The Full Time Function Musician Podcast

In this first mini episode between seasons two and three, I'm is joined by returning guest and good friend Stuart Hutton (aka One Eyed Man and founder of The Berkshire Artistry). They answer a listener question from Matt Groucott, a newly graduated bassist looking to break into the function scene and session work. We dive into actionable advice on how to get your first paid gigs, the importance of...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with singer-songwriter and guitarist Mikey Rainsford to explore his journey from original bands to becoming a full-time working musician. Mikey shares how he built his business, Blackbird Weddings, combining music, wedding videography, and design. We dive into the struggles of the industry, building a brand from scratch, how In...

In this refreshingly honest episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with wedding and event pianist Christa Hugo about thriving in the function scene while embracing her introverted nature. From her early ballet-accompanist gigs at age 12 to leading choirs of hundreds and becoming a sought-after wedding pianist, Krista shares the twists and turns of her career — and how she navig...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with premier wedding and event pianist Josh Nesbitt and international Jewish singer Serge Fagelman about how they found their way into the Jewish events scene — and how that niche transformed their careers. From high-energy weddings that blend tradition with chaos to the power of carving out a specialist role, they share how musici...

On today's episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I'm joined by Tim Sentance, musician-turned-entrepreneur and the founder of Boujee Music. Tim shares his inspiring journey from being a freelance jazz musician to becoming a successful business owner. We dive into the do’s and don'ts of making the leap into entrepreneurship, as well as the mindset shifts necessary for the transition. T...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with my good friend, Paul Glover — a professional drummer, teacher, and entrepreneur — to chat about his incredible journey from early struggles at ACM to touring with major acts and eventually building a successful entertainment business. We also talk about how meeting Paul played a pivotal role in the origin of my business an...

In this episode, I sit down with singer, guitarist, and DJ Tom Powell to chat about how he’s built a thriving career as a full-time function musician without niching down. We talk about making versatility your superpower, using pub gigs as paid marketing, and the power of creating head-turner moments that land you bookings. Tom also shares candid stories from the road — from wild wedding moments (...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with Richie Cooper from Happy Hour to talk about the realities of running a function band in today’s industry. We dive into their journey from punk covers to packed wedding dance floors, how they’ve adapted to industry changes, and the business strategies that keep them consistently booked. Richie shares insights on branding, s...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with singer, DJ, event producer, and business coach Kerri Layton to discuss the reality of building a successful music career. We dive into: 🎤 How to market yourself without feeling sleazy 💰 The biggest mistakes musicians make when selling their services 📈 The secret to getting consistent bookings (hint: it’s all about follo...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with Connor Brown, a 19-year-old drummer who has already carved out a thriving career in the function scene. From studying music in college to landing international gigs and launching his own agency, Connor shares how he made it all happen at such a young age. We dive into his best marketing tactics, the unexpected gig that kick-st...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with Matt Saunders, founder of Gecko Live and an experienced function band leader, to dive deep into what it takes to succeed in the wedding and events industry. Matt shares his journey from being a gigging guitarist to running a top-tier entertainment agency, the biggest mistakes bands make when booking gigs, and how to secure...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I'm joined by Nicole Reynolds, aka PianoCole, a pianist who has taken social media by storm with her unique wedding entrance arrangements. Nicole shares how she went from playing background music in restaurants to landing residencies at The Savoy and The Ritz, and how a single TikTok video transformed her career. We dive into social media...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with Stuart Hutton, otherwise known as One Eyed Man, a full-time musician and founder of Berkshire Artistree. We dive deep into branding for musicians, why marketing is often a struggle, and how musicians can stand out in a competitive industry. Stu shares his journey into full-time music, how he makes money from original music...

On this week's episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I'm joined by wedding and event singer Shalana Serafina. Shalana shares her journey through her first year as a full-time musician, balancing self-employment with mental discipline, and navigating the challenges of social media. From tips on creating engaging storytelling content to the realities behind curated online personas, thi...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I'm joined by Greg Coulson, a versatile musician whose career spans soul, blues, funk, and jazz. Greg shares his journey from performing poetry at age five to touring with renowned acts like Queens of the Stone Age. Greg shares how he’s built a sustainable career in an ever-changing industry. We discuss the growing importance of social me...

On Today's episode, I'm joined by professional solo singer and guitarist, Adam Pickard. We discuss his journey from teaching guitar to building two successful businesses: AP Guitar and The Wedding Singer UK. We dive into the importance of branding, social media strategies, and adapting to industry changes, along with stories of memorable gigs and lessons learned along the way.   Check out Adam's s...

In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with singer and guitarist Jade Thornton to explore her inspiring journey from busking on South London’s high streets to performing at weddings and international stages. Jade shares the highs and lows of her career, including competing in the Busking World Cup in South Korea, going viral on Instagram thanks to a global comedian,...

Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach a much wider audience, but it’s vital that you’re creating the right kind of content for your niche.  In today’s episode I’m joined by professional musician, teacher and author Charlie Tottman. He talks us through how he built a thriving teaching business with students all over the world.   www.learnguitarwithcharlie.com @charlietottmanguitar...

Copywriting is arguably one of the most important but most overlooked parts of running your business. From the words on your website to your social media captions, understanding your audience and really speaking to their pain points can make or break your business.   On this week's episode, I'm joined by Ella of Epiphany Copy. She talks us through where to get started with the copy on your website...

The majority of function musicians didn't get into this line of work to become business owners, and therefore miss a lot of the key parts in running a successful business. On today's episode, I'm joined by Ian Marx, lead singer of the award-winning party band The Fireflies. He talks us through the process of making your band your business. We cover funding and investment, creating a business plan,...

Love it or hate it, social media can be a powerful tool that you can use to grow your business. It is often the first impression potential clients will make of you, and having a strong online presence is the first step in creating your lead generation machine.   On today's episode, I'm joined by Karen Cureton from Cureton Consulting, who talks us through some of the strategies she uses with client...

Do you suffer from feast and famine cycles in your business? Going from your best month ever to your worst month ever? On today's episode, I'm going to talk you through how to start generating a constant number of leads into your business. Unfortunately, relying on word of mouth just isn't enough. You need a strong lead generation strategy if you want a healthy and consistent business.   www.infoc...

Google Analytics is a powerful tool that can help you understand where your clients are coming from and then interacting with your website. On today's episode, I'm joined by Amanda Webb, an expert in Google Analytics. Amanda talks us through what Google Analytics is, and how to use it to help grow your business.   www.spiderworking.com @spiderworking   feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusicianpodcast.c...

On today's episode, I'm joined by Texas based singer and musician, Charity Eden. Charity is the band leader and founder of 'Lover' The Taylor Swift tribute band. She tells us about her incredible journey from her first solo gig, to flying a team of people all to Japan to play for 20,000 people all in the space of 10 months. This episode is not to be missed!   @lovertaylortribute @charityedenmusic...

On today's episode, I'm joined by Marv Robinson, a professional multi instrumentalist from Bristol. We discuss his late diagnosis of ADHD and Dyslexia and how that has effected his career, dealing with burnout and the many different projects that keep him busy!   @marvrobinsonmusician @silversouledband @sonderchoir @everglowacoustic @50wayspodcast