Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Gear Gab and Rant Gab and Celebration Gab all at the same time equals what? It equals Gig Gab, that’s what! Listen as Paul and Dave talk through Duct Tape, blissful ignorance, honing ones craft, and Lights/Camera/Editing on a budget! Your two favorite weekend warriors share some of their new, old, and upcoming favorite gear, too. Press play… and always be performing! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 2...

‘Don’t think so much… just concentrate.’ These were the words Jaco said to a young Peter Erskine… easier said than done, but oh so right! Listen as Dave and Paul talk through their own versions of these, especially as it relates to truly learning the music you’re playing. Then it’s on to discussing pricing ourselves as musicians as we begin to emerge from...

Before too long, what was once challenging becomes normal and comfortable, even if the music you’re playing is universally agreed to be “challenging”. So.. what to do? Focus on your discomfort, that’s what! Paul and Dave talk through this and share some recent experiences they’ve had in this department. Then it’s on to picking songs for your band, including a ne...

What does the stage of tomorrow look like? What does the rehearsal room of tomorrow look like? Sometimes these themes just come together as your two favorite weekend warriors get to chatting, and this week certainly hits that mark. Listen as Dave Hamilton and Paul Kent talk through the tech — and future tech — that might exist to really help us evolve our setups in meaningful ways. Dave has been a...

Industry trade show mayhem time is upon us, and it appears that not even a pandemic can stop that particular freight train. The good news is that it fuels up a heckuva Gear Gab episode, with lots of stuff for your two favorite weekend warriors to share. Listen as Paul and Dave talk about some gear they’ve tested and some they’d like to test, as well as some anecdotes that spring from s...

So much goes into keeping a band together: the songs, the schedules, the money, the personalities, the politics. Oh, wait, that’s right… we keep politics out of this show. Well, then, how do Paul and Dave deal with Mr. Axe’s question this week? You’ll just have to listen to find out! Press play and hear your two favorite weekend warriors discuss all manner of strategies for...

Always Be Performing is our “ABP” here, but there’s another famous one: Always Be Prepared! As musicians, we know how important it is to be prepared for a gig, and that preparation can start as early as you would like. But what’s the best way to be preparing? Well… it depends upon the gig, and your two favorite weekend warriors have some examples to share! Listen as D...

That feeling when you’re in a routine, comfortable, just showing up and seeing your bandmates and hanging out and, yeah, playing some music, too? That’s what we miss here at Gig Gab. Come hang out with Paul and Dave as they talk through this and more. Virtual jamming software has evidently come a LONG way since the summer, and listener Dave has some findings and suggestions to share, a...

Changes in the air… or change IS in the air? Which did Paul say to Dave? You’ll have to listen to find out. Your two favorite weekend warriors talk through recent gigs, stereo in-ears, and just how to prep yourself and your band for what comes next. Press play, and always be performing! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 284 – Monday, December 14, 2020 00:00:51 Prepping for hard tunes! Gotta play...

We love gear! We know, we all love gear, but here at Gig Gab it truly holds a special place in our hearts (and wallets). This week, not only do Paul and Dave share their favorite gear picks, this time y’all chimed in with some requests of your own. Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors go through your requests along with their own lists to build a monster list. But we’re not fin...

Sources familiar with the matter tell us that forces are conspiring…to perhaps make it such that we can begin playing again sometime next year. But when sometime? And, more importantly, when will you, your bandmates, and your fans be comfortable with such an idea? Paul and Dave are here to chat it out! That’s not all, of course. There’s Gear Gab to be had, and there’s talk...

One oft-overlooked aspect of keeping your band together is scheduling. Most bands rely on regular progress together, and that means regular time together. How do you ensure your band gets together regularly? For some, this is automatic. For others, it takes a lot of work. Good news: Paul and Dave have lived both sides of this! Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors share their thoughts, insi...

Do you know what your band’s image is? Does that match what your fans and friends think it is? Video is a great medium to communicate with your audience, especially these days, but it can be tricky to remain truthful to who you are as a band while attempting to share that image in this way. Good news, Paul and Dave talk through some of this, hopefully adding some direction to the conversatio...

After holding down the “pause” button for months, it stands to reason that the other side of all this involves more than a couple of instances of the “reset” button. Listener Fred poses a question about post-pandemic pay scales, and that opens up the conversation for Paul and Dave to muse on what other things might be reset…including your band. Press play and listen a...

We’ve spent time learning our instruments, which means we’ve spent time learning how to learn. Now, where will we apply that knowledge and skill? Presumably we’ll keep studying our instruments, but what else can we learn? How about applying this ability to learn to crafting and improving our stage shows? How about our band management? Listen as Paul and Dave have a little jam ses...

It often takes a relocation to realize just how great your “little” local music store is. Paul and Dave talk through some of this as it relates to gear, community, and more. Meanwhile, Dave’s finding himself in the woodshed this week, having bitten off a little more than he realized he needed to chew! And then listener Steve has an issue with his band that is routinely encounteri...

Ever been in a band where you realized one member was getting all the attention and you weren’t? It happens, and your two favorite weekend warriors have been there. Listen as Paul and Dave talk through this. First, though, a bit of gab about what you can do now to keep your band together and keep focused on creating with one another. “Always Be Performing” is our motto here, and...

Is your band dynamic is a family dynamic? Or is it a business-only relationship? How does that work out? These are the questions that Paul and Dave not only discuss, but percolate throughout as they go through a few other topics, too. Of course, your two favorite weekend warriors spend a few minutes sharing their Eddie Van Halen stories and memories, too. He was—and remains—a legend. Press play, a...

It’s time for you to shine! Well, two of you, anyway. This week, Paul and Dave dig into the mailbag to share some of your thoughts and answer your questions. Listen as your two favorite Weekend Warriors talk through getting your band back together, communicating with your audience in new ways, the streaming formula and, yes, uncommon hits! Press play and enjoy… and then please send us...

Have you heard Grand Funk’s version of “Feelin’ Alright”? Would you put that in your band’s setlist? More importantly, would that song be right for your band’s setlist? Listen as Paul and Dave talk about pulling together a band with a focus more on performing than playing the songs everyone wants to hear. Up first, though, Dave played a few gigs this weekend, an...

This week starts with some Cool Stuff Found in terms of apps for your phone that might just make your life easier. Then, Paul and Dave get into the question: where are you and your band going? What are your plans. Your two favorite weekend warriors talk about how they’re keeping their feet moving, creating the opportunities to keep things moving forward. Press play and then share your though...

One of the silver linings of our current reality is appreciating some of the things we might have taken for granted in the past. Playing music for the love of it certainly tastes a lot sweeter today than it did six months ago, and Dave and Paul talk through some of the current and future benefits of that. Of course, it’s not Gig Gab without some practical advice, and Dave shares his experien...

What’s the future of live music going to look like? Pandemic or not, the momentum of change was already palpable. Did the pandemic accelerate it? Listens as Paul and Dave share their thoughts on what they’re seeing and where it’s going. But first, a few Cool Things Found, including a new Logic plug-in AND a new feature in Zoom. Press play, and join your two favorite weekend warri...

Paul and Dave dig into their brains… and share what they find! This week it’s about the value of preparation. How much work do you put in ahead of the gig? More than that, which bits of your work are truly valuable, and how? That’s what you hear from your two favorite weekend warriors this week. Share your thoughts, would ya? feedback@giggabpodcast.com Oh — and always be performing! 00...

Giving and receiving feedback is never easy. Well, it’s super easy if you want to send us an email: feedback@giggabpodacst.com But when you’re in a band, that feedback process can be the thing that drives a wedge between band members. Paul and Dave dissect that a little bit in today’s show, and borrow a phrase and concept from Dave’s theater experiences: Take the Note. Both...