Adam welcomes Dave Hamilton of Gig Gab for a change of pace: instead of another episode about bad gig behavior, they share the live music moments that remind them why they keep doing this. 

From opening for Panic! at the Disco in front of 15,000 people to a casino crowd that drew a warning from management, from a record-breaking night at Venkman’s to the rush of finally nailing a demanding song live, Adam and Dave trade stories about the gigs that stay with you.

They also get into crowd energy, flow state, taking early success for granted, performing for the event instead of yourself, and learning to reset after a rough moment onstage.

Listen to Gig Gab: https://www.giggabpodcast.com/

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 

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If you have any questions please email at:

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A venue cancels the gig. The band loses the money, the promotional work, and sometimes the trust of the audience. Is that just part of being a working musician—or should venues be held to the same standard of professionalism we expect from performers?

We read a listener’s story about multiple canceled bookings, consider what a venue may be weighing, and talk through the real limits of “just get a contract” advice. Then we get practical about written confirmations, weather contingencies, cancellation fees, tracking venue patterns, and sharing reliable information with other musicians.

This episode also includes our Halloween and travel catch-up, a Maestro DMX 1.6 firmware update, CBC history, and a sponsor message from QMe Prompter.

QMe Prompter is a lyrics and chords app for working musicians, with voice following, backing tracks, stem mixing, MIDI cues, and Jam Mode. 
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6756925805
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qmeprompter.android

Subscribe for conversations about gigging, band leadership, and making a living as a working musician.

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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!
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@adampatrickjohnson
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YouTube chapters

0:00 Intro, Halloween, and travel plans
3:35 Maestro DMX firmware 1.6 and AI integration
5:35 This week in CBC history
7:35 Cue Me Prompter sponsor
9:19 The listener’s question: what about venues?
13:10 The cost of a canceled gig for the band
14:24 What does the venue lose?
15:40 The venue’s perspective and the first rainy show
18:16 Informal agreements and the leverage problem
19:41 What does “acting in kind” mean?
20:50 Dan’s story about a venue that didn’t pay
22:58 Retaliation, reputation, and protecting the audience
24:23 Practical steps when there’s no contract
25:39 Weather plans and cancellation terms
27:15 Track venue patterns and share facts
29:09 Price in the risk and renegotiate
30:28 Being reliable without being endlessly accommodating
32:19 What has worked in your market?
33:19 Building leverage and finding other ways to book
34:49 A final perspective on how common this really is
36:14 Partnering with a venue and setting the bar
36:37 Wrap-up

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:
[email protected]

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 
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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

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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 [email protected].


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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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!
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@adampatrickjohnson
@danraymusician

If you have any questions please email at:
[email protected]

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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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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:

[email protected]

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 

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#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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] 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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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 

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 **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])**.

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 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

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

#CoverBand #WorkingMusician #LiveMusic