Today your two favorite weekend warriors have a jam session of the spoken kind. Covering topics from early start times, ways to bring the same crowd back again and again, playing for opportunities instead of dollars, and proactively replacing gear, they cover a lot of ground.

Paul and Dave also address the Facebook dilemma that’s been plaguing humans ever since we discovered the ability to argue via text communication in a public forum, aka The Facebook Dilemma. You know your favorite weekend warriors are geeks, and today they wear that on the outside a little bit for you.

Press play, sink in, and enjoy.

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 161 – Monday, April 16, 2018
• 00:02:10 Rest and Recovery Time is important
• 00:02:47 Playing in the sunshine!
• 00:04:43 Early start times for local gigs
• 00:05:27 Know your market
• 00:07:35 Opportunity in the earlier evening
• 00:08:12 Managing an average attendance night
• 00:09:27 Don’t outsmart yourself with your schedule!
• 00:11:35 Creating episodic live music “content”
• 00:16:08 Choose people who don’t want to let others down
• 00:18:02 Being respectful of both the audience and your fellow musicians
• 00:19:27 SPONSOR: TuneLicensing.com – GigGab2018 saves you 15% off licensing fees
• 00:21:39 Should musicians entertain when the venue doesn’t provide compensation
• 00:25:20 Choosing your gigs, eyes wide open!
• 00:28:36 The Facebook dilemma
• 00:30:36 Confirmation Bias: I Think Everyone’s Brave Online
• 00:31:20 Consider the repercussions
• 00:34:24 The 4-way stop point
• 00:36:11 Proactively Replacing Gear
• 00:39:12 Playing the odds!
• 00:43:42 Buy the right gear and protect your gear
• 00:46:09 Gibson Les Paul Clones – Kris Derrig Luthier
• 00:47:29 GG 161 Outtro

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Every show has a theme and this one – not surprisingly – is about overthinking. Or is it just thinking? Or maybe it’s not thinking, but it is about your brain doing something on its own. Is that still thinking? We think it might be.

You’d better listen and find out, otherwise we’re not sure what will happen to Paul and Dave! We think they’ll be OK…

Chapters/Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 160 – Monday, April 9, 2018
• 00:01:30 Rehearsing with intention
• 00:04:43 Managing vocal wear
• 00:06:30 8 Shows a Week… Is that a lot?
• 00:07:01 Singing technique
• 00:07:38 Hydration
• 00:09:01 Re-learning how to sing
• 00:10:09 Monitors aren’t as necessary as we think
• 00:12:13 In-ears keep your voice healthy
• 00:13:10 Migrating to in-ears is a process
• 00:14:54 Leave those in-ears in!
• 00:16:05 In-ear isolation
• 00:17:17 We’re outta channels!
• 00:18:20 SPONSOR: TuneLicensing.com – GigGab2018 saves you 15% off licensing fees
• 00:20:12 pK and Friends – Music for fun for everyone
• 00:26:28 The palpable joy from the stage
• 00:28:49 How many sets to play?
  • Milestones in Rochester, NY
• 00:31:31 Forgetting key gear!
  • Pitchslap Cajon
• 00:33:34 Forgetting the set list… And the next song!
• 00:37:30 Your brain’s very busy on stage
• 00:38:12 Band introductions
• 00:41:18 Making up for past mistakes!
• 00:44:38 CSF-Sennheiser e835 ($99.95 on Amazon)
  • Shure Beta 58
  • Heil PR30
  • Telefunken M80
• 00:49:01 QT-Run a playlist all night and just mute/unmute as needed
• 00:50:48 GG 160 Outtro

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Every time you take the stage, you have an audience out there waiting for you to deliver. In fact, the expectation is for you to do exactly that. How aware of this are you? How much do you focus on ensuring this happens, even in the event of trainwrecks and other, on-stage surprises?

Paul and Dave have a little experience with feeling the pressure to deliver for an audience, and they share these thoughts with you… the Gig Gab audience (they deliver!).

Press play, listen, and enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 159 – Monday, April 2, 2018
• 00:01:10 Loose Gigs
  • “No Fighting at the Gig”
• 00:04:00 Handling trainwrecks
• 00:06:50
• 00:07:57 The vibe that creeps through your band
• 00:09:06 Calculating Confrontation
• 00:12:10 They deserve the best that we can give them
• 00:14:53 Your reaction to the loose night defines your professionalism
• 00:16:54 New tunes can be energizing!
• 00:19:12 Mad Haus
  • Dress professional, become professional
  • The noise of the crowd changes everything.
  • Not ready to watch the videos yet.
• 00:25:33 Mental mistakes vs. physical mistakes
• 00:27:29 There’s always something to learn
• 00:28:14 Mad Haus – Forget the last song, worry about the next one
• 00:29:56 SPONSOR: TuneLicensing.com – GigGab2018 saves you 15% off licensing fees
• 00:32:34 Sub Rant!
• 00:37:10 The implied commitment to your audience
• 00:38:07 pK and Friends Classic Rock Night
• 00:39:32 Those Melvins – 25 years and people still singing every word
• 00:44:22 Who is your band’s mentor?
• 00:46:44 Next episode: Song Style Selection
• 00:48:33 Quick Tip-Learn to invert your iPad’s colors
• 00:51:50 Your Job is to Know 1,000 Songs
• 00:52:35 Don’t watch your iPad
• 00:53:41 GG 159

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Rock gigs always bring out the best from your two favorite weekend warriors, and this week had Paul and Dave experiencing some real highlights. There’s always something to be learned from every gig, isn’t there?

Really, though, it all comes down to awareness and having an honest conversation with your audience. That starts on stage, of course, but it can very much continue when you’re not even in the same room together. Paul and Dave talk through all of this and more. You’re definitely not going to want to miss this one!

Chapters/Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 158 – Monday, March 26, 2018
• 00:01:49 Dave’s on 10th Avenue (and he’s being froze out!)
• 00:02:52 Signing the Sound Document
• 00:07:37 Keeping the volume low
• 00:08:58 Managing the flow of the evening
• 00:11:00 When your gut says stop, just stop.
• 00:13:20 Many Lessons Learned
• 00:13:58 Flingfest
• 00:15:51 Adding New Tunes
  • Glenn Hillbrook Shows “Tempted” Chords Video
• 00:17:13 Manging the Flow
• 00:21:30 Finding your place with each song
• 00:23:13 The “Sir Duke” Challenge!
• 00:26:11 “The Part” is not always re-creatable live
  • “Shake Your Body Down To The Ground”
• 00:30:08 The Butt-Moving Litmus Test
• 00:31:16 Doing Your Job as a cover band
• 00:34:56 SPONSOR: TuneLicensing.com – GigGab2018 saves you 15% off licensing fees
• 00:37:12 Flinco-de-Mayo, a four-walled, original night
  • SXSW, So Many Original Bands, So Inspirational
• 00:41:12 Developing your personal musical representation
• 00:43:41 The path where everything is low-hanging fruit
• 00:44:30 Establish trust based upon fun, good music, and… more?
• 00:46:19 Mailing lists to cultivate and maintain your personal brand
• 00:47:44 Conversation with your audience
• 00:50:40 Know your path!
• 00:51:42 Gig Gab 158 Outtro

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Dave’s just back from attending a full week of the SXSW Conference and Festivals, and he and Paul have a lot to discuss! From new bands that Dave found, to new films that Dave saw, SXSW provided an infusion of new info and new thinking and, well, that’s the point of exposing yourself, right?

To new things, we mean. Not that other thing. Dave stayed clothed during both SXSW and the recording of this podcast.

Also, sometimes even when you don’t attend a conference you can change your own mind, and Paul’s had a change of heart he shares, too. You won’t want to miss this one, folks!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 157 – Monday, March 19, 2018
• 00:01:56 Allergies begone!
• 00:02:18 SXSW Conference & Festivals
• 00:04:36 Echo chambers
  • E3 Expo – Gaming Convention
• 00:11:42 SXSW Bands
  • Todd Rundgren
  • Keith Urban
• 00:23:00 Taylor Guitars at SXSW
  • Taylor ES2 Electronics
  • Taylor 914ce Dave Matthews
• 00:25:33
• 00:27:13 Larkin Poe
• 00:29:17 Hinds
  • Redd Volkaert
• 00:31:42 Roxy Roca
  • Mark Linsenmayer on Gig Gab
• 00:33:01 Sound was great
• 00:35:20 Scheduling was on point
• 00:36:22 SPONSOR: TuneLicensing.com – GigGab2018 saves you 15% off licensing fees
• 00:39:15 Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
  • Ruben Blades
• 00:43:05 If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd
• 00:46:00 Heavy Trip
• 00:47:15 Anvil Documentary
• 00:48:59 90s Music Revisited
  • Oasis
  • Counting Crows
  • Matchbox 20
  • Dave Matthews Band
• 00:52:30 R.E.M.
  • Mike Mills on Twitter

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Have you ever peed next to a rock star? How about a former Vice President? Dave has peed next to both Dave Grohl and Al Gore, and for some reason Paul gets him to tell those stories perfectly in the context of your normally-scheduled Gig Gab. Guess which one has tighter security? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Also, Dave shares a few SXSW stories from the past as he prepares to head to Austin next week to attend the conference again. Then it’s on to discussion about how to market your band and get attention from the right people.

After that, your two favorite weekend warriors move on to discussing just how to prepare for a gig where you don’t know any of the tunes… and how to make it through those gigs, too! All this and more… that’s how you know it’s Gig Gab!

Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff Mentioned:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 156 – Monday, March 5, 2018
• 00:01:35 SXSW 2018
• 00:03:24 Magical Musical Moments at SXSW
• 00:05:16 Serendipity with R.E.M.
• 00:09:28 Sound City
• 00:10:49 Bathroom stars!
• 00:11:02 Get attention with performance descriptions, musical styles, and a picture.
• 00:14:40 Distinguishing your band with language
• 00:18:02 Like Jack Tempchin, leverage your highlights!
• 00:19:34 You need to deliver!
• 00:20:59 Video is incredibly important
• 00:23:38 Email isn’t dead!
• 00:26:20 MailChimp lets you hit the inbox
• 00:27:03 SPONSOR: TuneLicensing.com – GigGab2018 saves you 15% off licensing fees
• 00:29:19 Prepping Mad Haus. Just like being a sub in your own band.
• 00:33:18 pK and Friends. One night of tunes!
• 00:34:58 Working your intuition
• 00:36:50 It should follow the form… but it might not!
• 00:38:09 Big Eyes, Big Ears!
• 00:39:52 Like the record, or do it your own way?
• 00:44:51 Learn to hear the changes
• 00:46:37 Learn to hear the form
• 00:48:38 Show me the 1
• 00:49:09 GG Outtro

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When should you have a contract? If you follow Paul and Dave’s advice and definitions, you should have something resembling a contract for every gig. Listen to hear what they mean… and why.

Sometimes a cascading series of bad events turns into a great night, and Paul’s got a story that at least starts this way. You’ll have to listen to hear how it ends!

Your two favorite weekend warriors also share some tips on not only how to get paid, but when to get paid, and how to do it efficiently and keep it from getting weird.

All this – and more – just press play and enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 155 – Monday, February 26, 2018
• 00:01:12 Monetizing Gig Gab!
• 00:03:35 Far away… gigs.
• 00:05:32 Reaffirming your agreements
• 00:07:15 Always get a contract? Yes! Sort of…
• 00:08:31 When things change on the day of the gig?
• 00:12:14 When is it time to walk?
• 00:13:15 SPONSOR: TuneLicensing.com – GigGab2018 saves you 15% off licensing fees
• 00:17:10 Is it a gig, or a cascading series of bad events?
• 00:19:24 How does it end?
• 00:21:12 The benefits of early payment
• 00:25:51 Cashing out at the end of the night
• 00:26:52 Don’t be weird about money!
• 00:27:59 Count the money
• 00:29:57 A cancellation deal
• 00:35:20 Pay in advance leaves room for tips
• 00:36:26 Tipping for sit-ins
  • Live band karaoke
• 00:38:46 Being able to take requests
• 00:39:53 Mad Haus – Mar
• 00:40:57 Second Line and Zydeco Drum Grooves
• 00:43:38 Healed-up and Return to Playing!
  • Strokin’ by Clarence Carter

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Talk about a verbal jam session! Sure, your two favorite weekend warriors talk about their strategies for when to post your events on Facebook, but there are about a zillion other topics that seem to weave into one another. From managing your core strength to the history of the National Anthem to Gibson dying out to managing your weight, this episode covers it all. Press play and enjoy, folks. And always be performing!

Chapters/Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 154 – Monday, February 19, 2018
• 00:00:40 Don’t forget about your core!
• 00:05:35 How do you know where to play?
• 00:07:46 The magic synchronicity between band and club
• 00:09:59 The timing of Facebook invitations to your gigs
• 00:15:23 Are sponsored posts worth it?
• 00:16:44 Managing Your Weight
• 00:20:25 Fergie’s National Anthem
• 00:21:58 Respecting the performance of the Anthem
• 00:23:48 The history of the National Anthem
  • “Oh say can you see” that it’s a drinking song?
• 00:26:38 Play it straight or Get the Job Done?
• 00:29:37 Surviving the winter of gigs
• 00:31:22 Gibson dying out
  • Languedoc Guitars
• 00:36:55 Following your heroes
• 00:38:27 How a brand grabs your soul
• 00:40:51 Paul Kent Turnaround CEO of Gibson Guitars
• 00:41:25 GG 154 Outtro

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Have you ever thought about traveling with you band? How about putting together a band whose only purpose is to travel? You two favorite weekend warriors talk all about this just for you. And, as should happen at the center of any conversation about booking gigs, it’s expressly decided that praise should always go to the go-getters out there booking the gigs that we all love to play.

Moving on from that, the concept of groove within the structure of an acoustic setting is discussed. Do you know who the drummer is? Both Paul and Dave agree on this point, and they discuss exactly why that’s the case!

Press play and enjoy, friends. This one’s guaranteed to be a fun ride!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 153 – Monday, February 12, 2018
• 00:01:24 Dave fell!
• 00:02:11 Trubble’s vacation
• 00:05:47 Traveling YOUR band around
• 00:08:58 Local travel – How far is too far?
• 00:10:30 Have agreed-upon criteria for accepting a gig
• 00:11:16 The cost of developing a new geography
• 00:12:30 The headache of planning a tour
• 00:13:55 Praise to the Go-Getters
• 00:16:44 The Macworld All-Star Band Reunion Show?
  • Save the date: January 26, 2019
• 00:18:01 Pickup Shows with “PK & Friends”
• 00:22:10 The “Risk” of cohabitating with your band on the road
• 00:25:44 Re-mixing the chemistry of your band
• 00:27:58 The excitement of change
• 00:28:45 More reps equal success
• 00:32:09 The groove of acoustic music
• 00:36:31 Acoustic Guitar drives the bus
• 00:38:42 Prince Cream Acoustic
• 00:39:18 Find a place in your body to feel the groove
• 00:42:19 Eastman Guitars
  • Godin Guitars
  • Heritage Guitars
• Paul’s been playing an Eastman T-486
• 00:46:10 Look for the little guys
• 00:47:21 GG 153 Outtro

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Sometimes it’s nirvana, and sometimes it’s a fight. The thing is, you never really know which way the gig is going to go until you’re in the thick of it… and then you just have to take it as it comes and deal with it! Whether it’s discussing the harnessing of the karma gods or the Facebook algorithm, your two favorite weekend warriors bring their A-game to you each and every week.

Speaking of games, Justin Timberlake’s performance at the Super Bowl is fair game to discuss in this podcast, and that discussion happened, too.

So much to say about so many things… press play, download, enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 152 – Tuesday, February 6, 2018
• 00:01:14 When every note is a chore?
• 00:06:00 Nirvana Nights vs. Fight Nights
• 00:07:00 Harnessing of the Karma Gods
• 00:09:05 The Facebook algorithm vs. Marketing 50%
• 00:09:40 Annual Children’s Musical Theater (CMT – San Jose) Cabaret Night fundraiser
• 00:11:09 The flow of an organized evening when you’re not the focus
• 00:13:39 Flipping the “ON” Switch
• 00:13:50 “We’re all in this together”
• 00:15:54 Hired guns vs. bandmates
• 00:18:15 JT at the SuperBowl
• 00:21:25 Invoking Prince
• 00:22:43 In-ears for the entire Marching Band
• 00:24:41 JT Super Bowl “for exposure” — except all expenses are paid.
• 00:27:00 Does the NFL respect musicians?
• 00:28:49 Paul Simon’s retirement message
• 00:34:26 Songs from the 90s vs. Majestic Permanence?
• 00:38:12 No Matter What – The fake ending worked!
• 00:38:42 GG Outtro

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