts (Toronto, ON)
This is another new one that’s taking the community by storm. Founded by music blogger Alison Perdue and named after her blog, Kismet Thoughts is a once-a-month meet up that talks musicians and industry professionals through the roadblocks they’re experiencing – be it social media marketing, mapping out a business plan, or managing money as an artist/business.
What’s so fantastic about this meetup (besides the founder being insanely sweet and usually providing banana bread) is that it’s right in downtown Toronto. There are always notes made available after the meetings, so you can pay attention without worrying you’re missing anything. Like the other groups, it’s made up of a mix of musicians and industry professionals, so you never need to worry about your question going unanswered.
4. Toronto Women in Music (Toronto, ON)
Sorry fellas, ladies only for this one! When I came to Toronto for what would end up being the first of many trips, I was lucky enough to be introduced to this incredible group of women led by Stacey Howchin.
From the very first meeting, I was made to feel like I was at home. It is, without a doubt, one of the warmest groups I have ever been a part of, and there's such a feeling of inspiration from the moment you walk in the door to the time you leave.
In fact, from the very first meeting onward, I’ve made friends at every event, and no matter how big it gets, the hosts always make time to chat with you and make you feel welcome.
In an industry that's proven itself to not always be a safe or fair space for women to occupy, the Toronto Women in Music group is a beautiful place to celebrate the women of this industry and to work together to create the industry and careers we all want.
You can email the group right here for info on how to get involved and find out more about upcoming meet ups.
Honorable mentions:
- BS Fridays (Toronto, ON)
- Music Tech Meetup (Boston, MA)
- Women In Music (NYC, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, Nashville, Los Angeles, Barbados)
- Habitat Studio Social (Calgary, AB)
Get more networking tips and tricks:
- How to Nail Your Networking and Have Genuine Interactions
- 3 Ways an EPK Can Supercharge Your Networking
- 10 Steps to Master Networking at Music Conferences
- How to Make Meaningful Music Industry Connections (Not Just Contacts)
Angela Mastrogiacomo is the owner of Muddy Paw Public Relations and Infectious Magazine. She has also founded several chapters of the free weekly music industry meetup Balanced Breakfast. Muddy Paw specializes in working with up-and-coming artists on personalized campaigns designed to bring their careers to the next level. To date, they've secured placements on sites such as Noisey, AbsolutePunk, Substream, Property Of Zack, PureVolume, Anti-Music, and many more.
