I’ve done Coast 2 Coast LIVE twice. Once in Atlanta. Once in Miami. FYI, the company bills itself as the largest artist showcase in the world, staging 30-plus shows every month across 50 cities and eight countries and dangling a $50,000 grand prize for the indie acts who rise to the top. I went in as an indie singer-rapper with a tight budget, a thumb drive, and way too much gum in my bag. Was it worth it? Yes… and also sometimes no. Let me explain. For the blow-by-blow, check out my hands-on tour breakdown, where I unpack every win and fail in even more depth.
For context on how the showcase plugs into a wider mixtape and DJ network, take a quick scroll through Coast 2 Coast Music and you’ll see the bigger ecosystem they’re funneling artists into.
The quick take
- You get a real stage, real judges, and a real room.
- Sets are short. Think 1–2 songs, tops.
- You pay for a slot. My first one was about two hundred bucks.
- You do get feedback. Some of it stings. Some of it helps.
- If you want reps and content, it’s solid. If you want a magic deal, slow down.
You know what? I went back a second time. So that tells you something.
How booking felt (simple, but sales-y)
Sign-up was easy. I picked my city, paid my slot, and got a long email. It had check-in time, rules on clean edits, and a note about dress code (keep it decent). They also pushed add-ons: video critique, email blast, “feature on a mixtape.” I skipped the extras the first time. The upsell is strong. Like, “We can boost your promo for a fee” strong.
That relentless pitch matched what I later saw during a long night with the crew at a Coast 2 Coast Music Group event, so be ready for the hard sell.
I uploaded my show mix: two tracks, clean edits, tagged right. I brought it on a USB too. Old habit from gigs. FOH folks appreciate it.
If you’re eyeing the Nashville stop, this Music City premier weekend recap walks through the exact same prep checklist.
Night one: Atlanta stop — the one with the shaky mic
Venue was mid-size. Dark room, low stage, sticky floor, good crowd. Check-in was smooth. They stamped my hand and put me in the third block. I met two other artists in the hallway and we traded IGs. One guy brought his whole church choir. No joke.
The sound check was fast. The house DJ asked for my levels, gave me a quick “Say check.” I said “check,” and then I heard the main mic clip. Gain was hot. He pulled it back. Fine now.
I had 4 minutes. Two songs. First track hit hard. BPM 88, punchy kick, hook up front. Folks nodded. Second track had a live breakdown. I wish I had kept it tight. A judge wrote, “Hook is catchy. Breath control needs work. Good crowd eye contact.” That note stuck with me.
Scoring was on a sheet. Categories like:
- Song quality
- Stage presence
- Crowd control
- Originality
- Marketability
I scored solid on stage presence. I scored low on breath control and mix balance. Fair. My backing track was a bit loud. My bad.
For a peek at how the scoring translates when you enter the official contest format, read this candid report: I entered the Coast 2 Coast Music Contest—here’s how it really went.
They filmed my set and sent a link two days later. The angle was wide, but it worked for reels. I cut a clip with captions and posted. It got me a local booking the next month. So, value right there.
A quick PSA: most networking now happens in DMs and text threads, and artists sometimes blur the line between promo and flirting. Before you hit send on anything spicy, check out this detailed guide on the realities of screenshots: Sexting Screenshots — How They Happen & How to Protect Yourself. It unpacks the tech, the risks, and smart tips for keeping private moments from leaking onto the timeline, which can save your brand before that next single drops.
If you’re more curious about the camera-forward side of things, this first-person look at the Coast 2 Coast music video showcase breaks down the filming flow and expectations.
Night two: Miami stop — sweat, sun, and a better set
Miami had bigger energy. More singers. More Latin rap. Way more family in the room. A host kept things moving fast. I wore a light fit. Good call. The lights cooked us.
I changed my set list. One song, one killer bridge. No dead air. I rehearsed with a jump rope the week before. Breath got tight. I felt ready.
This time, the monitor mix felt clear. I asked the engineer for “more me, less track.” He smiled and bumped my vocal. Simple, but it made all the difference. I kept the mic off my lips and worked the sides of the stage. Folks in the back waved. That felt nice.
Judges said, “You improved pacing. Keep the second hook shorter.” I placed top three that night. I got a credit toward a finals spot in Miami later that year. I didn’t go, but the invite felt good.
One of my buddies did make it out to the bigger conference weekend and dropped this detailed diary: Coast 2 Coast Music Conference—my real weekend in Miami.
What actually works
- Real reps: You learn to load in, calm nerves, and hit a mark. It’s like game day for new artists.
- Feedback you can use: Notes on breath, hooks, and crowd work. Not just fluff.
- Content, fast: You get video, photos, and a score. Easy press kit adds.
- Community: I met two producers and a DJ who still send me beats. That alone paid me back.
And if you’re thinking even bigger than a single showcase, my deep dive into the 2020 conference scene—Coast 2 Coast Music Conference 2020: my real take—pulls back the curtain on the panels, mixers, and late-night cyphers.
What bugged me
- Pay-to-play: The slot fee is real. It adds up if you chase a lot of shows.
- Short sets: If you’re a storyteller, two songs can feel like a tease.
- Sales pitch vibe: Lots of add-ons. Some help. Some feel meh.
- Timing: Shows run long. My Atlanta night ended past midnight on a workday. Ouch.
Who it’s great for
- New acts who need stage reps and a tidy video.
- Rappers and singers with tight, hook-first songs.
- DIY folks building a one-sheet or EPK.
Who might skip
- Bands with big backline needs. Changeovers are quick. Not much room.
- Artists who hate pay-to-play on principle.
- Anyone chasing a record deal off one showcase. Please breathe.
For an unfiltered recap that weighs both the hype and the headaches, skim through my real take on Coast 2 Coast Music; it’s a quick reality check before you drop the deposit.
Money talk (what I paid)
- Slot: about $200 in Atlanta, a little more in Miami.
- Extra song: I was quoted a small add-on fee. I stayed with two.
- Travel: Flights and Lyft ate my lunch. Plan for that.
- Add-ons: I skipped the promo package. My own clips and Instagram did fine.
While we’re on the subject of travel costs, remember that road life also wrecks your muscles after hours in a van. If your routing ever swings up through southern Massachusetts and you’re craving a quick, no-frills massage to unkink your back before the next sound-check, a hyper-local directory like Rubmaps Fall River can show you which parlors are open late, what they charge