Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast
Gig Gab is a podcast dedicated to working musicians, covering the practical aspects of gigging, from gear and logistics to the business side of music. Hosted by Dave Hamilton and friends, it offers insights and stories from the trenches of live performance. The show aims to support and connect musicians navigating the challenges of the industry.
Episodes
Your Competition Is the Couch: Building Fans Through Theatrical Live Shows with Megan & Alan from Neonautica
Megan Ihnen and Alan Theisen of Neonautica went from contemporary classical recitals to headlining dubstep parties in New Orleans, and they brought a theater kid’s discipline with them. You’ll hear how they split band duties so nobody has to wonder who’s handling what, why the only correct response to a note is thank you, and why there’s no such thing as a good or bad sound
Instagram Paid Him Tens of Dollars. It Also Got Him Into the Beach Boys: Social Media, Session Vocals, & Harmony Stacks with Chris Cron
Chris Cron posted what he thought was a one-off video about how to sound like the Beach Boys, set his phone down, and came back to 10,000 views. A few days later it was near a million. A few years later, he’s a touring member of the actual Beach Boys. Chris joins Dave to show you what was underneath that “overnight” success: a full-time session vocalist gig since 2018, years of t
How Every Club Sounds Great: Running SXSW Stages & Changeovers with Nate Cross
Every club at SXSW sounds good, every night, all week, and we’ve often wondered how they maintain that consistency. This week Dave finally gets the answer from Nate Cross, SXSW’s Director of Production, who went from intern to Assistant Production Manager to running the whole show. You’ll hear how his team builds out 55 to 60 venues (down from 100+ before the pandemic), why they
The Opener Sets the Tone: Set List Strategy, AI vs. the Artist & The Craft of Fronting a Band
Skylar Hamilton is back by popular demand for round two of your questions, recorded across an Airbnb kitchen table in New York City where a roll of paper towels doubles as a mic stand, because it’s the right height and it kills table rumble.
Set lists first: your opener sets the tone, and the tone is yours to set. Easing a dining room into rock-band mode calls for something catchy and upper-
Play the Fill: Stage Confidence, Filling an Empty Room & Booking Gigs
You’ve earned your seat on that drum riser, even when four people in the crowd know the Bonham parts better than you do. Dave Hamilton and guest co-host Skylar Hamilton (his daughter) look back on Dave’s summer of gigs, starting with a Led Zeppelin and Heart tribute for about 600 people. A shaky moment in Heartbreaker turns into a drum solo nobody rehearsed, and a derailed Living Lovin
Re-Impressing the Room All Night: The Realities of Nashville's Lower Broadway with Tyson Hanes & Adam Barber
Nashville’s Lower Broadway isn’t a gig, it’s a gauntlet, and Tyson Hanes and Adam Barber of The Tyson Hanes Band are here to show you how it actually works. You’ll hear why nobody’s from Nashville, why being the small fish in a giant pond forces you to level up fast, and what it takes to play four-hour shifts straight through with a thousand-song list, no set list, an
Ask for the Gig You Want: Kevin Glendinning on SNL, Super Bowls, and 25 Years on the Road
Monitor engineer Kevin “KG” Glendinning joins you live from a Roman amphitheater in Pula, Croatia: eight countries in seven days into the Lorde world tour…and he’s got the receipts. You’ll hear how fifteen trips through the SNL stage started with a Carson Daly taping, why the rooms that treat you well are the rooms you remember, and what happens when a 32-year veteran
From Broadway Swing to Principal: Eight Shows a Week...with Victor Carrillo Tracey
Your voice is the most temperamental instrument you’ll ever own, and this week Victor Carrillo Tracey – original company member of Broadway’s The Outsiders – walks you through what it takes to keep one working eight shows a week. Hydration and sleep swap places at number one, alcohol and caffeine cost more than you think, and inspiration doesn’t get a vote when downbe
Matt Beck on Matchbox Twenty, The Outsiders, Hot Cocoa and a Green Tartan Suit
Matt Beck taught himself guitar strung upside down and backwards and has never once found a reason to stop. He joins you this week from the pit of The Outsiders, where he’s played since opening night three years ago, and from a July that had him running Jon Anderson, the B-52’s, and Matchbox Twenty in the same month: seventies, eighties, and nineties, back to back to back. You’ll
Hired From an 11-View Video: Sean Mullaney on Opportunity and Owning the Stage
Guest co-host Sean Mullaney joins Dave Hamilton to prove that the gig you want is usually hiding inside the gig you almost skipped. A video with eleven views got Sean hired, the same way a YouTube clip landed Alexandra Mullaney in The Book of Mormon, so the lesson is simple: put the work out there, then be ready to say yes when someone finds it. You’ll dig into managing your niche without ge
Nobody Bought a Ticket to Watch Load-In
It’s just you and Dave this week for a full mailbag episode, with road stories up front: Matt Musty behind the kit with Train at Great Woods, three nights of Phish and Rush at MSG, and the Rush policy worth stealing: when a mistake is a one-off, don’t talk about it. Then into your questions. Should the front-of-house feed live in your in-ears? Here’s pre-fader versus post-fader,
When Your Worlds Collide...and the Drummer Becomes the Sound Guy
Daniel East is back for a no-agenda episode that turns into Gig Gab therapy. You’ll hear about Brit Drozda’s fifth record in pre-production, unannounced pop-up gigs built from cajon, guitar, and keys, and the Rayvel grand opening on Florida’s Space Coast, where a rocket went up over the stage during Starman. Then Daniel gets into those moments of bliss you can’t fish for
The Wrong Audience Is Still an Audience: Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe on the Gigging Life
Episode 543 lands on National Fortune Cookie Day, and guest co-host Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe of NUGEN Audio opens by demystifying how your masters actually translate across streaming. You learn that MasterCheck lets you audition one master against every platform before release day blindsides you, because you should still submit a single master everywhere, not a separate file per service. From there
Growing Up Statler: Wilson Fairchild on Harmony, Hustle, and the Working Musician's Life
This week Wil and Langdon Reid of Wilson Fairchild pull up a chair beside Dave to show you what a life in music actually looks like from the inside. These guys grew up on a tour bus in the ’70s and ’80s watching their dads, Don and Harold Reid, play eight years with Johnny Cash before becoming The Statler Brothers, a side-stage masterclass we all wish we had. You’ll hear the advi
Ryan Goldbacher on Touring with Tom Keifer, Mixing FOH (and Monitors), and AI
This week front-of-house engineer Ryan Goldbacher calls in from the road with Tom Keifer, and you’ll quickly learn that landing the next gig comes down to two things: competence, and not being miserable to be around. Word of mouth is the real currency of touring life, so Always Be Performing applies long after you step off stage: when the tour bus is smaller than your bedroom and there are t
Patrice Peris on Sync, Survival, and Why You Don't Need a Backup Plan
This week singer-songwriter Patrice Peris joins Dave to flip the script on building a music career. That question musicians always get – what’s your backup plan? – is a terrible one, because Plan A was never required to land where you first mapped it. Through COVID, a cancer diagnosis, and a bone-marrow transplant she now calls a rebirth, Patrice kept asking what each detour was teaching her
Sub Gigs, Mic Mutes & the Art of Mixing Live with Jesus Hernandez
This week you start things off digging into the craft that separates good gigs from great ones. You’ll get the playbook for prepping and surviving sub gigs, learn (again!) why a splitter snake earns its place in your rig, and sort through the real options when you need a mic mute switch that actually works. Then you wrestle with a question every working band faces today: are fan-posted video
Three Rush Fans and Rush's 2026 Comeback Tour: From the Room and From Afar
Three Rush fans — a father, a son, and Spartacus — walk into a podcast. There’s no punchline, just the tape rolling on a conversation that was going to happen anyway, and you get to be the fly on the wall. Two of them just flew home from LA, where they stood in the room and watched Rush kick off the tour nobody was sure would ever come. The third has been taking it all in from a distance, wh
Road Stories, Recording Secrets, and the Perfect Pop Song – with Rand Lempert from The Broken Rings
This week on Gig Gab, Dave Hamilton sits down with guest co-host Rand Lempert of the Broken Rings, a two-piece recording project built on 15 years of musical kinship between Rand and guitarist Gio da Silva. You’ll hear how these two have crafted an intentional, travel-fueled recording process across cities, cutting live instruments and vocals together, passing files between New Orleans, Tamp
AI and Music for Working Musicians: Tool, Threat, or Bandmate?
This week Stu Dias joins Dave from a slightly different corner of Durham, New Hampshire, and after a quick detour through barefoot drumming, sweaty-hand fixes, and oversized triangle guitar picks, the conversation locks onto the question every working musician is wrestling with right now: what does AI mean for music? You’ll hear why Dave reframes it as Assistive Intelligence (and the best pr
Loaded Out, Rolling Home, Rolling Tape
Ride shotgun with Dave as he records GigGab on the drive home from a Casual Gravity gig, finally living out the show’s original mission. You’ll hear why packing your own mixer saves the night when the venue only wants a single feed from the band, what it’s like when an in-ear band plays its first fully sober gig, and why counting songs in to a click track changes everything once
What's Your Band's Definition of Success?
OG co-host Paul Kent rejoins Dave Hamilton to talk about how The Houserockers have stayed booked into their 27th year, and what your band can steal from their playbook. You’ll dig into the social media reality of 2026 (Reels are currently king), why your mailing list is the asset you actually own, and how to grow to 10,000 followers without losing your soul. Paul makes the case that if you w
Relentless Consistency and the Scarcity Premium with Mike Schulte from The Pork Tornadoes
Guest co-host Mike Schulte joins Dave with 15 years of Pork Tornadoes social media wisdom, and the message is blunt: relentless consistency wins. You literally can’t post too much in 2026—nobody sees everything anymore, so repost that same flyer as a fresh post (not a share) and keep going. Give it 45 days before you judge results. Why invest? More fans mean more bodies at the gig, plus the
From Wedges to In-Ears: A Monitor Engineer's Playbook with Paul Klimson
Ready to make the leap from wedges to in-ear monitors? Or finally get the stage mix you’ve always wanted? Dave Hamilton welcomes back monitor engineer Paul Klimson, the man who mixed 32 stereo IEM feeds for Justin Timberlake, for a working musician’s deep dive on monitor world. You’ll learn how to build a default mix from scratch (start yourself at 0dB, your instrument at -5, eve
Stop Guessing, Start Growing: Fix Your Band’s Biggest Pain Points (with Dan Chantrey)
You trace Dan Chantrey’s path from drummer dad influence to choosing music over football, and quickly see the real lesson: the game has flipped. You’re no longer playing gigs to sell music, you’re using music to sell gigs. From record deals fading to booking agents becoming the new gatekeepers, you learn why every band feels like it’s on the brink and how surviving means thinking beyond the stage.
50 Years of Rush: Howard Ungerleider on Lighting the Lighted Stage
Step inside five decades of rock history with lighting legend Howard Ungerleider, the man who’s been designing and directing Rush’s light shows since 1974. Hear how a $75-a-week mailroom gig at American Talent International — where he pulled off a rogue booking of Fleetwood Mac before he was even an agent — turned into a lifetime behind the console. Get the story of Howard landing in T
The Crowd Is the Star: Piano Bar Secrets for Entertaining Any Room with Cliff & Susan Prowse
You don’t need a traditional path to build a thriving music career! Just ask Cliff and Susan Prowse, who turned classical piano chops and play-by-ear instincts into a full-blown lifestyle business. Whether you learned to read music first or figured out theory after the fact, what matters is training your ear to hear intervals, stacking up reps, and putting in the practice until harmony feels
Monitoring the Artists' Monitors: IEM Wisdom from Kevin Glendinning
In this episode of Gig Gab, you get the full story of how Kevin “KG” Glendinning cold-emailed his way from a Chicago suburb into a 25-year career mixing monitors for Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, and more. You hear how a kid sweeping floors at dB Sound ended up on a Metallica tour bus with one piece of advice ringing in his ears: ask questions, stay late
Stop Winging It: Dial In Your Show with Clicks, Setlists, Insurance, and Gig Prep
You tighten your gig prep by treating every show like a pro mission: build rock-solid routines, line-check your gear and apps, and know your insurance, splitter snake, setlist, click, and IEM plan before you ever hit the stage. You walk into a wedding or club already covered with proper liability, routing, charts, and monitoring so you can stop worrying about logistics and start playing the room.
Touring Brains: Boundaries, Burnout, and Being OK, with Courtney and Paul Klimson
You see how life on the road quietly rewires your brain, from grief and burnout to decision fatigue and STC (Sleepy, Tired, and Crabby), and how Courtney and Paul built The Roadie Clinic to give crews a place to tell their story and get real help. Through flights, heat‑canceled shows, and jumps from Fallon to Timberlake, John Legend, Drake, and beyond, you learn to Always Be Performing for your ow
From Wall Street Hacker to Music Mogul: Mike Grande’s Journey
You get a front-row seat to how Michael Grande turned hard-won tech chops and late-night studio hacks into real music-business wins. From escaping NAMM chaos and leveraging smart PR and management, to transforming a throwaway “stupid idea” into Card Chords—an Amazon-topping guitar tool born from a Cricut, Guitar Center testing, and sheer persistence—you see how necessity, experimentation, and sayi
De-Feedback Plugin for Working Musicians: More Gain, Less Feedback with Devin Sheets
You’re invited into a legacy family audio business that refused to accept “good enough” on feedback control and instead chased the impossible: a truly zero‑latency, AI‑driven way to push your PA louder without squeals. You follow Devin Sheets from growing up on sound gigs to roaming European stages, then back home to build De‑Feedback plugin for working musicians, a live sound feedback plugin and
From Festival Gigs to SXSW: Survival Tips for Musicians and Attendees
You get dropped into a two-show day where you’re juggling festival chaos, a paramedic emergency during set change, and a mysteriously mudded-out bass that turns out to be a rogue low‑pass filter at 90 Hz, all while keeping the gig on the rails because you Always Be Performing.
Then you pivot into first‑timer survival tactics for attending SXSW: locking in reservations weeks out, over‑planning so
From the Eric Church Tour to the Grammys: On the Bus with Cellist Kaitlyn Raitz
You’re riding along with Kaitlyn Raitz as she breaks down the real mechanics of touring at scale: staying human on a bus, finding tiny routines that keep you sane, and surviving the sleep math when you’re one of twelve buses on a massive run. Then it’s straight into the onstage reality of modern country arena production: 24 musicians, a full string quartet, choir, and horns, plus the challenge of
Cover Band Confidential’s Dan Ray: Test the Market, Then Rehearse
You kick off this week with Dan Ray by reframing failure as a tool, not a verdict. Instead of obsessing over the “vanity listen” after a gig or rehearsal, you do the check-in listen and extract the lesson. You learn to fail fast the right way by making small bets that generate real data quickly, including testing demand before you invest rehearsal time. That mindset carries into band direction cha
Creating the Room You Want to Be In: Laura Whitmore and the She Rocks Story
You jump into this episode balancing the reality of working gigs with the mindset that keeps musicians moving forward. From Dave’s recent experiences playing atypical rooms with Bitter Pill to cramming new material for Casual Gravity, you’re reminded that momentum matters even when the crowd is small. Always Be Performing is not about scale, it’s about consistency. That theme carries straigh
Gear, Gimmicks, and the Good Stuff at NAMM 2026
You walk into NAMM 2026 thinking you will just wander and see what grabs you. You leave reminded that wandering works best when paired with a plan and a willingness to torch a few sacred cows along the way. This episode is a fast-moving field report from the floor, where the real takeaway is not just gear but mindset. You hear why talking with people matters more than chasing booths, why listening
Gumbo, Gigs, and Grit: Bill Wharton’s Sauce Boss Path
Dave’s back from NAMM 2026 and has a little something to share about that. Actually three little somethings, so that’s where we start. But there’s more to say about that, and it’s not yet time, so we’ll extend the NAMM discussions into next week (and beyond?).
For today, well, you don’t become the Sauce Boss by chasing a gimmick. You hear how Bill Wharton built a real
The Engineer Is in the Band: Instinct, Ears, and Live Sound with Mike deAlmeida
You’ve done gigs where nothing goes according to plan, but this episode reminds you that chaos is often the classroom. From sleeping on road cases at the Puerto Rican Day Parade to riding a flatbed packed with servo-driven subs that overwhelmed even earplugs and shooting cans, you hear how real-world pressure forges real skills. Mike deAlmeida walks you through learning to roll with it, figuring o
Be Prepared and Predictable: How Richie Castellano Stays Gig-Ready
You jump straight into the deep end with Richie Castellano as you explore what happens when preparation collides with opportunity. You follow his path from mixing weddings to standing behind massive analog rigs, wrangling six guitar channels, chasing down mysterious hums, and learning fast that the gremlins always show up when you least expect them. When the call comes to go from being Blue Oyster
Mixing Legends Live: Robert Scovill at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
You step into the pressure cooker of elite live sound, where Robert Scovill shows you why chaos is often the best teacher. From mixing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions with zero margin for error to handling full-band changeovers on the fly, you learn that perfection is worth chasing but dangerous to demand. You hear why live mixing beats the studio for him. It is about capturing ensemble mome
The Hidden Work of Fun: Systems for Working Musicians with Richard Page
You love the music, but being a working musician comes with friction, and this episode tackles it head-on. You dig into the real difference between tribute bands and celebration projects, how to prep when multiple gigs stack up fast, and why anxiety creeps in when preparation gets sloppy. You explore how much rehearsal is enough, when studio versions help versus live recordings, and why fun disapp
Lindsay Manfredi’s Road to Cold: Music, Micro-Pivots, and Radical Self-Worth
You follow Lindsay Manfredi’s wild, non-linear path from merch table to main stage, and she shows you exactly how saying yes, showing up, and outworking your fear can change your entire trajectory. You hear how she moved to Florida at twenty chasing a rock-star dream, became an instant Cold superfan, and eventually landed the bass gig through a Twitter message that felt too unreal to be real. She
Booking Smarter, Singing Harder: Demetri Papanicolau on Gig Life
You follow Demetri Papanicolau’s winding path from Fidelity financial consultant to full-time booking agent and working musician, discovering how taking risks, saying yes to scary gigs, and learning from every stage moment shaped his career. You hear how singing AC/DC and Zeppelin in high school, drilling Beatles harmonies, and navigating the evolution from originals to covers built the chops he s
From Hiatus to 250K Streams: The Gale Bird Story with Sean Monahan
Sean Monahan from Gale Bird joins Dave Hamilton to walk you through their path of being successful working musicians in an original band. You follow Gale Bird’s path from college songwriting to a 13-year hiatus and a full-tilt return that finally landed Gale Bird on a label. You hear how the band treats music as both passion and business, blending Sean’s production chops with Joshua’s market
Gig Wisdom & Scheduled Fun Time with Matt Musty of Train
Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look with Train’s drummer Matt Musty and host Dave Hamilton as they dive deep into gig wisdom, touring tips, and pro gear secrets. Learn why being on time, managing your role smartly, and balancing music, money, and the hang is essential for a successful music career. From handling days off and staying rested on the road to mastering in-ear monitors with creativ
Inside Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles with David Leaf
You drop into this episode walking side-by-side with David Leaf as he revisits the moments that shaped his life around Brian Wilson’s genius. You hear how Brian needed unconditional connection to create, how Leaf found himself driving tour vans, sitting in private Sinatra rehearsals, and realizing he had to earn his place in those rooms. From LA trips with legends to the spark that made him pack u
Live Music, Live Mix: The Magic and the Math
You know that moment when a gig just clicks — when everyone on stage suddenly realizes it’s more than just a show? That’s where this episode starts. You’ll hear how saying “yes” to new gigs can lead to unexpected magic, how the right players bring out the best in each other, and why being open to unfamiliar styles can change everything.
Then the conversation gets gloriously geeky as Dave Hamilton
Tangents, Tracks, and Tenacity with Adam Moskowitz
In this episode, you’ll join Dave and returning guest co-host Adam Moskowitz, Chief Groove Officer of VAM Band, as they dive headfirst into the world of nanny tracks, first-gig chaos, and future-proofing your sound. From building tracks in Reaper to rehearsing smarter—not longer—you’ll learn how technology can help you bring your band’s best show to the stage fast.
Then, it’s all about mindset: de
Sound Better, Gig Smarter: Tools, Tips, and Gear That Work
In this solo hang, you dig into the real tools that keep your sound clean and your gigs tight. You’ll learn how to tame noisy tracks with the Accusonus ERA bundle, Waves Clarity Vx, and iZotope RX, plus a few quick tricks from SoundDesk to make your mixes shine. Then it’s time to talk ears—Huberman-style—with magnesium and NAC tips for keeping your hearing sharp long-term. Because if you can’t hea
Laughs, Life, and Lessons with James "Diamond" Williams from The Ohio Players
This week, you’re sitting down with funk legend James “Diamond” Williams from The Ohio Players! From his jazz roots and early gigs at age 14 to shaping the groove of “Love Rollercoaster” and “Fire,” Diamond shares how precision, persistence, and passion built one of the most iconic sounds in funk. You’ll hear stories of wild recording schedules, late-night gigs, and the unforgettable moment Stevie
Beyond The Stage: How Band Summits Change Everything
Mike Schulte returns to Gig Gab for a deep dive into the conversations that make bands stronger. You’ll explore how band summits—those intentional moments to step away from gigs and just talk—can reset your focus, rebuild trust, and make your group operate like a real team. From redefining what success looks like to refining how you plan your shows, this episode challenges you to look beyond the s
The Power of the Page: Inside Cover Band Central’s Massive Reach with Steve Witschel
You’re diving into the power of persistence and adaptability in this episode of Gig Gab with guest co-host Steve Witschel. From building and moderating a 132,000-member Cover Band Central group to navigating Facebook’s monetization chaos with the nearly-1,000,000-member Facebook page, Steve shares how he transformed challenges into content gold. You’ll learn how he separates community-driven inter
From Load-In to Bus Call: A Tech’s Life on the Big Time Rush Tour with Stephen Kramer Glickman
Justin Scheidling takes us inside a day in the life of a touring tech, supporting the bands of Stephen Kramer Glickman and Katelyn Tarver on the Big Time Rush tour, from load-in to bus call. From labeling every cable and packing “JustInCase” bags to handling the curveballs of show days, you get the raw look at how a pro keeps the gig rolling. You’ll hear how gear obsession became the gateway to te
Indie Music Mastery: Marketing, Email, and AI with Jack McCarthy
Jack McCarthy joins you on Gig Gab to dig into the real business of music, how to grow attention, capture it, and convert it into lasting fan relationships. You’ll learn why the right material works, how to transform inspiration into your own content, and why audio quality matters less than energy when you’re trying to make fans say, “who is this band?” It’s about creating cultural moments, fuelin
Calories, Controversies, and Connections — 500 Episodes Later
Celebrating 500 episodes, you’re right in the middle of a musician’s playground with Dave, Mike Schulte, and Skylar Hamilton. You’ll hear how Skylar picked up the sticks to ace a school audition, why guitar lessons with Dad flopped, and what it takes to manage intensity behind the kit, especially as the decades wear on. From Clem Burke’s calorie-burning groove to the strange question of why
Stu Dias and The Ephemeral Sea Turtles
This week on Gig Gab, you’ll dive into the wild, creative energy of Stu Dias, creator of Diaspora Radio, co-founder of Soggy Po Boys, and more, sitting in with Dave Hamilton. You’ll hear how albums, once carefully crafted statements, inspired Stu’s pandemic-born project to breathe new life into full-length records on stage. From Taylor Swift’s track order to Pink Floyd’s legendary flow, the talk t
Always Be Recording...with Brad Madix
You’re revolutionizing live audio in ways that seemed impossible just a few years ago. Brad Madix joins Dave Hamilton to break down how you can now mix a 186-channel concert in ATMOS from thousands of miles away with only 125ms latency, using nothing more than the public internet and cloud services. Whether you’re handling a seven-minute festival changeover with 256 live channels or ca
Keith Murray on The Chaos, Comedy, and Heart Behind We Are Scientists
Keith Murray from We Are Scientists joins you this week for a sharp, hilarious, and revealing ride. From joking about being background extras in cult films to the story of meeting Chris Cain at a Dawson’s Creek viewing party, you’re reminded that sometimes saying yes to everything really can lead to magic. Keith reflects on 20 years of With Love and Squalor, the way nostalgia feels different than
When Your Band Replaces You… and How to Replace Them Back
This week, you’ll hear how Paul Kent is clocking an impressive 160 gigs this year while navigating the realities of new bands, new towns, and the politics of live music scenes. From the sting of finding out your band might replace you, to turning that around with a “sub for a sub” mindset, Paul shares what it’s like to balance loyalty, opportunity, and staying sharp on stage. You’ll get a peek int
Band Chemistry and Collaboration: Lessons with The Coffis Brothers
You’re in the room with The Coffis Brothers this week as Jamie and Kellen sit down with Dave to unpack the art of keeping a band tight—musically, emotionally, and logistically. From maintaining long-term chemistry with the same players to writing songs that leave space for bandmates to shape the vibe, you’ll hear how collaboration fuels creativity. Drummers, take note: the groove is the feel, and
Backstreet Boys and Black Eyed Peas: How Keith Harris Balances Drumming, Directing, and Performing
On this week’s Gig Gab, you’re getting a masterclass in modern musicianship with Keith Harris, the drummer, producer, and musical director for the Black Eyed Peas. From behind the kit to behind the console, Keith walks you through the art of turning groove into leadership, showing how drummers often evolve into musical directors. He shares the hard-earned truth that your reputation is your currenc
Live Show Mastery: IEMs, Gig Survival, and SuperFan Power
This week you’ll hear how making the leap to in-ear monitors isn’t just swapping gear—it’s like learning a whole new instrument. You’ll pick up real-world tactics for keeping the band rolling when a member’s sick or injured, including the art of pulling in a last-minute sub. You’ll face the hard truth about whether the show really must go on and learn what to do when the FOH vanishes mid-gig. From
That’s Not Gain, It’s Just a Hot Mic
Want to trigger backing tracks live from your iPad or iPhone? This episode of Gig Gab is your playbook. Dave walks you through listener-recommended apps like Stage Traxx 3, Go Button, and forScore for managing clicks and cues with precision. Whether you’re solo or in a band, these tools can keep your show tight. Plus, Gear Gab digs into smart stage solutions—from Polsen mics that punch above their
Aggressive Ambition: Dae Bogan’s Journey to The MLC
You think you understand music royalties? Think again. Dae Bogan from The MLC breaks it all down with Dave Hamilton on this week’s Gig Gab. From the ancient days of piano rolls to the tangled web of modern streaming, you’ll learn how mechanical royalties differ from performance rights and why most artists are leaving money on the table. The MLC—born from the Music Modernization Act of 2018—isn’t j
He's The Rhombus King!
When the skies open and the gig’s a wash, how do you keep the energy alive? Mike Schulte joins Dave Hamilton to break down how The Pork Tornadoes handled a rainout, what happens when the audience doesn’t get the memo, and why your contract better say who’s in charge. From chaotic “throw and go” setups to must-do line checks, this episode reminds you that you’re not just playing music—you’re leadin
Tuning Up the Rockstars: Chinner's Roadie Chronicles (Vol. 1)
Ever wonder what it’s like to roll through the golden age of rock with the crew behind the legends? On this week’s Gig Gab, Chinner Winstead takes you backstage—from autograph sessions with Tom Petty to chaos-control on tour with Nantucket. You’ll trace the path from bar band to global tours with Lenny Kravitz, Phil Collins, Georgia Satellites, and Tracy Chapman. Spoiler: it all starts with showin
Crash Cymbals and Contracts: Billy Cuthrell’s Lesson in Music Business Success
Ever wonder how a skater punk becomes a music industry powerhouse? This week, Billy Cuthrell joins Dave Hamilton to share how his drumming journey kicked off with a Ludwig kit and a dose of Zeppelin, then scaled into creating a chain of four music schools and a million lessons taught annually. From being Music Inc. Magazine’s “Retail Doctor” to pioneering a subscription-style lessons model that gi
Click Tracks, Tribute Acts, and $20 Hacks: Gig Smarts with Corey Manske
You’re not alone if you’re running a click track on stage—more and more musicians are embracing it, and for good reason. This week on Gig Gab, Corey Manske joins Dave Hamilton to unpack how using a click can reduce stress, keep your band tight, and help you Always Be Performing. From essential stage gear like chapstick and a tape measure (you’ll get it), to the magic of “coopetition” among musicia
Consistency is Key: P-Funk North's Road to Success
This week on Gig Gab, you’re diving deep with the (almost!) full crew from P-Funk North as they share what keeps their reggae funk machine moving. From twice-a-week rehearsals to the relentless grind of networking and playing out regularly, they prove that consistency and camaraderie build longevity. You’ll hear how rejection turns into rocket fuel and why letting the music speak for itself only w
Sphere Sound Unpacked: Robert Scovill’s Deep Dive into Immersive Mixing
Step inside Sphere with Robert Scovill as he rejoins Dave on Gig Gab to dissect the art—and science—of immersive live sound. From his early days quad-mixing Rush to commanding 32 channels through Avid’s S6L with Meyer’s Spacemap Go, Scovill walks you through prepping for Sphere with simulators, Holoplot mapping, and object-based mixing. You’ll hear how rethinking coverage in a globe-shaped venue f
Tour Prep, Gear Gab, and Stage Smarts with Buddy Gibbons
Buddy Gibbons returns to Gig Gab to share how he’s gearing up for a nostalgia-fueled tour with Stephen Glickman and the Big Time Rush fanbase. From rollerblading around Wembley to off-road RC cars for downtime, Buddy’s prepping body and mind for the grind. He and Dave dig into how playing without a click can feel naked, why RokTempo and Russian Dragon are essential tools, and how the right gear—li
The Pork Tornadoes Playbook: Mike Schulte on Building a Successful Band
This week on Gig Gab, you’re diving deep with Mike Schulte of The Pork Tornadoes as he joins Dave Hamilton to share real-world insights on making your gigs—and your band—better. You’ll get actionable tips on using splitter snakes without frying your gear, plus a no-nonsense breakdown of how standing (or not) while singing can shape your stage presence. Mike and Dave even toss in their take on Chin
The DIY Booking Revolution: GigSalad’s Impact on Musicians
GigSalad’s Mark Steiner joins this week’s Gig Gab to trace his wild ride from stage actor to CEO, revealing how a children’s theater gig and a teddy bear business ultimately led to launching the go-to platform for booking live talent. You’ll hear how a “happy accident” turned into a company that helps 110,000+ performers get paid. From the Glenn Miller Orchestra to building Steiner Talent to
The Mallett Brothers’ DIY Formula: 2,000 Superfans and 120 Shows a Year
You’re about to get the roadmap from Luke and Will Mallett of The Mallett Brothers on what it really takes to make music a career. From playing 120 shows a year to building a loyal tribe of 2,000 superfans, the brothers break down how live gigs aren’t just part of the job—they are the job. You’ll hear how they’ve learned to follow the seasons, balance home life with relentless touring, and why col
Real-World Band Hacks: IEM Mixes, Click Track Starts, and Calendar Control
If your band’s live setup feels more like organized chaos than controlled power, this episode’s for you. We’re diving into real-world band hacks that actually make a difference—from tightening up your IEM mixes with split snakes, to using a click track to start songs like a pro. You’ll also hear why phantom power isn’t the villain it’s made out to be, and how to get serious clarity fro
From Prince to Gaga to JJ Lin: Scottie Baldwin's Audio Adventures
What’s it like going from drum tech to mixing stadium shows for legends? In this week’s Gig Gab, you join Scottie Baldwin and Dave Hamilton as they dive into the artistry behind live sound. From getting the call from Prince’s drummer to Sheila E nudging him toward sound, Scottie shares tricks like frequency gating and translating wild artist requests—think Gaga’s “lavender knife”—into killer mixes
Is Your Band Bookable? ECE’s Checklist for Success
This week on Gig Gab, you’re in for a deep dive into the gigging grind with guest co-host Derek Patten from ECE, EastCoast Entertainment. You’ll learn exactly what makes a band bookable—from tight chops to killer promo, a sharp social presence, and professional polish. If you’re not posting on Instagram, you’re not even in the conversation. Whether your band’s been around for five years or five we
Monique Powell of Save Ferris: Ska, Struggles, and Sweet Comebacks
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 fal
The Vaultmeister’s Voice: Joe Travers on Zappa, Duran Duran, and the Power of Performance
This week, you’ll dive headfirst into the wild ride of Joe Travers’ drumming journey—from pounding out St. Patrick’s Day gigs to landing his dream job playing Zappa’s music. Joe shares how knowing exactly what you want—and fearlessly putting yourself out there—can open doors you never imagined. You’ll hear what it’s like grooving through complex Zappa parts, blending genres, and finding your own v
