Big Gig Energy, Manchester (2026)

03/10/2023

Big Gig Energy Season 2!

It's a bit of a Catch-22- how do you find the time to produce, write, host, record, edit, publish, and promote a podcast about being a professional musician, when you also have a full gigging schedule(70+ gigs a year), work fulltime hours making guitar parts by hand, and have various other side-hustles including instrument-building?

Is it possible to devote enough time to running a podcast about being a musician, whilst also ...well, being a musician?
..Nonetheless, I've been powering on. I've a few names on the list for this season's interviews already and will be asking a few more folks in the coming weeks. Season 2 will be mostly interviews- having set out my manifesto in Season 1, Season 2 will hopefully primarily explore the experiences of people who've taken the leap to go professional- often leaving secure day jobs behind in favour of self-employment as musicians.

I'm expecting release date early next year... but don't hold me to that- quality and consistency over deadlines!

Thanks to everyone for the love and support so far.
Wherever and whenever your next gig is, I hope it's a belter.

-Steve x

📸- , at an awesome gig with the band earlier this year 🔥

01/04/2023

Season 1: completed it mate!!

Absolutely floored and humbled by the response I've had to episode ten of Big Gig Energy! Was liberating talking about some pretty heavy stuff and offering some insight and solutions for those looking to both build a career in music AND stay sane in the process.

Thanks so much to everyone that's tuned in to the podcast so far, especially to my guests and supporters for helping to make it happen; in particular-

Ep.5 guest 🙏
Ep.8 guest 🙏
Ep.10 guest 🙏

And a big thanks also to Paul from / /
for lending me a gorgeous ribbon mic and mini vocal booth, in addition to some great advice which made a massive difference to my audio quality from episode 4 onwards 🙏

That's a wrap for season one now... currently enjoying a few weeks' break from episode planning before I get stuck into season two! Hoping for another 10-episode run- mostly interview episodes; the focus will be on what got people into music initially, and tips for transitioning from amateur to professional.

Roll on season 2!

23/03/2023

🎉🎊EPISODE TEN NOW STREAMING🎊🎉

This is it; the final episode of season one of the podcast!!

This is an extended, action-packed, feature-length, but also bittersweet, and deeply personal, finale to the season.

My guest, (from /) and I will put my professional musical career under a microscope in search of some insight into mental health and wellbeing within the music industry... a sector seemingly set up to destroy both!

Over the course of my career I've had some incredible highs, but also some (quite literally) death-defying lows. For the first time ever, I'm going to publically air my mind's dirty laundry, and with Alice's help, examine the scenarios that lead me to absolute rock bottom, and then the changes in thinking and approach which helped me turn things around and build a career in music that worked for me.
..Then, we'll do the traditional BGE interview, where I'll talk about Big Gigs, going pro, and how Stadium Arcadium is probably the greatest album of all time, period.

Big Gig Energy episode 10 is streaming now on all decent platforms... don't sleep on this one!

(TLDR- last episode now streaming pls listen if u can)

20/03/2023

Episode 10 guest announcement!

The final episode of season 1 will come with a bit of a twist- my guest will be interviewing me!

I'll be welcoming (deep breath) wellbeing coach, multiple business owner, speaker, LinkedIn sensation, host of the Mind Over Grind and podcasts, casual bass/ukulele player, and all-round good-egg from to the interviewer's chair.

She'll grill me about the times when a career in music wasn't so good for me, and when, combined with other factors, it took an extreme toll on my mental health.

It's going to be very personal, but we'll be tackling a sensitive subject- the challenge of keeping on top of your wellbeing, whilst working as an artist in an industry that sometimes feels designed from the bottom up to destroy your self-esteem!

The final episode of season one goes out at dawn this coming Thursday, 23/03/23!

16/03/2023

🎊🎉EPISODE NINE NOW STREAMING🎊🎉

Since a certain blues guitarist (maybe) did a deal with the Dark One, music and making questionable agreements have been very closely linked.
This week we're looking at some of the different types of contract musicians have to face;

-Management contracts
-Record Label contracts
-Individual Gig contracts
-Agency contracts
and
-Client contracts.

I'll take a quick look at each along with a rough guide to not getting done over :)
Party on dudes!

Curious about my 1:1 musician-to-musician coaching?
Check out my flashy new website: www.biggigenergy.co.uk
Follow me on Instagram:
leggett91

09/03/2023

🎊🥁🎉EP.8 NOW LIVE🎊🥁🎉

This week I'll interview drummer, studio engineer, closet classical trombonist, and all-round thoroughly decent chap , having caught up with him at
in Blackpool last Sunday.

Matt has a fascinating backstory- from starting off really young as a professional classical musician, before being seduced by the dark side of drums, improvisation, and generally rocking out (in part, by one of my favourite albums of all time, no less). He's since become a highly sought-after gun-for-hire all around the North West.

Matt also has some particularly fascinating takes on what makes a Big Gig, how to progress as a pro musician, and how to get those bigger and better bookings!

Tune in today on your platform of choice and don't miss out; search for 'Big Gig Energy'!

07/03/2023

THIS THURSDAY!
Honoured to release my second interview episode just after dawn on Thursday.

I'll be interviewing drummer, studio engineer, (and closet classical trombonist) , having caught up with him at
in Blackpool on Sunday.

Matt has a fascinating backstory- from starting off really young as a professional classical musician, before being seduced by the dark side of drums, improvisation, and generally rocking out (in part, by one of my favourite albums of all time, no less). He's since become a highly sought-after gun-for-hire all around the North West.

Matt also has some particularly fascinating takes on what makes a Big Gig, how to progress as a pro musician, and how to get those bigger and better bookings!

Tune in on Thursday and don't miss out; search for 'Big Gig Energy' on your platform of choice!

02/03/2023

🎊🎉EPISODE 7 IS NOW LIVE!🎉🎊

This week we're looking at some bigger picture, macro-level stuff- specifically on getting your planning in order!

We'll look at:
-Strategy
-Goals
-Momentum
and, 'Changing Gears' to take things to the next level!

I'll also go off-piste for a bit and whinge about my time taking a break from music for a couple of months; working as a 'normie' stacking shelves in a well-known UK supermarket...

Curious about my 1:1 musician-to-musician coaching? Check out my flashy new website: www.biggigenergy.co.uk

Follow me on Instagram: leggett91

If you've enjoyed this podcast, but have no need for my professional services, please consider 'buying me a coffee' to support my work :) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigGigEnergy

Or, even just rating this on your provider of choice would be a massive help to me if you can spare a few clicks.

23/02/2023

🎉EPISODE SIX NOW STREAMING!! 🎊🎉

I'll look at two essentials for any band or musician today!

Promo packs - because they get you gigs!
Merch - because (for original artists in particular) it makes those gigs pay!

In this episode I'll give you a crash course in getting both elements snazzy as all heck, to show your best self to promoters and venue owners. Also, the secret to good merch- audiences paying you, to advertise you! Paid advertising baby, YEAH!

Listen now on Anchor, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and some other streaming services I hadn't previously heard of.

If you enjoy this episode, please do me a massive favour and rate this podcast!

Want to save a load of time, money, and frustration getting your band to the next level? Maybe you need a hand putting your promo pack together? Consider some of my 1:1 musician-to-musician coaching!

Check out my flashy new website: www.biggigenergy.co.uk

Follow me on Instagram:
leggett91

17/02/2023

THANK YOU!!!🎉🎉🎊🎊🎆

When I first started planning the podcast, I set myself a 'best case scenario' target for monthly downloads/listens.

I'm absolutely stoked that we smashed that target a week early, shortly before episode 4 went out!

Thanks so much to everyone that's followed, listened, downloaded, liked, shared, and/or rated the podcast!!

It really means the world... putting this together has taken a lot of work and a steep learning curve, so for people to be listening and responding makes this all worth it 🥰

There are four more episodes of season one to come and I can't wait to share them with you all!

16/02/2023

🎉EPISODE FIVE NOW STREAMING!! 🎊🎉

It's time for an interview episode!

This week I'm sitting down with Bradford-based singer, guitarist, and bandleader, Cieran Miller, for a conversation about what Big Gig Energy means to him.

When I first started working with Cieran in Autumn 2021, I was immediately blown away by how he brings his biggest energy and best self to every single gig, regardless of how many people were there or how much it paid.

To me, these were classic indicators of B.G.E, and I was keen to have him on the podcast as my first guest interview!

Amongst other things, we'll discuss the importance of treating every gig as a Big Gig, highlights from his career so far, the approach he takes to performing and songwriting, and the jangly joy of playing 12-string guitars.

Also, I play an ocarina solo to avoid being sued.

Check Cieran and his projects out here:

Listen now on Anchor, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and some other streaming services I hadn't previously heard of.

If you enjoy this episode, please do me a massive favour and rate this podcast!

Want to save a load of time, money, and frustration getting your band to the next level? Consider some of my 1:1 musician-to-musician coaching!

Check out my flashy new website: www.biggigenergy.co.uk

Follow me on Instagram:
leggett91

13/02/2023

THIS THURSDAY!
Honoured to release my first ever interview episode at first light on Thursday morning.

I'll be interviewing singer, guitarist, bandleader, and yacht-rock entheusiast !

Cieran consistently brings the same powerful stage presence too all his gigs, whether (objectively) big or small, so it was a real treat to drill down into his philosophy on music and experiences in the industry- and how to make every gig feel massive... in addition to some cracking insights into his songwriting processes.

Big Gig Energy

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