Building a Music Community: NY/AP Music Exchange Founders on Booking, Collaboration, and Local Support
- Stefani M.C. Janelli
- 48 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Phil Robinson and Brian Erickson didn't set out to build a music exchange; it grew organically from years of booking shows, swapping gigs, and showing up for other artists in New York and Asbury Park. Now, as co-founders of the NY/AP Music Exchange, they're bridging two vibrant music scenes, one collaborative show at a time. We sat down with them to talk roots, community, and what it really takes to get booked.
JC: Where did your roots in the music industry begin?
PR: Music, particularly performing, has been THE absolute life-giving force of my life for as long as I can remember— I snuck up on stage as soon as I was able… and basically never left!
BE: I learned guitar when I was in college and learned how to record almost concurrently with that. I also produced a small handful of other artists before I started putting my own voice to tape. Managing others very early on was an unwitting but crucial skill. So that’s probably where all this took root for me.
JC: How did you get into booking shows? When did you start? BE: It started from a place of guilt and a low sense of self-worth, haha! I thought that, unless I was able to offer something to others, I wouldn’t be able to secure anything for myself. So, I just started from there and have been doing show-swaps and bookings of some kind or another for nearly as long as I’ve been playing.
PR: For me, it really just grew out of me talking to venues in my early days, in pursuit of my own gigs— I very quickly learned that when I teamed up with other artists, the whole night became much more appealing not only to the fans, but to the venues booking us as well. Plus, it was way more fun with friends involved!
JC: How did the NY/AP Music Exchange begin? What was your initial motivation?
PR: As a NY-based musician facing the uphill battle of trying to book my first couple of gigs in Asbury Park, and then trying to get enough fans OUT to those gigs where no one in town knew me yet, I quickly realized… Things would be a HELL of a lot easier if I made friends with a few local Asbury Park bands first, to team up with on all of the above!
JC: What is the most important part about supporting local musicians and attending their shows?
BE: What’s that saying, 90% of success is just showing up? I spent a lot of time just showing up. I’d go to events, I’d befriend other bands, all with the end goal of just having a good time and enjoying other people’s art. It gets harder to do as you get older, but I still try to get out as often as I can. A scene needs a good audience as much as it needs good performers.
JC: What is your advice for building a community in the music industry?
PR: To really embrace the idea that “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Musicians can sometimes fall into the trap of viewing musical success as a zero-sum competition and then proceed to cautiously guard their connections, networks, and opportunities from each other. However, if they bring a more cooperative-minded approach and share these resources with like-minded musicians whose aims are in alignment with their own, they’ll likely come into a kind of success that’s genuinely more durable, stable, and longer-lasting, simply because there are many more people involved in the genuine scene that begins to take root from what they’re building.
JC: What are your favorite venues in both NYC and Asbury Park and why?
BE: There was a place in Manhattan called Sullivan Hall which I loved and miss a lot. But still active, I’d likely go with The Bitter End. That can get magical with the right crowd in front of you. Plus, it’s where Donny Hathaway recorded his iconic live record! For Asbury Park, I’ll go with The Wonder Bar. Terrific room, just the right size, respectful staff who are easy to work with, and a top-notch crew running sound!
PR: I have to go with The Stone Pony in Asbury and The Bitter End in NY– playing each of those the first time was a true rite of passage, as if I were crossing over a threshold into a life that I had previously only dreamt about. And as many times as I go back to those stages, whether to perform or to watch friends perform (it really doesn’t matter which!), I’ve never gotten over that initial feeling of “Pinch me, I must be dreaming that I even get to do this.”
JC: How long did it take you to build enough connections to create this music exchange?
BE: It took my whole adult life’s worth of booking and performing to build out the Rolodex. But that said, it’s been worth it so far. And while there’s rarely a shortage of bands, without a good network undergirding your efforts, it’s still hard. Imagine having to send someone an unsolicited email, “Hi, my name is Brian, I’m from the NYAPx, and I’m trying…blah blah blah” as opposed to texting someone, “Hey dude, wanna come play this thing?”
JC: What is your favorite show that you have coordinated so far?
PR: Oh, there are SO MANY, but if I were to specifically put on my ‘as a coordinator’ hat, then I have to say— Carnegie Hall!! Right at the tail end of the pandemic, Victor V. Gurbo and I put on a double-bill concert on the Weill Recital Hall stage at Carnegie Hall (the smaller stage which holds about 300)-– and we SOLD IT OUT!! After that, things really leveled up for each of us. Many doors opened and have remained open ever since.
BE: I coordinate the free Happy Mondays music series at The Wonder Bar with my friend and labelmate Biff Swenson. It’s a decade-long tradition, at least, and it’s passed through several sets of hands over the years. Biff and I were able to convince the staff to bring it back a couple of years ago, and it’s really hit its stride this year. Stuff takes a while to become institutionalized, even in a small town like Asbury Park. But the goal was not to go see XYZ Band or Artist. The goal was, “It’s Monday, we’re going to The Wonder Bar.” And it seems that’s finally happened this season. I was at a wedding recently, and Happy Mondays was mentioned in the vows! So I think that wins.
JC: Do you book artists of all genres or do you have a personal preference? What are your top five tips for artists who want to get booked through your exchange?
PR: Other musicians sometimes get mad at me for saying this first one, but:
1. BE ABLE TO DRAW A CROWD. Figure out what it is you have to offer musically, hone your craft, bring your vision into focus, have a great time doing it, but then… ALSO effectively communicate that out to the world so that the people who would gain something from your music will actually COME OUT and receive it at your live shows! That’s THE thing.
2. Be professional— respond and deliver your materials within deadlines, be upbeat and positive to work with, uphold your commitments.
3. Be a team player— promote the WHOLE night to your fans, and encourage them to come and stay for ALL the bands in the night, not just yours.
4. Leave an online footprint— the actual show is of course the thing, but it’s only a relatively small percentage of your fans that are going to be in the room with you that particular night. In both the lead-up to the show and then the follow-up, capture your online audience’s imagination with photos/videos / artwork/song snippets/captions / etc., so that the event takes on a larger significance in the hearts and minds of your audience.
5. HAVE FUN! Don’t lose sight of the fact that as musicians, we’re basically magical childlike beings valued and appreciated for our ability to PLAY, wear silly costumes, and take delight in the creativity and whimsy of ourselves and our friends… all on a public stage, with cool lighting at venues which are basically musical temples run by passionate believers and decorated with all the coolest shit. The whole deal is pretty friggin’ AWESOME, no?
JC: What is the most valuable piece of information that you have learned during your time in the music industry?
BE: A lot of things are perception-based. Make an event that seems like fun, and people will want to be a part of it. And if they’re not, they’re gonna feel like they missed out and hopefully get to the next one. People want to bear witness. They want to be there for the spark that started a myth. Give that to them.
JC: What is coming up next for the NY/AP Music Exchange?
PR: Oh, so many things! We’ve had overwhelming interest from so many bands in both Asbury Park and New York eager to take part in the Exchange, by teaming up to play shows in both cities-– there’s basically a long wait list. We also have a list of venues (of all shapes, sizes & vibes!) to get into the rotation… So look forward to many, many months’ worth of unique events to come, as we continue to bring these two distinct musical worlds closer together!
JC: Thank you so much!
PR: This was our pleasure! Thank YOU for covering the music world and bringing some attention to the Exchange!
BE: Really appreciate you taking the time. These types of events wouldn’t be nearly as successful without support like this. Thank you!
Keep up with The NY / Asbury Park Music Exchange here!
