In this episode, we unpack a truth that hits home for so many creatives: "If a great artist does not work, it's 95% because of a mentality problem." Join me as we explore why talent and skill alone aren’t enough and how the mindset of an artist can be the single biggest factor in their productivity and success. We’ll dive into the mental blocks that hold artists back, from fear of failure and perfectionism to self-doubt and procrastination, and discuss practical strategies to overcome these hurdles. Whether you're struggling to stay motivated, doubting your worth, or facing the pressure of creative burnout, this episode is here to remind you that mindset is everything—and changing it can unlock your true potential. Tune in and start transforming your artistic journey from the inside out.

I’ve been hosting this podcast for quite some time now, and I’m thrilled with the success it has achieved so far. However, I’ve noticed that some of my earlier episodes— which are still highly relevant and evergreen—haven’t received as much attention as they deserve. So, I’ve decided to re-upload these valuable episodes to give you another chance to dive into them.

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the podcast, and don’t forget to like and share it with fellow musicians. Your support means the world and helps us grow together!

Send me a text message with your comments, questions and requests for topics

Find Mike's Music, Schedule, Podcasts, Sheet Music (PDF's) and Socials on www.mikedelferro.com

For private online Sessions and Webinars, requests for Topics or other Questions, Email to: clinics@mikedelferro.com

Or send a Voice Message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/mikedelferro

Join the forum/user groups on Telegram.

I also host another, personal Podcast: "The Mike del Ferro Podcast". Listen my Mike’s travel stories, interviews with fascinating people I have been encountering on my international journey, some psychology for musicians , humor and much more. Listen on your favorite Podcast app

Mike del Ferro's YouTube Channel

Listen to Mike on Spotify / Apple Music and Tidal

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...

A solo piano recording of mine that was featured on a major Spotify editorial playlist. The track reached nearly two million streams, and my monthly listener count soared to as many as 58,000. And then something happened......

Send me a text message with your comments, questions and requests for topics

Find Mike's Music, Schedule, Podcasts, Sheet Music (PDF's) and Socials on www.mikedelferro.com

For private online Sessions and Webinars, requests for Topics or other Questions, Email to: clinics@mikedelferro.com

Or send a Voice Message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/mikedelferro

Join the forum/user groups on Telegram.

I also host another, personal Podcast: "The Mike del Ferro Podcast". Listen my Mike’s travel stories, interviews with fascinating people I have been encountering on my international journey, some psychology for musicians , humor and much more. Listen on your favorite Podcast app

Mike del Ferro's YouTube Channel

Listen to Mike on Spotify / Apple Music and Tidal

Instagram

Facebook

Piano Transcriptions / SheetMusic and PDF's as played by Mike

Piano Tutorials

Twitter
...

Today, I’m tackling one of the most frustrating things in the music business: sending the perfect email to a venue, festival, or booking agent and hearing absolutely nothing back.

It's so easy to let your ego take over and convince you that your music just isn't good enough. But I'm here to tell you the first rule of self-management: do not take it personally.

In this quick episode, I break down exactly what’s actually happening behind the scenes in a promoter's inbox. I also share my go-to strategies to help you cut through the noise and finally get a response

Send me a text message with your comments, questions and requests for topics

Find Mike's Music, Schedule, Podcasts, Sheet Music (PDF's) and Socials on www.mikedelferro.com

For private online Sessions and Webinars, requests for Topics or other Questions, Email to: clinics@mikedelferro.com

Or send a Voice Message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/mikedelferro

Join the forum/user groups on Telegram.

I also host another, personal Podcast: "The Mike del Ferro Podcast". Listen my Mike’s travel stories, interviews with fascinating people I have been encountering on my international journey, some psychology for musicians , humor and much more. Listen on your favorite Podcast app

Mike del Ferro's YouTube Channel

Listen to Mike on Spotify / Apple Music and Tidal

Instagram

Facebook

Piano Transcriptions / SheetMusic and PDF's as played by Mike

Piano Tutorials

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In this (replay) Episode: Managing the business side of music can feel overwhelming for many artists, often putting a strain on their creative flow. In this short episode, I share two practical tips to help you strike the perfect balance—so you can stay focused on your art without sacrificing your music career. Tune in to keep both your creativity and your business thriving,

I’ve been hosting this podcast for quite some time now, and I’m thrilled with the success it has achieved so far. However, I’ve noticed that some of my earlier episodes— which are still highly relevant and evergreen—haven’t received as much attention as they deserve. So, I’ve decided to re-upload these valuable episodes to give you another chance to dive into them.

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the podcast, and don’t forget to like and share it with fellow musicians. Your support means the world and helps us grow together!

Send me a text message with your comments, questions and requests for topics

Find Mike's Music, Schedule, Podcasts, Sheet Music (PDF's) and Socials on www.mikedelferro.com

For private online Sessions and Webinars, requests for Topics or other Questions, Email to: clinics@mikedelferro.com

Or send a Voice Message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/mikedelferro

Join the forum/user groups on Telegram.

I also host another, personal Podcast: "The Mike del Ferro Podcast". Listen my Mike’s travel stories, interviews with fascinating people I have been encountering on my international journey, some psychology for musicians , humor and much more. Listen on your favorite Podcast app

Mike del Ferro's YouTube Channel

Listen to Mike on Spotify / Apple Music and Tidal

Instagram

Facebook

Piano Transcriptions / SheetMusic and PDF's as played by Mike

Piano Tutorials

Twitter
...

A Note on This Episode:

I’ve also released this Episode on my personal Podcast (The Mike del Ferro Podcast), but because I’m now also focusing on Mindset Episodes in this series, I felt it was useful to share it here as well.

A big part of my musical identity and my approach to the "inner game" comes from the 10 years I spent with Toots Thielemans. I learned so much from Toots about mindset and professional mentality, and I talk about those experiences a lot in this interview.

-

I recently sat down with Alexandre Piret, a dedicated researcher and musicologist who is currently conducting in-depth academic research on the life and music of Toots Thielemans.

In this episode, which is part of my Podcast series "Echoes of Toots Thielemans", where I interview Harmonica Players, Alexandre interviews me about my ten-year collaboration with Toots. It was a humbling experience to revisit those memories—not just the technical aspects of accompanying such a unique instrument, but the personal moments we shared on tours around the world.

We discuss the nuances of Toots' playing, the chemistry we built on stage, and the "echoes" of his influence that I still feel in my own music today. If you are interested in the history of jazz or the legacy of Toots, I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Send me a text message with your comments, questions and requests for topics

Find Mike's Music, Schedule, Podcasts, Sheet Music (PDF's) and Socials on www.mikedelferro.com

For private online Sessions and Webinars, requests for Topics or other Questions, Email to: clinics@mikedelferro.com

Or send a Voice Message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/mikedelferro

Join the forum/user groups on Telegram.

I also host another, personal Podcast: "The Mike del Ferro Podcast". Listen my Mike’s travel stories, interviews with fascinating people I have been encountering on my international journey, some psychology for musicians , humor and much more. Listen on your favorite Podcast app

Mike del Ferro's YouTube Channel

Listen to Mike on Spotify / Apple Music and Tidal

Instagram

Facebook

Piano Transcriptions / SheetMusic and PDF's as played by Mike

Piano Tutorials

Twitter
...

Hi Everybody, Mike del Ferro here.

First off, I want to say that the success of Self Management for Musicians has been incredible, and I deeply appreciate every one of you who listens and shares the show.

However, I have faced a challenge recently: I cannot be as productive as I want to be due to my heavy international touring schedule all year round. I want to keep providing the information you appreciate, but the editing time has become a bottleneck.

Here is how I am solving this:

• Introducing AI Narration: I have been experimenting with AI-generated voices, and I am very impressed with the quality. Moving forward, I will be utilizing this technology for narration. This is a massive time-saver regarding editing and will allow me to return to a consistent schedule.
• New Schedule: Thanks to this workflow change, I will be back to producing and releasing new episodes every 2 weeks.
• New Name & Focus: I have decided to dedicate more episodes to the mental aspect of our industry. To reflect this, I am officially changing the name of the podcast to "Self Management and Mindset for Musicians".

I love sharing my experiences with you, and these changes ensure I can keep doing that consistently, no matter where I am in the world.

Let me know what you think of these developments, and please keep sharing this podcast with your colleagues.

Send me a text message with your comments, questions and requests for topics

Find Mike's Music, Schedule, Podcasts, Sheet Music (PDF's) and Socials on www.mikedelferro.com

For private online Sessions and Webinars, requests for Topics or other Questions, Email to: clinics@mikedelferro.com

Or send a Voice Message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/mikedelferro

Join the forum/user groups on Telegram.

I also host another, personal Podcast: "The Mike del Ferro Podcast". Listen my Mike’s travel stories, interviews with fascinating people I have been encountering on my international journey, some psychology for musicians , humor and much more. Listen on your favorite Podcast app

Mike del Ferro's YouTube Channel

Listen to Mike on Spotify / Apple Music and Tidal

Instagram

Facebook

Piano Transcriptions / SheetMusic and PDF's as played by Mike

Piano Tutorials

Twitter
...

In a world dominated by streaming, the choice to release CDs is a decision that artists and creators grapple with. Join me as I delve into the heart of this dilemma, exploring the pros and cons of releasing CDs in a digital age. From the nostalgia and tangibility of physical copies and Vinyl to the convenience and reach of streaming platforms.

Disclaimer: I’ve been hosting this podcast for quite some time now, and I’m thrilled with the success it has achieved so far. However, I’ve noticed that some of my earlier episodes— which are still highly relevant and evergreen—haven’t received as much attention as they deserve. So, I’ve decided to re-upload these valuable episodes to give you another chance to dive into them.

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the podcast, and don’t forget to like and share it with fellow musicians. Your support means the world and helps us grow together!

Send me a text message with your comments, questions and requests for topics

Find Mike's Music, Schedule, Podcasts, Sheet Music (PDF's) and Socials on www.mikedelferro.com

For private online Sessions and Webinars, requests for Topics or other Questions, Email to: clinics@mikedelferro.com

Or send a Voice Message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/mikedelferro

Join the forum/user groups on Telegram.

I also host another, personal Podcast: "The Mike del Ferro Podcast". Listen my Mike’s travel stories, interviews with fascinating people I have been encountering on my international journey, some psychology for musicians , humor and much more. Listen on your favorite Podcast app

Mike del Ferro's YouTube Channel

Listen to Mike on Spotify / Apple Music and Tidal

Instagram

Facebook

Piano Transcriptions / SheetMusic and PDF's as played by Mike

Piano Tutorials

Twitter
...