Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast (Dave Hamilton & Friends)

Does multitasking work? Wait, what were you doing? You were listening to Gig Gab. Press play to resume hearing Paul and Dave talk through how to know – and respect – your place amongst your fellow musicians. Lots to sort through here, folks, and your two favorite weekend warriors get the job […]

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Your weekend warriors love gear as much as the next musician, so they each take some time to talk through a few things on their Gigging Christmas Wishlists. But first, it’s time for a few discussions. Do you have trouble memorizing your lyrics? The guys talk through their tips and […]

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Selecting songs is a tough part of the cover (or even original) band business, and it gets even tougher when one or more band members cares about getting it just right. More often than not, that can be the crux of deciding whether or not a song succeeds. What songs or […]

The post What Is It About a Song that Makes You Care? – GigGab Podcast 25 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It's been 195 episodes and almost four years. Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton take you through some lessons they've learned this year. What lessons have you learned? Send 'em in to feedback@giggabpodcast.com.

The post Songs, Lessons, Resolutions, and Synchronicity – Gig Gab 195 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dave Brunyak, currently playing guitar with the cleverly-named tribute act Pink Talking Fish, joins Paul and Dave today to talk about covering the music of others; learning Phish, the Talking Heads and Pink Floyd; what it’s like playing in a tribute band, and why it makes perfect sense to have […]

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We often talk about stage presence, but what about off-stage presence? And how much is too much? And what happens when a fan reads more into your vibe than you intended? How do you remain appropriately distant without appearing to be aloof? Then it’s on to some Cool Stuff Found […]

The post Controlling Your Outward Vibe – Gig Gab Podcast 196 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dan Meblin, leader of San Francisco Bay Area band “Pop Fiction” joins Paul and Dave this week to talk through running a successful cover/party/function band. Dan and his bandmates created Pop Fiction after playing together in a band catering to a similar market, and Dan’s history includes both playing in […]

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This week, your two favorite working musicians dig into the now-overflowing mailbag and share your thoughts and questions with the audience. Hear Kevin’s thoughts about having your own, band-specific, portable monitor rack, DK’s thoughts about the Soundcraft Ui24R, and Martin’s question about mixing politics and music. Paul and Dave talk […]

The post Always Be Performing…With Semaphore – Gig Gab Podcast 198 appeared first on Gig Gab.

How many ways do you communicate your identity or that of your band? Is it in your performance? Is it in your merchandise? Is it in your stage banter? Is it on your kick drum head? Is it in your name? The answer is yes! And, of course, Paul and […]

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What’s your local scene like? Are other musicians friendly and helpful or are they hyper-competitive and guarded? Are you helpful or are you the competitive, guarded one? Paul and Dave talk through all of this and more in today’s GigGab. Remember, feedback@giggabpodcast.com is the way to get them to hear what […]

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Some of the greatest art comes from an artist who trusts themselves, regardless of what others are saying, and just puts it out there. This, of course, can happen in many different forms. In music, it can be the guy who came up with an infectious piano groove to change […]

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Sometimes the topics just flow. Of course, you folks do help with that… and today it’s all over the place. Paul and Dave take you on a journey that starts with revamping the airline industry, touches on the beauty of Alex Chilton’s blue-eyed-soul-inspired power pop, mentions Rick Nielsen more than […]

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Music is about emotion, and passion, and expression, and so many other intangible things. But how do you get there? What are the mechanics that it takes to make this happen? This is where Paul and Dave’s inspiration comes from for today’s episode. How do you deal with playing with […]

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What do you do when you’re approached by someone at a gig who wants more than just a friendly hello? How about dealing with a booking agent who makes promises they won’t keep? Do you sell merchandise (versus just having merchandise you can’t sell)? And… what do you do to […]

The post Fist Bump To The Rescue – Gig Gab Podcast 203 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dave’s at SXSW 2019, and he has seen more than a few things worthy of a Gig Gab discussion. First he and Paul talk through the overall vibe of SXSW, and then it’s time to get into some specifics! Amanda Palmer, Redd Volkaert, and Nashville all make cameos, but the […]

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Dave’s back from SXSW and has a few stories to share about bands he saw. First, though, he and Paul talk through expanding your setlist, specifically from the angle of purpose. Why are you adding the songs you’re adding? Are they the best way to serve your band’s show? Lastly, […]

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Your instruments are important to you, so you’ve got to take care of them – and that includes your voice. Paul and Dave talk through some recent troubles Dave’s been having, and then move on to properly caring for your audiences, too. It’s important to understand who your audience is […]

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Summer’s not just a time for playing music, it’s a great time to go see music, too, and Paul and Dave talk through some of their favorite bands in this great episode. One highlight for Paul was a local (to him) band: The Coffis Brothers. Check ’em out!

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When things are good you don’t think about it, but when the feel of your instrument in your hands changes… nothing else matters. That goes for what you hear in your ears, too. So much of playing music is a visceral experience, and any distractions there can really take you […]

The post The Value of The Singalong – Gig Gab Podcast 207 appeared first on Gig Gab.

This week finds your two favorite weekend warriors doing something they love: Digging into the mailbag! Listener Matt asks about using iPads on stage, which seems is always a hot-button topic. Eric’s curious about guitar amp simulators, Chris has a question about managing two guitars in a band, and Peter […]

The post Gig Gab MailBag: Get Your Eyes off Your Pad – Gig Gab Podcast 208 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Starting with a brief-but-fun discussion of the things they love to practice, Paul and Dave dive deep into what it takes to successfully book your band long-term. Paul’s the expert this week, and Dave picks his brain about all the methods and tricks he’s learned and employed over the years […]

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Real estate agents and musicians share a common truth: location matters. What’s your location like? What’s your scene like? Has it changed? Have you stopped recently and really evaluated what you’ve got around you? That’s what Paul and Dave do to start today’s show. Then it’s on to listener feedback, […]

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Do you analyze your performances after the fact? If so… how long do you wait? Paul and Dave discuss the relative merits of when this is helpful, and how. But first, a fight! Well, not really, but there’s a sternly-worded discussion to be had about sitting vs. standing at your […]

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Your listener feedback this week brings Paul and Dave to some interesting places, first talking about the shortage of keyboard players, and wrapping up with a conversation about the glass ceiling for cover bands. But first, your two favorite weekend warriors got a chance to play together last week, so […]

The post The Glass Ceiling for Cover Bands? – Gig Gab Podcast 214 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul was instrumental (no pun intended) in putting on the 3rd Annual Los Gatos Park Dance this past weekend, a musical festival-style event for over 5,000 people. He and Dave talk through all the nuances of putting on your own event, be it for 5,000 people or even just 50. […]

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Today Paul and Dave talk through the results of Dave’s wrist injury which, this week, meant canceling a gig. That led to some interesting revelations on the part of Dave and his FLING bandmates, and he shares the current state of those in the show. Then it’s on to more […]

The post Charity Gigs, Appreciation & Revelation – GigGab 31 appeared first on Gig Gab.

How do you deal with the less-restrained members of the audience at your gigs? Paul and Dave aren’t sure they’re doing it correctly and talk through a few of their scenarios and tactics. Dave’s wrist is still in recovery, but he’s finding that playing without it has taught him some new […]

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Drummer, sound engineer, artist relations master and industry consultant Daniel East joins Paul and Dave tonight to share his experiences and expertise about getting endorsement deals. These types of relationships with your favorite equipment and instrument manufacturers are available to musicians at all levels, and we’d love to see you forge a […]

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Paul and Dave dive right into their stride with a discussion about whether or not one should “support live music.” That flows into a discussion about the true job of a working musician, a topic about which the guys have a lot to say! Then it migrates into Views From The […]

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Ever felt like the weakest member of a band? That’s the surprise question that Paul asked Dave today… and Dave has plenty of “yes” stories to share. Confidence in one another and having a shared musical language are two very important factors in the foundation of a band. Also, does […]

The post Not The English Version of “Pissed” – GigGab 34 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s autumn now, and we share our reflections from the summer and our musical goals for the next few months. Gear Gab makes its first appearance (unplanned, we swear!), and it’s pretty obvious this will be a regular segment on future Gig Gab podcasts. Some stuff we discussed: PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 Ultimate Ears […]

The post Reflections, Goals and Gear Gab – GigGab 35 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s always good to learn to play something that’s outside of your comfort zone, and that’s exactly what both Paul and Dave have spent the last week doing. They discuss their challenges and successes, dissecting the nuances of what those lessons are teaching each of them. Then it’s on to […]

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Every band needs songs, and your band is no different. Neither, it turns out, are the bands that Paul and Dave play in. With that, they talk about three very different processes that they use in their bands for selecting and working songs from the germ of an idea to playing […]

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Tonight Paul and Dave go deep into what makes them tick as musicians… and into what ticks them off! Following a great article that Paul found, he and Dave talk through the 7 Things Musicians Need To Do Besides Playing Music, and it brings your two favorite Weekend Warriors down […]

The post 7 Things Musicians Need To Do In Addition to Playing Shows – GigGab 38 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist (and podcaster!) Mark Linsenmayer joins Paul and Dave this week to offer a different perspective on gigging and how it relates to non-cover material. Mark’s stories are varied and colorful, and even include quite a few references to when he and Dave played music together many years ago. […]

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Paul’s straight off an airplane from Vegas. Dave literally hopped out of the drum stool from FLING rehearsal, walked five feet and sat in the podcast chair to record. This is your two favorite working musicians in a true flow state tonight, folks. Rehearsal was the topic, but it goes […]

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Guitarist, songwriter, marketer and entrepreneur Matt Gibson joins your two favorite weekend warriors to discuss building a business as a foundation for your musical endeavors. From growing over one million followers on Google+ to starting a podcast and experimenting with Facebook ads, Matt Gibson preaches the value of “social proof,” fame […]

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Another jam-session of an episode that covers all the bases, from Christmas music to prog rock geekery to the beginnings of fusion to playing music with people who know rock stars. All of that’s here plus all the stuff that links it together. Paul and Dave go on a musical journey […]

The post The Great Swing Scare of the Mid-90s – GigGab 42 appeared first on Gig Gab.

San Francisco Bay Area musician Steve Siacotos has been cultivating scenes and perfecting his craft while catering to audiences for decades. In addition to learning some of Steve’s favorite “aha!” tunes, you can hear the context around some great quotes like, “the audience is as important to the music as […]

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Going to see live music is something every musician enjoys at some level, but depending upon who is playing there might be other emotions involved. How do you feel watching your friends play? Is it different if they’re doing great versus if they’re having a bad night? Paul and Dave […]

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Tonight Paul and Dave’s (fictitious) Aunt has left them some money and they’re opening a club targeted at live music. Hear what these two Weekend Warriors have to say as they Monday-morning quarterback their way through drafting a business plan for a live music venue. All manner of topics are […]

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Kellen and Jamie Coffis – The Coffis Brothers – came and joined your two favorite weekend warriors to talk about what it takes to run a successful original band in today’s world. Between recording albums, touring, crafting their own events, singing harmonies, writing songs and managing band members, the Coffis […]

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Paul and Dave get together on this crazy Monday night and rehearsals are the topic. How do you rehearse with your band? What do you do to plan rehearsals? How does it all work out? These and other questions are answered. Download and enjoy!

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Today your two favorite weekend warriors let their geek flags fly as they talk about (some of) their favorite gear to use at gigs and on stage. They surprised each other with some inclusions and will likely surprise you, as well. First, though, a few words about not only David […]

The post Gear Gab … and a little bit about David Bowie – GigGab 47 appeared first on Gig Gab.

This week Paul​ and Dave​ take on a full load of topics including introducing a new friend of the show, they talk about a new project Paul is working on and then spend a good bit of time answering a listener’s question about how to bring your band to the […]

The post How Do I Get Better Gigs? (and How to Count the Intro to “Take it Easy”) – GigGab 48 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave take some time today to discuss acoustic gigs and how they can be quite beneficial to your more rocked-up playing, too. Acoustic gigs can provide opportunity to hone your crowd-interaction chops, improve your harmonies and give you a completely different perspective on live performance. Listen to your two […]

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This week it’s all about Yacht Rock and golf. No, not really, mostly it’s about what’s the right way to present yourself on stage as Paul and Dave talk through the Seven Deadly Performance Sins … and how NOT to commit them. But there’s a little bit about Yacht Rock […]

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A weekend warrior turned full-time warrior, Steve Witschel went from working real jobs and just playing weekend gigs to playing full-time in New Orleans. He likes to say he’s a worldwide musician that gets to stay in one place because of the variety of people he sees, and he’s got the stories […]

The post Cover Band Central’s Steve Witschel – GigGab 51 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul’s been tasked with forming (another) All-Star band, this time made up of Bay Area musicians, and he and Dave discuss the options and obstacles involved with putting that together. Then it’s time to answer listener Kevin’s question about money. Always a big topic amongst weekend warriors, the Money Talk […]

The post The Money Talk and All-Star Bands – GigGab 52 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave talk through their weekend gigs, including some tales about what it takes to get a crowd up and moving — and how to keep your head in the right place when that doesn’t happen right away. Then it segues to marketing talk. How do you market your […]

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FLING has begun recording some of their originals and Dave talks about the process of not only getting the recording started but also just how they go about picking which tunes to record. This, of course, opens up a discussion that relates to all types of bands, including those who […]

The post Choosing Songs… and Recording Them! – GigGab 53 appeared first on Gig Gab.

If a musician plays and no one is there to hear him or her, does it still matter? You bet it does, and Paul and Dave talk about why. Then it’s on to why recording yourself when you’re all alone matters, too… you’ll learn a lot from this episode, we […]

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This week Paul and Dave have a verbal jam session, riffing off each others’ ideas and discussing whatever comes to mind. Topics include subbing, some recently-tested gear, working with masters of their craft and playing music for music’s sake. The show follows more of a flow than you might think reading […]

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Well, folks, it took over a year but we all knew it had to happen sooner or later… Dave brought up the subject of this band Paul saw last night and the episode never turned back. Yep, you guessed it… Bruce Springsteen was the topic of conversation during the second-half […]

The post In-Ear Talk & Being Inspired by Live Music – GigGab 56 appeared first on Gig Gab.

After delaying a day Paul and Dave take to the mics and let their headcold-infused minds loop their way through the topics for this week’s show. Paul’s excited about some new tunes that he’s doing with The Houserockers and, well, heck, he’s excited about everything today! Hear him and Dave […]

The post Live Clicks, Strained Singing, Paul Rodgers and The Cure! – GigGab 57 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Playing on stage means (at least occasionally) playing in a rehearsal room. But how sacred is that room? Do your experiences there need to be as special as they are on stage? Do you work to make it feel and sound good in that space, or does it just serve […]

The post Rehearsal Sound … and a Peek Inside the Drummer’s Mind – GigGab 58 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Today your two favorite weekend warriors warm up with warming up! It’s all about what you do to prepare for a gig and how you get ready for that first downbeat. Then it’s on to a conversation about how you land that downbeat in the first place by differentiating – […]

The post Gig Preparation & Differentiating Yourself – GigGab 59 appeared first on Gig Gab.

When you’re in a band, there are some things you can polish quickly and some things that take time. Focus is one of the former, and Paul and Dave talk through just how important it is to them. Then it’s on to the talk about both commitment and playing in multiple […]

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When you’re doing something that sits between hobby and job, how do you define success? Paul and Dave take some time out this week to explore this topic… but not before wrapping up last week’s conversation about The Disagreement™. Enjoy!

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How often do you take a step back and evaluate your band, both musically and visually? It’s easy for unwanted elements to creep into your songs and shows over time and, once there, they’re hard to notice without taking a step out of your own shoes and looking back. Paul […]

The post Slack for Bands, Evaluating Your Show & a Prince-ly Chat – GigGab 62 appeared first on Gig Gab.

For a working cover band the subject of pay is always a touchy one. Paul and Dave talk through their thoughts and experiences when it comes to ensuring you’re doing the right gigs and getting paid properly. Then it’s on to the matter of subs. Are you sub? Do you […]

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It’s time to open up the mailbag, folks, and with questions about convincing your band to embrace technology and learning more about hearing protection, this one is guaranteed to inform and entertain! That plus some thoughts about being led… and leading leaders. Press play and enjoy!

The post Hearing Protection, Leading Leaders and More – GigGab 63 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Do you ever take requests? Do you ever post to Facebook to promote your band? Do you ever send out an email about your gigs? Do you think that’s even close to being enough to truly curate your audience? Paul and Dave have a very revealing chat about what they […]

The post Putting Time and Effort Into Audience Curation – GigGab 64 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul’s been doing a lot of vocal rehearsals lately as The Houserockers prep for their summer season, so he and Dave spend some quality time dissecting what makes a vocal rehearsal successful, including the main goal of doing such a thing. In addition, discussing that summer season prep leads your two […]

The post Being Ready: Vocal Rehearsals and Physical Fitness – GigGab 65 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s time for the therapy couch today, but don’t worry, it ends with dance songs, we promise! First, Paul and Dave answer some of your questions. What does it mean to be a generous musician? How much gigging is too much gigging (or is there such a concept)? These are […]

The post Dance Songs and Heart Breaks – GigGab 66 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Gigging musicians always have stories, some of them fantastic, some tales of woe. Today your two favorite Weekend Warriors dive into the pool and pull out a few of their favorites. Listen as Paul and Dave celebrate and commiserate together, then share your stories with them, too!

The post People Behaving Badly – Stories From the Stage Vol. 1 – GigGab 67 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Jan Hammer joins Paul and Dave today to share his own stories from throughout his life and career. From his start in Prague, the stories flow, including tales about Jan’s experiences with Jeff Beck, Keith Emerson, Jaco Pastorius, Neal Schon, Mahavishnu Orchestra and even Jimi Hendrix. There’s so much packed […]

The post Jan Hammer Talks Mahavishnu, Emerson, Hendrix, Jaco … and Getting the JuJu Happening! – GigGab 68 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Today Paul and Dave answer listener Patrick, who asks, “is it too late to make a living playing music?” As Weekend Warriors, this is an interesting concept to consider, and likely one that everyone has thought of at least once. Listen to what Paul and Dave have to say… then […]

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Paul and Dave start with some listener feedback (their first!) and then it’s time to talk about attaining the perfect stage volume. Always a tough thing to get right, but Paul and Dave do their best to explain their processes and how they try to get it right each time. It’s […]

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You filled up the mailbag, Paul and Dave dig in and answer your questions. Listen today to hear your two favorite weekend warriors answer your questions about money, in-ears, hanging banners, backing tracks and much, much more!

The post Band Banners, Backing Tracks and In-Ears, all from the Mailbag! – GigGab 70 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Robert Berry‘s musical career has followed his passion, and that’s led to him playing and collaborating with some of the best musicians on the planet. A true journeyman, he’s got some fantastic stories to tell, and that’s what we all love here on GigGab. Listen to the interview to hear […]

The post Robert Berry Talks Carl Palmer, Steve Howe, Keith Emerson … and Cheerleader Camp! – GigGab 71 appeared first on Gig Gab.

As it often happens, today’s show starts and stems from the gigs your two favorite weekend warriors have played … and seen! Paul and Dave talk about some of the recent lessons they’ve learned performing and watching, and it all seems to center around finding your way out of your […]

The post It Pays to Leave Your Comfort Zone – GigGab 72 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Every musician goes through the on-stage train wreck at times, and Paul and Dave are no exception. They talk through their train wrecks and, more importantly, how they dealt with them. A great discussion, and one you can contribute to, as well. Send in your stories to feedback@giggabpodcast.com and join […]

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Dave’s back from a tour of Abbey Road Studios and Paul’s in the final stages of pulling together his latest All-Star Band project, which means your two Weekend Warriors have a lot to talk about. Listen to hear all about all of this… and more!

The post Abbey Road and All-Star Bands – GigGab 73 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave come together today to ponder the subject of responsibility, and that leads to discussing which instrument bears the most responsibility for keeping the train on the tracks. A thoughtful, spirited discussion ensues, and your two favorite Weekend Warriors find they’re on common ground. Drummers, you might not be […]

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Today, Paul and Dave address the question a new bandleader asks about getting things started. As you might expect, your two favorite Weekend Warriors have a differing set of opinions on this, and that makes for a good podcast! First, though, it’s about how much energy it takes to play a […]

The post The Energy Required To Be Intimate – GigGab 75 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul curses Dave by revisiting the subject of People Behaving Badly™, this time with the twist of discussing folks who feel the need to join your band (or any band!) on stage without invitation. Before getting into that, though, your two favorite weekend warriors discuss the joys of playing outdoor summer […]

The post Outdoor Summer Gigs, Musical Inspirations & Uninvited Stage Visitors – GigGab 76 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave are in the final stages of their shared gig prep, but take a detour today to talk about all the other projects they each have going on and the value of embracing intensity. Then it’s time to look to the pros and learn some lessons about requests and […]

The post Embracing Intensity and Lessons from the Pros – GigGab 78 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Gear is fun, and most musicians spend more time thinking and talking about gear — and money spent paying for gear — than just about anything else related to their hobby. It’s high time your favorite Weekend Warriors dug into this conversation and this week’s episode digs into Dave’s drum […]

The post Gear Talk (Drums and Sound) – Gig Gab 10 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It finally happened: Dave and Paul played the gigs together that they’ve been discussing for the past few episodes. As always there are lessons that were learned, stories to tell, and sometimes both are about the same thing! Listen as these two weekend warriors share their shared weekend with all […]

The post Your Two Weekend Warriors Share a Weekend – GigGab 79 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Both musicians and bandleaders alike have to make split-second decisions and then live with them long-term, and today’s show is all about being a little more thoughtful about the things that both come out of and go into our mouths. Paul and Dave share some recent lessons along these lines to prove […]

The post Watch What Goes Into and Out of Your Mouth – GigGab 80 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Despite the shorter-than-usual gap between episodes, both Paul and Dave found themselves in intimidating scenarios they had to deal with in the moment. Caring about what you do and how you do it is an important trait of being a musician, and sometimes that means external factors drive you to […]

The post The Benefits of Intimidation – GigGab 81 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Autumn is almost here for those of us in the Northern hemisphere, and the gigs change right along with the New England leaves. Even though Paul’s not in New England (or, well, not usually), he’s experiencing the end-of-summer effect with his west coast gigs, too. Listen to what your two […]

The post Falling into the Autumn Music Scene – GigGab 82 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Your two favorite working musicians throw off their flak jackets and address two of the most opinionated topics possible: guitar tones and band politics. What could go wrong? Turns out, not too much. Paul and Dave navigate through these treacherous waters and dig out the nuggets just for you. Have […]

The post Guitar Sounds and Band Politics – Gig Gab 11 appeared first on Gig Gab.

What happens when you expect a dance crowd and get one that wants to listen intently? Every gig is different, and many times you don’t get to control the vibe of the room you walk into. The only thing you can do is control what you deliver from the stage, and […]

The post Managing the Vibe at Gigs, Parties and Weddings appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s one thing to put on a great show, it’s quite another to convince people to attend and put their butts in the seats or their feet on the dance floor! Today Paul and Dave talk through a few ways to market Paul’s upcoming gig on Saturday. This is a real world […]

The post How to Market Your Gigs – GigGab 84 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Another crazy week for your two favorite working musicians means another episode chock full of stories and lessons learned. Dave just finished one theater show and loaded his drums in for another. The show he just finished had him and the rest of the “pit” band prominently on stage, so […]

The post Beware The Hassle Factor – GigGab 85 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Jerry Harvey, founder of Ultimate Ears and JH Audio, joins your two favorite weekend warriors to talk in-ear monitors and more. Jerry has seen so much during his career that his advice likely outweighs his stories, and his stories are epic. Today he offers tips on not only mixing your in-ears, […]

The post Jerry Harvey, In-Ear Monitor Pioneer – GigGab 86 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Phish cites their new “No Analysis” rule as a foundational reason they’re still playing together. Paul and Dave take a look at this and discuss whether or not this might work in your band (or theirs!). But first, Dave’s just finished two weeks of Bitter Pill, and he debriefs the […]

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It took 11 episodes and a weekend chock full of (too many?) gigs to finally get your two working musician podcasters to let their guard down and enter the minefield that is discussing wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends. Whatever the label, it’s probably a bad idea to record this discussion. And […]

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Roberto R. Hernandez joins Paul and Dave to talk about the genesis of his new book, The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs. The discussion starts with how Roberto set about to write the book, and then opens up into more of a GigGab-style chat about some of the topics […]

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You know where your amps and drums and mics go, but what about your mains? Any ideas? It’s worth not just making an assumption every time you walk into a new room, and Paul and Dave start that conversation for you. Merchandise can either be a huge benefit or a […]

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Some important topics addressed this week, including the special benefits of doing a tribute act as well as the concept of “four-walling” your own show and managing the whole night. That conversation is bookended by equally-important discussions about the substances on which both your crowd and your bandmates (and you) choose to use […]

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As all working musicians know, those fun New Year’s Eve gigs re followed-up by a hangover of tax season. But, as with all hangovers, if you properly prepare for it you can limit the pain. For this, your two Weekend Warriors talk through their strategies of keeping the books straight and simple […]

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This episode is all about practice. How do you practice? What do you practice? Do you have a plan? What’s your plan? How often? And then… what’s the difference between practice and rehearsal? (and do you want to play with musicians that don’t yet know the answer to that question?). […]

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Groove. What is it? What defines it? What makes it good? What’s obvious when it’s missing? How do you find it? That’s the core of today’s show folks, as your two favorite weekend warriors set about answering this question. Out of that conversation comes some road-tested tricks for ensuring you […]

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At some point, every musician (well, except Paul) will go through the process of auditioning for a band. If not that, then you might be part of a band that’s auditioning a new member. The process can be fun, grueling, enlightening, frustrating and unproductive. But it’s a means to an end, […]

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It’s time to answer some of your questions. Thomas asks about setup time: how long is too long? what can you and your band do to make it more efficient? Dave and Paul have your answers here. Then it’s on to Matt, whose band was badmouthed by their former singer. […]

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It’s the season for gift-giving, and your two Weekend Warrior Santas want to fill your gift bag with a few things to make your musical life more complete. Listen to what Santa Paul and Santa Dave wish for each of you. And remember… always be performing! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 GigGab 95 – December […]

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What happens if you’re the very best musician in your band? How about if you’re the worst? Paul and Dave talk through these scenarios, and (in their minds, anyway!) they’ve both been in both places. Hear some war stories that help illustrate what works and what doesn’t, too! As always, […]

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