Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Managing calendars during the holiday season – especially December – is tough. Listen to how your two favorite weekend warriors are each addressing their December scheduling dilemmas. Then it’s time to revisit the concept of vocal stomp boxes – and stomp boxes, in general. Your comments helped open Dave’s eyes (and mind!) on these, and he and Paul share their further thoughts on the su...

Are originals part of what your band does? If not, have you ever wanted to try and fit some in if you could? Listen to Paul and Dave share their (very different!) experiences with each other about this, including Paul’s commitment for 2019, and Dave’s Goblin Cock story. Oh yes, you’ll want to listen for that. Press play and enjoy! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 191 – Monday, November 26, 2018...

Are you sure  you need that effects box? For your voice? In a rock band? Also, if you play a multi-band gig is it appropriate to leave before the entire evening comes to a close? And lastly, how clever are your setlists? And how clever should they be? Paul and Dave answer these important questions for you. Maybe. You’ll just have to press play to find out. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 190 – Monday, Nove...

Paul visited Nashville and Dave visited the dentist. One of those things happened in the last week, even, but never fear: they both resulted in relevant stories for you, our listeners. A quick conversation about leverage finds its way into the show, and using it to negotiate non-zero-sum outcomes. And listeners Mike (yes, two of them) have things in the mailbag that your two favorite weekend warri...

It’s easy to get caught up in all the time you’re spending on stage (and the time you spending preparing for that!), but it’s equally important to treat your nights off stage as priorities, too. There’s a yin and a yang to a lot of things, not just this, and you’ll hear how that thread permeates the entirety of this discussion between Dave and Paul. They can be some p...

What happens when a new manager takes over at a club where you’ve already got dates booked? Your answer to this question will undoubtedly impact your band’s future bookings. The good news is that you are in control. Listen to advice from Paul and Dave as they share experiences and tips with you! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 187 – Monday, October 29, 2018 00:01:14 Two Double-headers! 00:01:41 A Sub...

When the Amazing Super Duper Squirrels meet their arch nemesis, what does that mean for the number of female tuba players available for your next gig? This, folks, is an example of the important questions that Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton, your two favorite weekend warriors, dissect on Gig Gab! Oh, also, how to make your drums sound their best. So, hey, you know, there’s that! Press play and...

If at first you don’t succeed, it’s worth asking, “did I believe?” Well, did you? Gig Gab might help. First, Paul and Dave talk through some of their gigs, both recently and upcoming, as they’re both doing some different stuff that detours from the norm (is there really a norm, outside of Cheers?). Ever have to do a gig without your keyboard player? Your two favorite...

What happens when your bandmate can’t make the gig? What happens when you can’t make the gig? More to the point: what happens when listener Patrick asks Paul to reconcile the fact that he despises subs with the fact that Paul now plays in multiple bands? What happens is that Dave and Paul talk it through! It would’ve been even funnier if we had a different host step in and sub fo...

In what key should you play Happy Birthday? How do you count the intros of Drive My Car and Glory Days? Answering the important questions: Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton. Then it’s on to the magic of the groove and how to find the mojo inside the songs you’re playing… how to be  inside the songs you’re playing. And then wrapping up with some details about the songs that both D...

Ever wake up the morning of a gig too nervous to do the gig? Does your band have signals or a plan for when a uninvited guest graces your stage? Do you understand the difference between a contractor and an employee? Have you never thought about any of these things? Paul and Dave have, and they work hard in today’s episode to distill it all down into examples that mean something for you and y...

When is it time to buck the traditional flow of a party or wedding gig and do something a little different? When you have a better idea, that’s when! Dave attended a wedding this weekend and learned quite a few new things just by being a guest. Paul’s got a club relationship that’s going sideways (and down in pay!) and he and Dave talk through all this and more on this week&#8217...

A big part of performing live music involves engaging with the crowd. The better you can do that, the better your band will do in a general sense. But there’s a cost… what happens when that one member of the crowd goes too far? What happens when they see the relationship as more than just performer-and-audience member? What happens when they think that you’re friends? Your two fa...

In both the lead-up to a gig and the setup at the show there are many opportunities for things to feel like they’re being derailed. Too much of that – really, any amount of that – has the potential to impact your perception of the gig. And, as the performer, your perception is clearly communicated to the audience. How do you get past it? Listen as Paul and Dave talk through their weekend gig...

Your comfort level on stage can make or break your performance in so many ways, including how both you and the crowd each perceive the outcome. How do you do it? What tricks can you employ to lean towards success? What’s the magic formula? And, most importantly, what should you avoid? Paul and Dave talk through all this and more. Press play, listen, learn, and enjoy! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:...

Art can be created and delivered in many forms, but being on stage and performing live has some unique benefits…and challenges! Listen as Paul and Dave talk through several aspects of this, from perspectives of both the performer and the audience member! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Gig Gab 177 – Monday, August 13, 2018 00:00:46 Be careful of stage antics! 00:03:32 The benefit of live art 0...

Sometimes you gain experience, sometimes you get to shuffle, and sometimes you get both. Oh, also, sometimes you get neither. It’s life, man. That’s how it goes. This week, Paul and Dave – your two favorite weekend warriors – have many stories to tell. Paul’s band opened up for Eddie Money this weekend, Dave had a rainout, and you might be surprised that these two guys talk about...

You know that special moment when your band gets to that point where everything’s flowing and you operate on one heartbeat? Paul and Dave each experienced that this weekend in different ways and, of course, they share their experiences. That’s not all it’s about, though. When you bring in songs for your band, how do you manage your expectations as to what that song should (or wil...

Every show has a theme, and after your two favorite Weekend Warriors took a week off from podcasting, they’ve had a lot to think about. It’s no surprise, then, that the theme of this episode is thinking. When is thinking good, and when is it bad? How many gigs is too many, and what should you be thinking about during, before, and after each one? What happens when someone else shares th...

Drummer, producer, composer, and singer, Buddy Gibbons talks through his start in marching band, how traditional grip unlocked his entire career, and simply provides lesson after lesson for anyone wanting to create a living playing music. Informative, inspirational, and simply charming, Buddy walks through it all for Paul and Dave and all of you with his head held high. Press play, download, and e...

You have the power to control your audience. Well, kind of. You have the power to choose how you emote on stage, and there’s a lot of power behind choosing happy songs. Paul and Dave talk about this, and how to go about it. But that’s not all… outdoor gigs, goals vs. systems, and Dave’s process for learning and rehearsing for The Who’s Tommy are all part of this week&...

When you’re looking at promoting your band, what are the important factors to portray? Is it all about the music? Unfortunately, that may not be case… in fact, it’s not the case. But don’t fret… Paul and Dave have some answers or at least some perspective for you, answering questions from all of YOU, dear listeners. Press play and enjoy! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 171 – Tuesday...

How do cruise ships, fiddle players, Joe Zawinul, percussive guitar, and taping lyrics to a kick drum all tie together? If you had asked Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton that question before they recorded this episode, they probably wouldn’t have had an answer. Now, though, not only do they have an answer, you do, too. Download or just press play and enjoy! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 169 – Monday, June 18,...

Bars are intimidating things to some people. When was the last time you, as a musician, thought about that? It’s good to think about music from your audience’s perspective and consider the vibe that you’re creating for them… and that’s exactly what Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton talk about today. From attitude to song selection to choosing the actual room you’ll pl...

“Hey, would you like to do a project together?” It’s easy when your answer is “yes,” but what happens when it’s not? How do you deal with this now-difficult scenario? Paul and Dave talk through all of this for you today. We’re not sure they come up with the magic answer, but there might be a magic phrase or two that they share. Then Paul nudges Dave into t...