Session Two: I Have No Money! What Now? The Music Business Demystified Workshop Series

Session Two: I Have No Money! What Now? Budgeting and Working Within a Small Budget

In this session, we will cover everything from budgeting and how to do a lot with a little, to negotiating fair contracts, what to avoid spending money on, and where to invest most effectively (for your particular situation). Most musicians work with a tiny budget, and many people cite money as a roadblock to furthering their careers. This panel will share specific anecdotes about how they got around a system not built for the “starving artist.” Unfortunately, some people take advantage of independent artists. Let’s talk about how to avoid these situations and advocate for ourselves in these less-than-ideal situations.

 The session will be three parts. The first part is a panel discussion with experts in this particular area; the second part will include a Q&A with the panel; and then the last part will be a hands-on activity.

PANELISTS

Shane McLaughlin is a performer, songwriter, booking agent, and music educator based in Pittsburgh.  He has toured the country with his group Buffalo Rose, where he sings and plays guitar, while also serving as the band’s booking agent, manager, and tour manager.  With Buffalo Rose, he has played NPR’s Mountain Stage, DelFest, the Rochester Jazz Festival, and shared the stage with Jessica Simpson, Tyler Childers, and Tom Paxton.  His compositions have been featured in American Songwriter and NPR All Songs Considered, and Buffalo Rose’s song “The Soil and the Seed” won the Grand Prize at the International Acoustic Music Awards.  As a session musician and artist, he has contributed to 30 recording projects and has 35 commissioned works and published co-writes. He was most recently featured in the record-breaking performance of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, presented by City Theatre and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust at the Greer Cabaret Theatre.  Buffalo Rose has seven releases, most recently a collection of covers entitled “All You Can Eat,” which is available for streaming and purchase everywhere! Find him on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and see more on his website.

Byron Nash is a Pittsburgh-based guitarist, songwriter, and performer best known as the guitarist and co-founder of the funk-rock-soul band NASH.V.ILL. A mainstay of the Pittsburgh music scene, he has shared the stage with a striking range of national acts — from hip-hop heavyweights Pharrell, Busta Rhymes, Redman, and Method Man, to rock legends Living Colour and Lita Ford.

Beyond performing, Byron is a savvy marketer, aggressive promoter, and respected businessman, running his own independent music company, BNDEEPendent Music LLC. His industry résumé includes three years as Community Engagement and Events Coordinator for The Warhol (The Pop District), Creative Director for Helltown Brewing(2021–2023) — where he collaborated on the brewery’s own signature beer, BLQ Metal IPA — and Talent Booking Manager/Stage Manager for the 2025 Barrel and Flow Beer Festival. He also founded his own event coordination company, BLQ METAL Productions. Social media: FB/IG/TikTok @byronnashmusic. YouTube. For more, visit his website. 

Tory Silver (she/they) is a queer songwriter and indie-rock musician based in Pittsburgh, PA. Inspired by the emotional highs and lows of life’s quiet consistencies, Tory weaves elements of garage rock and indie pop to channel the small joys and inevitable uncertainties of residing in a body.

Tory and her band have toured across the Northeast and Midwest and have opened for indie phenoms including Bartees Strange, Katy Kirby, Remember Sports, Ezra Furman, and Summer Salt.

Tory just released her third album, In Through the Front with Lasers, produced by Jay Som, and out on Pittsburgh-based label Michi Tapes. Check out their socials here.

The Music Business De-Mystified is a four-session workshop series designed to help independent musicians advocate, book, market, and release music for themselves. Each session includes a professional panel and hands-on activities. You can purchase workshops individually or as a four-part bundle.

Session One: October 8
Do I Really Need to Sell Myself?: Marketing and Image Building

Session Two: November 19
I Have No Money! What Now?: Budgeting and Working Within a Small Budget

Session Three: January 7
I Have the Songs! Now What?: Recording and Releasing Music

Session Four: February 4
Nobody is Answering My Emails!: Booking Locally and Touring