I’m Kayla. I rap. I sing hooks. I also shoot and edit my own videos in Premiere and a little DaVinci. Last spring I sent my video, Midnight Drive, to the Coast 2 Coast Music Video Showcase. Then I went to the live night in Atlanta where they played it on the big screen. I had nerves so bad I could taste metal. You ever feel that?
If you’re curious how the night can unfold from someone else’s vantage, this detailed recap from another entrant lines up pretty closely with my own jitters.
Why I Signed Up
Simple reason. I needed fresh ears. I’ve got friends who cheer for everything. I wanted judges who don’t know me. Also, I’m curious by nature. If there’s a room with DJs and artists and a screen, I kind of want in.
If you want to see upcoming showcase dates or enter your own video, check out the official Coast 2 Coast site here.
The Cost and Setup (no sugarcoating)
- My online video entry fee was $197.
- I added a $25 promo push. It got me a post on their socials and an email mention.
- For the live showcase night, I wasn’t a performer. I paid a small guest fee and they played my video between acts.
They sent me a Google Form, a file upload link, and specs: 1080p .mp4, under 500 MB. I had to re-export because my first file was 4K and the audio peaked. I fixed it in Premiere and used a light limiter. Boring, yes, but it saved me.
If you’d rather step on stage than just have your clip shown, the platform lets you reserve a full performance slot via their submission portal — here’s where that starts.
The Night in Atlanta
Venue was medium. About 70 people. Smelled like fog juice and Red Bull. The projector was bright. The sound was loud but a little harsh up top. My low end slapped, though. The hook hit. Folks at the bar turned around. That tiny head turn felt big.
Another creator shared a similarly unfiltered first-person take on the Coast 2 Coast Music Video night that captures the room vibe perfectly.
One judge scribbled notes while chewing gum. Another nodded on the second verse. The host kept energy up. He was funny and tough at the same time. It ran late by 40 minutes, which annoyed me, but I get it—show cases never run tight. The DJ asked for a backup file, so I kept a USB on me. Good move. Always bring a USB.
The Online Part
They streamed entries and opened voting for a week. Fan votes helped, but the judges had the final say. Chat had real people, and also a few “fire” repeats that looked like bots. That made me roll my eyes, then laugh. Internet gonna internet.
Anyone interested in dropping their own video into the next digital rotation can begin with the quick online form right here.
Judges scored on quality, originality, song, and market. That’s the gist. One judge was a club DJ from Miami. Another was a producer who talked about drum mix. I didn’t catch every name, but the producer’s feedback was the most useful.
What They Told Me (actual quotes I wrote down)
- “Hook is sticky. Keep it.”
- “Second verse stumbles. Breathe, then punch in cleaner.”
- “Color is cool, but the night shots are muddy. Try a bit more contrast.”
- “This could work for college radio. Push a clean edit.”
That last note sent me to my desk. I made a clean version that night. Shout-out to RX for quick edits.
What I Got Out of It
- 127 new Instagram followers in a week.
- 34 new email sign-ups on my Linktree form.
- 2 tiny show offers. One was a Thursday slot at a dive. I still said yes. Reps matter.
- A DM from a video director in Charlotte who liked the car shots. We swapped presets and ideas.
- A small bump in streams—about 1,100 plays across Spotify and Apple. Not huge, but real.
In fact, beyond Insta and TikTok, Snapchat can be an underrated lane for artists looking to spark real-time buzz around a drop. The guide at Snap Hot breaks down practical strategies for finding niche audiences on Snap, setting up story funnels, and converting casual viewers into genuine listeners who actually hit play on your new single.
Was it worth it? Kind of. It wasn’t magic. It was a nudge.
The Parts I Didn’t Love
It felt sales-y at times. There were upsells for extra promo. The crowd was a mix—some artists only came for their set and left. That hurts energy. The schedule stretched late, and the judging break dragged on. Also, the vote page clipped some comments on my phone. Little things, but still things.
The Parts I Did Like
The host kept the room moving. Staff answered my email fast when my first upload failed. The judges gave notes I could use the same night. And the screen time helped me see my edit with fresh eyes. Funny how that works—once it’s big, you see every flaw and also every win.
Small But Handy Tips I Wish Someone Told Me
- Bring a USB with your video and a WAV of the song.
- Put a QR code in your video outro. Mine linked to a Linktree with one clean button: “Get the song.”
- Wear one bold color. Cameras pick it up.
- Cut a clean edit. It opens doors.
- Prep a one-sheet PDF: short bio, photo, links, TikTok handle, contact. I made mine in Canva.
- Show up early and meet the DJ. Say thanks. Real simple. Real helpful.
Was It Pay-To-Play?
Yes. You pay to be in the room. That’s the model. If that makes you mad, I get it. If you treat it like ad spend and a feedback lab, it feels less gross. Both can be true.
If you’re weighing the cost, it helps to skim this honest breakdown from an artist who tried it and compared the spend to other promo routes.
Real Example: My Fix List After the Showcase
- Re-shot my alley scene with a small LED panel and a bounce card.
- Cleaned the second verse with tighter punches and a breath gate.
- Added a 1.2 contrast boost and cooled the mids.
- Shortened the intro by 4 seconds. Faster hook, better watch time on Reels.
Funny thing—that 4-second cut did more for me than the promo post. Attention is short. Meet it where it lives.
Pros and Cons (quick and honest)
Pros
- Useful feedback from working DJs/producers
- Real screen time and networking
- Staff responds fast and the system is simple
Cons
- It costs, and the upsells creep
- Some crowd energy dips as people come and go
- Stream chat can feel noisy and messy
Would I Do It Again?
Yes, but only when I have a new video and a plan. I’d budget it like a small ad buy. I’d bring five friends who actually stay. I’d still carry that USB. And I’d walk in knowing this: it’s not a magic door. It’s a window. You wave, you listen, you learn, and you move.
My Score
7 out of 10.
Not perfect. Not a scam for me either. It’s a tool. Use it with intent, and it can help. Use it without a plan, and you’ll just spend money and feel salty.
You know what? I left the venue tired but kind of proud. The hook worked. People turned their heads. For a song called Midnight Drive, that felt right.
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