Gig Gab - The Working Musicians' Podcast

Paul put on his acoustic Springsteen tribute show and has many lessons to share from that, including the benefits having an instrument tech on stage to help you. Marketing the event, too, brought more than a few insights, including what you unintentionally wind up doing to market the next event. Dave had […] The post Pick Up Something When You Drop It! – GigGab 109 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Today your two favorite working musicians launch right into a verbal jam session, with topics seemingly all over the map, but tying together in the best ways. Are you like Paul where you’re looking forward to every gig all week and all day? Or are you more like Dave where […] The post Time Flies … But it still Matters! – GigGab 108 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul finished his EP and talks about the process of mastering and distributing that. When it comes to cover songs, there’s an additional layer of complexity that Paul sorted out. Then it’s on to gig talk! Do you have someone in your band that takes mental notes during your gigs […] The post Band Leaders: Get Your Empathy Elsewhere – GigGab 107 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Do you and your bandmates ever feel competitive with one another? Channeled the right way, that healthy competition can make for excellent performances and music from your band. Paul and Dave talk through this a bit, but first it’s all about the energy. Sometimes the crowd feeds you first, and […] The post Healthy Competition, Studio Songs, & Auditions appeared first on Gig Gab.

At some gigs, the only thing worse than being asked, “can I play my harmonica with your band?” is “can I play your tambourine?” Listen to what Paul and Dave have to say about this, including what Dave would like to say to the people that ask this latter question. On […] The post Do You Have a Tambourine? – GigGab 105 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Long-time audio engineer, Andy Dolph, joins Paul and Dave this week to share some tips and tricks for making your band sound its best – and avoid sounding its worst – on GigGab this week. Hear Andy’s microphone recommendations, tips for solving feedback in both the monitors and the mains, mixing […] The post Fixing Feedback and Stage Sound with Audio Engineer Andy Dolph – GigGab 104 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Do you use in-ears? Are you comfortable when you use them? Do they sound right? Paul and Dave dive back into this topic, almost accidentally, and uncover some truths about what it takes to get a good in-ear mix… and guess what? It’s not just up to you and the […] The post What’s Wrong with My In-Ears? – GigGab 103 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Your two favorite weekend warriors are in the midst of some atypical musical experiences, and today’s show brings it to fruition. Dave’s playing live with tracked parts… and a click! Paul played live in a jam band scenario and has also been spending some time in the studio. He shares […] The post Production – and Producer – Value – GigGab 102 appeared first on Gig Gab.

How does your band navigate the concepts of practice, rehearsal, and jamming? Are they all melded into one? Are they separated out? Paul and Dave discuss and dissect this for you. Then it’s time to talk gear, specifically all-in-one tower PAs. Dave and Paul have recently had the opportunity to […] The post Tower PA Systems, Working With a Click, & Jam Time – GigGab 101 appeared first on Gig Gab.

For episode 100, drummer Kenny Aronoff joins to make this the episode with your three favorite working musicians! Kenny’s settles right in and talks about how he manages his crazy schedule, honors commitments, deals with setbacks, and never dwells too much on the past because he is always looking forward to […] The post Kenny Aronoff Chats about Managing Your Schedule, Working Hard, Being a Team Player & More – GigGab 100 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Wrapping up the first 99 episodes, Paul and Dave dive straight into politics (but not in the way that you’d think!), then take a left turn into tribute band territory (but not in the way that you’d think!), and then discuss how your band should approach cover tunes (but not […] The post The Born To Run-Starship Trooper-Reggae Extravaganza! – GigGab 99 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dave’s back from a musical “destination vacation” so he and Paul discuss the merits of doing that for any band, including some that have ties to GigGab directly. Then, after Paul’s requisite Bruce Springsteen mention, your two weekend warriors share their favorite albums… and that includes another Springsteen mention! Listen to hear […] The post Live Inspiration, Sound Tweaks, and Desert Island Discs – GigGab 98 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s the new year and that’s always a good time to take stock of where you are and focus on where you’re going. That’s true for you as a musician and for your band, as well. What’s the premise of your band? What do you, as a musician, want to […] The post What’s the Premise of Your Working Band? – GigGab 97 appeared first on Gig Gab.

  Should everyone in your band be on the same vocal mic or does it make more sense to let the singer choose a mic? What about the sound engineer’s opinion? These are important questions to ask, and Paul throws them into the mix for he and Dave to discuss. […] The post Should Everyone Use the Same Vocal Mic? – GigGab 96 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s the season for gift-giving, and your two Weekend Warrior Santas want to fill your gift bag with a few things to make your musical life more complete. Listen to what Santa Paul and Santa Dave wish for each of you. And remember… always be performing! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 GigGab 95 – December […] The post Santa Paul and Santa Dave’s Holiday Wish List for Fellow Musicians – GigGab 95 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s time to answer some of your questions. Thomas asks about setup time: how long is too long? what can you and your band do to make it more efficient? Dave and Paul have your answers here. Then it’s on to Matt, whose band was badmouthed by their former singer. […] The post Maximizing Setup Time, Taking Requests, and Repairing Relationships – GigGab 94 appeared first on Gig Gab.

At some point, every musician (well, except Paul) will go through the process of auditioning for a band. If not that, then you might be part of a band that’s auditioning a new member. The process can be fun, grueling, enlightening, frustrating and unproductive. But it’s a means to an end, […] The post It’s All About The Audition – GigGab 93 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Groove. What is it? What defines it? What makes it good? What’s obvious when it’s missing? How do you find it? That’s the core of today’s show folks, as your two favorite weekend warriors set about answering this question. Out of that conversation comes some road-tested tricks for ensuring you […] The post What’s That Groove? – GigGab 92 appeared first on Gig Gab.

As all working musicians know, those fun New Year’s Eve gigs re followed-up by a hangover of tax season. But, as with all hangovers, if you properly prepare for it you can limit the pain. For this, your two Weekend Warriors talk through their strategies of keeping the books straight and simple […] The post Tax Gab & Gear Gab – GigGab 91 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Some important topics addressed this week, including the special benefits of doing a tribute act as well as the concept of “four-walling” your own show and managing the whole night. That conversation is bookended by equally-important discussions about the substances on which both your crowd and your bandmates (and you) choose to use […] The post Four-Walling, Tribute Acts, and Substance Use – GigGab 90 appeared first on Gig Gab.