Gig Gab - The Working Musicians' Podcast

Today, Paul and Dave jump from subject to subject in a seemingly random fashion (hint: whatever they write next, it was random). But it’s never truly random, is it? Nope. This one is about ego. Seeing egos on stage, managing your own ego, when to have one, when to suppress it, […] The post How Much Ego is Too Much Ego? – Gig Gab Podcast 166 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Today Paul and Dave get cerebral, which is fitting given where the conversation goes. Come sit at the Grown-Ups’ Table (just this once!) and enjoy a heady conversation about managing all day gigs, managing the song list, fostering FOMO and, of course, the “Sweet Home Alabama” vs. “Freewill” discussion. Chapters/Timestamps: […] The post Eating at the Grown-Ups’ Table – Gig Gab Podcast 165 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Whether you’re a band or a solo artist, a musical performance is always a collaboration. There are sound engineers, bandmates, audience members, and venue staff that are all involved in making your performance a success. Today Paul and Dave talk through the realities of this, both objectively as outsiders and […] The post Intentional Collaboration – Gig Gab Podcast 164 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Sometimes there are songs you play even though you don’t like them. Most of the time you play songs you like. If you’re lucky, though, every now and then you get to play a song you truly love. Yeah, yeah, we’re all pros and we always say, “my favorite song […] The post The China Buddha Fat Man Conundrum – Gig Gab Podcast 163 appeared first on Gig Gab.

We always say, “Always Be Performing”, but what does that mean to you? Are you actively performing? Are you thinking about what to do to perform? Or are you just letting it happen naturally? Is naturally good enough for you and your crowd? And are you the kind of musician […] The post Performance Tips 101 – Gig Gab Podcast 162 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Today your two favorite weekend warriors have a jam session of the spoken kind. Covering topics from early start times, ways to bring the same crowd back again and again, playing for opportunities instead of dollars, and proactively replacing gear, they cover a lot of ground. Paul and Dave also […] The post Everyone is Brave Online – Gig Gab Podcast 161 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Every show has a theme and this one – not surprisingly – is about overthinking. Or is it just thinking? Or maybe it’s not thinking, but it is about your brain doing something on its own. Is that still thinking? We think it might be. You’d better listen and find out, otherwise […] The post Your Brain is Very Busy on Stage – Gig Gab 160 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Every time you take the stage, you have an audience out there waiting for you to deliver. In fact, the expectation is for you to do exactly that. How aware of this are you? How much do you focus on ensuring this happens, even in the event of trainwrecks and […] The post The Implied Contract with Your Audience – Gig Gab Podcast 159 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Rock gigs always bring out the best from your two favorite weekend warriors, and this week had Paul and Dave experiencing some real highlights. There’s always something to be learned from every gig, isn’t there? Really, though, it all comes down to awareness and having an honest conversation with your […] The post The Conversation With Your Audience – Gig Gab Podcast 158 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dave’s just back from attending a full week of the SXSW Conference and Festivals, and he and Paul have a lot to discuss! From new bands that Dave found, to new films that Dave saw, SXSW provided an infusion of new info and new thinking and, well, that’s the point […] The post SXSW, New Bands, New Films, and a New Way of Thinking about Older Music – Gig Gab 157 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Have you ever peed next to a rock star? How about a former Vice President? Dave has peed next to both Dave Grohl and Al Gore, and for some reason Paul gets him to tell those stories perfectly in the context of your normally-scheduled Gig Gab. Guess which one has […] The post Rock Star Bathroom Politics – Gig Gab 156 appeared first on Gig Gab.

When should you have a contract? If you follow Paul and Dave’s advice and definitions, you should have something resembling a contract for every gig. Listen to hear what they mean… and why. Sometimes a cascading series of bad events turns into a great night, and Paul’s got a story […] The post Always get a contract? Well, sort of… – Gig Gab Podcast 155 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Talk about a verbal jam session! Sure, your two favorite weekend warriors talk about their strategies for when to post your events on Facebook, but there are about a zillion other topics that seem to weave into one another. From managing your core strength to the history of the National […] The post Your Band & Facebook – Gig Gab Podcast 154 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Have you ever thought about traveling with you band? How about putting together a band whose only purpose is to travel? You two favorite weekend warriors talk all about this just for you. And, as should happen at the center of any conversation about booking gigs, it’s expressly decided that […] The post Praise to the Go-Getters – Gig Gab Podcast 153 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Sometimes it’s nirvana, and sometimes it’s a fight. The thing is, you never really know which way the gig is going to go until you’re in the thick of it… and then you just have to take it as it comes and deal with it! Whether it’s discussing the harnessing […] The post Nirvana Night vs. Fight Night – Gig Gab Podcast 152 appeared first on Gig Gab.

As musicians, we play because we love to play, and it’s an honor to be able to do that. But that’s not the only reason… and some gigs can feel pretty lonely, even if you’re surrounded by a crowd or fellow musicians. Dave and Paul start this episode thinking they […] The post The Loneliness Component – Gig Gab Podcast 151 appeared first on Gig Gab.

The stage is sacred ground for most musicians… but how does it get to be that way? Certainly it’s not comfortable the very first time you walk on stage. Depending on how you look at it, it may never be comfortable walking on stage… and yet, it can still become […] The post “Up Here, Nothing Can Touch Us” – Gig Gab Podcast 150 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave each had experiences – from both sides of the “rail” this week – with that concept where musicians need to manage what’s going on inside their bodies while on stage. They talk through Paul’s first gig with the Houserockers new drummer, and Dave’s experience watching seasoned, Grammy-winning professionals […] The post Managing Your Body on Stage – Gig Gab Podcast 149 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Is your band for sale? Of course it is! Otherwise you’re not getting paid. And if your band is for sale, then who is the salesperson? Listen to hear your long-time Weekend Warriors put on the relevant parts of their weekDAY hats and talk through their process for selling … […] The post Selling Your Band! – Gig Gab Podcast 148 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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.