Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Monique Powell of Save Ferris: Ska, Struggles, and Sweet Comebacks


Listen Later

Monique Powell of Save Ferris joins you for a no-holds-barred dive into the grind, grit, and glory behind making a band thrive. From opera training to ska dreams, Monique shares how preparation and passion powered her transformation from “Mo Sing Song” to full-on band manager (and back again…and forth again). You’ll hear how she navigated shifting to external management, dealt with label fallout, and used setbacks as fuel—because when the machine breaks, you fix it or build your own. Her fight to save her voice wasn’t just personal—it became a mission driven by fans who refused to let go.

This episode’s packed with real talk on defining success, the chaos of tour-routing post-COVID, and the rollercoaster of fan engagement. Monique lays it all out: if you want to be in a successful band, be ready to sweat every detail—gear, gigs, and gut decisions. Whether it’s dodging in-ear disasters or facing your fears head-on, Monique reminds you that showing up matters most. So, lace up, lean in, and remember: Always Be Performing.

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 477 – Monday, April 14th, 2025
    • April 14th: National Pecan Day
    • Guest co-host: Monique Powell from Save Ferris
    • 00:02:37 Preparation matters!
      • Studying to be a opera singer
      • Why aren’t you in a band?
      • 00:06:50 I really wanted to be in a ska band
        • The Shanties
        • 00:08:30 From “Mo Sing Song” to “Mo Manage Band”
          • Save Ferris was a great band, I knew we were a great band
          • We’re a family, and I’m going to work as hard as I can to push us forward
          • 00:13:49 Transitioning to external management
            • “I don’t know how to take us to the next level at this point.”
            • 00:16:03 You’re outnumbered. Shut up and sing.
            • 00:18:27 Getting the machine working!
            • 00:20:52 Opportunity when your label drops you
            • 00:22:11 Define success for yourself
            • 00:24:21 No bank was going to give us Two Million Dollars
            • 00:25:30 Fighting to Save her Singing Voice
            • 00:27:36 I Let the Fans Dicate How Hard I was Going To Fight
            • 00:29:20 Your greatest fear can be fuel
              • Business Brain, Dave’s other podcast
              • 00:33:33 Now I fight for our fans
              • 00:34:30 Life is like rollerskating
              • 00:37:23 Get Dancing from Save Ferris on April 25th!
                • Learn the Choreography!
                • 00:39:08 FAN ENGAGEMENT…It’s part of Always Being Performing!
                • 00:42:31 Letting the fans be my compass
                • 00:43:21 In-ears became a liability
                • 00:46:26 LITFA
                • 00:48:39 Touring with a monitor engineer
                • 00:50:58 Tour-routing post-COVID
                  • Headlining a tour is like throwing a birthday party and wondering how many people are going to show up
                  • 00:56:04 Gig Gab 477 Outtro
                    • Follow Monique Powell and Save Ferris
                    • Contact Gig Gab!
                      • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
                      • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List
                      • The post Monique Powell of Save Ferris: Ska, Struggles, and Sweet Comebacks — Gig Gab 477 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

                        46 ratings


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

                        View all
                        Radiolab by WNYC Studios

                        Radiolab

                        43,969 Listeners

                        99% Invisible by Roman Mars

                        99% Invisible

                        26,212 Listeners

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

                        Coverville: The Cover Music Show (AAC Edition)

                        747 Listeners

                        Guitar Music Theory by Desi Serna

                        Guitar Music Theory

                        825 Listeners

                        Switched on Pop by Vulture

                        Switched on Pop

                        2,674 Listeners

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

                        Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

                        828 Listeners

                        Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

                        Making Sense with Sam Harris

                        26,354 Listeners

                        Pivot by New York Magazine

                        Pivot

                        9,507 Listeners

                        MacVoices by Chuck Joiner

                        MacVoices

                        33 Listeners

                        MacVoices Video by Chuck Joiner

                        MacVoices Video

                        11 Listeners

                        Mac OS Ken by Ken Ray

                        Mac OS Ken

                        895 Listeners

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

                        MacCast - For Mac Geeks, by Mac Geeks

                        807 Listeners

                        The Context Machine by Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet

                        The Context Machine

                        87 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

                        The Mac Observer Show by Ken Ray

                        The Mac Observer Show

                        116 Listeners

                        Twenty Thousand Hertz by Dallas Taylor

                        Twenty Thousand Hertz

                        4,147 Listeners

                        Music Student 101 by Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips

                        Music Student 101

                        250 Listeners

                        The Daily by The New York Times

                        The Daily

                        112,683 Listeners

                        Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

                        Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

                        4,140 Listeners

                        Cover Band Confidential's Podcast by Coverband Confidential

                        Cover Band Confidential's Podcast

                        91 Listeners

                        The Confused Breakfast by Cloud10

                        The Confused Breakfast

                        1,167 Listeners

                        The Gigging Musician Podcast by Jared Judge

                        The Gigging Musician Podcast

                        8 Listeners