Listen, sometimes running a band isn’t fun. Sometimes it requires thinking about accounting and managing people and employment law and all that. Today’s Gig Gab digs into some of that not-fun stuff, specifically about managing shared band expenses and another bit about California’s AB5. Really, this stuff isn’t fun, but it’s necessary to think about, and Paul and Dave share their thoughts and invite yours.
But your two favorite weekend warriors do also ask the important question: How do you scream? After talking about accounting you’ll probably want to anyway.
Dave’s fresh out of the studio at The Noise Floor where he spent the weekend recording a new album with Bitter Pill. He’s got a lot of takeaways to share from that experience, and some new things to look forward to, as well.
Then he and Paul dig into – and praise – the concept of a band. What does that mean? How do you define it? How do you protect it? Those are the questions they begin to answer… or at least get clarity about asking! Listen as they dissect all of this and more, then send in your feedback, either in the comments here or at feedback@giggabpodcast.com.
00:00:00 Gig Gab 243 – Monday, Feb 10, 2020
00:01:29 Dissecting a Successful Bitter Pill Recording Session
Who’s your boss? Are you the boss? These questions are important to ask when discussing matters related to employment. The latest in this saga is unfolding in California right now with AB5, causing a re-definition of some musicians from independent contractors to employees. We’ve seen this before, but is this time different? Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton begin the discussion… you can add to it by commenting below or sending an email to feedback@giggabpodcast.com
That’s not all, though: first your two favorite weekend warriors discuss the blues, what it means, and how to begin learning to play it. Entertaining a crowd makes another appearance – as it should! After all, we need to Always Be Performing! Finally, Neil Young has put his technological foot in his rambling mouth again, and the guys have something to say about that!
Playing music together often creates a very tight bond between musicians involving trust and compassion. But even though that bond is strong, it’s usually not something that’s naturally all-encompassing. How do you take that and build from it? And how do you use it to help your band? These are the interesting questions that you pose and your two favorite weekend warriors ponder.
Speaking of listener questions, this episode addresses two others: one about a story in the previous episode, and another about onesies and IEMs! Indeed, there’s a lot to unpack here, and Paul and Dave dig through it all with you.
Two questions to start: How do you handle not-currently-in-use vocal mics? And when you setup on stage, do you make sure everyone can see each other without turning around?
That’s how this Gig Gab episode starts, folks, and then it evolves, winding up with a dissection of having your audience help you choose the right songs for them, and how to decide upon the best interpretation of those songs.
Listen as Paul and Dave, your two favorite weekend warriors, dig through all of this and more, including some feedback from you, dear listeners. After all, Gig Gab is a conversation at it’s core, and you are very much a part of it! Press play… and enjoy.
It’s time to start off the new year by thinking about your song list. Paul and Dave have a lot to say about song selection, mostly because they’ve both made a ton of mistakes in this regard, both about songs and the process of selecting them. Learn what they’ve learned so that you can avoid these pitfalls.
But first, your two favorite weekend warriors take a breath to talk about Neil Peart, drummer for Rush who recently passed away. They each have their own connections and stories to share, both in remembrance, and as inspiration for moving forward. Neil was certainly a man who was dedicated to his crafts, and that’s one lesson Paul and Dave are happy to take as inspiration. After all, Gig Gab is but one of their crafts, and the goal is for everyone to learn and take something away from it all. Press play and enjoy!
00:00:00 Gig Gab 239 – Monday, January 13, 2020
00:02:07 Neil Giraldo: the beginnings of songs.
00:08:32 Remember The Professor
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How often do you go back and re-evaluate the way you play a song you’ve had in your repertoire for years? Those tunes that gain “autopilot” status are easy to ignore, but there can be value in dissecting them. Dave recently went through some of this, and has some thoughts to share. Then it’s on to money, fair money. What defines fair money for you? And what happens if you’re not getting it? Paul and Dave go through this from their varied perspectives to help sort out what can be done when the money just falls short.
Finally, a list of New Years Resolutions from your two favorite Weekend Warriors wraps up the episode… and the year. Happy New Year, all! See you in January!
00:00:00 Gig Gab 238- Monday, December 30, 2019
00:00:52 Snow Day
00:06:54 Less Noises instead of Just Less Noise
00:13:20 Looking for the weird
00:15:40 The freedom of the onesie!
00:18:41 SPONSOR: Circle Home Plus makes it easy to take childhood offline when needed, so they can focus on homework, chores, or bedtime.
Have you ever been a house band? If so, or if not, what does that concept mean to you? Listen as Paul and Dave talk through the whole idea of what a house band could be, and how different folks are iterating on that idea. What can you adopt from the house band concept for your shows?
But first, none of these gigs happen without learning the songs first. Paul grills Dave on the process of prepping for his gigs using this past week’s Mad Haus as a guide. But don’t worry, these are universal lessons that Dave, Paul, and even you can apply to any gig for which you don’t already know the tunes.
That, plus a couple of geeky gear items as Cool Stuff Found make up this week’s show. Enjoy… and always be performing!
00:00:00 Gig Gab 237- Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Your band is filled with people, and that means there’s a psychological component to everything you do, including keeping your band together. How actively do you and your bandmates manage that? And is that enough?
That’s not all Paul and Dave talk about today, though! Dave got to see three bands in three nights, and took away some lessons about the whole “Always Be Performing” concept… on both sides of the coin. Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors go through all of this and more. Then send in your thoughts to feedback@gigabpodcast.com and chat with other listeners in the Gig Gab Facebook Group.
00:00:00 Gig Gab 236- Monday, December 9, 2019
00:03:00 Dave: Always Be Performing Lessons
00:10:11 Subs and Pickup Bands
00:14:38 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle: Built by musicians for musicians, Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music. Try for free for 30 days, then use promo code “giggab” to get 15% off your first year.
When the crowd is there to hear you, paying attention to every nuance, it’s a completely different world. Dave had the option to re-experience that recently, and talks through it all.
Then it’s time to talk about your vocal technique. Dave and Paul share the lessons they’ve learned as not-professional-singers, and perhaps there’s some wisdom there. Or perhaps they’re just full of something else. You decide!
Finally, it seems table stakes are different for up-and-coming players these days in terms of technique, and Paul and Dave talk through what they’ve seen and why they think that’s so.
All of this and more on Gig Gab. Press play and enjoy! Then email feedback@giggabpodcast.com and let your two favorite Weekend Warriors know what you think!
00:00:00 Gig Gab 235- Monday, December 2, 2019
00:01:08 Dave-Two Gigs, Two Nights, Two Rooms, Same Club.
