From Dolly to Jay-Z: Staging World-Class Experiences with Ken Gay | Hacking Music w/John Pisciotta #204

From Dolly to Jay-Z: Staging World-Class Experiences with Ken Gay Training Session | Hacking Music w/John Pisciotta #204

In this episode of Hacking Music we delve into the intricacies of live music performance and stage production, offering listeners a unique blend of training, interviews, and actionable insights from the music industry's best. The episode features an in-depth conversation with Ken Gay, an expert in staging experiences for top artists like Dolly Parton, Madonna, Jay Z, The Gaithers, Pantera, Super Bowl Halftime shows, CeeLo Green, Lauryn Hill, Creed and many others, spanning over 20 years. Ken shares his journey from Texas to becoming a pivotal figure in live performances, his philosophy of 'seeing music,' and the importance of balancing emotional, physical, and logical elements to craft engaging shows. Through stories and examples, including innovative stage designs like Jay Z's butter sculpture and unique tactics to break audience belief for unforgettable performances, this episode unveils the 'action plus belief equals consequence' formula, emphasizing the significance of understanding the 'why' to make the 'how' easier in creating memorable music experiences.

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00:00 Welcome to Hacking Music: Unlocking Artist Potential

00:50 Monthly Call-In: Thriving Beyond the Dinosaur Music Industry

02:09 Special Guest Ken Gay: Master of Staging Experiences

03:38 Ken's Journey: From MTV Generation to Music Visionary

04:21 The Art of Seeing Music: Ken's Unique Approach

09:37 Crafting the Live Show: A Producer's Perspective

17:24 Understanding the Audience: The Key to a Memorable Show

19:01 Tools for Artists: Navigating the Chasm to Success

28:09 The Encore Philosophy: Starting with the End in Mind

33:30 Bono's Defy Gravity: A Lesson in Understanding the 'Why'

35:31 The Unpredictable Nature of Artistic Experiences

36:04 Embracing Change: The Key to Thriving in Art

36:38 Breaking Beliefs: The Essence of Memorable Performances

41:41 Real-World Examples of Breaking Beliefs in Performances

48:42 The Evolution of the Music Industry and the Modern Entertainer

51:57 Practical Advice for Aspiring Artists and Creative Entrepreneurs

01:02:39 The Importance of Why: Scaling Big Ideas in Music Production

01:04:19 Fast Five: Quick Insights from Ken

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WHO AM I? If we haven’t yet before - Hey 👋 I’m John, a guitar player turned entrepreneur and I’ve somehow built a holding co that builds media businesses. Publish advisory materials for training artists. Through my videos here on this channel, my podcast Hacking Music and writing, I share evidence-based strategies and tools to help you build a career you actually want.

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Tune in to Hacking Music for more. Hacking Music is an execution platform for action takers, moment makers and record breakers. Our mission is to serve the world by strengthening the next generation of artists and help you connect with the people that care the most [ your fans ] https://www.hacking-music.com 

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Special thanks to our sponsors, ArtistWerx and The Sync Center, for their support. Their contributions towards the music industry provide valuable opportunities for artists to thrive.

ArtistWerx is an execution company. We partner with managers to provide infrastructure, marketing, execution and monetization in the rapidly changing media industry. We create products and experiences to engage your customers, drive revenue, build careers and surpass your competitors. https://www.artistwerx.com 

The Sync Center - Trusted by Fortune 50 companies, Filmmakers, Ad Executives, Networks, and Major Film Studios. The Sync Center is a full-service music supervision and licensing company that has managed projects for hundreds of clients including national and global brands, agencies and cultural events. https://thesynccenter.com