The Gigging Musician Podcast

Jared Judge
  • 4.4 (7)
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  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Playing music for live audiences is one of the most rewarding things on the planet. In this podcast, we dissect everything that goes into being a successful gigging musician.

  1. Stronger in the Shadows: Raising Your Rates and Owning the Business of Music

    OCT 31

    Stronger in the Shadows: Raising Your Rates and Owning the Business of Music

    In this episode, Jared reflects from the top of his favorite mountain in Scottsdale and shares a powerful message for musicians who want to break free from the starving artist mindset. He opens up about his journey from $250 gigs to consistently booking $2,500 high-end performances—and the mindset and skills that made it possible. If you're tired of hustling for low-paying gigs and ready to earn what you're truly worth, this is the wake-up call you’ve been waiting for.

    13 min
  2. Why More Gigs Aren’t the Answer: How to Scale Your Music Career Smarter

    OCT 31

    Why More Gigs Aren’t the Answer: How to Scale Your Music Career Smarter

    In this episode, Jared shares a critical mindset shift that separates struggling gigging musicians from those who earn full-time incomes from their music. He breaks down why doing more isn’t always the solution — and how a shift in strategy, positioning, and pricing can unlock high-end performance opportunities without burning out. Whether you’re tired of playing in bars for peanuts or wondering how to finally get off the hamster wheel of low-paying gigs, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you a smarter path forward.

    14 min
  3. Merch, Mindset & Monetization: Bridging the Gap Between Gigging and Fanbase-Building

    OCT 17

    Merch, Mindset & Monetization: Bridging the Gap Between Gigging and Fanbase-Building

    In this episode, Jared sits down with Jack McCarthy from Indie X and Indipreneur to explore how gigging musicians—especially those playing corporate events and weddings—can tap into e-commerce strategies traditionally reserved for artists with large fanbases. They discuss the power of owning your audience data, creative ways to introduce merch even without original music, and how to ethically increase your revenue per gig. Whether you play 200 shows or 30 shows a year, this conversation is packed with ideas to boost your income and control your music career like never before.

    48 min
  4. How One Awful Gig Turned Into a Life-Changing Call

    AUG 26

    How One Awful Gig Turned Into a Life-Changing Call

    In this episode, Jared shares the surprising story of how his lowest-paid, most frustrating gig became the unexpected gateway to a high-paying corporate performance. From chaotic load-ins to venue staff indifference, you'll hear how perseverance and professionalism—even at your worst gigs—can pay off in ways you’d never expect.

    16 min
  5. The Art of the Follow-Up: How I Got on a Venue’s Preferred Vendor List

    AUG 26

    The Art of the Follow-Up: How I Got on a Venue’s Preferred Vendor List

    In this episode, Jared shares the rollercoaster journey of finally getting on the preferred vendor list of a prestigious wedding venue in Colorado—after years of getting ignored. From strategic outreach to a well-timed performance and a surprising twist involving an injured coordinator, you’ll hear how persistence, empathy, and daily follow-ups ultimately opened the door. Jared breaks down key lessons for musicians who want to break into high-end events and why sometimes not pitching is the most powerful move of all

    10 min
  6. Why Wedding Gigs Are the Best Training for Corporate Events

    AUG 26

    Why Wedding Gigs Are the Best Training for Corporate Events

    In this episode, Jared breaks down why wedding gigs are more than just love songs and aisle walks—they're bootcamp for high-end corporate events. He challenges the misconception that weddings are beneath serious musicians and makes a bold case that mastering weddings is essential if you want to book—and keep booking—lucrative corporate gigs. He shares how professionalism, gear standards, collaboration, and performance versatility all overlap between the two event types, and how saying “no” to weddings might actually be costing you corporate opportunities

    10 min
  7. How Helping Event Planners Can Help You Get More Gigs (and Why Most Musicians Miss This)

    JUL 26

    How Helping Event Planners Can Help You Get More Gigs (and Why Most Musicians Miss This)

    In this episode, Jared shares how building genuine relationships with event planners—and actually helping them with their challenges—can lead to more bookings and long-term success as a gigging musician. Hear how a conversation with a hospitality professor and planner sparked ideas for collaboration, and how musicians can use video sales letters to stand out, avoid time-wasting tire kickers, and create a sustainable career—even in uncertain times.

    12 min
  8. Wealth Denotes Speed: How Raising My Rates Changed Everything

    JUL 26

    Wealth Denotes Speed: How Raising My Rates Changed Everything

    In this episode, Jared reflects on the quote “Wealth Denotes Speed” and how it radically shifted his approach to building a thriving music career. He shares the exact progression of how he raised his solo act rates—from $495 to $1,500+—and what that meant in terms of income, lifestyle, and gig volume. You’ll learn why your prices should start as “WAGs” (wild-ass guesses), how to tell when it’s time to raise your rates, and why understanding basic math could be the difference between gigging burnout and a six-figure music career. If you’ve ever wondered how to work less and earn more from your music, this is the blueprint.

    15 min
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About

Playing music for live audiences is one of the most rewarding things on the planet. In this podcast, we dissect everything that goes into being a successful gigging musician.

Information

  • Creator
    Jared Judge
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    289
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Gigging Musician Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Gigging Musician Podcast