Ramblings about being background noise, a puppet, a jester, and a real ass person. Further ramblings include open mics, band gigs, and YouTube.
--------
--------
Ep #73 Bass, Nature, Coffee featuring Liam Galiano
Guest: Liam GalianoHost: Dave Gates
In this week’s episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, Dave sits down with the multi-talented Liam Galiano — a passionate musician, dedicated music teacher, original artist, and a strong advocate for open mic culture.
Liam shares insights into his many musical projects, the importance of nurturing local music communities, and why he believes open mics are essential for artist development. They dive into his love for coffee, the inspiration he finds in nature, and of course, a whole lot of music talk — from teaching philosophies and gig advice to creative processes.
Whether you're a fellow musician, a music educator, or just love hearing about grassroots music culture, this episode is packed with stories and ideas to inspire.
🔗 Check out Liam's work:
🌐 Website: allgroovemusic.com
🎧 Spotify: Liam Galiano on Spotify
--------
--------
Ep #72 Spay & Neuter Your Pets featuring RJ Conrad, Colin Alvarez
🎙 Solo Musician Podcast - "The Pre-Show Pow-Wow"
Host: Dave Gates
Guests: RJ Conrad & Colin Alvarez
In this lively episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, host Dave Gates sits down with fellow performers RJ Conrad and Colin Alvarez to talk all things music—and a whole lot more. With Dave & Colin's upcoming gig at West Shore Theater opening for RJ's band Rascal Revival on May 16, 2025 just around the corner, the trio dives into what fans can expect from their performances and how they're prepping for it.
But it doesn't stop there. The conversation takes plenty of hilarious and honest turns as they discuss:
🎶 The pros and cons of using tablets for lyrics and chords
🚪 The fine art of the Irish exit
😬 How (and if) you should tell your musician friends they suck
🎤 Venue nightmares and booking headaches
...and plenty of other musician-life gems.
Whether you're a seasoned solo artist or just music-curious, this episode delivers real talk, laughs, and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t want to miss.
--------
--------
Episode #71 Long Time, No Talk; Surgery, Gigs, and EV SPEAKERS
After a 21 day absence, Dave is back to rant about his mom's surgery, gigs and venues, Open Mics & EV SPEAKERS. Stick around for a sneak peek at an up & coming artist from here in Central PA, Levi Sterner.
--------
--------
Ep. 70 Setting the Stage: Venue vs. Musician Expectations
Shout-out to listener Laura for this week’s topic!
When booking a gig, both musicians and venues come to the table with a set of expectations—but do those expectations always align? In this episode of The Solo Musician Podcast, we dive into the crucial conversation of what artists expect from venues and what venues expect in return.
From fair compensation and professional treatment to promotion efforts and audience engagement, we break down the key points that both sides need to understand for a successful partnership.
We’ll cover:
✅ Why venues should promote performances as much as musicians do
✅ The importance of clear communication and mutual professionalism
✅ What makes a gig financially viable for both the artist and the venue
✅ How musicians can draw and retain audiences to keep venues thriving
Whether you're a seasoned performer or just stepping into the live music scene, this episode will help you navigate the gigging world with confidence and clarity.
Tune in now, and let’s bridge the gap between venues and musicians—one gig at a time! 🎵✨
México