Cover Band Confidential's Podcast (Music Business, Gigging Tips & Making Money as a Musician)

This week's episode addresses struggles we all go through. As performers and artists, sometimes it feels like it hits us uniquely hard. Help is available at the National Suicide Hotline, at 800-273-8255.

It's worth acknowledging: We're in a tough moment. Again. Which we should have been out of, like, a WHILE ago. But we're not. Band folks seem to be struggling in a way that is new and yet oh so familiar. So let's address it; how do you handle those hard moments? What gets you through?

We're back from the new year FULLY this time--Dan's out of isolation, things are moving, and despite the world being in a weird covid-y place, we're still making plans and moving forward with stuff.

A lot of good gear talk happening this week, then a dive into the world of backing tracks. There are original studio multitracks out there to be used, for those what have the wherewithal. This conversation might be the first of several to dig into what that looks like.

The more things change, friends. Wasn't it this time last year we were feeling like we were supposed to be all done with this Covid thing by now, but the end just kept getting further away? Seems somehow... familiar.

Only difference is, this time around one of us is actively plague-ridden. Listen up to find out who is and who isn't-yet.

The ball is falling on 2021, friends! And as the Earth hits this arbitrary point in its cycle, we pause to look at the year just passed with all its successes, challenges, and growth opportunities. And we look forward to the next one, full of opportunities, risks, possibilities, and uncertainty.

What are you thinking about, here at the turning of the year? Let us know at [email protected]!

The holiday is upon us! Quick update of gigs and events, a sudden change of plan around Dan's new project, and the beginning of our thinking to review the year-just-passed and plan for the year-just-starting.

Hit us up with your year-end reflections at [email protected]! 

Oh sure--in past years we've spouted opinions. And yes: "Christmas Shoes" will always reign supreme. 

But this year we've gotten SCIENTIFIC. We crowd-sourced a bracket of 16 of the worst of the worst of holiday nonsense, and with the help of a certain lead-singer-and-spouse as a tiebreaker, we narrowed it down to the VERY WORST Christmas song of all time.

Here are the tracks we started with, for those of you following along at home:

Band Aid  - ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’
John Denver - ‘Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)’
Justin Bieber - “Mistletoe”
Paul McCartney and Wings - “Wonderful Christmas Time”
Ariana Grande- “Santa Tell Me”
New Kids on the Block- “Funky, Funky Xmas”
Dan Fogelberg, “Same Old Lang Syne”
Madonna, “Santa Baby”
The Robertson - “Santa Looks A Lot Like Daddy”
Barry Gordon- “Nuttin' for Christmas”
Lou Monte- “Dominic the Donkey”
Wham- “Last Christmas”
FF5- “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”
Bruce Springsteen- “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
Bob Seger- “Little Drummer Boy”
Twisted Sister- “Silver Bells”

When somebody asks for your services on not-nearly-enough notice and has weirdly specific conditions to your participation in their event, what do you do??

This episode's special guest is Mike Schulte of The Pork Tornadoes! Filling in for an anniversary-vacationing Adam Johnson!

What it feels like when something is new--the small wins start piling in and the whole thing starts feeding on itself in a virtuous circle of success! A discussion of the operating states of a project, and what it feels like when the state is Momentum!

Ever had a time when suddenly all the attention was on you? Today's episode deals with two cover/tribute acts who suddenly found themselves in the limelight, and what each of them did about it. 

We apologize for the presence of the phrase "The Pee Band" in this episode.