Know what's actually holding you back.
Find the real problem so you stop fixing the wrong things.
The Business of Mixing
Build a better mixing business.
You already know how to mix. Now build the business that lets you keep doing it.
Business coaching, education, and mentorship for freelance mix engineers.
Make the business as good as the work.
You can be booked for weeks and still have no idea what comes next. Great credits, referrals, and good work don't automatically make the business feel predictable or under your control.
Built for freelance mixers.
Not generic business advice dressed up for mix engineers.
- Taste is subjective
- Budgets vary enormously
- Credits travel
- Relationships compound
- Projects aren't standardized
- Careers aren't funnels
The framework
The Business of Mixing Framework
Problems show up as “I need more clients” or “I need to charge more.” TBOM helps you find where the problem actually starts.
Clarity
SeeShapePosition
Growth
AttractCommunicateSell
Delivery
DeliverRetainCompound
The stages work together. What feels like a client problem may have started three stages earlier.
Built from the industry itself.
6,000+
Conversations with audio professionals
500+
One-to-one business calls
350+
Audio professionals taught or coached
Worked with and featured by
Engineers I've coached
Ruairí O'Flaherty
Jon Castelli
Nathan Dantzler
Eric J Dubowsky
Matt Cerritos
Joe Gallagher
Steve Kaye300+ and more
Their work is on records by
Client results
Before
I was busy but reactive. Work was coming in, but nothing felt predictable or solid. I was constantly putting out fires, decisions piled up, and I could feel that starting to affect things outside the business too.
“My indie mix rate went from €670 to €860, and my established-act rate from €875 to €1.000. My team can now fully handle project management and client communication without me.”
David Maria Trapp Mixing & Mastering Engineer, Cologne Before
So much of our credibility relies on reputation and word of mouth. I was waiting for someone to recommend me to my next potential client.
“I have seen success in connecting with new clients, as well as greater confidence in closing deals and selling my value as a mixer. Closed 2 album deals in 2 days since starting the coaching program.”
Josh Goode Mixing & Mastering Engineer, Los Angeles Before
I had a solid handle on the actual mixing part of my job, but I knew I needed to sharpen my business skills — especially in organization, networking, and development.
“The biggest shifts for me were in mindset and confidence. I've gotten better at separating my self-worth from my rates. Networking isn't just about pitching myself but about building real relationships — that shift made reaching out to A&Rs and labels feel much more natural.”
Josh Bowman Mixing Engineer, Toronto, ON Before
I decided to work with Michael after a few years as a freelance producer and mixer where that work wasn't quite providing enough to be my full-time job. I felt frustrated that I couldn't seem to make the jump.
“I just had my best ever quarter financially — and my reaction after doing this program is: with what I've learned, I can do so much better than this next quarter.”
Dan Markus Mixing Engineer & Producer, New York Before
I started coaching because I was regularly experiencing burnout and struggling to manage my workload effectively.
“Not only has my workflow improved, but I've also noticed a significant decrease in stress and overwhelm.”
Julia Borelli Mixing & Mastering Engineer, Berlin Also heard on
Inner Circle Podcast Why mix engineers lose momentum and struggle to build it back — and why the slow month you're panicking about actually started months ago. Watch
Progressions Podcast The internal narratives running your career, why talent alone isn't enough, and what building a real business looks like when you stop chasing credits. Watch
Mixing Music Podcast 14 things mix engineers need to know about business. Why talented engineers stay stuck, how selling hours keeps you broke, and what actually separates sustainable careers from hustle. Watch
Home Studio Hangout All nine stages of the business of mixing, walked end to end — plus seasonality, preventable inconsistency, and why location is almost never the real problem. Watch
Conversations Long-form conversations with working mixers and mastering engineers about the parts of the job nobody puts in a tutorial. WatchWho built it
Michael J. Morgan has spent years inside the oddly specific business problems freelance audio professionals actually face.
The framework comes from watching the same patterns repeat: random work, fuzzy rates, awkward follow-ups, lost momentum, and what actually fixes them.
Ways to work together.
All three use the same TBOM framework.
What changes is how much support you want.
Self-guided
Course
Work through the whole TBOM system.
$146/mo
Complete program
$3,500 total · 24 months, 0% APR
- Complete TBOM system
- 9 stages + practical Builds
- Weekly Sprint
- Self-paced
On-demand guidance
Intensive
Bring the part that's stuck.
$400
Per 60-minute session
- One focused session
- Custom guidance
- TBOM applied where needed
- Book as needed
Ongoing guidance
Private Mentorship
Work through the business with me.
$388/mo
8-week engagement
$8,000 total · 24 months, ~14.99% APR
- Ongoing guidance
- Weekly working sessions
- 60–120 minutes as needed
- Between-session support
Applications for mentorship are reviewed personally. Financing is subject to approval. Terms vary. USD.
Compare your options.
| What is compared | Course | Intensive | Private Mentorship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Independent implementation | A specific problem or decision | Working through multiple parts of the business |
| How TBOM is used | Complete system | Applied where needed | Applied continuously |
| Schedule | Your pace | Based on availability | Weekly time reserved |
| Guidance | None | During your session | Ongoing |
| Feedback on your work | Not included | During booked sessions | Ongoing |
| Assignments | Structured | Based on where we are | Structured, not custom-built |
| Session time | Not included | 60 min | 60–120 min |
| Between sessions | Not included | Not included | Support included |
| Continuity | You maintain it | Continue whenever you can book | Built into the engagement |
| Investment | $3,500 | $400/session | $8,000 |
Not ready to choose?
Find out where your business actually stands.
The Business Reality Check shows where the business is actually weak. 63 questions score all nine stages, giving you an overall score and one clear place to begin.
It doesn't improve the business.
It evaluates it.
For when you know something feels off, but you don't yet know what to fix.
Take the Reality Check$29 · 63 questions · About 10 minutes · Instant results
Frequently asked questions.
No. Outreach is one part of the system, not the system itself. We first determine how much work the business actually needs, who is most likely to value it, what helps those people understand and trust you, what they can buy, and what happens after they respond. Then outreach becomes a manageable relationship practice instead of a daily volume contest.
No. Fewer does not mean none. A business still needs a deliberate way to create opportunities. The goal is to do enough thoughtful outreach to build and maintain the right relationships without making constant prospecting the price of survival.
That is common. Do not invent them. Start tracking the source of each inquiry, each new person contacted, each meaningful conversation, each quote, and each first-time booking. The Business Reality Check can still show which parts of the system deserve attention while you build a reliable baseline.
Start with the Business Reality Check if you know the business feels harder than it should, but you are not sure what is creating the drag. Book the Mentorship Intensive if you want me in the room interpreting your situation and building the first plan with you.