Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

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 you can be the judge! Listen, learn, and then let ’em have it. Email feedback@giggabpodcast.com...

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 one goes. Press play and enjoy! Always be performing, folks! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Gig Gab 141 – Monday, Nov...

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. After this, it’s time to talk about equipment problems. Taboo subject, yes, but it&#82...

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… or at all. Finally, listener David (no relation!) asks about earplugs… and Dave and Paul have answers! Chapters/...

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 related discussion: what is the definition of a professional musician? That one gets discussed, too, by your two favor...

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 it through! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 GigGab 137 – Monday, October 23, 2017 00:00:41 Petty Show 0...

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 about the process during the process. All of this … and more… on this week’s Gig...

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 – Monday, October 9, 2017 00:00:20 That floating Petty Groove 00:01:37 Ye...

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 for cocaine, folks 00:04:12 All the gifts Tom Petty left for “classic rock” cover musicia...

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 he loved it, but not in the way you’d think. Listen in for more! Chapte...

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 feels like they got what they needed out of a gig is vital to your band’s long-t...

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 them? And what’s does “American Girl” have...

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. Paul and Dave certainly have thoughts to share about this! They’ve also got some tricks and tips to...

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. Hear their suggestion for a magic success formula, too. RCPM! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 GigGab 129 – Monday, A...

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. Then it’s on to a conversation about maintaining your poker face on stage when things don’t...

Both Paul and Dave had their third gigs with replacement drummers in their respective bands… and they both found that’s the gig when a little bit of magic begins to happen. Hear them tell their tales and dig into the nuts and bolts of it all. Dave also had an experience and revelation with recreational pot at his gig… and it’s not at all like we just made it sound! You&#821...

Listener Timothy shares a story that rings true with us and our motto: Always Be Performing! Before we get to that, though, there’s a conversation about another ABP motto: Always Be Prepared. And that doesn’t just apply to equipment – though it’s important there, too – it applies to people. Things just don’t always work out as expected, and that’s a lesson both Paul a...

Every local band shares at least one concern: keeping your show fresh for your audience. The real question is, how do you do it? Do you take requests? Do you mix up your setlist? Do you ask the audience to become part of your show? There’s no right or wrong answer here, but one thing’s for sure: you need to answer this question. Dave and Paul have some ideas, too… and that’...

Sometimes you have to cancel a gig. It happens. How do you deal with it? Your two favorite weekend warriors talk through the realities associated with it. Then it’s time to talk about renegotiating an existing gig. How can you do it? What’s the protocol? Is it OK? Paul and Dave muse on this and discover some answers for you! But first… it’s about tasty harmonies (literally)...

As a musician, there are always so many things to learn and not all of them are music-related. How much camaraderie do you think you have as a band? How much do you help each other out? Paul and Dave wade into those waters here today and then surf over to discussing gig-specific strategies for setlists and pacing. Finally, it’s a revisit of the Klingon discussion… there were a few thin...

One of the best things that can happen to your band – original or cover – is to gain devoted fans. They’re there at every gig, they are your best form of word-of-mouth promotion, and they make you feel like the rock star you are. But there’s a downside to them, sometimes right at the start. Sometimes that manifests itself before you’ve ever met… and they become KLINGONS! Li...

This episode is all about finding the right balance. First, how do you deal with it when you’re on a stage that’s too big for your band? Thankfully Paul and Dave have made the mistakes so you don’t have to. Then your two favorite weekend warriors dig into the mailbag to answer the question of balancing being a musician with being a productive member of a family. Neither of these...

Every band deals with a booking agent at some point, and today that becomes true here at GigGab, too, as we welcome Paul Costley of Notso Costley Productions onto the show. Paul’s been playing in, managing, booking, and organizing bands since the 1970s, and has carved out a very successful booking business for himself in New England. Yep, it’s a two-Pauls-and-one-Dave show as your two...

How close is your band? Can you tell each other everything? How about at vocal rehearsals? These are the questions that your two favorite weekend warriors start with today. Then it’s into contracts. Pay attention to the minutia, folks, because it might not be minutia to other people. Then it’s on to the cost of playing in multiple projects. Really, it’s all about isolating the di...

Your two weekend warriors are on the same coast, within miles of each other, so what do they do? Record a podcast remotely like they always do! After all, that’s what they’re comfortable doing, and the best performances come from a place of comfort. Speaking of that, Paul and Dave spend some time talking about how oddly-comforting it feels being up on stage. That separation from the au...