In Part 2 of this Backstage Money conversation, host Jason K Powers continues his discussion with Danny Zelisko, veteran concert promoter and founder of Danny Zelisko Presents.

This half of the conversation dives into touring risk, ticket sales realities, and what actually keeps bands alive long term.

Danny explains how promoters evaluate risk, why overpaying for a show can sink everyone involved, and how ticket pricing must match what the market will bear. He shares candid insight on loyalty, competition between promoters, and why chasing higher guarantees without understanding your draw can backfire fast.

The discussion also tackles VIP packages, meet and greets, rising ticket prices, and the growing cost of live entertainment. Danny offers a blunt perspective on what helps artists build sustainable careers versus what accelerates burnout or audience fatigue.

Toward the end, he gives practical advice for up and coming bands on protecting themselves financially, putting agreements in writing, understanding club deals, and avoiding the common mistakes that lead to bad shows and broken relationships.

This episode is essential listening for touring musicians, independent bands, managers, and anyone trying to understand the real economics behind live music.

This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Part 1 covers guarantees, ticket pricing fundamentals, and why some bands get booked while others don’t.

Backstage Money is real-world finance for musicians, where music and money collide through honest conversations with artists and industry professionals who are living it.

Website: https://dzplive.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dannyzeliskopresents

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dzpresents/

X: https://x.com/dzpresents

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backstagemoney

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Listen on all platforms: https://backstagemoney.captivate.fm/listen

Get the free ebook A Musician’s Guide to Infinite Banking

https://1024wealth.com/music

In this episode of Backstage Money, Jason K Powers sits down with Danny Zelisko, a veteran concert promoter whose career spans back to 1974 and includes working with some of the biggest artists in live music history.

Danny shares his origin story and how he got into concert promotion, from discovering music as a teenager to booking his first shows and learning the business through real-world trial and error. He breaks down what concert promoters actually do, how booking decisions are made, and why understanding the market matters more than ego.

The conversation dives into guarantees, ticket pricing, and the hard realities of live music economics. Danny explains why some bands keep getting booked while others don’t, how pricing mistakes can stall careers, and why promoters have to balance risk, audience trust, and long-term relationships.

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Part 2 goes deeper into touring risk, selling tickets, market realities, and what it really takes to survive in live music over the long haul.

Backstage Money is real-world finance for musicians, where music and money collide through honest conversations with artists and industry professionals who are living it.

Website: https://dzplive.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dannyzeliskopresents

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dzpresents/

X: https://x.com/dzpresents

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backstagemoney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backstagemoney

Get the free ebook A Musician’s Guide to Infinite Banking

https://1024wealth.com/music

In this episode of Backstage Money, host Jason K Powers sits down with Justin Longo, founder and CEO of MariNation, a new platform exploring how fans, artists, and data could reshape the way music is funded.

Justin breaks down the problem artists face today, streaming pays more than ever at the industry level, but individual artists see less value per song than ever before. The conversation explores how artists are forced to self-fund releases, tours, and content long before the music ever generates income, and why that financial pressure often stalls creative momentum.

Justin explains how MariNation approaches this challenge through a fantasy-style, risk-free music investing game that tracks real artist performance data, allowing fans to engage with music in a deeper way while competing for real prizes and experiences. The discussion also looks ahead at what the future could hold, including artist equity, fan participation, and new ways artists might fund careers without selling off their rights too early.

This episode is for independent musicians, touring artists, music entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the intersection of music, technology, and financial sustainability.

Backstage Money is real-world finance for musicians, where music and money collide through honest conversations with artists and industry professionals who are living it.

Website: https://marinationmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mari__nation

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mari..nation

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backstagemoney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backstagemoney

Get the free ebook A Musician’s Guide to Infinite Banking

https://1024wealth.com/music