Solo Musician Podcast

In this candid solo episode, host Dave Gates dives into a fiery social-media post from local musician Zach King, who recently took aim at performers using iPads onstage and AI-generated flyers to promote their gigs. Zach’s post—equal parts frustration and tough love—called out what he sees as laziness and a lack of artistic respect in today’s music scene. Dave explores the conversation from both a...

In this episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, host Dave Gates takes a vulnerable look at the slow, silent experience of losing touch with your creativity as a solo musician. There’s no big breaking point — just a gradual drift, until one day you realize you feel miles away from the music you used to love. This episode seeks to unpack the emotional flatline that often follows: the numbness, the sel...

Booking gigs doesn’t have to be painful — or embarrassing. In this episode of The Solo Musician Podcast, we’re breaking down a no-BS, modern strategy for booking more shows in 2026. Learn how to build a gig-ready online presence, craft messages that actually get replies, and stop wasting so much of your time chasing the wrong outcomes. From open mics to the almighty follow-up, discover where the r...

In this episode of The Solo Musician Podcast, host Dave Gates takes you behind the scenes of his first-ever trip to New York’s beautiful Finger Lakes region — a two-day, boots-on-the-ground mission to scout potential venues for his 2026 tour. With a HUGE shoutout to his friend John, Dave recounts the experience, the lakeside drives, and the 45 venues he visited around Keuka and Seneca Lakes — all...

From historic taverns to open mics and hometown bars, this week was all about playing live and connecting with people through music. I’m talking about: • Penn’s Tavern — why I love historic venues and that tough-to-get booking convo with the owner. • Wednesday Open Mic — my most-viewed post ever, a full signup list, and a mix of mandolins, violins, and political songs. • Friday at Liquid Noise — h...

Ever wonder what it’s really like to make a living as a solo musician? Dave Gates and Colin Alvarez get real about low pay, burnout, unreliable gigs, and the unseen grind behind the music.

This week's guest is Kevin Raubenstine. Kevin is a solo acoustic musician from the Lancaster, PA area. We chat about our similar experience with entry model Taylor guitars, what draws us to perform, the importance of open mics, the effect of the pandemic on live music, and a bunch of other music and non-music related topics in between. As always, thanks for listening, make sure to follow Kevin on...

This week's guest is a good friend of mine, and a fellow musician. Scott Braasch currently performs in the Central Pennsylvania area as a solo artist (Crash Acoustic) and in a duo called Crash & Cross. Scott and I talk about his start in music, his legendary father, what drives him as a musician, his songwriting process and a MILLION other things. Make sure to follow Crash Acoustic and Crash and C...

This week's guest is Ariana, lead-singer from the powerhouse band RUINESS. We chat about our shared experience in the West Side Singers program, tour life, social media hater kink, gear, chasing goals, and sooooo much more. Check out RUINESS on all the things, you'll be glad you did!

In this weeks episode, Megan Miller ( from the Megan & Dave Duo ) RETURNS to the podcast to chat about open mics, learning guitar theory, live sound mixing, and so much more. Dave talks about band shows, acoustic-solo-act venue saturation, and frankly, anything else that pops into his double Red Bull fueled head. For more info on the Megan and Dave Duo, check out their link tree: https://linktr.ee...

Our very first guest, Mr. Kevin Nelson, is BACK to talk about all things audio. From running open mic sound, to how to properly structure your gain for a stable base to your mix, Kevin is a wealth of knowledge. We chat about solo music saturation, compensation for musicians, and his experience as an entertainment manager & radio D.J. Feel like you'd be a great guest? SoloMusicianPodcast@gmail.com

Dave's back for another chat about the Dueling guitars format with none other than the Feather to his Whisker, the Lennon to his McCartney, and the Jackson to his Browne, Colin Alvarez. The two chat about the amazeballs that is Dueling Guitars. They also take some time to drop some thoughts on the REAL way to get more gigs and be a more successful performer. Check it out!!

Dueling guitars is the best idea ever. I also chat a bit about being canceled for stupid reasons, helping musicians get paid, and more.

After a few month hiatus, Host Dave Gates is back to talk about where he's been, what he's learned, and the key to getting out of your own head. There's also some gear talk about halfway through, so if you're into simplifying or upgrading your solo gigging gear, that parts for you. Submit topics and guest suggestions to SoloMusicianPodcast@gmail.com

Ramblings about being background noise, a puppet, a jester, and a real ass person. Further ramblings include open mics, band gigs, and YouTube.

Guest: Liam GalianoHost: Dave Gates In this week’s episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, Dave sits down with the multi-talented Liam Galiano — a passionate musician, dedicated music teacher, original artist, and a strong advocate for open mic culture. Liam shares insights into his many musical projects, the importance of nurturing local music communities, and why he believes open mics are essentia...

🎙 Solo Musician Podcast - "The Pre-Show Pow-Wow" Host: Dave Gates Guests: RJ Conrad & Colin Alvarez In this lively episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, host Dave Gates sits down with fellow performers RJ Conrad and Colin Alvarez to talk all things music—and a whole lot more. With Dave & Colin's upcoming gig at West Shore Theater opening for RJ's band Rascal Revival on May 16, 2025 just around the...

After a 21 day absence, Dave is back to rant about his mom's surgery, gigs and venues, Open Mics & EV SPEAKERS. Stick around for a sneak peek at an up & coming artist from here in Central PA, Levi Sterner.

Shout-out to listener Laura for this week’s topic! When booking a gig, both musicians and venues come to the table with a set of expectations—but do those expectations always align? In this episode of The Solo Musician Podcast, we dive into the crucial conversation of what artists expect from venues and what venues expect in return. From fair compensation and professional treatment to promotion ef...

Hook & Flask Still Works in Carlisle, PA is closing. Whether you've never been there, or you're a regular attendee of their various nights of musical entertainment, in this episode I try to explain why Hook & Flask was such an anomaly. It was a white buffalo, or a red wolf. It was the kind of place where you felt like family from the second you stepped through the doors. For many musicians, myself...

In this episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, host Dave Gates sits down with Andy Gesner, the owner and president of Hip Video Promo, for an in-depth conversation about the world of music video promotion. Andy shares fascinating insights from his career, including his pivotal role in launching Johnny Cash’s iconic "Hurt" video. As the music industry continues to evolve, they dive into what the mus...

Join host Dave Gates and special guest Colin Alvarez on this satirical episode of the Solo Musician Podcast as they dive deep into the highlights and comedic moments of their experience at the 2025 Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame Awards held at the American Music Theater on 3/5/2025! The evening was full of unforgettable performances, community, and everyone sharing in a common love of mus...

Join Dave Gates on this exciting episode of the Solo Musician Podcast as he sits down with the incredibly talented Jake Mach, a singer-songwriter from Glen Rock, PA! In this candid conversation, Jake opens up about his passion for writing music, his approach to balancing original music vs. cover songs at local bars, and his involvement with the Glen Rock Carolers. Jake also shares how his wife and...

On this episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, Dave Gates sits down for another chat with Jason Carst, a live looping artist from Harrisburg, PA. Jason shares stories from his journey as a solo musician, revealing the tips and tricks that have helped him thrive in the world of live performance. From live-streaming every show to his thoughts on the Central Pennsylvania music scene, Jason opens up ab...

Video episodes are available on Youtube @SoloMusicDave In a world that values consistency and staying true to your beliefs, the idea of being a hypocrite might sound strange—or even wrong. But what if I told you that being a hypocrite could actually be a powerful tool for personal growth and progress? In this episode, we explore how embracing moments of contradiction can lead to transformation, ne...