When you’re looking at promoting your band, what are the important factors to portray? Is it all about the music? Unfortunately, that may not be case… in fact, it’s not the case. But don’t fret… Paul and Dave have some answers or at least some perspective for you, answering questions from all of YOU, dear listeners. Press play and enjoy!

The post Communicating Your Professionalism – Gig Gab Podcast 171 appeared first on Gig Gab.

How do cruise ships, fiddle players, Joe Zawinul, percussive guitar, and taping lyrics to a kick drum all tie together? If you had asked Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton that question before they recorded this episode, they probably wouldn’t have had an answer.

Now, though, not only do they have an answer, you do, too. Download or just press play and enjoy!

The post Value Simplicity, Highlight the Differences – Gig Gab Podcast 170 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Bars are intimidating things to some people. When was the last time you, as a musician, thought about that?

It’s good to think about music from your audience’s perspective and consider the vibe that you’re creating for them… and that’s exactly what Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton talk about today. From attitude to song selection to choosing the actual room you’ll play in, you can control the vibe before the downbeat even happens.

Listen, learn, and let your two favorite podcasters know what you think! [email protected] is where the mailbox is always open for you.

The post Music From the Fan’s Perspective – Gig Gab Podcast 169 appeared first on Gig Gab.

“Hey, would you like to do a project together?” It’s easy when your answer is “yes,” but what happens when it’s not? How do you deal with this now-difficult scenario? Paul and Dave talk through all of this for you today. We’re not sure they come up with the magic answer, but there might be a magic phrase or two that they share.

Then Paul nudges Dave into talking about playing “behind the beat” and what that all means. Do you know? Do they? You’ll have to listen to find out! Press play, download, and enjoy!

The post The Art of “No” – Gig Gab Podcast 168 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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!

The post Paging Mr. Murphy – Gig Gab Podcast 167 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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.

The post Performance Tips 101 – Gig Gab Podcast 162 appeared first on Gig Gab.