The Full Time Function Musician Podcast

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I’m joined by Australian wedding and event violinist Evangeline Victoria, who has built an international career performing at weddings and events across Europe and beyond. We talk through how she took her business overseas, from launching during lockdown to navigating her first international enquiries, building a recognisable brand, and c...

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Ashleigh Stevens, better known as Fearlessly Taylor, one of the UK’s leading Taylor Swift tribute acts who has rocketed from a DIY promo to packed theatres, festival stages, and even Alexandra Palace. Ashleigh shares her journey from graduating drama school during COVID, to discovering the tribute world by accident, to building a brand that now inclu...

In this episode, I sit down with Lily Kerbey, a Yorkshire-based alternative wedding singer and guitarist who’s redefining what live wedding music can be. From performing Slipknot and S Club 7 mashups to running fully booked seasons years in advance, Lily shares how leaning into her niche transformed her career. She opens up about her journey from teaching to becoming a full-time musician, how a si...

In this episode, I chat with international session singer and tribute artist Calli Malpas, the powerhouse performer behind Pink-ish – one of the UK’s standout Pink tribute shows. Calli shares her journey from pubs and club gigs to building a high-production tribute act with dancers, a live band, and even aerial performances.   We dive into: How Calli turned a long career as a full-time singer into...

In this episode, I'm joined once again by Ian Marx from The Fireflies Party Band for a deeper look at what it really means to run your band like a business. Ian shares how he’s built a successful, full-time function band over 11 years, from managing bandmates and keeping communication clear, to creating systems that save time and secure more bookings. They talk about treating your band like a bran...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with professional magician and Giggio founder Martyn Rowland, whose software has become the go-to booking management system for entertainers across the UK. Martyn shares his journey from performing at corporate events to creating a tool that now processes millions of pounds of bookings every month. We discuss: The early days of Gig...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with Danny Bigland — guitarist, bandleader, and founder of the Musicians Community / DepsApp, a UK-wide network that connects musicians to paid work opportunities through WhatsApp. What started as a simple solution for finding dep musicians for his own band has grown into a nationwide community of over 1,000 players, helping musici...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with guitarist, educator, and author Dan Lundholm to unpack two decades of hard-earned wisdom from the world of professional gigging. Dan shares his journey from gigging solo across Europe to touring with Paolo Nutini and Girls Aloud, before carving out a new path as an educator and author of 12 Rules for Band Life. We discuss:...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I'm joined by 50's swing and rock & roll singer Simon Lane. At 60 years old, Simon brings decades of experience from pubs, weddings, vintage festivals, and even busking on the streets. He shares candid insights about what it’s like to navigate the modern music industry as an older performer. We discuss how self-awareness, smart positi...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I’m joined by pianist, singer, entrepreneur, and coach Michelle Lynne. Originally from Canada and now based in Europe, Michelle has built a thriving international career both as a performer and as co-founder of The Fearless Artist. We dive into her journey from classical training in Montreal to performing across Europe, building communiti...

In this week’s episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I’m joined by vocalist, arranger, producer and musical director Joe Ringer — founder and MD of Juke (formerly The Joe Ringer Band). Joe shares his journey from starting out in pub gigs to building a successful luxury showband that’s now over a decade strong. We dig into: The decision to rebrand from a personal name to Juke — and ho...

In this week’s episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I’m joined by wedding and event singer Jessica Clarke-Wheatley to talk about her incredible first year in the wedding industry. Jess went from having no promo, no contacts, and no experience in the wedding world to landing on 37 recommended supplier lists – all in under 12 months. She shares how she got started, why saying yes to f...

Many musicians blame being undercut, bad venues, or unmotivated bandmates for why they’re not progressing, but is that really the issue? In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I’m joined by drummer and content creator Johnny Fiacconi to dig into the mindset and habits that actually move the needle in your career. We talk about why extreme ownership is a game-changer, how regul...

A lot of musicians are saying the wedding market for bands is in decline — but is that really true? In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I’m joined once again by Matt and Joey from Dirtbag Entertainment to unpack what’s really going on in the industry. We discuss why some bands are busier than ever while others are struggling to get gigs, the common mistakes that hold musici...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with singer, songwriter, and author Leo Ihenacho to talk about the principles behind building a career in music that lasts. Drawing on the lessons from his book, Leo shares why talent alone isn’t enough, the habits and values that separate professionals from amateurs, and how function musicians can create stability in an unpred...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with award-winning wedding and events musician Ellen Blane to talk about her leap from corporate recruitment into a thriving full-time music career. Ellen shares how she prepared for the transition, the strategies she used to land bookings fast, and why investing in professional content was the game-changer for her business. We...

In this final episode of our mini-series, Stu and I answer a couple of rapid-fire listener questions to wrap things up. We chat about how to prepare for gigs both physically and mentally — from nailing your songs to managing those pre-show nerves — and dive into what skills beyond music every function musician should build, like marketing, budgeting, and investing in your own learning.   Boost You...

In this mini episode, Stu and I tackle two listener questions: How do I find my unique selling point as a function musician? and How can I get more local bookings? We talk about finding your niche by trying things out, following your music taste, and leaning into what you love. We also share some practical marketing tips—like separating out different projects, building local relationships, and eve...

In this mini episode, Stu and I answer another listener question: What advice would you give to someone about to go full-time as a function musician? Stu recently made the leap himself, so we dig into what that transition really looks like—from gigging at open mics and busking in the streets to building confidence and getting those first paid bookings. We also talk about the financial side: how to...

In this mini episode, we answer another listener question: Is social media actually necessary for function musicians? We explore whether you can build a successful career without constantly posting on Instagram, and how some musicians manage to stay fully booked with barely any online presence. We talk about using social media as a portfolio, the power of networking, and how to strike the right ba...

In this episode, We answer another great listener question about low fees and whether agencies are driving down standards in the function music world. I share my own experience working with agencies and explain why I still think they’re a valuable part of the ecosystem—especially when you’re just getting started. We talk about how to strike the right balance between agency gigs and direct bookings...

In this episode, we tackle a question from listener Buscarella: "It feels like the market is super saturated with singers—how do I stand out?" We dive into the importance of personal branding, authenticity, and finding your niche as a function musician. From refining your image and social media presence to developing a strong USP and embracing what makes you different, this episode is packed with...

In this episode, we tackle two key questions from the podcast community: How do you successfully collect Google reviews? How do you deal with clients ghosting you after inquiring? We share practical, real-world tips on how to ask for reviews in a way that feels natural and effective – whether it’s using QR codes at gigs, follow-up emails, or laminated table cards. We also dive deep into handling c...

In this mini episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, we dive into a topic many self-employed musicians tend to overlook—retirement planning. We explore why pensions are so important for freelancers and how to start preparing now, even if money is tight. From Stocks & Shares ISAs to Lifetime ISAs and SIPPs, we share our personal approaches to saving for the future. We also break dow...

In this mini episode, we answer another listener question and dig into one of the biggest struggles function musicians face: finding time to actually work on your business, not just in it. If you’re constantly busy with gigs, teaching, or day jobs, and feel like the growth side of your music career is always on the back burner, this conversation is for you. We share mindset shifts, real-life examp...