Don’t Compete with the Couch: How to Get People to Your Gigs, Bar Band to Theater Band & AI for Musicians with Paul Kent

Gig Gab was Paul Kent’s idea, and he’s back in the co-host chair with 27 years of running the ten-piece Houserockers behind him. You’ll hear how Dave’s Underground band learns a whole new themed set every six weeks at the Seacoast Rep, why moving from bars to an 800-seat theater starts with deciding you are a theater band, and the frequency-versus-scarcity tension every local act wrestles with. Paul’s answer to the fan who says they’ll catch you next time is blunt: stop competing with the couch. Find the people already looking to get out, let them get to know the band and each other, and host a two-hour party every single night.

Then it’s AI for working musicians: gig posters, the Kanban booking tracker Paul built in half a day, lead lists, email campaigns, and Dave’s case for AI as the ultimate procrastination killer. Plus, a condo neighbor storms a 9:55 PM rehearsal demanding the band wrap by 8:30, and finds out he picked the wrong Dave. Stick around to hear who actually coined Always Be Performing.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 558 – Monday, November 2nd, 2026
  • November 2nd: World Ballet Day
  • Co-hosts: Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton
• 00:02:36 Roberto’s The Loving Mosh
• 00:03:02 Gig Gab as a marketing tool
• 00:04:53 Paul’s 5 Projects
  • The Houserockers – Ten piece corporate band
  • Solo Gigs
  • Various 4pc bands
• 00:07:32 Paul’s Houserockers Summer
• 00:08:37 Dave’s Gigs
• 00:10:44 The Underground Model
• 00:18:21 Rotating Tribute Band
• 00:21:06 Evolving from a bar band to a theater band
• 00:22:57 Mixing bar gigs in with your theater band
• 00:24:01 SPONSOR: Warby Parker – Our listeners can buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at https://WarbyParker.com/GIGGAB — and using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad
• 00:25:28 Frequency vs. Scarcity
• 00:27:29 Creating a band with a local presence
  • Build your mailing list!
  • Two ticketed, four-walled events per year
• 00:31:51 Audience Curation
  • What about: If I can see you “next time”, I won’t go “this time”?
• 00:34:19 Finding the right people
  • The Gig Gab Green Room
  • Don’t compete with the couch: find your true fans.
  • Market to people who already want to get off the couch!
  • Let people get to know each other AND get to know the band
  • Live music is a visual art
  • You are the curator of an emotional experience for people
  • Create a social contract: “For two hours we’re gonna hang out together, let’s have some fun.”
  • Related: Your Competition Is the Couch with Neonautica (Gig Gab 555)
• 00:41:37 Embrace your role as a facilitator for giving people a break!
• 00:42:25 AI: Renaissance or Doomsday?
  • [email protected]
• 00:45:03 AI as a tool for running bands
  • Making gig posters with the help of AI
• 00:50:30 Paul’s Gig Tracker Pro
  • ChatGPT
  • Kanban Chart
  • Build a lead list: “Find all booking contacts for my area”
  • Bounce booking ideas
  • Workshop an email campaign
  • AI is the best procrastination eliminator, bar none.
• 00:57:50 Using AI
  • Instinct
  • Muse
  • Grok Bot
• 01:01:04 Noise Complaints!
• 01:08:52 Gig Gab 558 Outro
  • Contact Paul Kent
    • PaulKentMusic.com
    • SVHouserockers.com
  • Contact Gig Gab!
    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
    • [email protected]
    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

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