About Real Musicians Don't Starve

What We're About...

The primary reason why so many talented musicians never accomplish their dream is because they don't have a roadmap to lead them there. Not only is it our goal to help you achieve ALL of your goals along your musical journey, but to provide the roadmap.

Each week on the Real Musicians Don't Starve Podcast, host Michael Elsner interviews some of the world's most successful musicians, and dissects the strategies they’ve implemented to achieve the kind of career every musician dreams about.

If you want to follow your passion and create music full time, this is the podcast for you… because Real Musicians Don’t Starve!

About Your Host...

I was raised in the artistic community of Woodstock, NY, music has been a fundamental part of my life since as far back as I can remember. There was never doubt that my career would be fully centered around this creative endeavor. This journey has allowed me to live in both Los Angeles and Nashville, where my career has provided 4 main musical outlets: Guitarist, Songwriter / Composer, Producer & Instructor / Consultant.

Guitarist

As a guitarist, I have played on sessions for a multitude of television, album and film projects.

My solo album Stained Voodoo took home the award for Instrumental Album of the Year at the LA Music Awards and I’ve also written an instructional method book titled Introspective Guitar.

I've traveled to multiple countries throughout the world, as well as toured most of the Continental United States, as a sideman for rock, pop, latin, and country artists.

One of the highlights of my career was sharing guitar credits with some of my earliest influences including Paul Gilbert, Richie Kotzen, and Greg Howe, on Jeff Bowders’ The Pilgrimage of Thingamuhjig.

Songwriter & Composer

As a songwriter and composer, my songs have been placed in over 180 individual television series, accounting for over 850 individual episodes.

Many of the tracks I've written have also been licensed for international commercials and film trailers.

See below for an extensive list of TV Show, Film and Commercial Placements...

Sheila E and The E Family recorded my song “I Like It,” which was released as the first single from their Now & Forever album.

I wrote the theme song for the Saturday Morning TV Show “The Young Icons,” which is now in its 9th season.

Currently I am working on a number of musical projects through my Trailer Music production company SonicTremor.

Producer

Music Production has been a passion of mine since I was a teenager. As an early adopter of ProTools, I've had my own personal studio since 2002. Along the way I've been able to produce albums not only for myself, but for other artists as well.

After working with so many songwriters and producers who are not primarily guitarists, I found that often times they just need a fresh dose of musical inspiration, and something new that they can take and start crafting their songs around. So, in partnership with Big Fish Audio and Vir2 Instruments, I co-produced 2 guitar based Virtual Instruments: "Acoustic Legends" and “APOLLO: Cinematic Guitars” as well as the look library: “Steel & Wood: Acoustic Songwriter Sessions.”

Instructor & Personal Coaching

Licensing my music catalog to TV shows, Films, Commercials, Video Games, and Film/Game Trailers has been an integral part of my career for the last 15 years. With over 2000 placements to my name, it’s an incredible joy for me to share with others the process that I’ve used to generate those placements.

I authored an E-book titled: The 4 Step Plan to Licensing Success, that simply outlined strategy to generating consistent placements. The profound response I received from this book led me to create the Master Music Licensing Program.

The process of teaching others how to pursue their passions, and achieve their own musical dreams, has been the most personally fulfilling thing I've ever done in my career.

As the popularity of my blog, articles and online program have grown, many musicians began asking for advice and direction for their own career pursuits. With the Real Musicians Don’t Starve Podcast, musicians throughout the world would be learning directly from the world’s most successful musicians. There are recurring systems and strategies that all of these successful musicians use - THIS IS THE ROADMAP - and it’s my pleasure to share it with you.

Song Placements & Original Score

TV / Film Credits as a Guitarist

Podcasts & Written Features

The Career Musician Podcast
Art 2 Income Podcast
The Savvy Musician Show with Leah McHenry
The Music Industry Blueprint with Rick Barker
The Charron Zone: Music-Business-Life
Female Entrepreneur Musician with Bree Noble
The Star Singer Podcast
Making Money in the Music Business
Smart Music Business Podcast
The Business Side of Music Podcast
The Rich Redmond Show
Collectible Guitar Magazine
Hacking Music: The Music Business Model Canvas

Speak Engagements and Guest Lectures

Full Sail University
Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Darkhorse Institute
Propellerheads Producer’s Conference
A3E
Immerse Music Conference

Amazing Feature