Gigs, Gigs, and More Gigs *SOLO EPISODE*

From historic taverns to open mics and hometown bars, this week was all about playing live and connecting with people through music.

I’m talking about:

• 🎶 Penn’s Tavern — why I love historic venues and that tough-to-get booking convo with the owner.

• 🎤 Wednesday Open Mic — my most-viewed post ever, a full signup list, and a mix of mandolins, violins, and political songs.

• 🍺 Friday at Liquid Noise — hometown crowd energy, a glitchy request system, and those epic 2-hour sets.

• 🎛️ Saturday at the Horn Pub — first pedalboard run, big crowd interaction, and the reminder that if you’re having fun, they are too.

Plus: a quick rundown of my next adventure — scouting venues in the Finger Lakes.

The Other Side of the Stage feat. Colin Alvarez

Host Dave Gates and guest Colin Alvarez pull back the curtain on what life really looks like for solo musicians trying to make a living from their craft. From low pay and unreliable gigs to unprofessional venues, burnout, and the constant fight to be taken seriously, they dive deep into the realities most audiences never see.

It’s a raw and honest conversation about passion, persistence, and the price of chasing music as a career.
Before wrapping up, Dave and Colin share a few laughs and a sneak peek at their new comedic duo, The Other Guys, offering a glimpse at how they’re finding fresh ways to keep the joy in the journey.

Open Mics, Entertaining, and Why We Do It feat. Kevin Raubenstine

This week's guest is Kevin Raubenstine. Kevin is a solo acoustic musician from the Lancaster, PA area. We chat about our similar experience with entry model Taylor guitars, what draws us to perform, the importance of open mics, the effect of the pandemic on live music, and a bunch of other music and non-music related topics in between.

As always, thanks for listening, make sure to follow Kevin on all the things and share this podcast with your friends!

For guest booking inquiries or suggestions, hit us up at solomusicianpodcast@gmail.com

Cheerleading and Song-Singing feat. Scott Braasch

This week's guest is a good friend of mine, and a fellow musician. Scott Braasch currently performs in the Central Pennsylvania area as a solo artist (Crash Acoustic) and in a duo called Crash & Cross. Scott and I talk about his start in music, his legendary father, what drives him as a musician, his songwriting process and a MILLION other things. Make sure to follow Crash Acoustic and Crash and Cross on all the social media to stay up to date with Scott's upcoming music releases!

Cool, Calm, and Collected feat. Megan Miller

In this weeks episode, Megan Miller ( from the Megan & Dave Duo ) RETURNS to the podcast to chat about open mics, learning guitar theory, live sound mixing, and so much more. Dave talks about band shows, acoustic-solo-act venue saturation, and frankly, anything else that pops into his double Red Bull fueled head.

For more info on the Megan and Dave Duo, check out their link tree: https://linktr.ee/megananddaveduo

Episode #78 Gain Structure G*ddamnit

Our very first guest, Mr. Kevin Nelson, is BACK to talk about all things audio. From running open mic sound, to how to properly structure your gain for a stable base to your mix, Kevin is a wealth of knowledge. We chat about solo music saturation, compensation for musicians, and his experience as an entertainment manager & radio D.J.

Episode #77 Dueling Guitars part deux

Dave's back for another chat about the Dueling guitars format with none other than the Feather to his Whisker, the Lennon to his McConaughey, and the Jackson to his Browne, Colin Alvarez. The two chat about the absolute amazeballs that is Dueling Guitars. They also take some time to drop some thoughts on the REAL way to get more gigs and be a more successful performer. Check it out!!

Ep #75 Gear, Gratitude, and Going Places

After a few month hiatus, Host Dave Gates is back to talk about where he's been, what he's learned, and the key to getting out of your own head.

There's also some gear talk about halfway through, so if you're into simplifying or upgrading your solo gigging gear, that parts for you.

Submit topics and guest suggestions to SoloMusicianPodcast@gmail.com

Ep #73 Bass, Nature, Coffee featuring Liam Galiano

Guest: Liam Galiano
Host: 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.

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! 🎵✨

Ep. 69 The Loss of Hook & Flask Still Works & Listener's Questions

Hook & Flask Still Works in Carlisle, PA is closing. Whether you've never been there, or you're a regular attendee of their various nights of musical entertainment, in this episode I try to explain why Hook & Flask was such an anomaly. It was a white buffalo, or a red wolf if you will. It was the kind of place where you felt like family from the second you stepped through the doors.

For many musicians, myself included, it was home. It was the date on the calendar that you looked forward to most. It was the show that would make your heart beat a little faster because you knew it was going to be incredible.

Every. Single. Time.

It was a place for us to commune with each other, a place for good times and great friends, a place to escape the daunting world outside its roller door.

After I make my final plea for your attendance at my upcoming Hook & Flask show, I dive into some listener submitted topics and questions to round out the episode.

Thank you for being here, and I hope to see you at Hook & Flask on 3/22 7-10pm.

Ep. 68 Music Video Mastery: The Secrets Behind Promoting Hits with Andy Gesner

In this episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, host Dave Gates sits down with Andy Gesner, the owner and president of Hip Video Promo, for an in-depth conversation about the world of music video promotion. Andy shares fascinating insights from his career, including his pivotal role in launching Johnny Cash’s iconic "Hurt" video.

As the music industry continues to evolve, they dive into what the music video landscape looks like in 2025, the power of Spotify and YouTube playlisting, and how social media has become the lifeblood of music promotion.

If you’re looking to up your promotional game, this episode is packed with tips, strategies, and stories that can help take your music career to the next level!

Episode #67 Central PA Music Awards 2025 RECAP w/Colin Alvarez

Join host Dave Gates and special guest Colin Alvarez on this satirical episode of the Solo Musician Podcast as they dive deep into the highlights and comedic moments of their experience at the 2025 Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame Awards held at the American Music Theater on 3/5/2025!

The evening was full of unforgettable performances, community, and everyone sharing in a common love of music. It was a night that brought over 1000 people from many different areas under one roof to recognize the amazing music scene in Central PA. All things considered, it was a beautiful event, and we were really honored and excited to be a part of it.

That being said, there were a few standout moments and areas for improvement that left some people shaking their heads and audibly groaning in the theater. We try to recognize why those moments may not have come across to the attendees in the ways they were intended.

We also talk about the Solo Musician Podcast winning 2024's Local Music Podcast Of The Year award, which was a real surprise. While we poke fun at the bounty of mystical powers winning the award has provided, I truly do appreciate the recognition for all the hours and thought that goes into producing the podcast. I hope this podcast has an overall net benefit to the scene, and I really love connecting with and showcasing other musicians.

Whether you missed the awards show or want to relive the magic through a comedic lens, tune in for insider insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and all the unforgettable highlights from the first few hours of the 2025 ceremony.

#centralpa #musicindustry #musicawards #localmusic #localmusicscene #musicpodcast #musiccommunity #satire #podcast #liveperformance

Episode #66 JAKE MACH on Writing Music, Gig Life, and New Music

Join Dave Gates on this exciting episode of the Solo Musician Podcast as he sits down with the incredibly talented Jake Mach, a singer-songwriter from Glen Rock, PA! In this candid conversation, Jake opens up about his passion for writing music, his approach to balancing original music vs. cover songs at local bars, and his involvement with the Glen Rock Carolers.

Jake also shares how his wife and manager, Mackenzie, plays a key role in keeping his calendar packed with gigs and opportunities. Plus, get the inside scoop on Jake’s upcoming single, "As A Rambler Goes," featuring Cody Tyler — a track you won’t want to miss!

If you're a fan of authentic music, indie artists, and behind-the-scenes stories, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to hit like, subscribe, and stay tuned for Jake’s new release!

#JakeMach #SoloMusicianPodcast #MusicJourney #IndieArtist #SingerSongwriter #AsARamblerGoes #MusicLife #BarGigs #OriginalMusic #CodyTyler #GlenRockPA #MusicManagement #NewMusicRelease #MusicPodcast

Episode #65 Performing at Funerals + Other Gigging Tips w/ Jason Carst

On this episode of the Solo Musician Podcast, Dave Gates sits down for another chat with Jason Carst, a live looping artist from Harrisburg, PA. Jason shares stories from his journey as a solo musician, revealing the tips and tricks that have helped him thrive in the world of live performance.

From live-streaming every show to his thoughts on the Central Pennsylvania music scene, Jason opens up about his dedication to connecting with fans and his passion for performance. Whether you’re a solo musician, live looping enthusiast, or just curious about gigging, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice you won’t want to miss!