Cover Band Confidential's Podcast (Music Business, Gigging Tips & Making Money as a Musician)

A musician cancelled less than an hour before a neighborhood concert. The event organizers called me, and because I happened to be off that night with my PA and lights still loaded, Amber and I were able to step in and play.

The show went on. That doesn’t mean the plan worked.

Last week, I talked about whether musicians owe each other a “bro code” after I watched a client’s event go sideways. This week, Dan and I pick up that thread: when does giving fellow musicians the benefit of the doubt turn into excusing bad business? Emergencies happen. But if you have to cancel, what responsibility do you have to help solve the problem—and how often are other musicians expected to rescue the gig?

We also catch up on the band’s possible return, gear, channel updates, and This Week in CBC History.

1 year ago So You Started a Band... Now What? (Interview with Mark Frederickson of Frozen Coyote) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2025-10-30T17_00_00-07_00

2 years ago How ready is READY ENOUGH when starting a new project? https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2024-10-31T14_00_00-07_00

3 years ago How to violate the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 to get better paying gigs! https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2023-11-02T19_00_00-07_00

4 years ago Songs That are Harder Than They Seem https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2022-11-03T19_01_56-07_00

5 years ago The Only Constant is Change https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2021-11-04T18_57_27-07_00

6 years ago CBC #126 (Guitar Center Chap 11; How to get paid for not working) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2020-10-29T18_33_31-07_00

7 years ago CBC #074 (Leadership) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2019-10-31T03_27_06-07_00

8 years ago CBC Episode 029 (Interview with Mark Dannells of Yacht Rock Revue) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2018-11-01T12_54_48-07_00

Have you ever had to save a gig at the last minute—or been the one who had to cancel? Tell us in the comments!

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

BANDLEADER RESOURCES: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/links

Follow us on Instagram!
@coverbandconfidential
@adampatrickjohnson
@danraymusician

If you have any questions please email at:
Coverbandconfidential@gmail.com

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Or buy us a cup of coffee!
paypal.me/cbconfidential

And for more info check out
www.coverbandconfidential.com

Cover Band Confidential, musicians, working musicians, gigging musician, musician professionalism, musician reliability, band business, last minute gig cancellation, substitute musician, bandleader advice, live music, event entertainment, music business, gig stories, live band, musician ethics

A client looked at Adam during a private party and asked, “Did I get screwed?”

Adam’s band wasn’t performing—they couldn’t make the date with their core lineup. He was there in another vendor role when the replacement band’s night began to unravel. When he stepped in to help, he also had to decide where professional courtesy ended and honesty with the client began.

In this solo episode, Adam talks about the musician’s “bro code”: don’t spread rumors or turn one bad gig into a permanent verdict on someone’s character—but don’t lie to the client or ask them to absorb the cost of someone else’s decisions.

This isn’t a takedown of substitute musicians. It’s a conversation about short-notice bookings, the responsibility that comes with accepting a gig, helping without becoming responsible for another vendor’s job, and telling the truth about what you personally witnessed.

Plus: a windy ’80s gig, a damaged light, a Costco guitar case, CBC’s YouTube milestone, NAMM plans, band coaching, and the new sponsorship program.

Where do you draw the line between having another musician’s back and being honest with the client? Leave a comment or email coverbandconfidential@gmail.com.

THIS WEEK IN CBC HISTORY:

1 year ago 400 Episodes Later: Gear Trends, Gig Lessons, and What Musicians Need to Know in 2026 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2025-10-23T17_00_00-07_00

2 years ago Elder Emo Summit (Featuring Matt McGee of the Dom Telonges) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2024-10-24T12_35_34-07_00

3 years ago What would you tell your younger self about being a musician? (Guest lecture at Louisiana Tech University) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2023-10-26T19_00_00-07_00

4 years ago How To Get Paid More! https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2022-10-28T13_27_27-07_00

5 years ago Band Branding part One Billion https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2021-10-28T18_28_44-07_00

6 years ago CBC #125 (Locus of Control) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2020-10-22T18_20_45-07_00

7 years ago CBC #073 (Listener Questions and Rolling With It) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2019-10-23T19_10_45-07_00

8 years ago CBC Episode 028 (The Show Must Go Wrong) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2018-10-25T10_20_46-07_00

#CoverBandConfidential #WorkingMusician #giggingmusician

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Backing Track Resources: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/backing-track-resources

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

BANDLEADER RESOURCES: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/links

Follow us on Instagram!
@coverbandconfidential
@adampatrickjohnson
@danraymusician

If you have any questions please email at:
Coverbandconfidential@gmail.com

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Or buy us a cup of coffee!
paypal.me/cbconfidential

And for more info check out
www.coverbandconfidential.com

The Dial-Up Survivors are a new four-piece band playing ’90s and 2000s alt rock, pop punk, and emo. They joined Adam and Dan for a band coaching session about what it takes to get from the rehearsal room to regular gigs.

We talk about choosing a band leader, dividing up responsibilities, building a set that works for a general audience, and resisting the urge to launch with a niche concept show before you have an audience. We also get into rehearsal planning, social media when you don’t have much live footage, venue outreach, and what to expect when you’re playing with in-ears.

If you’re starting a cover band—or trying to get a new project out of the practice space—this one’s for you.

Topics covered:
* Naming a band leader and making responsibilities clear
* Building enough material for a full night
* Balancing crowd favorites with deeper cuts
* Using rehearsal footage to create content
* Finding the right venues and building relationships
* Making rehearsals count when schedules are tight
* Getting comfortable with in-ear monitors

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Blank Contracts & Riders: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/performance-contracts

Backing Track Resources: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/backing-track-resources

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

BANDLEADER RESOURCES: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/links

Follow us on Instagram!

@coverbandconfidential

@adampatrickjohnson

@danraymusician

If you have any questions please email at:

Coverbandconfidential@gmail.com

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Or buy us a cup of coffee!

paypal.me/cbconfidential

And for more info check out

http://www.coverbandconfidential.com

Gear Used in this Video (Affiliate):

Sony ZV-E10 Mirrorless Camera: https://amzn.to/3DBqtOy

Elgato Prompter: https://amzn.to/3X3IAq8

Shure SM7B: https://amzn.to/4dDCJx0

Elgato Stream Deck XL: https://amzn.to/3gKjhqi

Magic Arm Camera Friction Mount: https://amzn.to/3SK5yNk

#musician #livemusic #band #coverband

A band leader needs a sub musician.

You reply, “I’m your man.” Then they ask if you’re available—and you aren’t.

That’s one way to make yourself memorable.

This week, Adam and Dan break down five things that make it easier to hire you and call you back. Read the ad. Send relevant performance clips. Be clear about your availability. Show up prepared. And make the band’s night easier, not harder.

You don’t need a polished promo reel or a Netflix special. You need enough clear, relevant information to show a band leader what it would be like to work with you.

In this episode:
- Why a useful first reply can put you ahead of other applicants
- What to include when you respond to a gig ad
- How to share performance clips that actually show your ability
- Why “I’m willing to learn” and “I’ve done this before” aren’t the same thing
- How to confirm the full gig timeline and commitment
- What band leaders need to provide so subs can prepare
- Why being a good teammate can beat having flashier chops

Your assignment: Review your last response to a gig inquiry. Could the recipient tell whether you fit, whether you’re available, and where to hear you play without chasing you down?

What has a sub musician done that made you immediately want to hire them again—or move them to second call? Tell us in the comments or email coverbandconfidential@gmail.com.

Coaching: Want Adam and Dan’s feedback on your band? You can do a public coaching session for free, which becomes an episode of the show, or book a private paid session. Email coverbandconfidential@gmail.com to ask about either option.

Subscribe for more conversations about working cover bands, band leadership, and the business of being a musician.

What happens when a venue stops booking your band?

You can get pissed. You can write the email. You can explain why they’re wrong. You can make sure everybody involved knows exactly how disappointed you are.

Or… you can not do that.

A few weeks ago, we talked about a venue that decided to pause its recurring live band karaoke dates with Adam’s group. The gigs ended, everybody finished the dates they had agreed to, and the relationship was left intact.

Then the venue called again.

Less than six weeks later, they wanted ATL LBK back—this time for a private event.

So this week we’re talking about something working musicians don’t spend nearly enough time thinking about: ending well.

How do you handle it when a venue stops booking you? What should you actually say? When should you ask for feedback? What happens to remaining dates, money, and promotion? And how do you resist the extremely human urge to get the last word?

We also flip the situation around. Sometimes you’re the one ending the relationship. Maybe the money no longer makes sense. Maybe the venue isn’t a good fit anymore. Maybe better opportunities have come along.

The same rules still apply.

We get into:

• Why your first angry draft probably shouldn’t be your final draft
• Closing out outstanding dates, payments, and obligations cleanly
• Finishing the last gig at the same standard as the first
• Why you should never trash the venue from the stage
• How to give honest feedback without settling old scores
• Why trading up on already-booked dates is a bad look
• When it makes sense to circle back with an old client
• How to evaluate the opportunity if they eventually call again
• Why professionalism matters even more when things aren’t going your way

The goal isn’t to guarantee that every lost booking eventually comes back.

It’s to make sure the gig can come off the calendar without your band going on the blacklist.

Because sometimes the economics change. Sometimes the venue changes. Sometimes your band changes.

And sometimes, if you handle the ending well, the phone rings again.

A listener in Scotland asked us for an episode about keyboard players.

There was only one problem: this is a podcast hosted by two guitar players.

So rather than confidently making things up for an hour, we called in Brandon Patrick of The Flannel Pajamas, a ’90s-ish cover band based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

Brandon came to keyboards later in life after years as a vocalist, which gives him an interesting perspective on what it actually takes to become a functional, gigging keyboard player—not a concert pianist, not a synth wizard living inside a modular rig, but somebody who needs to learn songs, build useful tones, fit inside a band, and make it through the gig.

We get into how keyboard players learn songs, sheet music versus ear training, using lead sheets and the Nashville Number System, and why playing rock and pop keys is a very different skill from being a classically trained pianist.

Then we head directly into the gear rabbit hole.

Brandon talks about his Yamaha YC, onboard sounds versus software instruments, organ and Leslie tones, patch building, why redundancy matters if you’re relying on a computer, and why the keyboard you buy should be determined by the music you actually intend to play.

We also tackle the eternal question: 61, 73, or 88 keys?

Along the way, Adam and Dan attempt to explain guitars to a keyboard player, discover that a guitar is apparently six strangely tuned keyboards strapped together, and establish the definitive tonal taxonomy:

A Strat goes quack.
A Tele goes twang.
A Les Paul goes chunk.
And an SG starts an argument.

If you play keys, want to play keys, lead a band with a keyboard player, or have spent years wondering what the person behind that giant red Nord is actually doing, this one’s for you.

Featuring Brandon Patrick of The Flannel Pajamas.

Find @theflannelpajamas on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and catch them live around the Dallas–Fort Worth area!

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Blank Contracts & Riders: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/performance-contracts

Backing Track Resources: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/backing-track-resources

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

BANDLEADER RESOURCES: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/links

And for more info check out

http://www.coverbandconfidential.com

The soundboard was dripping water. Apparently, the band was still supposed to play.

Mike Schulte of The Pork Tornadoes and the Confused Breakfast podcast joins Dan with a gig story that stands out after roughly 1,300 shows—and for all the wrong reasons. A sudden storm drenched the gear and shut down the night before the band could play. According to Mike, what followed included an angry confrontation, a passive-aggressive load-out soundtrack, and people booing musicians who were trying to get their equipment out of the venue.

Dan and Mike unpack the business side of a rainout: what the band’s contract covered, why the work starts long before the first song, and how a reasonable conversation might have preserved a working relationship. They also look at their own preparation and what could be handled differently next time. Nobody controls the weather. Everybody has some control over how they treat people.

Before the storm story, Mike shares how he’s using a 360 camera for both The Pork Tornadoes and Confused Breakfast—from capturing concert footage to filming an interview at the Goonies house without hauling an entire camera department along.

In this episode:

• Moving 360-camera footage versus static camera angles. (link: https://www.insta360.com/sal/x6?utm_source=AffiliateCenter&utm_medium=copylink&utm_term=INRSG0CFLEV)
• Capturing the crowd and blending camera audio with a board feed.
• Using one camera to create multiple interview angles.
• A surprise storm, soaked equipment, and a show that couldn’t happen.
• Payment expectations when a band has done everything except perform.
• Weather preparation, de-escalation, and knowing when a working relationship is finished.

Check out Mike with The Pork Tornadoes and on Confused Breakfast.

Rock more. Suck less. Keep the load-out playlist civil.

You crushed your first gig. The venue wants you back. Now how do you get the OTHER venues to answer your emails?

This week, a listener’s success story turns into a practical guide to booking your cover band. After building The Riffbillyz from the ground up and earning return invitations—including New Year’s Eve—he asks: What’s the best way to reach local bookers? Email? Messenger? Showing up in person?

Adam and Dan walk through the entire process, from choosing rooms that actually fit your band to turning that first conversation into a lasting booking relationship. Dan shares his “gig hunting” routine, Adam explains what your promo needs to prove, and both discuss why being good onstage is only part of being a band venues want to hire.

**In this episode:**

* Finding the right venues instead of emailing every bar within 100 miles.
* Building a one-sheet, website, and short promo video that make booking you an easy decision.
* Approaching managers at the right time—and following their booking instructions.
* Tracking contacts, booking windows, and follow-ups so opportunities don’t disappear into your inbox.
* Clarifying pay, production, promotion, and what the venue considers a successful night.
* Avoiding promises about your draw that Facebook’s “Interested” button cannot keep.
* Winning over the staff, sending the thank-you, and earning the next date.
* Capturing live footage that helps you sell the next show.

Plus: Adam turns 45, Dan goes on an escape-room adventure, a mysterious guitar purchase is pending, and Adam introduces a new tool for searching the CBC episode archive by topic.

**Your assignment this week:** Pick five venues that fit your band, get your promo ready, identify the booking contacts, and make a specific ask. Then track the conversation and follow through.

Be the band management sees on the calendar and thinks, “Oh, thank goodness.”

Questions or gig-hunting stories? Email **[coverbandconfidential@gmail.com](mailto:coverbandconfidential@gmail.com)**.

Most gigs aren’t life-changing. They’re work.

You load in, fix whatever isn’t working, play the songs, collect the check, and eventually escape through a commercial kitchen.

But every once in a while, the band locks in, the crowd gives everything back, and all the logistical nonsense disappears. Those are the gigs that remind you why you’ve spent years sacrificing weekends, buying too much gear, and voluntarily standing next to drummers.

This week, Adam and Dan talk about:

• A wedding party that turned a regular bar gig into complete bedlam
• The shows where the band, crowd, and room all click
• Creating a meaningful moment for one person
• Songs that hit an audience harder than expected
• The extremely healthy realization that you’ve “still got it”
• Why preparation creates room for spontaneity
• How cameras, technical problems, and overbooking can kill the moment
• Turning nearby weddings and events into marketing opportunities
• Why not every gig needs to be magical

Plus: Sweetwater debt, dueling dead refrigerators, Adam’s early verdict on the Xvive U45D, and a five-star review that claims this show is “actually useful.”

What gig reminded you why you do this? Tell us in the comments or email [coverbandconfidential@gmail.com](mailto:coverbandconfidential@gmail.com).

THIS WEEK IN CBC HISTORY:
Oasis Reunion, Setlist Science & DIY Gear Hacks! | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2024-09-05T19_00_00-07_00
How to be the Ultimate Entertainer! | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2023-09-07T19_00_00-07_00
Is Music a Viable Career? | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2022-09-08T20_39_24-07_00
Things Musicians Have To Stop Doing | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2021-09-09T19_10_42-07_00
CBC #118 (If you were Starting from Scratch) | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2020-09-03T18_05_36-07_00
CBC #066 (Merchanomics part Deux, Instrument Learning, Acoustic Duos, Song Selection) | https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2019-09-04T18_00_35-07_00

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Gear mentioned:

• Xvive U45D Digital Stereo In-Ear Monitor System: [https://amzn.to/4zRDkqJ]
• Gator utility shelf: [https://amzn.to/4h4J3SK]

Some product links may be affiliate links, which help support the show at no additional cost to you.

Cover Band Confidential is the podcast for cover band musicians and band leaders who want to rock more and suck less.

#CoverBand #WorkingMusician #LiveMusic

Being in a band teaches you much more than how to play music.

Every rehearsal, equipment failure, difficult bandmate, last-minute song request, and immovable downbeat develops skills that carry into the rest of your life. In this episode, Adam and Dan break down five things musicians learn almost accidentally: collaboration, discipline, adaptability, people management, and project management.

They also bring research connecting ensemble performance with shared attention, executive function, resilience, empathy, social bonding, organization, leadership, and problem-solving.

Before the main topic, Dan discovers that The New Strange still has some muscle memory, Adam recaps his first Jamzone-assisted solo gig and another massive ATL LBK event, and Cover Band Confidential celebrates 9,000 YouTube subscribers and three million views.

What has playing in a band taught you that has nothing to do with music? Tell us in the comments.

RESEARCH CITED

Collaborative musical creativity and co-regulation:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01285/full

Music and social bonding:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4179700/

Music training and executive function:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9393548/

Resilience and music-performance anxiety:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12584046/

Group music, empathy, and prosocial behavior:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1744000/full

Ensemble participation and transferable life skills:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11239010/

ABOUT COVER BAND CONFIDENTIAL

Cover Band Confidential is the podcast for cover-band musicians and bandleaders who want to rock more and suck less. Adam Johnson and Dan Ray talk about the music, business, gear, relationships, and occasional logistical catastrophes involved in playing music for actual people.

#CoverBand #WorkingMusician #BandAdvice

00:00 Intro
00:58 Band Still Got It
03:08 Rebrand And Karaoke
04:47 Jam Zone Solo Gig
06:45 Frozen Bracelet Tip
09:28 Live Band Karaoke Recap
12:10 Milestones And Consistency
14:40 This Week In History
18:25 Skills Beyond Music
23:50 Receipts and Research
25:06 Discipline and Practice
28:42 ADHD and Executive Function
30:19 Adaptability Under Fire
36:52 Band Relationships and Feedback
41:58 Project Management Skills
45:40 Wrap Up and Call In

Bands rarely fall apart because somebody missed a chord.

They fall apart because expectations about money, gigs, rehearsals, song choices, musical standards, commitment, and leadership go unspoken until somebody finally blows up.

This week, we brought in somebody who actually knows what he’s talking about.

Dr. Jesse Erdheim is an industrial-organizational psychologist and wellbeing coach with more than 20 years of experience working with motivation, conflict, burnout, leadership, and change. He also fronts a working classic-rock cover band—so he understands band dysfunction from both sides.

We talk about:
*Why bands are uniquely difficult organizations
*How mismatched expectations turn into resentment
*How to give musical criticism without destroying morale
*What psychological safety actually looks like in a band
*Why emotional regulation matters before a difficult conversation
*What to do when your band culture has already become unhealthy

One of the biggest lessons: sometimes the explosion you think came out of nowhere actually started months earlier when everyone stopped checking whether they were still working toward the same goal. Jesse describes his own experience with a guitarist whose frustration over money and travel finally erupted at a show—and how that changed the way his band communicates with new members.

If you're a band leader, working musician, or anyone currently sitting in a group text wondering “How the hell did we get here?”—this episode is for you.

More from Dr. Jesse Erdheim:
jesseerdheim.com

Upcoming book: A Full Cup: Reflections on Living Well

Jesse also fronts The Backroads, a Durham-area cover band performing around Durham, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough.

https://www.facebook.com/thebackroadsdurham/
https://www.instagram.com/the.back.roads__/

#CoverBand #BandDrama #WorkingMusician #BandLeader #musicbusiness

00:00 Podcast kickoff
00:55 Meet Dr Jesse
01:53 From GNR to gigging
03:48 Band leadership style
05:37 Shared vision basics
08:14 Why bands are hard
10:21 Gig meltdown story
12:44 Assumptions and alignment
17:47 Common band problems
23:20 Giving feedback safely
27:16 Trust Bank Accounts
27:44 Giving Notes With Care
28:25 Adaptability Over Control
30:02 Does The Audience Care
31:03 Perfectionism And Perspective
31:58 Are Musicians Different
34:54 Win Win Band Leadership
37:30 Pre Show Regulation Routine
39:38 Time Confetti Planning
42:09 Hard Conversations Toolkit
45:30 Stop Rumination Loops
49:59 Relationships And Wrap Up

A regular gig is only regular until someone decides it isn’t.

This week, Adam and Dan discuss what happens when a dependable venue date or residency suddenly dries up. Did the venue eliminate the gig—or did your band specifically lose it? Should you ask for honest feedback? Lower your price? Try to save the relationship? Or accept that the booking may no longer have been serving the band?

They break down why recurring gigs disappear, how bands become complacent, the danger of depending too heavily on one venue or buyer, and why replacing the economic function of a gig may be smarter than finding an identical replacement.

Also discussed:

* Dan gets back in the room and begins rebuilding his band
* Remembering songs, reconnecting gear, and rebuilding performance stamina
* Adam’s rapidly approaching JamZone solo experiment
* Stringjoy’s Project 139 experimental guitar strings
* ATL LBK’s growing collection of branded promotional gear
* A new five-star review from a Dallas–Fort Worth listener
* Eight years of CBC history, zombie bands, celebrity events, and the proposed conference that Paul Kent wisely stopped

The main takeaway: Be disappointed privately, respond professionally, and build a band that can lose one gig without losing its footing.

#CoverBand #GiggingMusician #BandBooking #WorkingMusician #LiveMusic #CoverBandConfidential

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

BANDLEADER RESOURCES: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/links

Follow us on Instagram!

@coverbandconfidential

@adampatrickjohnson

@danraymusician

If you have any questions please email at:

Coverbandconfidential@gmail.com

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Or buy us a cup of coffee!

paypal.me/cbconfidential

And for more info check out

http://www.coverbandconfidential.com

The perfect band member is an incredible player, always available, completely prepared, easy to work with, affordable, ambitious—but not *too* ambitious—and somehow has nothing else happening in their life.

Unfortunately, that person does not exist.

Every musician brings a combination of talent, reliability, availability, personality, preparation, ambition, and baggage. The real question is not whether someone has flaws. It is whether your band can function with those particular flaws—and whether the problem is actually the musician or the position they have been hired to fill.

This week, we discuss:

• The unavoidable trade-offs involved in hiring musicians
• Why great players are not always the best band members
• Choosing availability and reliability over raw talent
• What an audition can—and cannot—tell you
• The danger of hiring someone based on imagined potential
• Separating personal preferences from actual deal breakers
• Why repeatedly replacing the same position may reveal a structural problem
• How clear expectations, communication, calendars, charts, practice tracks, payment systems, and defined leadership make imperfect lineups work
• Why predictability may be more valuable than perfection

We also get an update on Dan’s attempt to restage his band, consider a potential live band karaoke pivot, fall into Adam’s latest impossible-guitar rabbit hole, explore the very sparkly world of Cream Guitars, and revisit notable CBC episodes from this week in the show’s history.

Try JamZone Premium free for 30 days: https://jamzone.com/l/pro/CBCJZ

What quality comes first when you hire a musician: talent, reliability, availability, preparation, or personality? What have you learned never to compromise on?

Leave a comment or email us at [coverbandconfidential@gmail.com](mailto:coverbandconfidential@gmail.com).

Cover Band Confidential is the podcast for cover band musicians and band leaders who want to rock more and suck less.

This week is CBC History:
1 year ago Spicy Takes and Sore Fingers (aka Dan's first post-surgery gig) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2025-08-07T17_00_00-07_00
2 years ago 5 creative ways to engage with your audience! (on-stage and off) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2024-08-08T19_00_00-07_00
3 years ago When is it Time to Reevaluate? https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2023-08-10T19_00_00-07_00
4 years ago How To Get Started With In-Ear Monitors https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2022-08-11T17_58_07-07_00
5 years ago Setlist and Flow (AmberCast Part Deux) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2021-08-12T19_09_44-07_00
6 years ago CBC #114 (Song Selection Revisited) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2020-08-06T19_31_27-07_00
7 years ago CBC #062 (Mike Schulte of The Pork Tornadoes) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2019-08-07T19_26_28-07_00
8 years ago CBC Episode 019 (Coming Clean) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/coverbandconfidential/episodes/2018-08-10T04_16_16-07_00

#CoverBand #BandLeader #WorkingMusician #GiggingMusician #BandAdvice

00:00 Cold Open and Introductions
00:55 Restaging the Band
02:31 Gear Quest and Cream Guitars
06:40 Jam Zone Promo Housekeeping
07:35 This Week in CBC History
11:23 Perfect Lineup Fantasy
15:09 Defining the Ideal Member
17:41 Tradeoffs and Reality Checks
20:00 Choosing the Right Flaws
21:03 Availability vs Skill
21:44 What the Gig Requires
24:33 Auditions Miss the Truth
26:15 Is the Chair on Fire
30:42 Hiring on Hope
32:55 Preferences vs Dealbreakers
37:43 Predictability and Systems
42:26 Listener Scenario and Wrap

This week, Adam recaps a nearly perfect live band karaoke night, including a packed room, a prospective wedding client who actually showed up, singing with his dad, and a sound engineer powering through a broken foot.

The guys also introduce a new look back at this week in Cover Band Confidential history before abandoning the planned topic entirely to address Fender CEO Bud Cole’s comparison of cover bands to “analog AI.”

It is an analogy that manages to misunderstand cover musicians, generative AI, copyright, royalties, musicianship, and a significant portion of Fender’s own customer base all at once.

Adam and Dan break down why performing an existing song is not remotely the same as generating content from uncredited source material, how working bands help sustain the music economy, and why Fender probably should not diminish the musicians buying its instruments.

Cover bands are not artificial intelligence. We are actual intelligence.

Most of us, anyway.

Episode Links:

-Block Parties, Bombshells, and Bloody Knuckles- 08-01-25

-Music, Politics (and the art of keeping your mouth shut)- 07-25-24

-The Three Things You Need To Succeed- 07-27-23

-Weaponizing The Audience's Nostalgia- 07-28-22

-The Magic Word 07-29-2021

-Nick Niespodziani of Yacht Rock Revue (Vulture Article this week) 07-2020

-061 (Running your Band like a Business)- 07-29-19

-018 (Finding bandmates and building relationships with venues) 07-26-2018

Sweetwater Affilate Link: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xJE4rk

BACTrack Affiliate Link: https://www.bactrack.com/coverbandconfidential

MaestroDMX (10% off discount link): https://maestrodmx.com/discount/DISCOUNT4CBC?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fmaestrodmx

Blank Contracts & Riders: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/performance-contracts

Backing Track Resources: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/backing-track-resources

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

BANDLEADER RESOURCES: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/links

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Every working musician eventually has the post-gig drive home where they wonder, “Can I keep doing this?”

But are you actually done with music—or are you exhausted by the schedule, the load-ins, the late nights, the weather cancellations, the band management and everything else surrounding the hour you spend onstage?

This week, Adam and Dan try to separate burnout from genuinely no longer wanting the musician lifestyle. They discuss how resentment toward the logistics can bury your love of performing, why taking a weekend off cannot fix a dysfunctional band, and how your identity as “the music person” can make stepping back feel like failure.

Dan also opens up about his extended break from gigging after foot surgery, the difficulty of rebuilding momentum and the possibility that returning to music may not mean rebuilding the exact same version of his old band.

Also discussed:
* Adam’s epic backstage hang at the Chicago and Styx show
* Adam’s new Behringer Flow 8 solo setup with Jamzone
* Automating live band karaoke with BandLeader and AbleSet
* The “good music, good money, good people” test
* Rediscovering music without trying to monetize it
* When stepping away is healthier—and more professional—than staying
* Dan accepts a six-week challenge to get back into a room and make some noise

The better question may not be, “Should I quit?”

It may be: What exactly am I tired of—and would I still want this if that part changed?

----------------------------------------

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

BANDLEADER RESOURCES: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/links

Follow us on Instagram!
@coverbandconfidential
@adampatrickjohnson
@danraymusician

If you have any questions please email at:
Coverbandconfidential@gmail.com

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Or buy us a cup of coffee!
paypal.me/cbconfidential

And for more info check out
www.coverbandconfidential.com

Adam arrives at this week’s episode suffering from meat sweats and a pair of thoroughly abused shins. Dan is helping his daughter learn bass, Adam’s son has discovered what a $3,500 Dingwall feels like, and Chicago bassist Eric Baines would really like Adam to learn how to sight-read.

Then we get into the considerably less wholesome subject of musicians getting hurt at work.

After Adam took a fall backstage at a July 4th event, we asked the Cover Band Central community for their worst gig-injury stories. Nearly 600 responses revealed everything from cuts and bad backs to electrocution, heat illness, collapsing equipment, crowd violence and musicians attempting to finish sets during medical emergencies.

We sort those stories into the hazards musicians may be able to mitigate themselves and the dangers created by venues, promoters, production companies and unsafe working conditions.

Along the way, we ask why musicians are so willing to prioritize finishing the set over their own health—and why legitimate workplace injuries are so often repackaged as funny gig war stories.

Also discussed:

• The difficulty of explaining skills stored in muscle memory
• Expensive instruments and irresponsible parenting
• Load-in being harder than the actual performance
• The alarming absence of first-aid and safety planning
• Knowing when “the show must go on” has gone too far
• Stage falls, risers and unmarked hazards
• The dreaded electrified microphone
• Outdoor shows with no shade or heat plan
• Security failures and unwanted people onstage
• The role of contracts, insurance and collective bargaining

Resources for working bands: coverbandconfidential.com/links

This week, Adam and Dan recap a Fourth of July gig in Newnan, GA—heat, big municipal-event logistics, a few new/old songs, and lingering monitor gremlins—then pivot into a bigger industry issue: a Bloomberg article arguing a real “fun shortage,” with fewer places to hang out and higher costs, hurting venues and performance opportunities.

But this isn’t just another “venues are closing and everything is terrible” conversation. The bigger question is whether there are fewer gigs… or just fewer easy gigs.

If bars, clubs, and casual hangout spots are disappearing, bands have to rethink how they create opportunities. That means better marketing, clearer branding, stronger promo assets, faster communication, and finding ways to turn “a gig” into an actual event people want to leave the house for.

We also get into public gigs, private events, DIY scenes, themed shows, and why the bands that can reliably create fun may be the ones that survive the shift.

Topics include:
– Why “extra” spending is usually the first thing to go
– What bands can do instead of waiting on venues and promoters
– Whether the market is worse, different, or just harder to fake your way through

Is having fun actually harder than it used to be?

Are you seeing fewer gigs in your market?

Or are the opportunities just moving somewhere else?

Let us know: coverbandconfidential@gmail.com

Sweetwater Affilate Link: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xJE4rk

BACTrack Affiliate Link: https://www.bactrack.com/coverbandconfidential

MaestroDMX (10% off discount link): https://maestrodmx.com/discount/DISCOUNT4CBC?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fmaestrodmx

Blank Contracts & Riders: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/performance-contracts

Backing Track Resources: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/backing-track-resources

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

Linktree: linktr.ee/adampatrickjohnson

linktr.ee/coverbandconfidential

Follow us on Instagram!

@coverbandconfidential

@adampatrickjohnson

@danraymusician

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Or buy us a cup of coffee!

paypal.me/cbconfidential

And for more info check out

http://www.coverbandconfidential.com

cover band confidential, cover bands, working musicians, band business, live music venues, fewer gigs, bar gigs, private events, gigging musician, live music business, booking gigs, band marketing, how to get more gigs, music venues closing, live entertainment, event bands, wedding bands, corporate bands, musician podcast, cover band podcast, fun shortage, Bloomberg fun shortage, bands getting gigs, DIY music scene, local music venues

Dan is joined by honorary co-host Mike Schulte for a loose, funny, and surprisingly useful conversation about what happens when cover bands stop getting treated like “just the local guys” and start operating like the professional entertainment businesses they actually are.

Mike shares the long-game story of a hometown festival, a shady gatekeeper, years of being told to play for “exposure,” and the eventual full-circle moment of returning to that same town to play for 10,000 people on a proper stage with proper production.

From there, the conversation turns into a bigger discussion about building a real following: why being good is only the starting line, how fans become regulars, why personality matters as much as polish, and how bands can create moments people actually want to come back for.

Also: kitchen renovation horror stories, hidden house weirdness, horror movies, Mike Flanagan, kids discovering music, and a few current songs that are absolutely destroying in live sets.

This one is about playing the long game, staying human, and remembering that the audience connects with people—not just perfect performances.

Check out Mike's podcast! https://confusedbreakfast.com/

Sweetwater Affilate Link: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xJE4rk

BACTrack Affiliate Link: https://www.bactrack.com/coverbandconfidential

MaestroDMX (10% off discount link): https://maestrodmx.com/discount/DISCOUNT4CBC?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fmaestrodmx

Blank Contracts & Riders: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/performance-contracts

Backing Track Resources: https://www.coverbandconfidential.com/store/backing-track-resources

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you want to help be sure to like, subscribe and share with your friends!

If you have any questions please email at:

Coverbandconfidential@gmail.com

Consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coverbandconfidential

Or buy us a cup of coffee!

paypal.me/cbconfidential

And for more info check out

http://www.coverbandconfidential.com

cover band podcast, cover band tips, working musician podcast, live band advice, band business, how to grow a band following, local band advice, festival gigs, cover band festivals, booking festival gigs, band marketing, live music business, working cover band, professional cover band, band leader advice, music career advice, Mike Schulte, Pork Tornadoes, Cover Band Confidential, live performance tips, fan engagement, how bands build fans, band coaching, music business podcast

#CoverBandConfidential
#CoverBands
#WorkingMusician
#BandLife
#LiveMusic
#MusicBusiness
#GigLife
#BandAdvice
#FestivalGigs
#RockMoreSuckLess

What are the things bands really need to stop doing?

Not the usual Facebook-group purity tests about backing tracks, iPads, shorts, tip jars, or whether Mustang Sally should be illegal. We’re talking about the stuff that actually makes bands harder to hire, harder to enjoy, and harder to take seriously.
This week on Cover Band Confidential, Adam and Dan dig through nearly 1,000 responses to the question: “What’s something bands need to stop doing?” Then they filter the noise through the lens of working musicians who care about gigs, crowds, venues, and professionalism.

We get into why bands should stop undercutting the market, leaving dead air between songs, looking unprepared on stage, dressing like the gig doesn’t matter, trash-talking other bands, noodling between songs, taking long breaks, overplaying, bringing low energy, and being way too loud.
Plus, Adam recaps the first real-world run of the new AbleSet 3 setup for Live Band Karaoke, including custom canvas layouts, charts inside AbleSet, new songs added on the fly, and why the whole system might finally be dialed in.
If you’re in a cover band, tribute band, bar band, wedding band, corporate band, or any working live music situation, this one is a useful gut check.

Topics include:

*Why “exposure gigs” hurt more than they help*How dead air kills momentum*Dressing for the gig you want*Why public band drama is never worth it*Why “turn down” is still good advice

And a bunch more!

Subscribe for more conversations about cover bands, working musicians, band leadership, live performance, and how to rock more and suck less.

#CoverBandConfidential #CoverBand #WorkingMusician #LiveMusic #BandLife #GiggingMusician #CoverBandTips #BandLeader #MusicBusiness #LiveBand

When does a band actually need a manager?

A listener asked a great question: “Why do I need a manager with a small local cover band doing maybe five gigs a year?” And the honest answer is: you probably don’t.

In this episode, we talk through what a manager actually does, when management starts to make sense, and why most local cover bands are better off building systems, improving booking, tightening promo assets, or hiring help for specific tasks before giving someone a percentage of the band’s income.

We also cover the difference between a manager and a booking agent, whether a manager overrides the band founder, what kind of money needs to be coming in before management makes sense, and the real signs that your band has enough momentum, complexity, and opportunity to justify bringing someone in.

If you’re in a cover band, tribute band, wedding band, corporate band, or local working band trying to figure out how to grow without creating a small village of administrative sadness, this one is for you.

Topics covered:

• What a band manager actually does

• Why small local bands usually don’t need management

• Manager vs. booking agent

• When admin work starts limiting band growth

• How much money a band needs before hiring a manager

• Whether a manager can override the band founder

• Why consistent demand matters

• Better first hires before a manager

• Cover band business systems that matter

Ableset Discount Link: ableset.com/cbc
All over Band Leader Links: coverbandconfidential.com/links

Subscribe for more practical advice for cover band musicians and band leaders who want to rock more and suck less.

#CoverBand #BandManager #MusicBusiness #WorkingMusician #BandLeader

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