Mining the Gigs You Want: Find Gigs Where Musicians Aren't (Episode 176)

Make Music Your Business.

One of the biggest pain points for musicians is getting gigs. Not just any gigs, but enough of them, and the right kinds, the gigs you really want. In Episode 176, a short Seven Minute Success episode recorded right after Grammys week 2025, Nomad shares a fresh perspective on how to find gigs as a musician: change the way you look.

Change something to see something new

Nomad starts with his hair. Every time he gets a haircut, he walks out feeling like a million bucks, with a new perspective on the things he is working on. He can't explain why, but it works every time.

The same goes for the gig hunt. If your methods are the same as everyone else's, so are your results. The usual routes are the local jam sessions, scrolling socials and DMing people, emailing, texting or calling the people you already know. Nothing wrong with any of them. But they are crowded.

"We got to change our methods. We got to change the way we seek work."

Nomad, 2:40

Go where the other musicians aren't

The move that has always worked for Nomad is going where other musicians don't think to go. Find rooms where you are the only musician, or one of very few.

"Go somewhere where you are perhaps the only musician in the room."

Nomad, 2:55

His example: the Chamber of Commerce. Most communities have one, with weekly or monthly meetings for local businesses. Those businesses throw events, and events need music. Show up on a semi-consistent basis, once a month, every other month, or even once a quarter. Bring something that tells people what you do: a half-page flyer about what your band can provide for an event, or a business card with a call to action or a QR code that leads to a page saying who you are and how you can elevate their next live event.

Chances are you will be one of very few musicians there. The others will likely be hobbyists with a day job who play a little guitar or piano on the side. You are the professional in the room. That is Savvy from the ETHOS code: understand where the work actually comes from, then put yourself there.

Share what works for you

The Chamber of Commerce is just one example. Nomad wants to hear yours. What are the best ways you have found to get gigs that musicians wouldn't normally think of? Drop them in the comments on YouTube or in the DMs.

The bigger lesson is the mindset. Change your actions and you change your outcomes. And when you walk into a business mixer with a flyer in your pocket, remember: everything you do is an audition.

The takeaway

Stop fighting over the same gigs as every other player in town. Reframe the search, go where the musicians aren't, and show up prepared to explain the value you bring. If you want a full roadmap for finding and landing more work, grab the free Get the Gig guide.

Get the gig. Keep the gig. Build the career.

Watch on YouTube or find every episode on the TCM Podcast page.