Gig To Live

You don’t build a 30+ year career in music by accident. In this episode, John sits down with Patrick Tetreault, a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who has lived the full spectrum of a working musician’s life. From record deals to the independent grind, from local stages to international tours, Patrick has carved out a path that reflects both endurance and evolution. Patrick is well...

In this episode, John tackles a side of the music life that can be tough to face. For some, it may hit close to home, especially if you’re finding yourself in a difficult spot or questioning where things are headed. But instead of avoiding it, John leans in with the kind of honest, practical questions that help you sort through the noise and move forward with intention.  This episode isn’t just ab...

In this episode, John dives into those weird, awkward moments every gigging musician knows all too well. The ones that stop you mid-song, make you smile on the outside, and think something very different on the inside. It’s not malicious. It’s just the strange gap between life on stage and how people see it from the other side of the room. This one matters because those moments happen all night, e...

In this episode, John breaks down why every working musician needs to be able to clearly articulate their gigging philosophy. Not some abstract idea, but a real, usable answer to the question: “Why do I do what I do, in the way I do it?” Because if you can’t say it, you probably can’t live it consistently. And when that’s the case, your decisions get reactive, your communication gets muddy, and yo...

It’s the 10th episode! Thanks so much for listening. On this special 10th episode, John interviews Nashville recording artist and songwriter Kevin Marcy in a special double episode all wrapped in one. Kevin Marcy is a California-born country artist best known as a founding member of The Marcy Brothers, the trio he formed in 1983 with his brothers Kris and Kendal in Oroville, California. The group...

A gig cancellation can feel like a punch to the gut, especially when you’ve had it circled on the calendar for months.  In this episode of Gig to Live , John talks honestly about the frustration performers feel when plans fall apart and the ripple effects it can have on both momentum and morale. With humor and perspective, he explores the posture working musicians can take when things go sideways,...

In this episode of Gig to Live , John explores a simple but important idea: when you’ve been performing for a long time, it’s easy to miss things. Habits form, routines take over, and certain details that once mattered can slowly drift out of focus. Episode 8 invites musicians to take a fresh look at their craft and reconsider some of the subtle ways a performance can lose clarity over time. Or, p...

In this episode, John opens the conversation many musicians quietly avoid, sidestep, ignore, or start breaking out in hives over . . . but constantly think about: money. In Let’s Talk About Money, Part One , he digs into the realities of getting paid as a working musician and why understanding your financial landscape is just as important as knowing your setlist.  With his usual mix of humor, hone...

In this episode, John continues the conversation in Let’s Talk About Money, Part Two ,  continuing a countdown of Top Ten items, beginning with number 7.  With humor, straight talk, and a few hard truths, John explores the habits that keep musicians underpaid and the decisions that help them build a sustainable career. This episode offers practical perspective from someone who makes his living gig...

In this episode, John examines the Top 10 Ways to Choose Songs That Work . Drawing from years of real-world gigging, he lays out a practical trail map for performers who want their sets to land with the room instead of drifting past it. More than a list, this episode is a set of signposts for the long road of working musicianship.  John talks about why some songs consistently pull people back into...

In this episode, John talks about the hard truth most gigging musicians eventually face. Running from gig to gig can work for a season, but it is not a long-term plan. The hustle feels noble, even exciting at first, but burnout, inconsistent income, and physical fatigue catch up if that is your only strategy.  He unpacks how thriving musicians build income streams that rhyme with their craft. Oppo...

In this episode, John pulls back the curtain on what venue owners actually want from the musicians they hire. Drawing from years of experience as a full-time working performer and from having seen the business from the other side of the stage as a former venue owner, he explains that it is rarely just about talent. If you have ever wondered why some players stay booked while others constantly scra...

John breaks down a Top 10 list that makes a clear, practical case for why gigging musicians cannot afford to operate alone. He lays out real-world reasons community matters, from sharing leads and covering gigs to protecting standards and strengthening the local scene. Beneath the practical advice is something bigger. A vision for a healthier music culture. A compassionate reminder that the person...

In this episode, John tells the story of his very first gig ever, back when he was young enough to think he understood the stage and brave enough not to know what he didn’t know. He walks you through that early experience and shows how it stands in stark contrast to almost every gig that followed, revealing the gap between youthful assumptions and the reality of a life spent performing. He also sh...