Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast Dave Hamilton & Friends

Dive into this episode of Gig Gab as Dave Hamilton walks you through setting up your digital mixer like a pro. From the basics of setting your input gain to the intricacies of dialing in compression, you’ll master the essential skills needed to get your sound just right. Dave breaks down the differences between Parametric and Graphic EQs and introduces you to the Real Time Analyzer (RTA), a powerful tool for refining your mix. Always Be Performing by ensuring every aspect of your setup is optimized for live gigs or recording sessions.

Moving beyond the basics, Dave shares expert tips on managing gain and compression for drums and other instruments, crucial for achieving a balanced mix. Learn how to tune your mixer to the room by turning on the speakers and using your iPhone’s Measure app to set the delay on your mains accurately. This episode is packed with actionable insights that will elevate your sound engineering game, helping you to Always Be Performing at your best.





00:00:00 Gig Gab 439 – Monday, July 22nd, 2024



July 22nd: Mango Day





00:02:07 Today we talk about how to setup your digital mixer!



Mackie DL32S

Mackie Master Fader





00:03:17 Setting your input gain



Heil PR-37





00:09:05 Dialing in Compression

00:14:05 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a stunning website and online store for your music in minutes. Try it free for 30 days, then use promo code “giggabpod” to get 15% off your first year.

00:15:51 How does my EQ work? And what’s the difference between Parametric and Graphic.



Also…What’s an RTA (Real Time Analyzer) and how do I use it?





00:26:04 A note about gain and compression on drums and other instruments

00:27:40 Time to turn on the speakers and tune the mixer to the room

00:32:46 Digesting what we’ve learned so far

00:33:23 Setting a delay on your mains (thanks, Robert Scovill!)



Use your iPhone’s Measure app to calculate the distance for the delay





00:37:03 Gig Gab 439 Outtro



Contact Gig Gab!

@GigGabPodcast on Instagram

feedback@giggabpodcast.com

Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

This week’s Gig Gab is a must-listen as journeyman drummer Tris Imboden joins Dave Hamilton, bringing a wealth of musical history and wisdom. Dive into Tris’s fascinating career, from growing up in the musically rich Orange County, to the unforgettable moment he saw The Beatles live, despite barely hearing them over the screaming fans. You’ll love the tales of his early days with instrumental surf bands and how his band Honk’s soundtrack success in Hawaii set the stage for future opportunities. Tris’s story of playing a sold-out week at The Troubador, only to have the band implode right on the verge of breaking through, echoes the bittersweet reality of many musicians’ careers.

Fast forward to Tris’s transition into a sought-after studio musician, including his audition for the Kenny Loggins Band, and you’ll find invaluable lessons on perseverance and readiness. The discussion on in-ear monitors and the importance of protecting your hearing offers practical advice for every musician. Tris shares his preferences for in-ear mixes and reflects on the perks of working with Chicago for so many years. From playing on Ringo Starr’s drums backing up Ringo himself to insights on keeping a band together, this episode is packed with stories and tips that embody the show’s catchphrase: Always Be Performing.





00:00:00 Gig Gab 438 – Monday, July 15th, 2024



July 15th: National Give Something Away Day

Guest co-host Tris Imboden





00:02:32 Tris Imboden’s time with Kenny Loggins

00:03:33 The key: Location… Growing up in Orange County helped!

00:04:00 Seeing The Beatles!



You Couldn’t Hear Them

The Byrds were watching … from two rows behind Tris

David Crosby Ran by in a Cape…and knocked Tris over!





00:06:53 Back to the proximity to LA being helpful



Instrumental Surf Bands

Robert Scovill on Gig Gab

Coughing up Furballs with Tris Imboden

Early in his career, Honk (with Tris Imboden) did the soundtrack for a surf movie with a number one hit in Hawaii





00:12:52 Be ready when you get the opportunity to do the hard work



Sold out a week at The Troubador

Imploded right on the verge of breaking through

Like a real life Guy Patterson from That Thing You Do





00:19:27 From Imploded Band to Studio Musicians… and we’re off!

00:20:01 Auditioned for Kenny Loggins Band

00:23:36 Let’s Talk In-Ear Monitors!



UE Pro Live

UE 11 Pro





00:28:42 Protect Your Hearing, folks



Loud instruments and monitors can take a toll

Dedicated/Sacrificed His Ears to Rock and Roll





00:32:36 In-Ear Mixes…and Mixers



Got spoiled by Chicago

Tris likes: full mix, bass heavy, not quite as much drums as the house, all instruments





00:38:07 Kenny Loggins drum freak… letting you get away with things on Pop Records



Kenny Loggins Footloose on Daryl’s House





00:43:29 Tris Imboden Yacht Stars



At the last minute…Tris Imboden played on Ringo’s drums…with Ringo singing live!

You Keep a Band Together by Having Personnel Changes





00:49:52 Gig Gab 438 Outtro

In this week’s Gig Gab, Dave Hamilton is joined by Lara Supan from Midwood Entertainment to dive deep into the role of a booking agent for developing bands. Lara teaches us that a booking agent excels in routings, venue knowledge, negotiation, and strategy, but they won’t grow your fanbase or bring people to your shows; that’s your job!

Also, timing is everything: booking agents work on commission and expect a minimum of $100K in tour revenue annually, with solid ticket sales in multiple markets. If you’re a band thinking like a small business, you should hire to your weaknesses and always look to expand your team.

Getting ready for a booking agent means keeping your ticket sales data organized and maintaining a strong social media presence, especially on platforms like TikTok, at least these days. Once you have an agent, your job is to sell tickets and think long-term, planning shows 2-3 years out. Festivals like Mile of Music can help, but the real key is sustainability and growth of your headlining shows. And when doing those, remember, it’s not just about your first show; it’s about the next. Always Be Performing, and make sure to deliver—and sell those tickets—every time you take the stage!





00:00:00 Gig Gab 437 – Monday, July 8th, 2024



July 8th: National Blueberry Day

Guest co-host Lara Supan from Midwood Entertainment





00:01:30 What does a booking agent do for a developing band?



More specifically: What is a booking agent good for?



Routings

Venue knowledge

Negotiation

What’s going to be a good night for everyone?

Spreadsheets!

Crunching data, and trying to predict the future

Strategy Conversations





Booking agents DON’T



Don’t Bring people out to your show

Don’t help you grow your fanbase









00:09:59 When do I need a booking agent?



This is a PAID team-member

Commission-based, so that the incentive is right

Needs for Midwood Entertainment

Minimum of $100K tour revenue annually

300-500 tickets in home market

At least 100 tickets in five other markets

“Markets” are 1.5-2hrs (90 miles) apart





00:17:47 Is a booking agent the FIRST team-member a band brings on?



View your music as a small business first!

Hire to your band’s weaknesses

But always expand your team





00:21:10 What can my band do NOW to make things easier once I’m ready to hire a booking agent?



Maintain a difference between your hard ticket sales vs. soft ticket sales

Keep your social media game up

TikTok presence has sold hard tickets

Facebook posts do NOT sell hard tickets

Build and maintain your mailing list

Spotify gives good data about listeners and their locations





00:31:14 Home Market Saturation…How frequently does a band need to sell 300-500 tickets?



Pat Byrne in Austin now

Saxon Pub in Austin

Play every market ONCE every time you have a new album…including your home market





00:36:13 Great! Now, I have a booking agent…what can I do to help them help me?



Sell the tickets to your shows. That’s not the booking agent’s job.

Expand your timelines for shows… if you’re currently booking 2-3 months out, start thinking 2-3 years out

Jim Fleming: “It’s not about the first show, it’s about the second show.” Work on your sustainability!

Join Dave Hamilton and guest co-host Mike Schulte from Pork Tornadoes and Confused Breakfast on Gig Gab 436! Dive into the wild world of subbing as a drummer, but beware—your online persona might just scare off potential gigs by making you seem too busy. Mike shares hilarious tales and sage advice on learning and teaching beat placement, ensuring you make that click disappear and even become your new best friend. And hey, learning to love modern country music? Trust us, it’s a thing.

Get ready to burn the charts in effigy as you explore techniques to learn new songs quickly (shout out to Karaoke-Version.com). Discover the differences between sub gigs and pickup gigs, and figure out if you want to be just another bar band or strive for cover band greatness.

Don’t miss the Gear Gab segment on UE Pro Universals—because let’s face it, Always Be Performing means having the right gear to rock out in style.





00:00:00 Gig Gab 436 – Monday, July 1st, 2024



July 1st: International Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day (also International Reggae Day)

Guest Co-host Mike Schulte from Pork Tornadoes and Confused Breakfast

Ice Cream Idea: Pork & Tomatoes





00:04:51 Subbing as a Drummer



Beware your online persona convincing people you’re too busy to work with them





00:10:41 Learning and Teaching Beat Placement



Make the click disappear





00:17:49 Making the Click Your Friend

00:24:19 Learning to love Modern Country music

00:29:11 SPONSOR: Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit, can help you fuel up fast with flavorful and nutritious ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to your door. Visit FactorMeals.com/giggab50 and use code giggab50 for 50% off!

00:31:03 Techniques to Learn New Songs Quickly



Karaoke-Version.com

Burn The Charts in Effigy





00:41:55 Sub Gigs vs. Pickup Gigs

00:45:33 Different Types of Cover Bands



A Night Out with The Guys vs. Being the Very Best 100% of The Time

Comparison Is The Thief of Joy

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k

Finding The Right (Cover) Band For You

Do you want to be more than your average bar band?





01:01:32 Gear Gab: UE Pro Universals



UE 350 Pro Universal Fit – $399

UE 250 Pro Universal Fit – $299

UE 150 Pro Universal Fit – $199





01:09:10 Gig Gab 436 Outtro



Contact Mike Schulte



Confused Breakfast

The Pork Tornadoes





Contact Gig Gab!



@GigGabPodcast on Instagram

feedback@giggabpodcast.com

Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

Dive into Gig Gab 435 where Dave Hamilton teams up with guest co-host Adam Johnson from Cover Band Confidential for an electrifying episode. They kick things off with recent gig adventures, including the thrill of corporate live band karaoke and the indispensable value of rehearsals when subbing. Adam and Dave share insights on transitioning from analog to digital mixers, highlighting gear like Behringer XR and Mackie DL-series, and emphasizing the benefits of built-in compressors and parametric EQs for your weekend warrior band. As always, remember to “Always Be Performing.”

The conversation doesn’t stop there. Adam introduces his B.A.N.D. system, a treasure trove of inspiration to keep you moving forward without fear of failure. They explore the allure of new gear like baritone guitars and share tips for staying awake on long drives home from gigs, with sunflower seeds and Diet Mountain Dew as trusty companions.

The episode wraps up with shoutouts to must-listen podcasts like Disgraceland, Strong Songs, and Adam’s Cover Band Confidential. Don’t miss this jam-packed session—share the show and keep the performance spirit alive!





00:00:00 Gig Gab 435 – Monday, June 24th, 2024



June 24th: National Pralines Day

Guest Co-host Adam Johnson from Cover Band Confidential

Played with Morris Day & The Time





00:02:17 Recent Gig Chatter



Corporate Live Band Karaoke

The Value of Getting At least One Rehearsal (when subbing)





00:04:56 Which Country Music?



Jaret Reddick’s Country Project

Alex Melton





00:11:15 Migrating from Analog to Digital Mixers for your Weekend Warrior Band



Behringer XR or Midas Mixers

Mackie DL-series Digital Mixers

Master Fader

Allen & Heath Digital Portable Mixers

The benefits of a digital mixer: compressors built-in, parametric eqs, and more





00:20:45 Always Listening to “My Mix”, Regardless of The Gig

00:23:40 Midas StageCONNECT Ultranet

00:25:04 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a stunning website and online store for your music in minutes. Try it free for 30 days, then use promo code “giggabpod” to get 15% off your first year.

00:26:47 Adam Johnson’s B.A.N.D. System



It’s great Inspiration Fuel

“Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from STARTING”





00:38:28 Exciting and Shiny Things Capture Our Attention



Baritone Guitar

Presidents Of United States Of America

Caspar Babypants

Stompy The Bear

6 channel mixer!

Parry Gripp





00:44:39 Gear Gab: a href="https://maestrodmx.com/discount/DISCOUNT4CBC?

In this week’s Gig Gab podcast, Dave Hamilton teams up with guest co-host Crisco to dive into the dynamic world of keeping a band on the road. They kick things off with some fun banter about “Take Your Cat To Work Day” before jumping into the nitty-gritty of band management. From the chaos of uncoordinated coordination to the crucial role of spreadsheets, they explore the transition from musician to manager. You’ll get practical tips like taking contract screenshots for those times when you’re off the grid and gain insights into making music in the ever-evolving post-pandemic scene.

As the discussion heats up, they talk about tools like Artist Growth Workspace and Master Tour that streamline the touring process. Discover how bands like Bella’s Bartok and Mama’s Marmalade navigate their journeys from band to business, and how adding live drums can transform a band’s sound, as seen with Bitter Pill. Live music is more than just sound—it’s a visual art, and your best role might be yet to be discovered. With anecdotes from playing three bands in one night to must-listen recommendations like the Strong Songs Podcast and Questlove Supreme, you’ll leave inspired to Always Be Performing.





00:00:00 Gig Gab 434 – Monday, June 17th, 2024



June 17th: Take Your Cat To Work Day

Guest Co-Host: Crisco





00:03:00 Keeping a band on the road



Bella’s Bartok





00:06:05 Uncoordinated Coordination leads to Management!



Spreadsheets vs. Songs

From Musician to Manager





00:11:09 Making Music in the Evolving Post-Pandemic Scene

00:17:42 Artist Growth Workspace



Master Tour





00:22:57 Tip: Take contract screenshots of your deals so you can access them when you don’t have service

00:23:55 From Band to Business



Mama’s Marmalade





00:29:06 Adding Live Drums (the Evolution of Bitter Pill)

00:31:55 Live Music is a Visual Art

00:33:57 Discovering Your Best Role



Playing with Three Bands in One Night





00:38:50 Are You Still Playing?

00:46:04 What are you listening to?



Strong Songs Podcast

Questlove Supreme





Gig Gab 432 Outtro



Share the show!

Contact Gig Gab!



@GigGabPodcast on Instagram

feedback@giggabpodcast.com

Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List