Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

• 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 still relies on today. As you ride through stories of surprise band formations, COVID-era pivots, and the birth of Rotten Apple, you’re reminded that you must Always Be Performing, even when the gig you expected turns into something entirely different. You also step inside Demetri’s world at Notso Costley Productions, where booking is equal parts diplomacy, coaching, and reading the room. He breaks down what venues actually want, what musicians consistently get wrong, and how reliability wins more than draw. You learn how he balances the needs of solos, duos, trios, and full bands; why non-verbal communication and a good hang matter; how to build an EPK that gets you on a roster; and what happens when rates rise across the scene. Through it all, Demetri shows how being both booker and performer lets him guide bands and venues toward smoother nights, stronger partnerships, and gigs that keep everyone coming back. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 512 – Monday, December 15th, 2025 December 15th: National Cupcake Day Guest co-host: Demetri Papanicolau from Notso Costley Productions NAMM coming up! GG Coverage Sponsor: Ultimate Ears Pro! 00:02:19 From Fidelity Financial Consultant to Acquiring and running a Booking Agency Josh Logan, local to New Hampshire, did Rock Star Supernova and then The Voice And then…Demetri wins the Black Brimmer’s Rock Star ManchVegas Doors opened! 00:05:33 Singing AC/DC and Zeppelin in high school to vocal lessons 00:06:06 Learning harmonies by singing The Beatles 00:07:32 Playing in an original band that became a cover band 00:10:05 Learning while not playing…big ears! Submitted to America’s Got Talent 00:13:39 Taking new gigs even when they scare the heck out of you A Josh Logan cancelation leads to a band formation to sub! 00:16:02 It’s not about the gigs you take, it’s also about the gigs you don’t take Be selective! 00:17:17 Alice and Chains becomes the thread to the story 00:18:51 COVID derails (and delays) some gigs…oh how we remember! October and November, 2020 When an acoustic duo gig turns into a full band on stage Rotten Apple forms! A tribute to Alice and Chains 00:22:28 Always performing with passion …and perfection! Developing that non-verbal communication 00:28:22 Bonding as harmony singers When you find that magic formula with someone, stick with it! 00:33:41 Putting the time in for continuous growth Maintaining beginner’s mind 00:34:07 Finding those right partners where it’s a good hang When your FOH Jim Roese, FOH with Fuel, Melissa Etheridge, and also Rotten Apple 00:37:44 Running a booking agency Working for both the venue and the performer Having a roster of musicians: solos, duos, trios, full bands Being in the performer’s shoes helps Demetri be a coach to bands AND venues to ensure smooth sailing 00:42:48 Reading the room goes a long 00:44:15 Demetri’s advice for making it work (or not work) To get on the roster: Have a good EPK and promo kit Once you’re on: responsiveness, being available, managing your schedule 00:46:24 Demetri’s biggest juggling act: adapting to last-minute changes The time Casual Gravity cancelled last minute! Reliability is huge 00:54:17 Venue feedback Draw isn’t always the most important thing Be a pro on the mic. Represent the venue. Play the right songs. Keeping the venues happy allows Demetri to book his roster of performers 00:57:43 Raising rates for the performer New rates for 2025 $230-$250 for solo (from $170-$200 three years ago) $450-$500 for duo $660-$700 for trio $700-$1,000 for bands (or more for A-List prices) Balancing rates between performers and venues, ensuring everyone is profitable 01:05:03 Carrying on Paul Costley’s legacy and tradition with Nosto Costley Productions Took a voluntary buyout package from Fidelity to make the time to acquire the agency 12/31/2021 was the day Demetri took over…and stopped cutting his hair 01:09:20 Gig Gab 512 Outtro Follow Demetri Papanicolau Notso Costley Productions On IG @DemetriPapanicolau Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram [email protected] Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post Booking Smarter, Singing Harder: Demetri Papanicolau on Gig Life — Gig Gab 512 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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• 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 marketing instincts to create songs that connect. You get reminded that “overnight success” takes decades, and that everyone who hires you is thinking in terms of return. Failure, lineup changes, stalled gigs… they’re not roadblocks, folks, they’re prep for the next shot. That’s where you lean into the mindset: Always Be Performing. You also learn how the label helps identify the songs that will land, how playlist strategy works, and how Gale Bird built a digital identity alongside their live-show firepower. You dig into their content engine, daily-posting experiments, AI reels, and the push to film everything. Collaboration becomes a skill, not an accident, and you see how respecting different strengths keeps the whole machine running. Gear Gab rounds it out with a bit of a wishlist: Kempers, custom Teles, splitter snakes, and the stress test of soundcheck when tech goes sideways. Press play and enjoy! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 511 – Monday, December 8th, 2025 December 8th: Pretend to be a Time Traveler day Guest co-host: Sean Monahan from Gale Bird 00:01:50 Went to two different schools together Met in college, started writing songs, doing some local touring Then a 13-year break after college while they started families And then, two years ago, you got the band back together! 00:03:19 Signed to a label 00:05:11 A Passion that’s also very much a business Producing art that is digested by as many people as possible Sean’s been a full-time musician since college Learned all the right production techniques Met all the right people Hiring the right engineer and session musicians for the album Joshua has been in sales and marketing as his career And also understands aesthetics and marketing… and is Sean’s co-songwriter 00:07:57 The label saw *people* they could invest in, and also liked their sound Holy City Music Overnight success takes twenty years 00:10:07 This is the entertainment business! Whomever hires you is thinking about dollar signs They need to see the return, and as a musician you have to understand that 00:13:21 Failure prepares you for what’s next Sometimes a gig ends 00:15:54 250,000 streams in one year! 00:16:56 The Label helps Staying in touch with Playlisters and other avenues like radio, too 00:19:38 Getting on Playlists Label says, “write 20 songs, we’ll pick one or two” when we analyze what will perform the best on the streamers One side of the business: live shows full of rock and feels and merch and all that The other side: the digital side. People need to have a representation of the band that’s unique to them. The label is the expert for the digital side, knowing how to identify the songs that will land on the streamers Turns out we land in the “country” genre, so we’ll add a banjo to a song (for example). Roses by Gale Bird is a perfect example 00:24:25 SPONSOR: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at rula.com/giggab #rulapod 00:26:12 Creating a social media system for your band An experiment: post every day for 2 months and see what happens Lesson learned: go heavy for a shorter period of time Always be thinking about future content. Film, film, film AI Reels A/B testing 00:33:31 Creating side businesses to funnel and fuel Gale Bird 00:35:00 Learning to collaborate on your own songs “The better a songwriter is at collaboration, the more successful they’ll be” 00:36:48 The Gale Bird formula Can play as a duo or a full band or anything in between. 00:38:39 Respecting skillsets Sean shines in the studio: plays all the instruments except drums Joshua shines on stage: sings, plays acoustic guitar, and has excellent stage presence 00:44:05 …and managing pride 00:44:27 Gear Gab 00:44:56 Fender and Guitar Center collaborated on a custom telecaster 00:46:32 Sean went to a Kemper rig Wishlist: Kemper Stage Hipshot B-Bender 00:48:25 Behringer Wing Rack Mackie DL32S PRORECK Splitter Snakes 00:54:12 The stress of tech issues at soundcheck 00:57:10 Gig Gab 511 Outtro Follow Gale Bird On IG @GaleBirdMusic Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram [email protected] Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post From Hiatus to 250K Streams: The Gale Bird Story with Sean Monahan — Gig Gab 511 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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• 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 creative mic setups, this episode is packed with actionable advice every touring musician needs. Always Be Performing with fresh insights that keep you inspired and ready for every show. Discover how Matt approaches touring with diplomacy, band dynamics, and staying connected to home life while on the road. Explore favorite microphones for perfect in-ear sound, how to avoid a sterile IEM mix, and the importance of scheduled fun time to keep social media engaging. Whether you’re a musician, live sound enthusiast, or fan of the tour life, this episode offers a masterclass in professionalism and passion to elevate your musical journey and keep your performance sharp night after night. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 510 – Monday, December 1st, 2025 December 1st: National Peppermint Bark Day Guest co-host: Matt Musty 00:02:22 Train continues to level up Train at Royal Albert Hall Train at Grand Ole Opry 00:03:40 Waking up the singer ten minutes before the gig! 00:06:10 Gig Advice from Musty: Be On Time 00:08:46 I’m not ever the guy who hangs around My job’s done 00:10:09 Managing your opinion 00:11:16 The long game of diplomacy is the key to a successful career The gig philosophy, 2 out of 3 aint bad: Music Money Hang 00:15:51 Days off are tough on the band and crew 00:18:26 The risk of hanging out with your road-hosts after the gig Prioritizing sleep on the road 00:23:42 The Zen of the connection between you and your gear The no-soundcheck days 00:28:48 PODCAST: Album Archives. Count down The Top 300 Albums of All Time — one record at a time — with Album Archives | The Vault of Music History. 00:29:46 IEM Talk! Sometimes a broken seal Ideas for avoiding a sterile IEM mix Matt put a “crotch mic in place: a Beyer M160 underneath the snare to grab the sound of the kit and put it through some reverb with compression AFTER the reverb Audience Mics Adding reverb to the drums and vocal mics Play every song like it’s the first time. Be inspired! 00:41:39 Finding the right microphones to capture your instrument for your in-ears Transparent mics like the Earthworks ETHOS on guitar amps or the Earthworks SR20-Gen2 on drum overheads 00:44:37 Favorite snare drum mics Beyerdynamic M201 Telefunken M80 Earthworks DM17 00:49:31 The short version of the Earthworks story 00:51:15 Keeping a connection to home while on the road 00:52:30 Enjoying the spoils of a high-level tour 00:56:42 Being recognized for your job 00:59:10 A quick social media discussion Scheduled Fun Time Gaby from Crush Management 01:02:48 Gig Gab 510 Outtro Find Matt Musty On IG @MattMusty Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram [email protected] Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post Gig Wisdom & Scheduled Fun Time with Matt Musty of Train — Gig Gab 510 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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• 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 up, move west, and chase Brian’s story head-on, you feel the lesson hit hard: keep moving forward and Always Be Performing. You also get a front-row view into the musical engine behind Brian Wilson’s world. Leaf breaks down the jazz-rooted harmonies, the devotion of Brian’s touring band, and the emotional work that helped Brian reclaim his confidence. You learn how Pet Sounds floored Lennon and McCartney, why Paul might be the biggest Beatles fan alive, and why Leaf argues Brian deserves solo induction into the Rock Hall. Along the way, you’re guided through The Reel Beatles class, the making of Smile, and the books that document it all, leaving you with the sense that loving music isn’t passive… it’s a craft you show up for every day. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 509 – Monday, November 24th, 2025 November 24th: Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day Guest co-host: David Leaf 00:02:16 Brian Wilson calls… I need “friends” in the room. Brian Wilson needed to be loved unconditionally David drove for the tour The Beach Boys and The California Myth (re-released as God Only Knows) 00:07:20 First Trip to LA…with Nelson Riddle and Frank Sinatra And there’s a Sinatra classic right in front of him David Leaf and the Twigs Getting a private concert from Frank Sinatra and had the thought: “this is where I want to be. What do I need to do to earn my spot in this room?” The BeeGees Jimmy Webb Herb Alpert The Reel Beatles Docs that Rock class by David Leaf 00:11:04 In college he became obsessed with Brian Wilson 00:11:50 The band for Brian’s 1999-2000 tour, Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE The band was devoted to recreating the moments 00:12:24 If you’re obsessed with Brian Wilson, why dont you do something about it Why don’t I move to California, meet Brian Wilson, and write a book about him and help him finish SMiLE My parents told me I was special, and I believed them. 00:13:58 Walked up to Dennis Wilson and told him he was going to write a book about his brother Lesson: Keep moving forward! 00:15:37 Brian and I were friends 00:16:33 Brian loved to do casual singing Singing along to the oldies with Brian Wilson Going to the Church of Brian Wilson 00:19:08 His musicians gave him the unconditional love he needed to play this music …and eventually release Smile Brian Wilson saw Wild Honey… “If I had this group back in the 1960s, I could have taken Smile on the road!” 00:22:47 The technical complexities of Brian Wilson’s harmonies Brian came from jazz 00:25:42 Brian Wilson’s relationship with Sir Paul McCartney When Pet Sounds came out, John and Paul told him how much they loved the album Recording Artists were Song Monkeys in the old days 00:29:08 SPONSOR: Surfshark. Go to https://surfshark.com/giggab4 or use code giggab at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! 00:31:29 SPONSOR: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/giggab #rulapod 00:33:29 Brian Wilson singing Brian Wilson 00:38:45 Brian Wilson had initial confidence, and then it was beaten out of him 00:39:44 Managing The Pressure of First Fame Finally, Brian: “I have emotional security” Tips for Avoiding Internal Pressure 00:46:03 Meet The Reel Beatles, a 10-week class Guests: Peter Asher, Michael Lyndsay-Hogg, Peter Jackson 00:51:39 Paul McCartney is the world’s biggest Beatles Fan 00:53:36 Brian Wilson Brian Wilson And the Story of SMiLE David Leaf posits that Brian Wilson should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist 00:56:32 David’s Books SMiLE: The Rise fall and Ressurection of Brian Wilson The Beach Boys and the California Myth 00:57:58 The candor captured Brian Wilson, Live at The Roxy 01:00:59 Gig Gab 509 Outtro Find David Leaf At LeafProd.com Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram [email protected] Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post Inside Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles with David Leaf — Gig Gab 509 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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• 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 and guest co-host Daniel East dive into using Waves plugins live, connecting your Mac to a console via Dante, and why automixing is almost—but not quite—ready for primetime. From heart to hardware, it’s all about finding balance between feel and finesse. Always Be Performing. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 508 – Monday, November 17th, 2025 November 17th: Odd Socks Day Guest co-host: Daniel East 00:01:24 Playing with Brit Drozda Had lunch with a guitar player friend, and the gig came together! First gig, three songs in, and everyone knew it was more-than-just-a-gig 00:07:08 Lesson: take gigs even if it’s not your style Don’t say no because you don’t think it’s your style Don’t say no because you don’t (yet!) know the material You could be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings it to a completely different level 00:11:15 The magic that can just happen when the right people come together 00:14:24 Nerding out about drumsticks. Of course! Dan is now endorsing Headhunters Sticks Vic Firth 5B Double Glaze 00:23:02 Pitch Slap Percussion Cajons 00:26:03 SPONSOR: GigSalad. Always Be Performing means “Always Be Booking”, too. Head to GigSalad.com to create your free profile today! (and check out Gig Gab 482 with Mark Steiner from May, 2025, too!) 00:28:12 Waves plugins on any size gig…if you NEED it. Using a console with Dante, you can link via Ethernet to your MacBook Pro and use plugins Dan’s new favorite console: Yamaha DM3D ($2,000) console Waves Plugins to use when mixing live audio Waves SuperRack Performer ($99) Waves TRACT System Calibration ($399) Waves Feedback Hunter ($99.99) Waves Silk LIVE ($29.99) Waves F6 Dynamic EQ Waves L4 Maximizer ($49.99) Waves Primary Source Expander ($39.99) Waves Tune Real-Time ($49.99) Waves Clarix LB (what Dave SHOULD have tested in GG 508!) 01:10:06 Automixing is coming, folks! 01:11:16 Years ago, Robert Scovill taught Dan: pay attention. 01:12:35 Gig Gab 508 Outtro Find Daniel East DanielEast.net @eastd and @themixdoctor Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram [email protected] Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post Live Music, Live Mix: The Magic and the Math — Gig Gab 508 appeared first on Gig Gab.

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