7 Things You Need At Shows

It never fails- it’s always the thing that I’m hunting for in my gear bag that I’ve left at home. Perhaps that’s why I’ve become a list nazi when it comes time to pack my gear. Here’s 7 things that always make my list no matter what gig I’m doing: 

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4 Quick Tips For Staying Productive While Traveling

I’ve been gone from home for the past week doing shows and recording sessions, and my schedule has felt terribly out of kilter. Here are 4 quick ways I’m trying to get something done while I’m on the road: 

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7 Ways to Make Your Music Gear Invisible

We own music equipment to serve a means, not to be an end in itself. Here are 7 ways to make your performances more about your music and less about fiddling with your equipment:

 • Practice pressing buttons. The quicker you are at getting the sound you want, the less you have to worry about twisting knobs during the performance.

• Pre-prep everything.  Don't wait to the last second to put together your equipment – test everything at home, so it's not a distraction at the venue.

• Buy intiutive equipment . If your live rig is difficult to work with, get rid of it. Speed is everything when you're making on the fly tweaks.

 • Buy quality equipment. Settling for cheap may be easier in the short term, but paying a few extra dollars for something that won't constantly need fixing saves time and a lot of headaches.

• Don't switch equipment too often. It's tempting to always buy the latest and greatest, but having equipment on stage that you're comfortable with is often more important than having all the latest bells and whistles.

 • Practice using your equipment at home. Don't just program at home – set up your equipment just like you'll be using it at the venue, and practice with it frequently. 

• Simplify, simplify. The fewer cables, software instruments, and keyboards you have on stage, the less likely you are to have a problem with one of them.

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Nashville Prep Diary: 6 Steps to Getting the Right Gear

I love new music gear. There’s nothing like the feel of a brand-spanking new instrument in your hand, full of possibilities. There’s just one small catch- I’m not filthy rich. Here are 6 ways I’m getting the gear I need to be successful in Nashville: 

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