Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Live Show Mastery: IEMs, Gig Survival, and SuperFan Power


Listen Later

This week you’ll hear how making the leap to in-ear monitors isn’t just swapping gear—it’s like learning a whole new instrument. You’ll pick up real-world tactics for keeping the band rolling when a member’s sick or injured, including the art of pulling in a last-minute sub. You’ll face the hard truth about whether the show really must go on and learn what to do when the FOH vanishes mid-gig. From hiring (and managing) your own sound engineer to turning your SuperFans into your band’s secret weapon, you’ll see how those relationships can shape your entire live experience. Always Be Performing means every choice you make—gear, people, or setlist—affects the show you deliver.

You’ll also dive into transforming every gig into a true show, thinking beyond the notes to the pacing, energy, and flow of the night. You’ll hear strategies for avoiding audience burnout, why proximity clauses matter, and how to survive the madness of back-to-back gigs with no breather in between. Plus, the essentials of dealing with unpredictable backlines, smart gear tips (like why a humble Lasko fan might be your MVP), and avoiding stereo/TRS mix-ups. It’s all about showing up prepared, performing with intention, and making sure every gig leaves its mark.

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 493 – Monday, August 4th, 2025
    • August 4th: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
    • Guest co-host: Scott Smith
    • 00:01:41 Using Alclair IEMs
    • 00:04:27 Transitioning to IEMs is like learning an instrument
    • 00:08:10 Adapting as a band with an injured/sick bandmate
    • 00:11:29 The Show Must Go On…Must it?
    • 00:12:44 Calling in a last-minute sub when in a pinch
    • 00:15:13 When the FOH disappears
    • 00:18:45 Adding a sound engineer to your band’s staff…the blessing and the curse
    • 00:22:59 Recognizing, Thanking, AND Leveraging your SuperFans
      • Hiring a social media intern for your band
      • Having a SuperFan manage the entire VIP experience for paying fans
      • SuperFans are a huge asset for your band, nurture those relationships before you lose them
      • 00:31:23 SPONSOR: Gig Performer is a plugin host, an audio mixer, a backing tracks player, and more that gives you real-time control…live. Visit GigPerformer.com/GigGab for 10% off.
      • 00:33:03 SPONSOR: Rock-N-Roller. Replace 8 different carts with one: dolly, hand truck, short bed, long bed, flat bed, you got it! Code GIGGAB20 saves you 20% on all carts.
      • 00:35:07 Making each gig a “show”
        • Don’t just play the gig, think about the setlist, think about the flow of the evening
        • “If you want attention in this band, you have to take it!”
        • 00:42:02 Managing oversaturation
          • Proximity clauses
          • 00:47:46 Playing two gigs in one day where the second one starts at the time the first one ends
          • 00:54:47 Backlines for gigs
          • 00:56:28 North County Band @ Press Room on August 15th
          • 00:58:55 Gear Gab
            • Lasko 12” utility fan with outlets
            • 01:01:34 Confusing stereo 1/4″ with TRS
              • Headphone jack to 1/4″ mono inputs
              • 01:06:05 Gig Gab 493 Outtro
                • Follow Scott Smith
                  • North County Band
                  • Contact Gig Gab!
                    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
                    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List
                    • The post Live Show Mastery: IEMs, Gig Survival, and SuperFan Power – Gig Gab 493 appeared first on Gig Gab.

                      ...more
                      View all episodesView all episodes
                      Download on the App Store

                      Gig Gab - The Working Musician's PodcastBy Dave Hamilton & Friends

                      • 4.9
                      • 4.9
                      • 4.9
                      • 4.9
                      • 4.9

                      4.9

                      45 ratings


                      More shows like Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

                      View all
                      This Week in Tech (Audio) by TWiT

                      This Week in Tech (Audio)

                      3,012 Listeners

                      Coverville: The Cover Music Show (AAC Edition) by Brian Ibbott

                      Coverville: The Cover Music Show (AAC Edition)

                      747 Listeners

                      Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting by Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson

                      Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

                      827 Listeners

                      MacCast - For Mac Geeks, by Mac Geeks by Adam Christianson (Mac Geek)

                      MacCast - For Mac Geeks, by Mac Geeks

                      807 Listeners

                      MacVoices by Chuck Joiner

                      MacVoices

                      33 Listeners

                      The Context Machine by Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet

                      The Context Machine

                      87 Listeners

                      Mac OS Ken by Ken Ray

                      Mac OS Ken

                      894 Listeners

                      Radiolab by WNYC Studios

                      Radiolab

                      43,821 Listeners

                      Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

                      Stuff You Should Know

                      77,738 Listeners

                      Planet Money by NPR

                      Planet Money

                      30,688 Listeners

                      MacVoices Video by Chuck Joiner

                      MacVoices Video

                      11 Listeners

                      The Mac Observer Show by Ken Ray

                      The Mac Observer Show

                      117 Listeners

                      Chasing Tone - Guitar Podcast About Gear, Effects, Amps and Tone by Wampler Pedals

                      Chasing Tone - Guitar Podcast About Gear, Effects, Amps and Tone

                      481 Listeners

                      Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast by Shannon Jean & Dave Hamilton

                      Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

                      45 Listeners

                      The SBL Podcast by Scott's Bass Lessons

                      The SBL Podcast

                      419 Listeners

                      Music Student 101 by Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips

                      Music Student 101

                      243 Listeners

                      Twenty Thousand Hertz by Dallas Taylor

                      Twenty Thousand Hertz

                      3,928 Listeners

                      Ongoing History of New Music by Curiouscast

                      Ongoing History of New Music

                      563 Listeners

                      Cover Band Confidential's Podcast by Coverband Confidential

                      Cover Band Confidential's Podcast

                      91 Listeners

                      Strong Songs by Kirk Hamilton

                      Strong Songs

                      1,952 Listeners

                      Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch by Greg Koch

                      Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

                      222 Listeners

                      Dipped In Tone by Dipped in Tone

                      Dipped In Tone

                      209 Listeners

                      The Gigging Musician Podcast by Jared Judge

                      The Gigging Musician Podcast

                      6 Listeners