I make songs. I sing a little. I rap a little. And I’m curious by nature. So I tried Coast 2 Coast Music. I did one live show and paid for a mixtape spot. I kept notes, because I didn’t want foggy memory hype. You want real? Here’s what actually happened to me. (If you want the minute-by-minute receipts, I also put together a deeper dive into the whole Coast 2 Coast Music experiment that lines up every cost and outcome.)
Quick note: Coast 2 Coast LIVE bills itself as the largest artist showcase on the planet, promising independent performers face-time with celebrity judges and instant critique.
Why I Signed Up
I kept seeing their flyers on Instagram. “Showcase tonight. Judges. Prizes.” I wanted a stage and real feedback. Also, I needed a fresh performance video. So I went for it.
So before I put any money down, I browsed the Coast 2 Coast Music official site to see exactly what I was getting into.
What I Paid (Yep, the money part)
- Live show slot: $150 (standard)
- Video add-on: $40 (they filmed my set)
- Mixtape single placement: $50
So $240 total. That’s not lunch money. I felt it.
The Live Show Night
Mine was on a Wednesday. Small club. Dark lights. Sticky floor. You know the vibe.
- Check-in was 6:30 pm. I got a wristband and a number.
- I went on at 9:42 pm. Long wait. Bring water and patience.
- Each artist got about 2.5 minutes. The DJ faded you out when time hit. No extra grace.
- There were 3 judges: a DJ with club work, a radio host who did weekend shows, and an A&R rep who said he scouts for playlists and regional talent.
They gave me a paper scorecard. Categories were things like:
- Song Quality
- Stage Presence
- Originality
- Crowd Control
- Production/Mix
- Overall Potential
My scores? Mostly 7s. One 8 for stage presence. A 6 for mix quality. Fair.
What they told me after:
- “Your hook is catchy, but the ad-libs are too loud. Pull those down.”
- “Lose the 12-bar intro. Start right on the hook.”
- “Great eye contact. Keep the mic closer on the low notes.”
Simple notes, but they helped. I cut my intro the next day. Big difference.
The Room Energy
Crowd size was around 60 to 70. Not bad for midweek. A few acts brought friends. That mattered. When someone’s people yelled for them, the room woke up. Truth is, this kind of show rewards who can move a crowd. Judges feel that, even if they try not to.
Sound was clean. Lights were basic. Host kept it moving. One act froze mid-song. The host saved him with a joke, and the room clapped him back in. I liked that. Felt human. Moments like that reminded me of my earliest gigs—hauling brass under stadium lights—so different, yet the same adrenaline rush; I even wrote about those marching-band days right here if you’re nostalgic for drumline stories.
Tip I learned the hard way: bring your track as a clean WAV on a USB and email it too. Don’t trust one method. My first file clipped on the highs. The DJ used my backup. Crisis dodged.
What I Got After
The next afternoon I got:
- A performance clip (1080p, single camera, center angle)
- A few photos
- My scorecard PDF
- A short note about the next showcase and a “championship” event invite
The video was the best part for me. I posted a 30-second cut on Instagram and TikTok. It did fine. Not viral, but enough to look legit. A DJ from Tampa DM’d me to send clean versions. That was new.
I didn’t win my night, but I did get a finals invite. Travel wasn’t covered. There was a new fee to register. So if you’re dreaming this is a free ride to Miami sunshine, it’s not. It’s a system. You pay, you show up, you get a shot. If you’re dead-set on the Miami trip, take a peek at my unfiltered recap of an entire Coast 2 Coast Music Conference weekend before you book the flight.
The Mixtape Placement
I paid for one song on a Coast 2 Coast mixtape. It went live a week later. I got a little bump on my stats:
- 37 extra Spotify streams that week (yes, I counted)
- 12 new followers on Instagram
- 1 producer email asking for stems
Was it huge? No. Was it fake? Also no. It felt like a small, real push. But the cover art looked busy and my track sat between very different styles. That’s a thing with mixtapes—your song is a guest at a big, loud party.
What I Liked
- The feedback was plain, quick, and useful.
- The video looked good enough to pitch shows and media.
- Staff was on time and organized. I didn’t feel lost.
- The room had real artists. Some folks were great. I took notes from them too.
What Bugged Me
- It’s sales-heavy. Add-ons everywhere. You can rack up fees fast.
- The night ran long. Sitting three hours for a 2.5-minute set is rough.
- Crowd support matters a lot. If you don’t bring people, you’ll feel it.
- Some judge notes were copy-paste vibes. Two lines felt generic.
Some of these gripes aren’t just mine; a March 2024 article by Gaetano digs deeper into Coast 2 Coast’s promotional tactics and questions whether the return justifies the spend for rising artists.
Before we jump into the worth-it verdict, let’s talk travel comfort for those inevitable out-of-town showcases. Long drives, cramped vans, and carrying merch boxes leave your shoulders in knots. If your next gig happens to route you through Alabama and you score a day off in Hoover, you might want a quick way to find legit massage relief without guesswork. I bookmarked this straightforward guide to Rubmaps spots in Hoover because it lays out locations, prices, and real user ratings—handy intel so you can decide whether a pit-stop massage is worth carving out an hour before soundcheck.
Was It Worth It?
For me, mostly yes—because I had a goal. I wanted a stage, a video, and real ears. I got that. I didn’t expect a label deal, so I wasn’t let down. If you want a quick fame jump, this won’t do it. If you want reps, tape, and a few open doors, it’s fine.
Who Should Try Coast 2 Coast Music
- New artists who need stage reps and content
- DIY folks who already bring 5–10 friends
- Rappers and singers who want fast, clean feedback
- Anyone who treats this like a piece of a plan, not the whole plan
Quick Tips From My Bag
- Bring at least 10 people. It changes the room.
- Cut a tight show mix: hook first, no long intros, clean version, final WAV.
- Rehearse a 2-minute version like it’s the album cut.
- Meet the judges after. Ask one clear question.
- Follow up next day with links (Linktree or a smart link page).
- Don’t buy every add-on. Pick one: video or photos.
- Track results for two weeks. If nothing moves, adjust.
- Test alternative chat apps so your core supporters have a private line to you. For a quick overview of the most buzz-worthy options, read this list of sexy chat apps you should try this year—it breaks down user vibe, safety tools, and monetization angles that can help an indie artist turn casual conversations into loyal fandom.
My Bottom Line
Coast 2 Coast Music is a real stage with real cameras and real people. It’s not magic. It’s a tool. Use it well, or you’ll just spend money and catch a headache. I’d give it a 3 out of 5 for value, 4 out of 5 for organization, and a solid 4 out of 5 for getting me a usable video.
Would I do it again? Maybe once a quarter, when I have a new single and a plan. And yeah, I’d still cut that intro.
You know what? That little hook fix alone paid me back. Funny how one note can change a whole set.