How can I create a wifi network between a hot-spotted iPhone and a Mac?

I teach dancing, and until recently my Satechi Bluetooth remote control would start, stop, and cue my music tracks in Apple Music on my MacBook Air. But now it's unreliable— I've spent hours trying to get it working reliably— but that's not the thrust of my question (even though I would give an arm to get it working reliably again).

Apple's app called 'Remote' is recommended, but I don't seem able to get it working for want of a wifi network between the iPhone and the Mac. I would have thought the hotspot would qualify, but I can't get it (Remote) up and running . . . so:

How can I create, or do I need to create, a wifi network between a hot-spotted iPhone and a Mac so that I can control Apple Music on my Air remotely?

Does the hotspot qualify?

Thanks in anticipation... I should know this.

iPhone 13 Mini-IOS 26, MacOS-26 Tahoe.