The Gigging Musician Podcast

Mike Zabrin built two Chicago-based entertainment companies — Funktastic Productions and DJ Hybrid Chicago — and just hit $100K in bookings on BookLive to earn his Major Sixth Gold Record. In this episode, Mike breaks down the "old money vs. new money" approach to marketing, why your musicians matter more than your clients, how he uses BookLive workflows to stay out of "the weeds,&q...

Jeff Celentano has spent 30+ years in the music industry — performing on the Vegas Strip, running touring tribute bands, and working with names like Grant Cardone and Alex Hormozi. In this episode, he shares how he thinks like a Broadway producer instead of a band member, why musicians should 'Disneyfy' their performances, and the sales philosophy that books high-end gigs without pressur...

Matt Ferree was working toward his PhD in chemical engineering at Ohio State when he realized his real passion was in the weddings he'd been performing at for a couple hundred bucks as a favor. He quit grad school, dove in headfirst with his piano + DJ company Seamless Sounds, and built it into a multi-op wedding music business with employees, an exclusive venue partnership, and over $100,000...

Celeste Vee is an electric violinist who built V Entertainment — a multi-city agency placing trained violinists at South Asian weddings. In this episode, she shares how she went from solo gigging to coordinating 180+ gigs a year across New York, DC, Dallas, Atlanta, and beyond — and how she's training the next generation of Bollywood violinists.

Jen Cancio just became the third BookLive user to earn the $500K Award — and she did it without social media virality, touring, or a record deal. Just smart gigging at high-end private events. In this episode, Jared Judge interviews Jen to unpack exactly how she built a full-time music career, from landing her first premium gig to running a band that books out months in advance.

Pendra Lee Snyder of Viva La Strings joins Jared Judge to share how she grew her string ensemble from a nameless trio to a multi-city business generating over $500,000. Learn how she built a repeatable model across Dayton, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Cleveland — and why NOT focusing on the money was the key to making it.

In this episode, Jared sits down with harpist Carrie Tollett to share her inspiring journey from a full-time teaching job to building a growing high-end gigging business. In just a few months, Carrie has booked nearly $10K in gigs by taking consistent action, overcoming introversion, and following a proven strategy. They break down how simple actions like sending emails, going on venue tours, and...

In this episode, Jared sits down with Alison Suell of Electria Strings to break down her incredible journey from $100K to over $500K in booked gigs. They dive into the real drivers behind her success—strong relationships with planners, simplifying her offer, building systems, and shifting her mindset around money and growth. Alison shares how niching down, raising prices, and treating music like a...

In this episode, Jared explains why musicians should position themselves as high-end services rather than just artists. Using Apple vs. Chromebook as an analogy, he breaks down how to target corporate events, weddings, and galas where clients value the guest experience and are willing to pay premium rates.

Jared shares a deeply personal story about how charging premium rates allowed him to afford a $7,000 emergency surgery for his cat Nori—something he couldn't do years earlier when he was charging only $500/gig. A powerful reminder of why your rates matter beyond just income.

In this episode, Jared reflects from the top of his favorite mountain in Scottsdale and shares a powerful message for musicians who want to break free from the starving artist mindset. He opens up about his journey from $250 gigs to consistently booking $2,500 high-end performances—and the mindset and skills that made it possible. If you're tired of hustling for low-paying gigs and ready to e...

In this episode, Jared shares a critical mindset shift that separates struggling gigging musicians from those who earn full-time incomes from their music. He breaks down why doing more isn’t always the solution — and how a shift in strategy, positioning, and pricing can unlock high-end performance opportunities without burning out. Whether you’re tired of playing in bars for peanuts or wondering h...

In this episode, Jared sits down with Jack McCarthy from Indie X and Indipreneur to explore how gigging musicians—especially those playing corporate events and weddings—can tap into e-commerce strategies traditionally reserved for artists with large fanbases. They discuss the power of owning your audience data, creative ways to introduce merch even without original music, and how to ethically incr...

In this episode, Jared shares the surprising story of how his lowest-paid, most frustrating gig became the unexpected gateway to a high-paying corporate performance. From chaotic load-ins to venue staff indifference, you'll hear how perseverance and professionalism—even at your worst gigs—can pay off in ways you’d never expect.

In this episode, Jared shares the rollercoaster journey of finally getting on the preferred vendor list of a prestigious wedding venue in Colorado—after years of getting ignored. From strategic outreach to a well-timed performance and a surprising twist involving an injured coordinator, you’ll hear how persistence, empathy, and daily follow-ups ultimately opened the door. Jared breaks down key les...

In this episode, Jared breaks down why wedding gigs are more than just love songs and aisle walks—they're bootcamp for high-end corporate events. He challenges the misconception that weddings are beneath serious musicians and makes a bold case that mastering weddings is essential if you want to book—and keep booking—lucrative corporate gigs. He shares how professionalism, gear standards, coll...

In this episode, Jared shares how building genuine relationships with event planners—and actually helping them with their challenges—can lead to more bookings and long-term success as a gigging musician. Hear how a conversation with a hospitality professor and planner sparked ideas for collaboration, and how musicians can use video sales letters to stand out, avoid time-wasting tire kickers, and c...

In this episode, Jared reflects on the quote “Wealth Denotes Speed” and how it radically shifted his approach to building a thriving music career. He shares the exact progression of how he raised his solo act rates—from $495 to $1,500+—and what that meant in terms of income, lifestyle, and gig volume. You’ll learn why your prices should start as “WAGs” (wild-ass guesses), how to tell when it’s tim...

In this episode, Jared shares what goes into delivering a high-end solo performance—and why most musicians are drastically undercharging for their time, gear, and expertise. From setting up three PA systems to handling last-minute corporate inquiries and playing multiple locations in one wedding, he breaks down the true value of what musicians provide. You’ll learn the difference between low-end a...

In this episode, Jared reflects on a unique acoustic wedding gig at the Denver Botanic Gardens—and how it exposed both the raw vulnerability of playing unplugged and the mindset traps musicians face around money. He opens up about his own struggles with limiting beliefs around pricing, shares what it takes to justify high fees, and challenges you to rethink your worth as a performer. If you'v...

In this episode, Jared shares why he intentionally performed for free at a high-end venue—and how it aligns with his strategy to get more paid gigs. You'll hear how this corporate event at the Denver Botanic Gardens was more than just a performance—it was a smart move to build relationships with decision-makers and secure future bookings. He also explains the right and wrong way to do "f...

In this episode, Jared takes you behind the scenes of a high-paying wedding gig in Estes Park, Colorado. He shares exactly how to approach playing ceremonies and cocktail hours—even if you’ve never done it before. From planning your prelude set to nailing the timing of the recessional, this is your crash course on wedding gigging success.

In this episode, Jared breaks down the exact online marketing system he uses to book high-paying weddings and events—without relying on agents, gig apps, or social media algorithms. From getting on preferred vendor lists to using a video sales letter and closing leads on Zoom, this is the blueprint for musicians who want control, consistency, and confidence in their career. If you’ve ever wondered...

In this candid episode, Jared shares how his electric violin act was banned from GigSalad—and why that may have been a blessing in disguise. He explores the danger of relying on a single lead source (hello, Dan Kennedy’s “most dangerous number is one” rule), and walks through the power of diversification, especially through preferred vendor lists. If you've ever felt too dependent on one gig...

In this episode, Jared shares a powerful strategy shift that’s helped him consistently land high-paying gigs—without leading with price. After playing at the prestigious Governor’s Citizens Award ceremony, he breaks down why talking about price too early can turn potential clients away and how to reframe the conversation to highlight your value as an artist. Jared reveals his proven video sales le...