Dan Meblin, leader of San Francisco Bay Area band “Pop Fiction” joins Paul and Dave this week to talk through running a successful cover/party/function band. Dan and his bandmates created Pop Fiction after playing together in a band catering to a similar market, and Dan’s history includes both playing in original bands and working in the Silicon Valley technology world.

Dan talks us through creating and marketing Pop Fiction, of course, but also some of the particulars. An on-the-fly segment, “Dan’s Tips for How to Treat a Venue Well” includes a great detour into setting up your own in-ears rack so that you can have perfect stage sound everywhere with very little adjustments needed at each venue.

Dan’s got a lot to share, and share he does. You’re gonna love this one. Press play, listen, and enjoy. Thanks, Dan!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 197 – Monday, January 21, 2019
• 00:00:45 The snow policy… was enacted!
• 00:02:14 Dan Meblin from Pop Fiction
• 00:03:06 Eric Martin Band and Dan’s history
• 00:05:57 “You Have to Learn To Love Those Cover Songs”
• 00:08:20 Running your own band
• 00:10:37 How did you know what you’re doing?
• 00:11:40 “This Band Sounds Really Good”
• 00:13:02 Gotta play Public Shows
• 00:13:38 Follow-ups are key
• 00:16:12 Venue managers are also your agents
• 00:17:50 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/GIGGAB gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
• 00:20:01 Dan’s Tips for How to Treat a Venue Well
  • Don’t leave garbage with your name on it!
  • Do a Site Check (size, parking, load-in, electricity, schmoozing)
  • Know and Follow The Rules (avoid the bar!)
  • Manage Your Volume
• 00:25:07 Make in-ears a band-wide priority
  • Behringer X32 – Rack Mounted
• 00:32:51 Presentation matters: “Dressy Flashy”
  • “You Want to Look Expensive”
  • “Don’t look like a waiter”
• 00:36:33 Expanding your business options
• 00:41:19 Intellistage to the rescue
• 00:44:50 Managing Rehearsals for a Working Band
• 00:46:39 jamLink for distant rehearsals (2010!!)
• 00:51:26 GG 197 Outtro

The post Dan Meblin from Pop Fiction – Gig Gab 197 appeared first on Gig Gab.

We often talk about stage presence, but what about off-stage presence? And how much is too much? And what happens when a fan reads more into your vibe than you intended?

How do you remain appropriately distant without appearing to be aloof?

Then it’s on to some Cool Stuff Found that Dave encountered at CES. Definitely something here you’ll want to learn about.

Finally, Paul and Dave talk through upcoming shows and how they’re approaching everything. Press play, listen, and enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 196 – Wednesday, January 16, 2019
• 00:02:45 Time is the time
• 00:05:18 Lost some fans
• 00:15:38 Controlling Your Outward Vibe
• 00:21:43 New Segment: Cool Stuff Found! [email protected]
• 00:22:46 CSF at CES-Soundcraft Ui24R Mixer – $999
• 00:28:48 CSF at CES-Jammy Portable Guitar – $399 pre-order
• 00:30:59 CSF at CES-Loop Earplugs – $29.95
• 00:33:08 Foo Fighters live at CES
• 00:38:18 Paul’s Tributes: Petty Show, Bruce/Lynda/John Show
• 00:43:30 New Houserockers Tunes
• 00:52:51 GG 196 Outtro
  • Next week: Dan Meblin from Pop Fiction

The post Controlling Your Outward Vibe – Gig Gab Podcast 196 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s been 195 episodes and almost four years. Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton take you through some lessons they’ve learned this year. What lessons have you learned? Send ’em in to [email protected].

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Songs, Lessons, Resolutions, and Synchronicity – Gig Gab 195 – Monday, December 31, 2018
• 00:01:10 What does New Years Eve mean?
• 00:04:41 Hedwig and Rocky!
• 00:07:41 Lessons and Resolutions
  • It doesn’t pay to be cute
  • Read the contract
• 00:12:46 Uphold the value of the arts
• 00:18:33 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/GIGGAB gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
• 00:21:13 Think about Sound/Tone/Volume
• 00:26:58 Have an agreement amongst your band
• 00:34:52 Resolutions
• 00:43:38 GG 195

The post Songs, Lessons, Resolutions, and Synchronicity – Gig Gab 195 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Your weekend warriors love gear as much as the next musician, so they each take some time to talk through a few things on their Gigging Christmas Wishlists. But first, it’s time for a few discussions.

Do you have trouble memorizing your lyrics? The guys talk through their tips and strategies for that… as well as commiserating about how difficult some tunes can be to internalize!

Paul then talks Dave through the process of building setlists that are satisfying to everyone, band and audience alike. The priorities involved in this process are varied and treacherous, and a few wrong steps can land your band in a bad spot with not only audiences, but amongst yourselves, too.

All this and more!

The post Satisfying Setlists and Christmas Wish Lists – Gig Gab Podcast 194 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Does multitasking work? Wait, what were you doing? You were listening to Gig Gab. Press play to resume hearing Paul and Dave talk through how to know – and respect – your place amongst your fellow musicians. Lots to sort through here, folks, and your two favorite weekend warriors get the job done!

The post Know Your Place Amongst Your Fellow Musicians – Gig Gab Podcast 193 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Managing calendars during the holiday season – especially December – is tough. Listen to how your two favorite weekend warriors are each addressing their December scheduling dilemmas. Then it’s time to revisit the concept of vocal stomp boxes – and stomp boxes, in general. Your comments helped open Dave’s eyes (and mind!) on these, and he and Paul share their further thoughts on the subject. Press play and enjoy!

The post Managing Your Holiday Season Calendar & Stomp Boxes Revisited – Gig Gab Podcast 192 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Are originals part of what your band does? If not, have you ever wanted to try and fit some in if you could? Listen to Paul and Dave share their (very different!) experiences with each other about this, including Paul’s commitment for 2019, and Dave’s Goblin Cock story. Oh yes, you’ll want to listen for that. Press play and enjoy!

The post The Goblin Cock Story – Gig Gab Podcast 191 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Are you sure you need that effects box? For your voice? In a rock band? Also, if you play a multi-band gig is it appropriate to leave before the entire evening comes to a close? And lastly, how clever are your setlists? And how clever should they be? Paul and Dave answer these important questions for you. Maybe. You’ll just have to press play to find out.

The post Stomping Out the Stomp Boxes – Gig Gab Podcast 190 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul visited Nashville and Dave visited the dentist. One of those things happened in the last week, even, but never fear: they both resulted in relevant stories for you, our listeners. A quick conversation about leverage finds its way into the show, and using it to negotiate non-zero-sum outcomes. And listeners Mike (yes, two of them) have things in the mailbag that your two favorite weekend warriors are all-too-happy to share. Download, press play, and enjoy!

The post Nashville and The “Rinse” Lesson – Gig Gab Podcast 189 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the time you’re spending on stage (and the time you spending preparing for that!), but it’s equally important to treat your nights off stage as priorities, too. There’s a yin and a yang to a lot of things, not just this, and you’ll hear how that thread permeates the entirety of this discussion between Dave and Paul. They can be some pretty reflective cats when you get right down to it. Press play and enjoy. And reflect. And always be performing, too, even when you’re not. Or something.

The post Cherish Your Downtime, Too – Gig Gab Podcast 188 appeared first on Gig Gab.