In this episode of Scene Support, Mike from Lower Worlds Booking shares how booking shows went from a ninth-grade house show to a lifetime of keeping underground music alive. We talk about the early days of calling Elk’s Lodges and art spaces off a website directory, booking basements in Boston and warehouses in Oakland, and why he still does it decades later.

Mike opens up about the realities of running shows today — balancing all-ages spaces and 21+ bars, managing backline and flyers, teaming up with friends to cover when he can’t be there, and learning when to finally say no. Along the way, we compare notes on mixed-bill shows, the return of ska and screamo, the role of flyering in a digital age, and the ways DIY culture thrives on collaboration, community, and mutual support.

Whether you’re a promoter, a musician, or just a fan of DIY music, Mike’s story shows what it takes to keep a scene going — persistence, connection, and a love for the work that never really goes away.

Lowerworld Booking

https://www.instagram.com/lowerworldsbooking/

DCxPC Live

https://www.instagram.com/dcxpc_live

https://www.facebook.com/dcxpcbooking

https://dcxpclive.com

Intro Song: "Cheap As You" By Runnamucks

Outro Song: "Life Trap" By Unseemlier

Executive Producer: Trev Allen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/struggling_artist_record_club/⁠

In this episode of Scene Support, I sit down with Pete Olen, founder of Endoxa Booking and co-owner of Conduit in Orlando. Pete has been a driving force in the Florida music scene for over a decade, booking everything from hardcore and metal to indie pop and hip hop, while building community across multiple cities. We talk about how he got his start booking shows, the challenges of promoting national acts, the rise of digital advertising, and the realities of running an independent venue. Pete also shares stories about contracts, touring, gear sharing, and the balance between passion, business, and community.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make live shows happen—or why some bands get booked while others don’t—this episode pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes world of promotion and DIY culture

Endoxa Booking - https://www.instagram.com/endoxabookingfl/

The Conduit - https://www.instagram.com/conduit_fl/

DCxPC Live

https://www.instagram.com/dcxpc_live

https://www.facebook.com/dcxpcbooking

https://dcxpclive.com

Intro Song: "Cheap As You" By Runnamucks

Outro Song: "Chopped in Half" By Obituary

Executive Producer: Trev Allen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/struggling_artist_record_club/⁠

In this episode of Scene Support, I sit down with Jonathan Kent—DIY lifer, record label runner, and host of This Is Just a Phase Podcast. We dive into everything from the challenges of running an indie label to the importance of inclusivity in punk spaces. Along the way, we swap stories about Green Day bringing Pansy Division on tour, the politics of representation in music, and what it really means to “sell out.”

Jonathan also opens up about his journey with This Is Just a Record Label, his podcast’s evolution from Spotify to YouTube, and how persistence, collaboration, and community keep the underground alive. Whether you’re in a band, running a label, or just love the DIY spirit, this one’s for you

This is Just a Record Label

https://thisisjustarecordlabel.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thisisjustarecordlabel/

This is Just a Phase Podcast

https://www.facebook.com/groups/148862523925787

https://www.instagram.com/thisisjustaphasepodcast/

DCxPC Live

https://www.instagram.com/dcxpc_live

https://www.facebook.com/dcxpcbooking

https://dcxpclive.com

Intro Song: "Cheap As You" By Runnamucks

Outro Song: "Idiocracy" by The Follow Ups

https://www.instagram.com/followupsband/

Executive Producer: Trev Allen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/struggling_artist_record_club/⁠