All posts by Dave.

Should We Play It Like The Record? – Gig Gab 240

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:22 — 37.1MB) | Embed

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Song Selection, Cowbells, & The Professor – Gig Gab 239

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
  • 00:24:28 SPONSOR: CHAUVET DJ. Don’t just rock…rock in the spotlight with CHAUVET DJ!
  • 00:29:53 PSA: Cowbell girl on NYE
  • 00:34:37 Tom-Democracy and Song Selection
  • GG 239 Outtro

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In Search of Fair Money – Gig Gab 238

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.
  • 00:20:34
  • 00:20:34 Don’t be afraid to ask for fair money
  • 00:51:56 Musical New Year’s Resolutions
    • Clarity about money.
    • Being off book!
    • More practice to level up.
    • Giving back.
    • Get that recording setup in place.
  • 00:59:19 GG 238 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:52 — 41.4MB) | Embed

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The House Band Concept – Gig Gab 237

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
  • 00:01:17 Feedback@GigGabPodcast.com
  • 00:01:38 JH Audio Jodi-Vac
  • 00:04:14 JH Audio Ambient FR
  • 00:07:16 SPONSOR: Circle Home Plus makes it easy to take childhood offline when needed, so they can focus on homework, chores, or bedtime.
  • 00:09:00 Mad Haus Background
  • 00:16:47 Mad Haus Prep
    • Get specific rehearsal tracks (everyone on same page)
    • Background listening for days, making loose notes as things come up, but generally just grokking
    • Sit down with script and listen intentionally to each song, pausing, making notes
      • Who starts the tune?
      • How fast?
      • What’s the feel (what does it remind you of instantly)?
      • Mark cuts based upon lyrics.
      • Describe end (or leave question mark for rehearsal/discussion)
  • 00:24:34 Mad Haus Performance
    • It’s all about trust and communication
  • 00:29:05 Paul-How does a House Band work?
    • House bands for open mic
    • Bluegrass night
    • Blues Jam (or other Jam)
    • Live Band Karaoke
    • The Wheel of Awesome
  • 00:44:29 Always Be a House Band
  • 00:48:18 Gig Gab 237 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:23 — 35.0MB) | Embed

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Band Psychology – Gig Gab 236

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.
  • 00:17:40 Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
  • 00:25:29 Communicating the enjoyment of the musicians
  • 00:27:39 Live Music
  • 00:33:21 The Ebbs and Flows of Band Psychology
  • 01:04:19 GG 236 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:45 — 44.8MB) | Embed

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Just Sing It Straight – Gig Gab 235

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.
  • 00:11:10 First gig without in-ears
  • 00:15:41 SPONSOR: Circle Home Plus makes it easy to take childhood offline when needed, so they can focus on homework, chores, or bedtime.
  • 00:18:14 Learning Holiday Songs
  • 00:25:48 Learning fun songs
  • 00:28:16 Just sing it straight!
  • 00:37:18 Paul’s Annual Musicians Holiday Happy Hour
  • 00:41:06 Jonas Brothers, Bebe Rexha, Jordan McGraw – Those drummers!
  • 00:50:30 GG 235 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:14 — 37.5MB) | Embed

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Get Over Yourself – Gig Gab 234

What do vanity songs, iPads on stage, Nashville, and your reviews of Gig Gab all have in common? Well, they teach Paul and Dave to get over themselves and just deliver the podcast for YOU, our listeners. Yes, it’s true, your two favorite weekend warriors sometimes get stuck in their own heads when the goal is to get stuck in yours. Listen … and see if they succeed!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 234- Monday, November 18, 2019
  • 00:01:12 Nashville
  • 00:14:46 Apple Podcasts Review 2019-11-18
  • 00:15:35 iPads on Stage
    • Larry Campbell
  • 00:21:00 Vanity Songs
    • “There are so many hit songs to choose from” – Joe Rizzi
  • 00:41:26 GG 234 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:56 — 29.5MB) | Embed

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Keeping it Fresh – Gig Gab 233

Keeping it Fresh – Gig Gab 233

What do you do to keep things fresh for your band and your audience? What more could you do?

As much as we love the music, it’s not just about the music. There’s more we can all do – especially in today’s attention-distracted world – to ensure our fans are interested in coming to the next show. Heck, there’s more we can do to ensure we are interested in playing our next show. What is it? Paul and Dave talk through this.

Also, what’s the magic that makes your band special? Getting some perspective on this can be helpful, at times, and your two favorite weekend warriors talk through this, as well. Press play, and always be performing!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 233 – Monday, November 11, 2019 (recorded on Friday, November 8th)
  • 00:01:07 The Mix of your Band
  • 00:10:39 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.
  • 00:13:20 What do you do to keep things fresh?
  • 00:45:41 Tribute to Jim Manganello
  • 00:47:21 GG 233 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:20 — 33.6MB) | Embed

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AD(vertising) INFINITUM – Gig Gab 232

What’s it take to get you to put your pants and shoes on and leave the couch? That’s the question to ask your would-be audience when deciding how to advertise to them. You want them to get up off the couch and come to your show, so make ’em an offer they don’t want to refuse.

Paul and Dave spend the second half of today’s episode talking through all this stuff ad-related, after starting with stories from some fun Halloween/Halloweekend gigs. Press play and enjoy hearing your two favorite Weekend Warriors!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 232- Monday, November 4, 2019
  • 00:01:54 Outdoor New Years’ Gig
  • 00:04:07 Halloween/Halloweekend Gigs
  • 00:18:47 SPONSOR: Circle Home Plus makes it easy to take childhood offline when needed, so they can focus on homework, chores, or bedtime.
  • 00:21:14 SPONSOR: CHAUVET DJ. Don’t just rock…rock in the spotlight with CHAUVET DJ!
  • 00:23:35 John-Ad(vertising) Infinitum
  • 00:46:44 GG 232 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:26 — 32.9MB) | Embed

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Selling Your Band: First Contact – Gig Gab 231

Listener Sean brings us back to the marketing table asking how best to make that very first contact with a potential club to play. Paul’s the experienced one here, and he leads us all through a great lesson on how best to make that work.

It seems we’re all now members of the blackout generation, at least in terms of generating power during blackouts. Dave shares some of his tips about powering your band through a power outage, as both he and Paul have needed to do lately!

And, of course, there are all of your favorite gig-related stories. It’s amazing how much stuff happens at “normal” shows, isn’t it? We love it. After all, that’s what makes Gig Gab exist!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 231- Monday, October 28, 2019
  • 00:01:04 Holiday Gigs
  • 00:04:24 “Do you think we’d be good for that venue?”
  • 00:10:56 Member of the Blackout Generation
  • 00:13:19 Paul Simon Tribute
  • 00:18:41 Little Feat Listeners!
  • 00:24:11 Standers vs. Sitters
  • 00:25:57 Generation Revisited
  • 00:28:49 Adding Songs on-the-fly
  • 00:34:26 Client vs. Venue vs. Band
  • 00:40:43 Sean-Making initial contact with a club?
  • 00:56:48 GG 231 Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:17 — 39.9MB) | Embed

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