In this episode Blasko and Mike take questions from listener Brandon on where to best spend time and effort as an independent band, how to get on larger tour packages, and benefits of an agent. Read Brandon’s letter and tune in to hear Blasko and Mike weigh in! --- Hi guys,   Love the show. I found out about it a few months ago and have since managed to binge all the episodes.   #1 I play for a rather noisy, chaotic hardcore band out of Phoenix, AZ  I've found that in promoting and booking shows for the band, we can cast a small net in the niche genre and have a pretty good conversion rate for new fans. That much smaller pool of fans however often has heard of bands within a similar style and aren't always the "die hard" ones that are attending every show and buying up our merch. The opposite is going for a much wider audience where fan conversion is a hit or miss, but when it works it's usually the first time that they've heard something of our type. So my question is, being an independent band without a big team behind us, where do you feel a bands time and efforts are best spent?   #2 Our band has been fairly successful in playing one off national shows in our region. It seems that the promoters and touring bands like us too as we continue to get asked back for shows. What we haven't found is how to convert that into touring as support for a larger band. Instead, we're normally out there doing DIY headliners or taking bands of equal or smaller pulls. So my question is, in your opinion what are some good ways to approach getting on larger tour packages? Is it truly all in having a tour agent and/or paying for the spot?   Thanks for giving artists an invaluable resource for this ever changing industry.   Have a good one!   Brandon --- Email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices