Gig Gab - The Working Musicians' Podcast

New Year’s Eve came and went for your two favorite working musicians. One of them played and one didn’t, and they have some stories to tell because both Paul and Dave learned some important lessons that night… and they share! Payment for your valuable services as a musician is definitely […] The post Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Money – Gig Gab Podcast 147 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Are you someone who’s trying to break into the music scene? Maybe you took some time off from playing or maybe you’ve never played out. What can you do to get going? Your two favorite weekend warriors were asked this question by a fellow listener and they spend some time […] The post Coffee House Gigs & Starting From Scratch – Gig Gab Podcast 146 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Sometimes that person in the crowd that wants to sit-in can be awesome… sometimes they can be awFUL. How do you tell which it’s going to be? Listen to Paul and Dave share some war stories and advice. Then it’s on to answering a question about Facebook and marketing and […] The post Crowd (Over-)Participation & Marketing Your Band – Gig Gab Podcast 145 appeared first on Gig Gab.

New sound for your band, new thoughts from your band members, even new sound for the show. Yep, the theme for this episode is, most undoubtedly, Listen and Learn. First we share a comment about getting sound on stage just right and – no surprise here – it’s all about listening. […] The post Listen and Learn – Gig Gab Podcast 144 appeared first on Gig Gab.

When it comes to being a singer, pitch is fundamental to doing it right. But that’s not all there is, and your two Weekend Warriors (and still-working-at-it-every-day singers!) talk through their respective journeys of gaining confidence and functionality in front of the microphone. But first, it’s time to talk about […] The post Pitch is Non-Negotiable – Gig Gab Podcast 143 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Your band is too loud. Ever heard that before? You’ve probably heard it at every type of gig imaginable. Is it your fault? Yes, it’s yours. Not just you, but not just your band, either. Yep, it’s time… Paul and Dave have The Volume Conversation. Are they honest enough? Only […] The post Let’s Have The Volume Conversation – Gig Gab Podcast 142 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s a thankful time of year, and Paul and Dave have many things to be thankful for. At least five things each, as a matter of fact. Listen to them talk through their lists, offering color and perspective for one another and, ultimately, well… I think you know where this […] The post A Musical Thanksgiving – Gig Gab Podcast 141 appeared first on Gig Gab.

First, your two favorite Weekend Warriors talk through creating your own event by answering Kevin’s “What is FLINGFest?” question. This opens up many avenues for Paul and Dave to discuss, and that takes them and you on a journey. For any other podcast that would be enough, but not GigGab. […] The post Who is Your Band’s MacGuyver? – Gig Gab Podcast 140 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s time to dig into the mechanics a bit. First, technology. How much is too much, or is there such a thing? Paul and Dave discuss. Then a bit into organizing shows for the best chances at success, even when you don’t get to rehearse as much as you’d like… […] The post Technology, Organization, and Protecting Your Hearing – Gig Gab Podcast 139 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave take on the important – and highly-sensitive – subject of what makes a real artist. Are you in it for the money? Does that matter? What message does it send to your fellow musicians and community if you communicate that message publicly? Paul and Dave discuss. Then a […] The post Are You In It For The Money? – Gig Gab Podcast 138 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave talk through what happens when you spend some social capital and air your dirty laundry… because Paul did this recently … and so did Dave! What are the risks, what are the rewards, and what are the unintended consequences? Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors chat […] The post Washing the Dirty Laundry of the Music Business – Gig Gab 137 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dissecting different types of working bands, it’s time to look into what makes a band a wedding band. Could your band make the leap? Would you want to? Paul and Dave discuss. Then it’s on to finalizing the process for Paul’s drummer auditions, including how much the band should talk […] The post The Grandma Factor – Gig Gab 136 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s time for some dissecting, folks. Dave and Paul spend some time dissecting Yes, the band, and then dissecting their own bands and projects. Finding what works, what doesn’t, and being careful not to over-analyze and change too much is the goal. Listen and follow along! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 GigGab 135 […] The post Replaying the Hits, and Reevaluating Your Habits – Gig Gab 135 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave take a moment – actually, an entire episode – to reflect upon what Tom Petty and his music meant to each of them. They have quite different stories to tell… press play, listen, and enjoy! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 GigGab 134 – Thursday, Oct 5, 2017 00:01:07 Tom Petty 00:02:43 Watch out […] The post 3 minutes, 4 Chords, and The Truth: Remembering Tom Petty – Gig Gab 134 appeared first on Gig Gab.

How does your band divvy up gig money? Is there transparency or is it just flat-rate and that’s that? Paul and Dave talk through the finer (and not-so-finer!) points of this. Then it’s time to revisit the in-ears conversation, this time focusing on perfection. First though, Dave’s Gone Skiing… and […] The post Divvying Up Money and Perfecting your In-Ears – Gig Gab 133 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Everyone wants their moment to shine, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing for everyone. Figuring out what that means for you is important. Even moreso, though, is figuring out what that means for your band members. Whether you’re a leader or in a democratic scenario, making sure everyone […] The post Getting Your Moment to Shine – Gig Gab 132 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Sometimes you’ve gotta replace a bandmate… and sometimes it’s the drummer. Your two favorite band geeks talk through this process in-depth today, exploring both how you find someone (yes, including Craigslist!) and then how you might go about auditioning them. But it’s more than that… how do you get to know […] The post The “American Girl” Litmus Test – Gig Gab 131 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Whether it’s you or someone you play with, you’ve almost certainly got to deal with the juggling act of playing in multiple bands. How do you handle schedule conflicts? What’s the best policy for you to have? Then it’s on to how you choose and learn songs in your band. […] The post Multiple Bands, Weather Issues, and Tip Jars – GigGab 130 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul’s experience with the Los Gatos Music in the Park series over the past 10 weeks has given him a lot to think. What’s the secret to making a band successful? What even defines success? This is the backdrop today as he and Dave talk through all of this… and more. […] The post The R.C.P.M. Formula – GigGab 129 appeared first on Gig Gab.

When you’re picking songs to play, how much attention to you pay to the studio arrangement versus finding a live track? Which have you found works better for you? How do you distill that down in your band’s formula? These are the answers Paul and Dave share in today’s episode. […] The post Finding Your Band’s Formula – GigGab 128 appeared first on Gig Gab.