Gig To Live

In this episode, John chats with singer-songwriter Dennis Welch. Dennis reached out to John a few months ago and this interview is their first official meeting. Dennis describes himself as a lifelong songwriter who is experiencing a musical renaissance in his sixties. After an 18-year break from recording, an unexpected phone call changed everything. Since then, he's released three acclaimed...

Aurora LaFond is a singer-songwriter from New York who spent some time in the foothills of Northern California. Aurora goes by the moniker Sister Outlaw. Her music is folk (but not). Jazz (but not). And, it’s full of good stories. Her new album, Dog Water released to all streaming platforms on June 27, 2026. Dog Water is full of themes of relationships. Relationships past. Current relationships. T...

In this episode, John chats with guest Kelly Rutledge. Kelly is the founder of Madcap Records, an independent record label based in Nevada City, California. Madcap operates out of Ancient Waves Studio and distributes music through Sony's distribution network to major digital platforms. Kelly is a former major-label A&R executive and producer who worked with Virgin, Capitol, Motown, The Vi...

In this episode, John talks about the things musicians wish venues knew that make the gig easier for the musician and, more importantly, the things that foster a good relationship between venue and musician. Musicians want venue owners to succeed. However, there are many things that often go overlooked that make the gig difficult for the performer. Some of those things are inconveniences, some are...

In this episode, John sits down with therapist Gina Nelson to discuss something musicians don't talk about nearly enough: mental health. Gina is a licensed therapist who specializes in anxiety, trauma, and EMDR therapy, and she also understands the life of a musician because she's a skilled musician who has shared the stage herself. The pressure to perform, fear of failure, imposter synd...

In today's episode, John continues what will be a podcast tradition of sharing memorable gig stories. One of the greatest things musicians can do is tell one another stories about their most memorable gigs. We encourage one another, remind each other why we do what we do, laugh together, and celebrate together. We learn from one another. We normalize the chaos that most definitely happens. We...

In this episode, John takes a look at a reality that applies to just about every line of work: every job has a component called "The Suck." Even careers we love come with parts we'd rather skip. The challenge isn't eliminating The Suck. The challenge is keeping it in perspective. John shares ten common frustrations musicians face and explores how a simple shift in mindset can c...

In this episode, John tackles one of the most important questions in the life of a working musician: Where do gigs come from?  This episode is in response to a few listeners writing in and asking for advice. New bookings don't just magically appear on the calendar. Some musicians seem to stay busy year after year, while others struggle to find enough work. Why is that? Understanding how oppor...

You asked for it. The first episode (more to come), where John talks to creators about the use of AI in music. In this episode, John sits down with content creator and musician Seth Abstract, whose unique blend of classic literature, modern music, and artificial intelligence has captured the attention of audiences across TikTok, Instagram, and beyond.  Seth is best known for transforming the works...

In this episode, we're tackling one of the most misunderstood topics in live music: Performance Rights Organizations, or PROs. Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR are often surrounded by confusion, fear, and plenty of rumors, especially when venue owners start receiving letters about music licensing. We'll answer some of the most common questions about who these organizations a...

In this episode, John sits down with Trenton Wagler of The Steel Wheels to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable career in music over the long haul. Over the past two decades, Trent has helped grow The Steel Wheels from a regional act into one of the most respected independent bands on the scene. Along the way, he's navigated the realities of touring, songwriting, recording,...

In this episode, John revisits one of the topics that generated the most feedback from listeners: money. Back in March, he released a two-part series called Let's Talk About Money , and while the conversation sparked good discussion, many musicians wanted something more concrete. How much should you charge? What are venues actually paying? What's reasonable for a winery, brewery, corpora...

In this episode, John talks about beating the funk. Not the good kind with a killer bass line. The emotional kind. The kind that sneaks in after too many miles, too much noise, too much pressure, or just . . . too much life.  Instead of offering shallow positivity or pretending everything is fine, this episode takes a different route. It’s about gratitude. Paying attention again. Taking stock of t...

Our guest today is Jason Keiser. Jason is a California, San Francisco Bay Area guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger known for blending jazz, bluegrass, old-time, and acoustic music traditions.  In this conversation, Jason shares about the crossover of Jazz and Bluegrass, what an education doesn’t give you, the differences between playing solo and with a group, getting stiffed,...

In this episode, John gets honest about some lessons learned from years of gigging, traveling, creating, and trying to make a living in music.  Every musician has stories they wish they could redo, decisions they’d take back, and moments that taught them something the hard way. But sharing our mistakes matters. It reminds us we’re not alone, helps some artists avoid unnecessary pain, and turns fai...

In today's episode, John shares five gig stories. No Top Ten list. Just a musician sharing some of the most memorable things that have happened to him along the way.  One of the greatest things musicians can do is tell one another stories about their most memorable gigs. We encourage one another, remind each other why we do what we do, laugh together, and celebrate together. We learn from one...

In this episode, John dives into the childlike qualities that often disappear as artists get older and more cautious, and why reconnecting with those instincts may be one of the most important things a musician can do for longevity, creativity, relationships, and mental health. Grab yourself a popsicle or some Nerds and kick back for a bit. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a sh...

In this episode, John talks about the tension between being prolific and being healthy. Full-time music is hard work. It takes discipline, consistency, sacrifice, and the willingness to keep showing up. But artists can easily drift into a dangerous “publish or perish” mentality where the pressure to do more, more, more at all times slowly starts eating away at their mental health, relationships, i...

In this episode, John wraps up a two-part conversation about the sacrifices musicians make to live this life. From missed time and uncertain schedules to the hidden strain on mental health and relationships, this episode is about learning to name the real costs, understand them clearly, and navigate them with more honesty, strength, and intention. Along the way, he shares practical tips for coping...

In this episode, John begins a two-part conversation about the sacrifices musicians make to live this life. From missed time and uncertain schedules to the hidden strain on mental health and relationships, this episode is about learning to name the real costs, understand them clearly, and navigate them with more honesty, strength, and intention. Along the way, he shares practical tips for coping b...

In this episode, John unpacks a Top 10 list built from real nights, real rooms, and real years of making a living with music.  Drawing from life as a full-time working musician, he talks about the strange, fascinating, unpredictable world of tip culture, what it reveals about people, ourselves, and what every performer should understand about the exchange happening beyond the songs. Support the sh...

This episode's guest is the amazing Clementine Moss, best known for her work with the Led Zeppelin tribute band, Zepparella. John and Clementine talk about music and gigging, and take a dive into habits, spiritual practices, mental health, and mindset that are necessary for the gigging musician. For longevity. Below is the bio from Clementine's website www.clemthegreat.com: Clementine Mo...

In this episode, John lays out a clear, no-nonsense strategy for how working musicians should approach social media if they actually want it to support their gigging life.  This isn’t about chasing trends or trying to go viral. It’s about showing up with rhythm, saying something that matters, and building real connection over time. John covers what to post, how often, what works, and shares a few...

In this episode, John chats with Jason Peek, a lifelong working musician. Starting out at just 12 years old alongside his bandmate, Jason went on to help build Kung Fu Diesel , a Michigan-based band that carved out a loyal following across the Midwest with a gritty, blue-collar sound and a reputation for delivering it live. Rooted in Michigan where there’s a subtle Motown undercurrent, the band fo...

In this episode, John takes a look at something that can quietly shape your entire path as a musician… how you naturally show up in the musical landscape. He introduces the idea of archetypes, not as labels you get stuck in, but as recognizable patterns. Ways of describing the instincts, tendencies, and roles that show up again and again in creative people. Because when you don’t have language for...