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PODCAST

Gig To Live

Full-time gigging musician John Voelz discusses the strategies, mindset shifts, and real-world lessons that help you build something that actually lasts, delivering smart and practical insight with a sense of humor that keeps it real and approachable. If you gig, or want to gig, this is for you.

arts performing arts

All Episodes

57:23

Ep 59: A Conversation with Sunny Mitchell

Gig To Live ·

2026/10/06

In this episode, John talks with Sunny Mitchell, a musician, performer, choreographer, educator, and creative force in the Sacramento area. Sunny has spent her career moving between dance, musical theatre, education, and American roots music, including her work with The Wildwood Roses and the Granite City Ramblers. She is also the co-founder of the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation, which uses the performing arts to explore American heritage through music, songwriting, education, and ...

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30:05

Ep 58: Game Over (Training Ourselves to Stop the...

Gig To Live ·

2026/10/01

In this episode, John explores the ways we can train ourselves to stop playing the comparison game with other musicians. Because it’s not as easy as just saying, “stop that.” How do we get out of the trap of measuring our success and self-worth against our peers? Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gmail.com

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28:03

Ep 57: Play On

Gig To Live ·

2026/09/29

In this episode, John talks about the value of play for the gigging musician. Not the thing that happens when we are gigging. Something entirely different. Something that is just for us. Something where the purpose and end result is nothing other than for our own enjoyment and pleasure. There is a bunch of fun science behind the value of play and John unpacks some info from anthropologists, and those who study play from an evolutionary and biological perspective. If this episode sounds like a...

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38:07

Ep 56: The Mindful Musician

Gig To Live ·

2026/09/24

In this episode, John explores the concept of mindfulness and what it means to be present in the moment. For musicians, whose lives can be filled with noise, distraction, expectation, and the constant pull toward what comes next, learning to notice where we are can change the way we experience both music and life. Get ready for some introspection, mental health talk, and some ways forward. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you ...

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62:53

Ep 55: A Conversation with Michael Gregory

Gig To Live ·

2026/09/22

In this episode, John talks with Sacramento-born guitarist Michael Gregory, who began playing professionally at just 14 and went on to build a remarkable career as a performer, recording artist, touring musician, and educator. Michael spent 20 years in Nashville, touring and recording with artists across rock, country, R&B, and jazz, while his guitar work has appeared on hundreds of recordings, television soundtracks, and national advertising campaigns. He has also performed o...

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32:21

Ep 54: The "Tip"ping Point

Gig To Live ·

2026/09/17

In this episode, John looks at the shifting culture of tipping in the United States, what has driven the changes, and what that shift means for musicians who have long relied on tip income. The episode also includes a Top Ten list of the best ways John has seen tips roll in. This list is a bit more top-shelf than the conventional ways you may have been encouraged to increase tip flow. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can dro...

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27:51

Ep 53: Part of Someone Else's Story (Musings on...

Gig To Live ·

2026/09/15

In this episode, John explores the strange and powerful ways musicians become part of our lives even when we’ve never met them. He talks about why we can feel genuine grief when a musician dies, and how our brains bond with artists through music. Get ready for some fun science parts as well. And for those of us who perform, there’s another side to that connection. Every night we may be becoming part of someone else’s story without ever knowing it. Because everyone in our audience has a story,...

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29:25

Ep 52: Storytime Volume 3 (Drunken Moments)

Gig To Live ·

2026/09/10

In this episode, John shares another collection of stories from life as a full-time musician. This time, the stories involve drunken moments. When alcohol becomes a main character in the story, it’s usually a story that will be retold. Some are funny, some are uncomfortable, and all of them are unforgettable. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gmail.com

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31:51

Ep 51: Controversial Music

Gig To Live ·

2026/09/08

In this episode, John kicks off Season Two of Gig to Live with a look at controversial music. Some songs were controversial when they were released. Others became controversial years later as culture changed around them. Some songs were never actually about what people thought they were about in the first place. John looks at the stories, misunderstandings, cultural shifts, and uncomfortable conversations surrounding the music that causes a stir and offers some options for musicia...

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30:19

Ep 50: Life on the Road

Gig To Live ·

2026/08/25

In this episode, John celebrates 50 episodes of Gig to Live and the end of Season One by talking about what it’s really like to live on the road full-time—the freedom, the benefits, and the realities that don’t always get talked about. It’s a life with plenty of rewards, but it comes with a few surprises, too. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gmail.com

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25:10

Ep 49: The Wise Person and the Cynic

Gig To Live ·

2026/08/20

In this episode, John introduces two characters who share a lot of experiences that have shaped them . . . The Wise Person and the Cynic. They’ve both been around. They’ve both paid attention. They’ve both been disappointed, surprised, burned, and taught a few things the hard way. Sometimes, it's hard to tell which one we are becoming. They have a lot in common. But, one of them leads to longevity and the other's future is uncertain. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show...

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23:42

Ep 48: Let's Talk About Aging

Gig To Live ·

2026/08/18

In this episode, John talks about aging as a musician. We celebrate longevity, but we also make jokes about artists who stay working too long. We admire experience while remaining obsessed with youth. So let's talk about aging, music, and the strange relationship between the two. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gmail.com

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35:40

Ep 47: It's All Scotch

Gig To Live ·

2026/08/13

In this episode, John brings together two things he loves deeply: music and single malt Scotch. On the surface, they may not seem to have much in common. One belongs on a stage, the other in a glass. But spend enough time with either one and you start to notice something. This episode is an exploration of that metaphor. Let's have some fun with it. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gma...

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45:28

Ep 46: The Spaces We're In

Gig To Live ·

2026/08/11

In this episode, John explores something every musician needs but rarely thinks about: attention to space. The spaces we live in, work in, play in, create in, rest in. There’s a science to it and a felt human need for us to pay attention to it. Drawing on ideas from his book Becoming an Idea Mentalist, John introduces four spaces that have become essential to how he thinks about creativity: Uncommon Space, Hiding Space, Spirit Space, and Inner Space. What those spaces are, why they matter, an...

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31:13

Ep 45: SOUL over SKILL

Gig To Live ·

2026/08/06

In this episode, John explores what is actually most important about music performances. What do people remember? What do they talk about with their friends? Why will they (or won’t they) return to your shows? If you've ever wondered why some performances are unforgettable while technically flawless ones are quickly forgotten, this conversation is for you. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at ...

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25:35

Ep 44: It's Not About 3 Hours

Gig To Live ·

2026/08/04

In this episode, John responds to a Facebook post he made about paying professionals a good rate. He was surprised by some of the comments that came from some professionals and business owners. No one was combative in their posts, but it became clear that some people see paying a musician for an hourly job as opposed to paying a professional business owner for their craft. John explores many reasons why a professional musician must be viewed differently than an hourly employee. Support ...

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52:55

Ep 43: AI Never Made Me Cry

Gig To Live ·

2026/07/28

In this often requested episode, John takes a bit more time to share his thoughts on AI and its use in music. He addresses some of the fears and talks about humankind's long battle with any new technology. He also suggests we may be asking the wrong questions regarding AI. Buckle up for an extended episode that is sure to be a favorite. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gmail.com

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29:31

Ep 42: Proverbs and Half-Truths

Gig To Live ·

2026/07/23

In this episode, John challenges some of the most popular pieces of conventional wisdom. Inspirational sayings can encourage us, but they can also oversimplify life and business. For working musicians, a catchy phrase isn't always good advice. John explores why proverbs are often true much of the time, but almost never all of the time, and why every musician should think twice before building a career around a bumper sticker philosophy. Support the show If you have a question, an idea f...

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23:45

Ep 41: My Music History Part Two

Gig To Live ·

2026/07/21

In this episode, John shares the second part of his music history, finishing the story of his first guitar and the art contest he won at a concert that allowed him to purchase it. He walks through his early performances, his jobs working for churches, and how all that experience led him to where he is today. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gmail.com

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29:24

Ep 40: My Music History Part One

Gig To Live ·

2026/07/16

Prompted by a recent conversation at a show, in this episode, John shares his music history, beginning with his childhood influences, early infatuations with music, and how he won an art contest that would allow him to buy his first guitar. Support the show If you have a question, an idea for a show, or you would just like to say "hey," you can drop me an email at gigtolivepodcast@gmail.com

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