Gig Gab - The Working Musicians' Podcast

Selecting songs is a tough part of the cover (or even original) band business, and it gets even tougher when one or more band members cares about getting it just right. More often than not, that can be the crux of deciding whether or not a song succeeds. What songs or […] The post What Is It About a Song that Makes You Care? – GigGab Podcast 25 appeared first on Gig Gab.

This week Paul and Dave follow-up on last week’s interview with The Tommy Experience’s Pieter Hounslow (where Dave sang Pinball Wizard) by talking through different ways we all find to express our musical visions and needs. Answering the question, “what would be your favorite project to play with?” is an […] The post Finding Ways to Express Your Musical Vision – GigGab 24 appeared first on Gig Gab.

This week Paul and Dave are joined by Pieter Hounslow from Sweden’s “Tommy Experience,” a Who Tribute project. The discussion covers all manner of topics, including what it’s like to put on a true tribute show, singing technique and more. Thanks to Pieter for coming all the way from Sweden to join […] The post Pieter Hounslow from Sweden’s “Tommy Experience” – GigGab 23 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave start off by answering listener questions; First it’s a seemingly-easy question about who pays for instrument rentals (that turns out to be not such an easy question!). Then it’s the nuances of negotiating how to play in a two-guitar band. After that your two favorite Weekend Warriors […] The post Answers to Listener Questions and How To Make Your Gigs Unforgettable – GigGab 22 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Multi-band gigs can be fun and a great way to play for a new crowd, but it either means moving your gear in a hurry or sharing a backline. Which is best? Paul and Dave talk it through. Sit-ins are another fact of life playing in bars where there’s no […] The post Shared Backlines, Sit-ins & The Fish – GigGab 21 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dave and Paul start out discussing what it’s like to play without the pressure of ever bringing it to the stage and how that can work. Then it’s on to health and gigs — what’s it take to make sure you can continue doing this, even when you’re under the weather? […] The post Managing Your Health & To Gig or Not to Gig – Gig Gab 20 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Every musician hits the stage with the goal of… what? Is it entertaining? Is it playing well? Is it having a special moment (or three)? And if a special moment… with whom? Is it the crowd? One’s bandmates? A higher power? Paul and Dave talk through their feelings on this, […] The post What’s Your Goal When You Walk On Stage? – Gig Gab 19 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave met in San Francisco to record their first ever face-to-face GigGab episode … and failed! The conversation was animated, the topic was excellent and the audio was abysmal. Something went amiss with the USB audio interface that wasn’t detectable until the very end of the recording (despite […] The post The Lost Episode – Gig Gab 18 appeared first on Gig Gab.

When someone in your band says, “I’ve got this,” on stage or before a gig, what exactly does that mean? And can you trust that they’re actually prepared? What happens when YOU say it? Does it really mean you’ve got it, or are you sometimes just leading yourself to believe […] The post I’ve Got This! – Gig Gab 17 appeared first on Gig Gab.

This week Paul and Dave start with a discussion about promotion — how much falls on you with your band and how much falls on the venue? Then it’s on to managing sound at a gig, including a few pro-tips from your Weekend Warriors. Paul then surprises Dave with a […] The post Of Sound, Promo & Merchandise – Gig Gab 17 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Have you ever taken — or been tempted to take — a non-paying gig? Paul and Dave certainly have and they tell their tales of woe in this week’s episode. Have some thoughts on this subject? Have a set of nineties-era tunes that you think will stand the test of […] The post Live Music is Worth Something – Gig Gab 15 appeared first on Gig Gab.

What happens if you’re the very best musician in your band? How about if you’re the worst? Paul and Dave talk through these scenarios, and (in their minds, anyway!) they’ve both been in both places. Hear some war stories that help illustrate what works and what doesn’t, too! As always, […] The post Of Monsters and Men – Gig Gab 14 appeared first on Gig Gab.

This episode is all about practice. How do you practice? What do you practice? Do you have a plan? What’s your plan? How often? And then… what’s the difference between practice and rehearsal? (and do you want to play with musicians that don’t yet know the answer to that question?). […] The post Digging Into The Woodshed – Gig Gab 13 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It took 11 episodes and a weekend chock full of (too many?) gigs to finally get your two working musician podcasters to let their guard down and enter the minefield that is discussing wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends. Whatever the label, it’s probably a bad idea to record this discussion. And […] The post The Significant Other Discussion – Gig Gab 12 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Your two favorite working musicians throw off their flak jackets and address two of the most opinionated topics possible: guitar tones and band politics. What could go wrong? Turns out, not too much. Paul and Dave navigate through these treacherous waters and dig out the nuggets just for you. Have […] The post Guitar Sounds and Band Politics – Gig Gab 11 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Gear is fun, and most musicians spend more time thinking and talking about gear — and money spent paying for gear — than just about anything else related to their hobby. It’s high time your favorite Weekend Warriors dug into this conversation and this week’s episode digs into Dave’s drum […] The post Gear Talk (Drums and Sound) – Gig Gab 10 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Every musician goes through the on-stage train wreck at times, and Paul and Dave are no exception. They talk through their train wrecks and, more importantly, how they dealt with them. A great discussion, and one you can contribute to, as well. Send in your stories to feedback@giggabpodcast.com and join […] The post The Trainwreck Discussion – Gig Gab 9 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave start with some listener feedback (their first!) and then it’s time to talk about attaining the perfect stage volume. Always a tough thing to get right, but Paul and Dave do their best to explain their processes and how they try to get it right each time. It’s […] The post The Holy Grail of Stage Volume – Gig Gab 8 appeared first on Gig Gab.

For a working cover band the subject of pay is always a touchy one. Paul and Dave talk through their thoughts and experiences when it comes to ensuring you’re doing the right gigs and getting paid properly. Then it’s on to the matter of subs. Are you sub? Do you […] The post Pay Scales and The Subbing Dilemma – Gig Gab 7 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave talk through their weekend gigs, including some tales about what it takes to get a crowd up and moving — and how to keep your head in the right place when that doesn’t happen right away. Then it segues to marketing talk. How do you market your […] The post There’s Always More You Can Do to Market Your Band – Gig Gab 6 appeared first on Gig Gab.