One Month As A Musician // Making A Living In A Small Market 

So now we’re definitely gonna need July vlog too love these 🙌🏾

dude this type of vid is awesome!

I love your videos 👍🏽 I also love how you keep your setup simple. It’s really been inspiring me to do the same

Dang dude, you’re working hard around town! Way to keep the grind going Mike!

Can we get 6 more of these this year please mike 🙏

Fantastic video Mike. I truly appreciate all the details and descriptions and hard work that went into it. I gave up on editing for my tiny little fish channel, I loved seeing all the things you actually do in a day, hope your getting paid well!

So cool that Janek on bass is in Steve's band! He's got a great channel too

Absolutely insane to make a 1 month long journey in one video, the jump cuts were a bit odd considering your other vlogs are alot more flowing but still a great vlog, very happy to see this in my notification on my Lock Screen. Keep it up Mike! Love the videos. P.s days off after the previous day or two being hectic and tiring are the best feeling knowing you get to take it easy for a day.

Diet and sleep are everything man. Good luck. Love the videos 🤘🏻🥁

Really enjoyed seeing (and hearing!) the variety to your playing.

Cool video! You're a busy man and living dangerously with backline snares!!!! 🙃

Inspired. Thanks Mike!

Really enjoyed this video Mike! Thank you for sharing! I can only imagine the amount of work to not only film it, but edit and organize! 😮

Thanks for sharing. You are really getting out there and making it happen! That is good stuff. Wishing you continued success.

It is a blessing to wake up and do what you love every day. Thanks for the vid Mr. Malone!!

This was a cool peek behind the curtain. Thanks Mike!

Great video awesome 👏

Really nice presentation Mike! You are great!

Thanks for the vlog, you lead an enviable life!

I didn't know it at the time, but my family and I saw you play at The Lakely in Eau Claire in June 2023. We were really enjoying the music and I took a short video. I was cleaning out old photos and videos the other day, came across it and realized it was you. Hardest working drummer in Wisconsin!

Loved the video Mike! Would you consider doing one that documents the November/December gig season?

Awesome video mike I know it was a lot of work but it was really nice to see all the gigs you get and video them thank you for the video

Love the new deck nice job. Thanks for the full month video. Would love to see a video about the mij kit. It looks cool

Mike, thank you, thank you, thank you for taking all of us along with you for an entire month. I am just blown away by the amount of work you put into 30 days. I loved the shows when you were able to put in short clips of your actual music you were playing. Are care, my busy fried and thanks again.❤️🙏👏❤️🙏👏❤️

love this style on content congrats on having such a full schedule seems like you love what you do which is really inspirational. All the best from England!

Fascinating stuff Mike, thanks for the insight

Another great video Mike! It's great to see how similar it can be for busy drummers on the other side of the pond! I appreciate how much work this video would of took. Which Prius do you drive by the way? I like the way all your kit fits in the boot! All the best mate, enjoy the rest of your year.

Your channel is great, the focus on being a legit local working drummer along with all the other subject your cover is great. I’m shocked this channel isn’t bigger. Keep up the good work!

Great job Mike. As a working drummer as well I know how much effort and time went into making this. Great job and enjoyed watching. 🤘🏼

I give you props, I’m tired after one gig can’t imagine doing multiple in one day! As a a drummer that’s pretty tough!

Love your videos man! Great job.

Thanks for sharing, Mike. I'm a gigging musician in NorCal, but I'm new to the scene. Appreciate you sharing your experiences. Music is medicine.

Awesome work Mike! too hard indeed to do it on your own, it's time you get some help from someone else to film you while you work and create these mini movies which are fantastic! :)

love these vlogs!

Thanks!

Love the video, Mike! Your hustle and dedication is inspirational. Curious, what size cart are you using to haul it all? Pushing everything in 1 trip sounds like a dream haha

That Steve Smith photo bomb was the funniest thing ever 😂😂

My son and I have a 60's Pearl MIJ Challenger that sounds huge, they are Mahogany shells which I think that was the usual but man they have some body to them. Yesterday i pulled out the 13in that has Remo Emperor batter and Remo Ambassador reso and that 13in sounds crazy good.

Love the vids! I've got to find one of those New Classic snares!

Thanks for sharing. Great video that shows how much work goes into each performance. I have a question. The snare drums that you play at 3:34 and 33:59 have that distinct tub/honk sound. May I ask what are those snares? Thanks.

I was hoping for another vlog style video.

29:58 - Pedro Navaja!!!

"Unbearably humid...when it's not humid it's raining." Did you move to Florida?! Feel your pain there, sir!

Charts! If you're like me, the band(s) I'm in change set lists so often I always have to bring charts!

Hi Mike, nice content i enjoy it, and relate to it, i live this way also, i teach, gig, sub, try to do content and everything else... you menage to do a really nice job here. I have a question, i could notice you don't mic your kits on gig, why is that, and how do you make it work? I want to connect with you if that's possible, i have a few more questions, if thats ok... Anyway you rock! 🥁😎

Are those handkerchief head mutes you use for the low volume stuff something you made yourself or can you purchase them somewhere? Great video!

Love the videos! What's that iPad holder for the hihat stand? I need one like that.

Pedro Navaja 😎

Hustlin', hustlin', hustl- hustlin', hustlin' (WHOO!) Everyday he hustlin'. Er-Everyday he hustlin'. He got them rare drums. Rickit-rickit- rare drums. 😆😆😆😆😆

How do u get the word out that you are a drummer in a small town?

Great video as always Mike! I was wondering if you’d be able to give some advice when it comes to booking gigs. My band always struggles when it comes to first contacting venues/bars. What should you include in an email or direct message that stands out to the booking teams? We do both longer cover sets and shorter original music sets opening for larger acts. Any advice would be appreciated Mike! Thanks.

Hey, thanks for doig this, can you tell me what snare you used in the backround tracks at 8:00 and 11:00 as well as the kick at 13:00min?

Hey Mike! Assuming all of the drum work interludes are you and they all sound great I gotta say at 9:30 during the deck build segment the snare drum sounds AWESOME! 👏 What’s that set up?

Da Fuk?! Steve Smith was in Oshkosh!

Wow! What do you use to manage your time? iCal? some other software? or is it all in your head!? - also would be nice to know roughly how much you made that month!? great video thanks.

Dear Mike, i meant to write since quite a while. I love your videos. Because they show what i call an 'everyday hero', a real working musician. No flashy drum tricks, not just opinions, nothing screaming in your face. Love your humble drumming, your storytelling, and most of all: that despite all the work it is, you seem to be enjoying what you do and seem to be able to make a decent living out of it. I am happy for you, i think you deserve it. And you convey an important message: music can be a profession, not just a hobby, you don't need to be a genius, but just be dedicated, professional and actually treat it like a profession and not like a hobby. Keep doing what you do, respect & all the best, lf you like check out some of the videos with my funk band 'Funky Cheeks'. ❤ from Munich. If you ever visit, write me and get a free city tour. Michael

Can you tell us what software you use for your iPad to write out drum charts?

Would love to hear some FOH from the gigs. Clips that are short enough for monetization.

What is the app you are using to chart your gigs?

Now I’m questioning why I use drum bags😅. But what if it’s raining really really hard?

Question. Why not grab a behringer p16m for when places use the x32 boards?

Man, you don't stop! Without getting into specific numbers on your income, but given that this June was such a busy gig month for your, percentage wise, how did all those gigs boost the monthly income? Again, asking for a percentage estimate, not real numbers on income. Thanks!

Mike we gotta get you a KickBloc