All posts by Dave Hamilton.

Eyes With Pride

Eyes With Pride — Gig Gab 280

Do you know what your band’s image is? Does that match what your fans and friends think it is? Video is a great medium to communicate with your audience, especially these days, but it can be tricky to remain truthful to who you are as a band while attempting to share that image in this way. Good news, Paul and Dave talk through some of this, hopefully adding some direction to the conversation.

Then it’s on to Pop Songs. Yeah, those, the ones you’re immediately thinking of, and also that Seventies A.M. Radio Gold. Listen as Paul leads Dave through a trip down the weirdest memory lane you’ve ever seen. What a blast.

Oh, and don’t forget: Always Be Performing. Also, please, always be emailing us at feedback@giggabpodcast.com. We love to hear from you.

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 280 – Monday, November 16, 2020
  • 00:01:28 Recorded a Bitter Pill video — fun to “play” (and hangout)
  • 00:12:53 Crafting your image
    • “Eyes with Pride”
  • 00:27:57 Pop Songs and 70s AM Gold
  • 00:49:00 How do we heal from this?
  • 00:56:35 GG280 Outtro

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Gig Gab 279 Episode image: The Great Reset

The Great Reset — Gig Gab 279

After holding down the “pause” button for months, it stands to reason that the other side of all this involves more than a couple of instances of the “reset” button. Listener Fred poses a question about post-pandemic pay scales, and that opens up the conversation for Paul and Dave to muse on what other things might be reset…including your band. Press play and listen as your two favorite weekend warriors talk through all of this and more. Remember, folks, always be performing. Your future depends upon it!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 279 – Monday, November 9, 2020
  • 00:00:48 Last-minute gig
    • Finding out the setlist as the night wears on
  • 00:07:22 The Great Reset
  • 00:10:37 Fred-The Great Live Music Pricing Reset
  • 00:21:44 What makes us comfortable?
  • 00:26:53 Has your Band Checked out?
  • 00:32:34 Winter wonderland
  • 00:35:32 GG 279

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The Art of Learning — Gig Gab 278 Episode Image

The Art of Learning — Gig Gab 278

We’ve spent time learning our instruments, which means we’ve spent time learning how to learn. Now, where will we apply that knowledge and skill? Presumably we’ll keep studying our instruments, but what else can we learn? How about applying this ability to learn to crafting and improving our stage shows? How about our band management? Listen as Paul and Dave have a little jam session on this topic for you today. You never know where your two favorite weekend warriors are going to take things… unless you press play right now!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 278 – Monday, November 2, 2020
  • 00:01:42 Managing the flow of music into — and out of — Dave’s Head!
  • 00:08:41 Playing music interactively with humans
    • The art of learning your instrument never stops
  • 00:12:38 The concept of Sitzprobe vs. Rehearsal
    • Why Not Rehearse What Will happen on Stage?
  • 00:23:44 Steve-277-Beware Your Own Complacency
  • 00:28:25 Know Your Reputation
  • 00:35:54 GG 278 Outtro

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Gig Gab 277 Episode image with picture of Manny's Music

Gear and Your Local Music Shop — Gig Gab 277

It often takes a relocation to realize just how great your “little” local music store is. Paul and Dave talk through some of this as it relates to gear, community, and more. Meanwhile, Dave’s finding himself in the woodshed this week, having bitten off a little more than he realized he needed to chew!

And then listener Steve has an issue with his band that is routinely encountering what we’ll call “remedial rehearsal”. This can be the death of a band but, then again, so can over-analyzing things. Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors talk this all through.

And remember: Always Be Performing!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:47 — 35.0MB) | Embed

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Gig Gab 276 Episode Image with "Lead Singer Takeover"

Lead Singer Takeover — Gig Gab 276

Ever been in a band where you realized one member was getting all the attention and you weren’t? It happens, and your two favorite weekend warriors have been there. Listen as Paul and Dave talk through this. First, though, a bit of gab about what you can do now to keep your band together and keep focused on creating with one another.

“Always Be Performing” is our motto here, and there are a lot of ways to achieve that! Press play and enjoy, then send your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas to feedback@giggabpodcast.com

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 276 – Monday, October 19, 2020
  • 00:00:50 Collaborating with Songwriter Friends
  • 00:07:53 Maintaining Your Band’s Camaraderie and Engagement
  • 00:16:00 New Springsteen and New Petty
  • 00:17:17 Mike-When The Lead Singer Takes Over
  • 00:37:50 GG 276 Outtro

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Gig Gab 275 Episode Image — musicians sitting in a circle "Making a Band a Family"

Making a Band a Family — Gig Gab 275

Is your band dynamic is a family dynamic? Or is it a business-only relationship? How does that work out? These are the questions that Paul and Dave not only discuss, but percolate throughout as they go through a few other topics, too.

Of course, your two favorite weekend warriors spend a few minutes sharing their Eddie Van Halen stories and memories, too. He was—and remains—a legend.

Press play, and don’t forget: Always Be Performing!

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Gig Gab 274 episode image. Musician playing some obscure instrument with text "Uncommon Hits"

Uncommon Hits — Gig Gab 274

It’s time for you to shine! Well, two of you, anyway. This week, Paul and Dave dig into the mailbag to share some of your thoughts and answer your questions. Listen as your two favorite Weekend Warriors talk through getting your band back together, communicating with your audience in new ways, the streaming formula and, yes, uncommon hits! Press play and enjoy… and then please send us your thoughts to feedback@giggabpodcast.com

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 274 – Monday, October 5, 2020
  • 00:01:44 Getting the Band Back Together
  • 00:09:56 Gord: Re-Tooling Your Setlist During the Pandemic
  • 00:16:30 The streaming formula
  • 00:21:48 Eric: Choosing Uncommon Songs (GG273 Follow-up)
  • 00:38:32 Heil PR-37 —
    • Massively-increased off-axis/rear-rejection compared to PR-35
    • excellent presence and high-end articulation. Good for the Dave-voice!
    • Designed with FOH engineers  for loud stages.
    • Tight pattern, but not too tight (like the Telefunkens)
  • 00:42:19 NAMM is Disneyland for Musicians
  • 00:44:26 GG 274 Outtro

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Gig Gab 273 Episode Image with baseball hat on guitar and text "You Haven't Seen My Fastball...Yet!"

You Haven’t Seen My Fastball… Yet! — Gig Gab 273

Have you heard Grand Funk’s version of “Feelin’ Alright”? Would you put that in your band’s setlist? More importantly, would that song be right for your band’s setlist? Listen as Paul and Dave talk about pulling together a band with a focus more on performing than playing the songs everyone wants to hear.

Up first, though, Dave played a few gigs this weekend, and has some interesting experiences to share from it all…and Paul re-experienced the Lefsetz Letter. Good stuff!

Press play and listen to Paul and Dave talk through this and more!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:55 — 41.3MB) | Embed

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Gig Gab 272 Episode image with piano path and text "Keep Your Feet Moving"

Keep Your Feet Moving — Gig Gab 272

This week starts with some Cool Stuff Found in terms of apps for your phone that might just make your life easier. Then, Paul and Dave get into the question: where are you and your band going? What are your plans. Your two favorite weekend warriors talk about how they’re keeping their feet moving, creating the opportunities to keep things moving forward. Press play and then share your thoughts with us at feedback@giggabpodcast.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:07 — 41.2MB) | Embed

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Gig Gab 271 Episode Image with text "Playing For The Love of Music"

Playing For the Love of Music — Gig Gab 271

One of the silver linings of our current reality is appreciating some of the things we might have taken for granted in the past. Playing music for the love of it certainly tastes a lot sweeter today than it did six months ago, and Dave and Paul talk through some of the current and future benefits of that.

Of course, it’s not Gig Gab without some practical advice, and Dave shares his experience — and thoughts about — interacting with a sound engineer for the first time. Then it’s on to streaming, Facebook, and more. Press play and you’ll hear it all!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 271 – Monday, September 14, 2020
  • 00:00:53 The Opportunity to Rock!
  • 00:06:50 The sound engineer negotiation
    • Offer help, build trust
    • Ask if what you need is possible
  • 00:10:35 Every pro engineer: The vocals question!
  • 00:15:04 Monitors: Survival or Spoiled?
  • 00:20:41 Playing Music for the love of it
    • Covid brings that?
  • 00:33:26 Facebook Isn’t Banning You, But You Should Move Anyway
  • 00:51:36 GG 271 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:50 — 36.8MB) | Embed

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