Dave’s just back from attending a full week of the SXSW Conference and Festivals, and he and Paul have a lot to discuss! From new bands that Dave found, to new films that Dave saw, SXSW provided an infusion of new info and new thinking and, well, that’s the point of exposing yourself, right?

To new things, we mean. Not that other thing. Dave stayed clothed during both SXSW and the recording of this podcast.

Also, sometimes even when you don’t attend a conference you can change your own mind, and Paul’s had a change of heart he shares, too. You won’t want to miss this one, folks!

The post SXSW, New Bands, New Films, and a New Way of Thinking about Older Music – Gig Gab 157 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Have you ever peed next to a rock star? How about a former Vice President? Dave has peed next to both Dave Grohl and Al Gore, and for some reason Paul gets him to tell those stories perfectly in the context of your normally-scheduled Gig Gab. Guess which one has tighter security? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Also, Dave shares a few SXSW stories from the past as he prepares to head to Austin next week to attend the conference again. Then it’s on to discussion about how to market your band and get attention from the right people.

After that, your two favorite weekend warriors move on to discussing just how to prepare for a gig where you don’t know any of the tunes… and how to make it through those gigs, too! All this and more… that’s how you know it’s Gig Gab!

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When should you have a contract? If you follow Paul and Dave’s advice and definitions, you should have something resembling a contract for every gig. Listen to hear what they mean… and why.

Sometimes a cascading series of bad events turns into a great night, and Paul’s got a story that at least starts this way. You’ll have to listen to hear how it ends!

Your two favorite weekend warriors also share some tips on not only how to get paid, but when to get paid, and how to do it efficiently and keep it from getting weird.

All this – and more – just press play and enjoy!

The post Always get a contract? Well, sort of… – Gig Gab Podcast 155 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Talk about a verbal jam session! Sure, your two favorite weekend warriors talk about their strategies for when to post your events on Facebook, but there are about a zillion other topics that seem to weave into one another. From managing your core strength to the history of the National Anthem to Gibson dying out to managing your weight, this episode covers it all. Press play and enjoy, folks. And always be performing!

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Have you ever thought about traveling with you band? How about putting together a band whose only purpose is to travel? You two favorite weekend warriors talk all about this just for you. And, as should happen at the center of any conversation about booking gigs, it’s expressly decided that praise should always go to the go-getters out there booking the gigs that we all love to play.

Moving on from that, the concept of groove within the structure of an acoustic setting is discussed. Do you know who the drummer is? Both Paul and Dave agree on this point, and they discuss exactly why that’s the case!

Press play and enjoy, friends. This one’s guaranteed to be a fun ride!

The post Praise to the Go-Getters – Gig Gab Podcast 153 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Sometimes it’s nirvana, and sometimes it’s a fight. The thing is, you never really know which way the gig is going to go until you’re in the thick of it… and then you just have to take it as it comes and deal with it! Whether it’s discussing the harnessing of the karma gods or the Facebook algorithm, your two favorite weekend warriors bring their A-game to you each and every week.

Speaking of games, Justin Timberlake’s performance at the Super Bowl is fair game to discuss in this podcast, and that discussion happened, too.

So much to say about so many things… press play, download, enjoy!

The post Nirvana Night vs. Fight Night – Gig Gab Podcast 152 appeared first on Gig Gab.

As musicians, we play because we love to play, and it’s an honor to be able to do that. But that’s not the only reason… and some gigs can feel pretty lonely, even if you’re surrounded by a crowd or fellow musicians. Dave and Paul start this episode thinking they have a few different topics to discuss – and they do – but in the end it all comes back to the same thing: loneliness and how to avoid it.

Well, there is ONE topics that doesn’t fit into that theme, and that’s the topic of how much to charge for your gigs and your merchandise. Listen for some essential lessons that your two favorite weekend warriors have learned this week.

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The stage is sacred ground for most musicians… but how does it get to be that way? Certainly it’s not comfortable the very first time you walk on stage. Depending on how you look at it, it may never be comfortable walking on stage… and yet, it can still become a comfortable, safe, and secure place for most performers. Paul and Dave find themselves in the midst of a conversation talking about exactly that!

To get there, they discuss some of the issues and hurdles musicians need to jump over and through to set themselves up for success. Knowing your bandmates, understanding your band’s logistical needs, and learning how to (quickly!) learn what it takes to make a room sound and work well are all skills that can set you up for success.

And that, folks, is what Gig Gab Podcast 150 is about, with an unexpected (but heavy!) dose of lessons from and about Tom Petty. Press play… and enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

The post “Up Here, Nothing Can Touch Us” – Gig Gab Podcast 150 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul and Dave each had experiences – from both sides of the “rail” this week – with that concept where musicians need to manage what’s going on inside their bodies while on stage. They talk through Paul’s first gig with the Houserockers new drummer, and Dave’s experience watching seasoned, Grammy-winning professionals … all of which deal with the fact that every musician on any stage – at any pay rate – is simply a human that has to deal with being human!

Then it’s on to some new gear, starting with some in-ear monitors Dave found at CES for less than $25! Paul asks about the new Boss KATANA AIR amplifier, too. All of this on Gig Gab!

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Is your band for sale? Of course it is! Otherwise you’re not getting paid. And if your band is for sale, then who is the salesperson? Listen to hear your long-time Weekend Warriors put on the relevant parts of their weekDAY hats and talk through their process for selling … anything. There’s lots to learn here this week, folks, and Dave and Paul are on fire with this one!

Then it’s time to answer a question about setlists, this time focused around managing the energy of the room… both while you’re playing and while you’re not.

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