Great Exposure

On episode #80, Tanner dives into what might prevent him from hiring someone for a gig. Here are a few "pet peeves" on what not to do, or, things to focus on to better your professional music career!

Well, it's been awhile. Figured I'd record a short episode to update our listeners! As you'll hear in this episode, something that has been on my mind lately is that we as humans, and in this case musicians, cannot please everyone with our talents.

Catch Jacob at Whiskey Row Gilbert on 10/17, and at The Westin Kierland's OktoberWest on 10/18.Jacob's new single, "Little Back Home" out on 10/17 on all streaming platforms!About Jacob:Originally from Gilbert, Arizona, Jacob is a rising country artist whose passion for music and songwriting brought him to Nashville in the summer of 2021. A devoted family man and proud new dad, he's finding fresh inspiration in fatherhood — channeling those life-changing moments into honest, heartfelt lyrics. Known for his energetic live performances and storytelling that resonates, Jacob is carving his own lane in the country music scene.Blending the grit of traditional country with a breezy, roll-your-windows-down vibe, his sound reflects both his desert roots and his love for easygoing, beach-inspired melodies. Influenced by artists ranging from Eric Church and Zac Brown Band to James Taylor and The Eagles, Jacob has crafted a style that bridges his West Coast upbringing with the backbone of Music City. At its core, his music is a celebration of family, home, and the stories that connect us all.

Laura Walsh is a Las Vegas-based pop artist blending high-gloss production with emotional intensity. After spending seven years in Nashville developing her sound, she's now carving out a bold new identity from the West Coast. Her latest single GREEN LIGHT captures the energy of this new era - an edgy, cinematic pop track that follows previous releases like Delilah and Bad Boyfriend, with more to come in 2025.

Shawn Edwards is a veteran open-format DJ from Chicago with over 25 years of experience. After overcoming major health challenges, he moved to Arizona a few years ago and is already making a name for himself in the Scottsdale and Greater Phoenix scene. Known for his seamless blends of House, EDM, Rock, and Top 40, Shawn brings both passion and resilience to every set, proving that music isn’t just entertainment—it’s his road back.

DJ 3rd Degree, also known as Tim Jaffe, is a seasoned DJ, rapper, singer, and producer with over 40 years of experience in the music industry. Born in Philadelphia, PA but raised in the West San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, he grew up around music and entertainment. Throughout his extensive career, DJ 3rd Degree has been involved in various facets of the music industry, including retail at Tower Records in the late 1980s, and as a DJ and MC with groups Super Dank Brothers and The Los Angeles Classics (The L.A.C.), along with doing promotion and booking of shows and festivals. He has also been a host of radio and internet shows since 1996, such as The Coast-to-Coast Hip Hop Show, and currently The Coast-to-Coast Radio Show (all 80s format) which airs live on Sundays on blackcultureradio.com

OLD TOWN LOVE is the soulful duo of Dennis and Julianne Williams—a married couple whose music blends acoustic rhythm, heartfelt lyrics, and modern soul. From cover gigs to crafting their own sound in historic Old Town Scottsdale, they’ve become known for creating intimate, groove-driven performances that connect with audiences. Their debut single “Like Me” (out July 31, 2025) is a powerful anthem of growth, love, and embracing your story.

It has been way too long, but we are back! My guest on episode #73 is vocalist Venessa Mendez. She has been a prominent vocalist and performer for 10+ years in Arizona, also offering performance coaching for aspiring entertainers!

Casey Ryan, formerly of the act Hymn & Her, is a singer-songwriter out of the Pacific Northwest currently signed under Cosmic Wire/Universal Records. He has performed over 250 shows a year in more than 20 countries since his inception into the music scene in 2015; performing with artists in the likes of James Bay, Dermot Kennedy, Dashboard Confessional, and more.His music, which has received regional/national acclaim on radio and magazines alike has garnished close to 1 million streams on Spotify and tens of thousands of downloads through all distribution networks.

Financial advisor, business owner, worship leader, professional musician. TJ Rifkin is one of the hardest working local musicians in Arizona and has made a name for himself.On this episode, we get into the mistakes self-employed individuals can make in their finances, as well as TJ's hot take on using an iPad at gigs.

Sammi Martinez is back on the podcast for her 2nd time! We talk about her new single "Wedding Bells to Goodbye", concert etiquette, all the songs Benny Blanco has written, and much more.

Jake Gillespie is a professional drummer, producer, and engineer based in Arizona.

Cole Clark is a musician and songwriter based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is known for playing traditional country, bluegrass, and folk music, and for creating his own distinct sound. You can catch him performing solo or with his band, the High Horse Honky-Tonk Band, all across the valley

Brittney Novelli is back on the pod, where we talk about powerful personalities, rap lyrics that make no sense, and some talk about production.

Hey, we're back!! It's been way too long, but glad to be back in a new studio, and finally had some time this week.For the third time, Aaron Menezes is back. We covered so many topics including, the Superbowl Halftime show with Kendrick, highest grossing tours of all time, drum solos, and lava lamps?

Aaron Menezes joins Tanner for the second time this year for episode 65! We cover his new song, and the production of it, plus a fun game called "hypothetical situations", and do NOTS while on a gig.

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Lance Robinson is one of the original DJ's that Groove Booking started working with 2017. Lance is a veteran in the DJ community, but also in drum line for high school and college marching band. We hope you enjoy episode 63 of the Great Exposure podcast!

On episode #62, Tanner recaps his experience at the Phoenix Sabrina Carpenter concert, and Brittney starts educating Tanner on Brianna Chickenfry.

DJ, musician, and vocalist Sterling Rodgers and I chat a lot about being a wedding DJ on this episode. Lots of great insight from Sterling on how to read a crowd, and the ins and outs of being a great DJ for any event.

Brian Chartrand is back for episode #60 of Great Exposure/So The Story Goes Co-Pod! Brian is currently traveling the world with several different projects, but was nice enough to give me his time for a podcast where we continue on the topic of fair pay for musicians, and also logistics of traveling the world as a touring act.

On episode 59 of Great Exposure, Kimberly Weston and Tanner dive deep into the topic of compensation for entertainers, and how to keep improving our industry as musicians, and booking agents. About Kimberly: Genre bending recording artist, poet, and lyricist. Expanding concepts in religion, love, and the human condition through provoking lyrics and the love of all things jazz! Concept band consists of her female trio with upright bass, keys, and three part harmony vocals creating inspired music from Kim Weston's book of poetry "For Love & Melodies". Performs as a duo to full six-piece band at venues such as Performing Arts Centers, The Nash and beyond. She has released nine originals and is finishing her first album in vinyl. Originals are available to hear wherever you stream music. Her jazz producer is Clarke Rigsby and works with an impressive list of top talents. Song style is influenced by jazz standards while lyrics and vocals embody relevant cultural themes with an eye on the future. When not performing her own music the band enjoys putting a seducing spin on crowd favorites such as covers from Norah Jones, The Police, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and everyones favorite jazz standards. Her original songs have been described as smart and playful with an obvious appreciation for jazz musicianship.

Colton Avery is back on the podcast with his new single release of "Fashion". We thought it would be fun to break down the production process from demo, to the final version. We also get into a lot of other production talk since we are both working together on the reproduction of songs for a new client. We hope you enjoy!

Episode #57 is here, and Brittney is back with Tanner to discuss all things music industry. This week we chat about the importance of having quality sound systems in your restaurant, the ongoing struggle of establishments wanting local artists to bring a crowd, amongst other topics. If you like this podcast, please give @thegreatexposurepod and @groovebooking a follow on social media! Thank you for listening.

Sammi Martinez is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Chandler, Arizona. She started singing for audiences and playing the piano when she was just 4 years old. At age 11 she taught herself guitar and started writing songs at age 12. Sammi has competed in several talent competitions including being a finalist Alice Cooper's "Proof is in the Pudding." She was selected to perform at Tempe Center for the Arts for their "In the Spotlight" show. You can find her performing her own gigs around the Phoenix area.  On this episode, Sammi and Tanner get into the state of social media; TikTok, Instagram, and the algorithm of getting noticed. We also talk about Taylor Swift's songwriting through the years and how it has progressed to her being the biggest touring pop artist of our generation.

Tanner and Brittney are back for another hot take episode. We discuss Tanner going to a Creed concert and how we feel about entertainers using their public platform to preach.

Recent guest, Kash Jaeger, is currently on tour with Laur Elle, supporting the band Emarosa. Kash was nice enough to introduce Laur Elle with Tanner for episode #54! If she’s not on your playlists already, be prepared to be obsessed with Laur Elle — as a singer-songwriter who has always been enamored by the power of words, the indie pop artist is a true, multi-talented self-starter through and through. After time as an internationally competitive gymnast representing her country abroad, and now splitting time between her hometown in Canada and Los Angeles, CA, Laur Elle immersed herself in the creative community and has quickly proven that while poetry was her artistic starting point, music is truly her calling. Laur Elle’s music starts with her pen and her guitar. Her airy vocals, grounded lyrics, and lush sound create the perfect vehicle for escapism — a sound she calls perfect for running (or, more appropriately, driving) away from problems. There’s never been a better time to get on Laur Elle’s wave than here in the wake of her debut album, Delayed Reaction, a sonic road trip “born out of a state of chaos.” She reflects on the project, describing it as “a combination of heartaches, reflections, and making mistakes.” Throughout Laur Elle’s music, there’s a consistent current of honesty and relatability: “Backseat Driving” and “Coach’s Daughter” feature grounded pop-country elements (with the latter also nodding to her background as an athlete), while the upbeat “Burning Out” explodes in a hyperpop bridge hand-crafted for a contagiously cathartic live show environment. “Even when experimenting with other genres, the record still feels cohesive. It still feels like me” she confirms. This is just the beginning for Laur Elle, always aiming to offer solace to listeners with her not-so-secret weapon — her pen.

Born in Irving, Tx and exposed to the Honky-Tonk scene from a young age, Jaty has been singing and playing guitar for over 25 years. Jaty started his career as a professional musician in Columbus, Ohio, where he won the Rude Dog Music Competition, the Buckeye Lake Winery Battle of the Bands, and was the winner of the Columbus Songwriters Association: 2014 Songwriters Showdown. At the end of 2015 he moved back to Arizona where he began building a band. With a rock influenced, upbeat country set, the band is now focused on Jaty’s original music, and growing their fanbase in Arizona. The band, now known as Jaty & the Black Stallions, plays shows for crowds across Arizona and at Phoenix favorites, Bourbon Jacks Chandler, Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row, Handlebar J and more.

Kash Jaeger is a drummer, musical director, and producer based in Phoenix, AZ. Known for his versatility, Kash has collaborated with a range of artists, including recent American Idol winner Abi Carter, the legendary emo band Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Carr, Laur Elle, Sorry X, and many more. At just 27, he has performed on stages from intimate club settings to grand arenas. Kash's greatest strength lies in his unwavering commitment to a "gold standard" mindset, bringing excellence and passion to every performance and production.

On episode #51 Brittney and Tanner get into "Brat Summer" and how house music is now made its way into main stream pop. We also continue our past topic of mixing in key, and how Tanner is struggling with the learning curve of doing just that.

Whether it's experiencing heartbreak from a young age or her nostalgia for youth, the 18-year old singer-songwriter Alex Krimm transcends the ideas of modern day grief through her songs. While this may sound heavy, Krimm beautifully writes about her experiences in a way that captivates you from the start. Her music creates a sense of peace within the chaos of her emotions. Alex Krimm was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and spent her childhood performing for friends and family. Krimm has been writing her own songs and performing them live since she was 15-years old at local performances in both Arizona and California. At 17-years old, Krimm moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles, California to pursue her musical endeavors full time. Krimm is currently recording her debut album which is scheduled to release later this year. The buzz around Alex Krimm's future is no little thing, she is ready to have to the world hear what she has to say.

Nikki Shue is a gigging veteran that started off learning how to gig at open mics and coffee shops. Her story is enlightening with the struggles of making it a full time living, and overcoming different obstacles.

We're so back. Episode #48 with firefighter, paramedic, and country sangin', classic rock guitar slangin', Jake Jones. enjoy.

I am sorry that the podcast has not been super consistent lately. Here is an update on what's going on!

On this week's episode, we dive into making the decision of playing music as a full time living, and what you should consider before doing so.

Visiting AZ his entire life, his love for the desert made the move from Chicago in 2022, looking to share his knowledge and style of DJing with Arizona. We get into the differences of the music business from state to state.

Deal James is one of the most unique artists Groove Booking has worked with. His funky style and remix of songs has led to him being a favorite in any city that he performs in. Most recently, Deal moved to New York City to play music full time, and is now splitting time between NYC and Arizona once again. We chat a lot about what it takes to not only perform, but simply live in NYC.

Co-Host Brittney Novelli is back for another episode. On #44, we got into the topic of music license companies coming after establishments harder than ever, making it harder to even offer live music to clients.

Randy Daniel is a professional DJ, singer, and owner of a production company. He has performed at hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants, and weddings, with most recently putting his great singing voice to use on the same sort of gigs.

Aaron Menezes is a multi-taltented vocalist, guitarist, producer, and musical director. Originally from LA, Aaron is now one of Groove Booking's most booked Phoenix artists. Be prepared for lots of John Mayer talk, because we are both fan boys. We also get into being a church MD, as well as what being a "producer" really is.

Originally from Michigan, Jenn McMillan brought her musical talents to Arizona in 2017. I really enjoyed getting to know Jenn. We cover topics about how easily the music industry can be devalued, the importance of booking agencies, and the unfortunate occasional gig where no one shows up 😬

Phelan Parker has been a professional DJ, sax, and flute player for 20+ years. I enjoyed getting to sit down and chat about his expertise and stories of the music business.

Jacob Morris is back in town visiting from Nashville for a weekend full of shows in the Phoenix area. We cover what it's been like for Jacob being a full time working artist in Nashville, his story of performing in the country of Turkey, promoting yourself on social media as an original artist, and other complete nonsense.

Phoenix based singer songwriter Kurtis Adair was born in Bellingham, WA and raised in Arizona. He has been putting on solo performances and working as a multi-instrumentalist in various groups across the western U.S. specializing in alternative, rock, folk, and americana.

Welcome back for episode #37 of Great Exposure with Tanner Siegfort and Brittney Novelli. We first recap Tanner's first music festival experience. Brittney has questions about backing tracks after attending a live show, and we get into the Drake and Kendrick diss tracks.

Katherine Garcia is a licensed professional therapist, and owner of White Lotus Therapy Services, and Black Clover Enterprises; business coaching. Mental health has always been very important to Tanner. "I've struggled with anxiety for the majority of my life, and as I've become a professional in the music industry, I've realized many other creative people struggle in the same way". Having Katherine on an episode was important to me, and she offers so much insight on how to overcome mental health struggles that many of us experience.

Tanner and Brittney are back for episode #35. Tanner is going (went) to Sick New World festival in Las Vegas. We get to talking about ins and outs of attending massive music festivals, and other random topics.

Shane Travis is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Fresh off the road with artist Evan Honer, I had lots of questions to ask about touring, and the quick rise to popularity through social media.

For the second time, the front man of Vinyl Station, Matt Thornton. From being hypnotized, to ideas on how to fix making money from streaming, we seemed to cover a lot. And getting off topic, a lot.

Episode #32! Brittney Novelli is back with me as we talk about the many sub genres of house music, our best and worst gig experiences, and much more.