In this episode of the SoundCentric Podcast, Adam sits down with Hadji Gaviota for a deep dive into the realities of touring as an independent artist. Fresh off his cross-country run on “The Blind Tour” with Damag3 and Rob Apollo, Hadji breaks down the grind behind the scenes — from sleeping on couches and eating gas-station meals to discovering how to actually make money on the road. The two unpack the economics of merch, the creative strategies behind tour budgeting, and the lessons learned from performing 13 shows in three weeks. Beyond the financials, Hadji reflects on the emotional highs of meeting fans in person and the importance of building an authentic live presence. This conversation paints a full picture of the unglamorous but rewarding hustle of modern touring — a must-listen for any rising artist trying to hit the road the right way.
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00:00:00 – Intro
00:02:30 – What it’s actually ike to be an opener on a nation wide tour
00:06:00 – How artists make money on touring and the importance of having good merch
00:12:00 – A quick Kanye tangent and the importance of humor in hip-hop
00:17:15 – The reality of touring
00:20:30 – Hadji’s pre-show ritual
00:25:15 – Our favorite openers of all time and what makes a great opener
00:29:30 – The issue with artists who don’t have easy to search names
00:37:00 – What its like rapping on On the Radar and how artists can standout in their marketing
00:43:15 – How Hadji formed Elmjack and why they decided to have their dads act as the lead artists
00:51:00 – Closing thoughts
