How tough do the tough conversations get in your band? Today Paul and Dave talk through some of their experiences with that, especially as it relates to band members relative preparedness levels. Yeah, that’s a mouthful, and that’s not all there is in this episode.

Your two favorite weekend warriors have been busy. Paul’s been digging into what it takes to raise your price, and he and Dave talk through that. Dave’s been busy with two tech weeks happening simultaneously this week… and that meant he ignored one of his superstitions… and got caught!

Hear all about this and more during Gig Gab. Press play and enjoy!

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Today, Paul and Dave jump from subject to subject in a seemingly random fashion (hint: whatever they write next, it was random). But it’s never truly random, is it? Nope. This one is about ego. Seeing egos on stage, managing your own ego, when to have one, when to suppress it, and when to use strobe lights to manufacture it! (Ok, you’re going to have to listen for the explanation on that last bit).

But really, the big question to be answered is: what are hackles?

(No, seriously. They ask this question like three times in the episode. Just send them an email at [email protected] so they don’t ask again next week!)

All this – and much, much more – in Gig Gab today. Download, press play, and enjoy!

The post How Much Ego is Too Much Ego? – Gig Gab Podcast 166 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Today Paul and Dave get cerebral, which is fitting given where the conversation goes. Come sit at the Grown-Ups’ Table (just this once!) and enjoy a heady conversation about managing all day gigs, managing the song list, fostering FOMO and, of course, the “Sweet Home Alabama” vs. “Freewill” discussion.

The post Eating at the Grown-Ups’ Table – Gig Gab Podcast 165 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Whether you’re a band or a solo artist, a musical performance is always a collaboration. There are sound engineers, bandmates, audience members, and venue staff that are all involved in making your performance a success. Today Paul and Dave talk through the realities of this, both objectively as outsiders and also what it’s like to deal with it all in the moment. “Intentional collaboration” becomes the theme of this episode, though “being a good musical citizen” or, if successful, “the mutual admiration society” would also fit.

Going with their new trend, your two favorite weekend warriors include a couple of tips in this episode, too. Press play, listen, and enjoy. Then write in to [email protected] and let Paul and Dave know what you think!

The post Intentional Collaboration – Gig Gab Podcast 164 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Sometimes there are songs you play even though you don’t like them. Most of the time you play songs you like. If you’re lucky, though, every now and then you get to play a song you truly love. Yeah, yeah, we’re all pros and we always say, “my favorite song is the one I’m playing,” but that’s not necessarily true, is it?

Paul and Dave talk through different ways of navigating this reality in today’s episode. It won’t seem like it at first, but that’s how Gig Gab goes, doesn’t it? By the end, it’s all related. Come join the family. Press play and enjoy!

The post The China Buddha Fat Man Conundrum – Gig Gab Podcast 163 appeared first on Gig Gab.

We always say, “Always Be Performing”, but what does that mean to you? Are you actively performing? Are you thinking about what to do to perform? Or are you just letting it happen naturally?

Is naturally good enough for you and your crowd? And are you the kind of musician for whom “good enough” would suffice in any other aspect of what you’re doing on stage?

Paul and Dave spend some time today talking through what it means to be a performer and begin answering some of these questions… or at least begin asking them in a way that will make you think.

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Today your two favorite weekend warriors have a jam session of the spoken kind. Covering topics from early start times, ways to bring the same crowd back again and again, playing for opportunities instead of dollars, and proactively replacing gear, they cover a lot of ground.

Paul and Dave also address the Facebook dilemma that’s been plaguing humans ever since we discovered the ability to argue via text communication in a public forum, aka The Facebook Dilemma. You know your favorite weekend warriors are geeks, and today they wear that on the outside a little bit for you.

Press play, sink in, and enjoy.

The post Everyone is Brave Online – Gig Gab Podcast 161 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Every show has a theme and this one – not surprisingly – is about overthinking. Or is it just thinking? Or maybe it’s not thinking, but it is about your brain doing something on its own. Is that still thinking? We think it might be.

You’d better listen and find out, otherwise we’re not sure what will happen to Paul and Dave! We think they’ll be OK…

The post Your Brain is Very Busy on Stage – Gig Gab 160 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Every time you take the stage, you have an audience out there waiting for you to deliver. In fact, the expectation is for you to do exactly that. How aware of this are you? How much do you focus on ensuring this happens, even in the event of trainwrecks and other, on-stage surprises?

Paul and Dave have a little experience with feeling the pressure to deliver for an audience, and they share these thoughts with you… the Gig Gab audience (they deliver!).

Press play, listen, and enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

The post The Implied Contract with Your Audience – Gig Gab Podcast 159 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Rock gigs always bring out the best from your two favorite weekend warriors, and this week had Paul and Dave experiencing some real highlights. There’s always something to be learned from every gig, isn’t there?

Really, though, it all comes down to awareness and having an honest conversation with your audience. That starts on stage, of course, but it can very much continue when you’re not even in the same room together. Paul and Dave talk through all of this and more. You’re definitely not going to want to miss this one!

The post The Conversation With Your Audience – Gig Gab Podcast 158 appeared first on Gig Gab.