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

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

By Coverband Confidential

Cover Band Confidential is the podcast for working musicians, bandleaders, and gigging players who want to make more money, book better gigs, build stronger bands, and run their music career like a

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

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  1. Number 1: Episode 443: A Psychologist Explains Why Bands Are So Dysfunctional (with Dr. Jesse Erdheim)

    Bands rarely fall apart because somebody missed a chord. They fall apart because expectations about money, gigs, rehearsals, song choices, musical standards, commitment, and leadership go unspoken until somebody finally blows up. This week, we brought in somebody who actually knows what he’s talking about. Dr. Jesse Erdheim is an industrial-organizational psychologist and wellbeing coach with more than 20 years of experience working with motivation, conflict, burnout, leadership, and change. He also fronts a working classic-rock cover band—so he understands band dysfunction from both sides. We talk about: *Why bands are uniquely difficult organizations *How mismatched expectations turn into resentment *How to give musical criticism without destroying morale *What psychological safety actually looks like in a band *Why emotional regulation matters before a difficult conversation *What to do when your band culture has already become unhealthy One of the biggest lessons: sometimes the explosion you think came out of nowhere actually started months earlier when everyone stopped checking whether they were still working toward the same goal. Jesse describes his own experience with a guitarist whose frustration over money and travel finally erupted at a show—and how that changed the way his band communicates with new members. If you're a band leader, working musician, or anyone currently sitting in a group text wondering “How the hell did we get here?”—this episode is for you. More from Dr. Jesse Erdheim: jesseerdheim.com Upcoming book: A Full Cup: Reflections on Living Well Jesse also fronts The Backroads, a Durham-area cover band performing around Durham, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. https://www.facebook.com/thebackroadsdurham/ https://www.instagram.com/the.back.roads__/ #CoverBand #BandDrama #WorkingMusician #BandLeader #musicbusiness 00:00 Podcast kickoff 00:55 Meet Dr Jesse 01:53 From GNR to gigging 03:48 Band leadership style 05:37 Shared vision basics 08:14 Why bands are hard 10:21 Gig meltdown story 12:44 Assumptions and alignment 17:47 Common band problems 23:20 Giving feedback safely 27:16 Trust Bank Accounts 27:44 Giving Notes With Care 28:25 Adaptability Over Control 30:02 Does The Audience Care 31:03 Perfectionism And Perspective 31:58 Are Musicians Different 34:54 Win Win Band Leadership 37:30 Pre Show Regulation Routine 39:38 Time Confetti Planning 42:09 Hard Conversations Toolkit 45:30 Stop Rumination Loops 49:59 Relationships And Wrap Up

    56min
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  2. Number 2: Episode 445: The Gigs That Remind You Why You Do This

    Most gigs aren’t life-changing. They’re work. You load in, fix whatever isn’t working, play the songs, collect the check, and eventually escape through a commercial kitchen. But every once in a while, the band locks in, the crowd gives everything back, and all the logistical nonsense disappears. Those are the gigs that remind you why you’ve spent years sacrificing weekends, buying too much gear, and voluntarily standing next to drummers. This week, Adam and Dan talk about: • A wedding party that turned a regular bar gig into complete bedlam • The shows where the band, crowd, and room all click • Creating a meaningful moment for one person • Songs that hit an audience harder than expected • The extremely healthy realization that you’ve “still got it” • Why preparation creates room for spontaneity • How cameras, technical problems, and overbooking can kill the moment • Turning nearby weddings and events into marketing opportunities • Why not every gig needs to be magical Plus: Sweetwater debt, dueling dead refrigerators, Adam’s early verdict on the Xvive U45D, and a five-star review that claims this show is “actually useful.” What gig reminded you why you do this? Tell us in the comments or email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). THIS WEEK IN CBC HISTORY: Oasis Reunion, Setlist Science & DIY Gear Hacks! | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2024-09-05T19_00_00-07_00 How to be the Ultimate Entertainer! | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2023-09-07T19_00_00-07_00 Is Music a Viable Career? | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2022-09-08T20_39_24-07_00 Things Musicians Have To Stop Doing | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2021-09-09T19_10_42-07_00 CBC #118 (If you were Starting from Scratch) | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2020-09-03T18_05_36-07_00 CBC #066 (Merchanomics part Deux, Instrument Learning, Acoustic Duos, Song Selection) | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2019-09-04T18_00_35-07_00 💬 Join the Patreon community: [www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential] 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: [www.youtube.com/@UCRRpk2pfZPVq1AEJlqVPXqg ] 📱 Follow CBC on Instagram: [instagram.com/coverbandconfidential] Gear mentioned: • Xvive U45D Digital Stereo In-Ear Monitor System: [https://amzn.to/4zRDkqJ] • Gator utility shelf: [https://amzn.to/4h4J3SK] Some product links may be affiliate links, which help support the show at no additional cost to you. Cover Band Confidential is the podcast for cover band musicians and band leaders who want to rock more and suck less. #CoverBand #WorkingMusician #LiveMusic

    54min
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  3. Number 3: Episode 447: The Gig Got Rained Out. Then Things Got Ugly. | Mike Schulte (Confused Breakfast / The Pork Tornadoes)

    The soundboard was dripping water. Apparently, the band was still supposed to play. Mike Schulte of The Pork Tornadoes and the Confused Breakfast podcast joins Dan with a gig story that stands out after roughly 1,300 shows—and for all the wrong reasons. A sudden storm drenched the gear and shut down the night before the band could play. According to Mike, what followed included an angry confrontation, a passive-aggressive load-out soundtrack, and people booing musicians who were trying to get their equipment out of the venue. Dan and Mike unpack the business side of a rainout: what the band’s contract covered, why the work starts long before the first song, and how a reasonable conversation might have preserved a working relationship. They also look at their own preparation and what could be handled differently next time. Nobody controls the weather. Everybody has some control over how they treat people. Before the storm story, Mike shares how he’s using a 360 camera for both The Pork Tornadoes and Confused Breakfast—from capturing concert footage to filming an interview at the Goonies house without hauling an entire camera department along. In this episode: Moving 360-camera footage versus static camera angles. (link: https://www.insta360.com/sal/x6?utm_source=AffiliateCenter&utm_medium=copylink&utm_term=INRSG0CFLEV) Capturing the crowd and blending camera audio with a board feed. Using one camera to create multiple interview angles. A surprise storm, soaked equipment, and a show that couldn’t happen. Payment expectations when a band has done everything except perform. Weather preparation, de-escalation, and knowing when a working relationship is finished. Check out Mike with The Pork Tornadoes and on Confused Breakfast. Rock more. Suck less. Keep the load-out playlist civil.

    41min
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  4. Number 4: Episode 446: How to Get Your Band Booked—and Invited Back

    You crushed your first gig. The venue wants you back. Now how do you get the OTHER venues to answer your emails? This week, a listener’s success story turns into a practical guide to booking your cover band. After building The Riffbillyz from the ground up and earning return invitations—including New Year’s Eve—he asks: What’s the best way to reach local bookers? Email? Messenger? Showing up in person? Adam and Dan walk through the entire process, from choosing rooms that actually fit your band to turning that first conversation into a lasting booking relationship. Dan shares his “gig hunting” routine, Adam explains what your promo needs to prove, and both discuss why being good onstage is only part of being a band venues want to hire. **In this episode:** * Finding the right venues instead of emailing every bar within 100 miles. * Building a one-sheet, website, and short promo video that make booking you an easy decision. * Approaching managers at the right time—and following their booking instructions. * Tracking contacts, booking windows, and follow-ups so opportunities don’t disappear into your inbox. * Clarifying pay, production, promotion, and what the venue considers a successful night. * Avoiding promises about your draw that Facebook’s “Interested” button cannot keep. * Winning over the staff, sending the thank-you, and earning the next date. * Capturing live footage that helps you sell the next show. Plus: Adam turns 45, Dan goes on an escape-room adventure, a mysterious guitar purchase is pending, and Adam introduces a new tool for searching the CBC episode archive by topic. **Your assignment this week:** Pick five venues that fit your band, get your promo ready, identify the booking contacts, and make a specific ask. Then track the conversation and follow through. Be the band management sees on the calendar and thinks, “Oh, thank goodness.” Questions or gig-hunting stories? Email **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])**.

    59min
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  5. Number 5: Episode 444: 5 Skills Being in a Band Teaches You (Besides Music)

    Being in a band teaches you much more than how to play music. Every rehearsal, equipment failure, difficult bandmate, last-minute song request, and immovable downbeat develops skills that carry into the rest of your life. In this episode, Adam and Dan break down five things musicians learn almost accidentally: collaboration, discipline, adaptability, people management, and project management. They also bring research connecting ensemble performance with shared attention, executive function, resilience, empathy, social bonding, organization, leadership, and problem-solving. Before the main topic, Dan discovers that The New Strange still has some muscle memory, Adam recaps his first Jamzone-assisted solo gig and another massive ATL LBK event, and Cover Band Confidential celebrates 9,000 YouTube subscribers and three million views. What has playing in a band taught you that has nothing to do with music? Tell us in the comments. RESEARCH CITED Collaborative musical creativity and co-regulation: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01285/full Music and social bonding: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4179700/ Music training and executive function: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9393548/ Resilience and music-performance anxiety: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12584046/ Group music, empathy, and prosocial behavior: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1744000/full Ensemble participation and transferable life skills: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11239010/ ABOUT COVER BAND CONFIDENTIAL Cover Band Confidential is the podcast for cover-band musicians and bandleaders who want to rock more and suck less. Adam Johnson and Dan Ray talk about the music, business, gear, relationships, and occasional logistical catastrophes involved in playing music for actual people. #CoverBand #WorkingMusician #BandAdvice 00:00 Intro 00:58 Band Still Got It 03:08 Rebrand And Karaoke 04:47 Jam Zone Solo Gig 06:45 Frozen Bracelet Tip 09:28 Live Band Karaoke Recap 12:10 Milestones And Consistency 14:40 This Week In History 18:25 Skills Beyond Music 23:50 Receipts and Research 25:06 Discipline and Practice 28:42 ADHD and Executive Function 30:19 Adaptability Under Fire 36:52 Band Relationships and Feedback 41:58 Project Management Skills 45:40 Wrap Up and Call In

    50min
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Cover Band Confidential's Podcast (Music Business, Gigging Tips & Making Money as a Musician) episodes:

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