Gig Gab – The Working Musician’s Podcast
Monique Powell of Save Ferris: Ska, Struggles, and Sweet Comebacks
Monique Powell of Save Ferris joins you for a no-holds-barred dive into the grind, grit, and glory behind making a band thrive. From opera training to ska dreams, Monique shares how preparation and passion powered her transformation from “Mo Sing Song” to full-on band manager (and back again…and forth again). You’ll hear how she navigated shifting to external management, dealt with label fallout, and used setbacks as fuel—because when the machine breaks, you fix it or build your own. Her fight to save her voice wasn’t just personal—it became a mission driven by fans who refused to let go.
This episode’s packed with real talk on defining success, the chaos of tour-routing post-COVID, and the rollercoaster of fan engagement. Monique lays it all out: if you want to be in a successful band, be ready to sweat every detail—gear, gigs, and gut decisions. Whether it’s dodging in-ear disasters or facing your fears head-on, Monique reminds you that showing up matters most. So, lace up, lean in, and remember: Always Be Performing.
- 00:00:00 Gig Gab 477 – Monday, April 14th, 2025
- April 14th: National Pecan Day
- Guest co-host: Monique Powell from Save Ferris
- 00:02:37 Preparation matters!
- Studying to be a opera singer
- Why aren’t you in a band?
- 00:06:50 I really wanted to be in a ska band
- The Shanties
- 00:08:30 From “Mo Sing Song” to “Mo Manage Band”
- Save Ferris was a great band, I knew we were a great band
- We’re a family, and I’m going to work as hard as I can to push us forward
- 00:13:49 Transitioning to external management
- “I don’t know how to take us to the next level at this point.”
- 00:16:03 You’re outnumbered. Shut up and sing.
- 00:18:27 Getting the machine working!
- 00:20:52 Opportunity when your label drops you
- 00:22:11 Define success for yourself
- 00:24:21 No bank was going to give us Two Million Dollars
- 00:25:30 Fighting to Save her Singing Voice
- 00:27:36 I Let the Fans Dicate How Hard I was Going To Fight
- 00:29:20 Your greatest fear can be fuel
- Business Brain, Dave’s other podcast
- 00:33:33 Now I fight for our fans
- 00:34:30 Life is like rollerskating
- 00:37:23 Get Dancing from Save Ferris on April 25th!
- Learn the Choreography!
- 00:39:08 FAN ENGAGEMENT…It’s part of Always Being Performing!
- 00:42:31 Letting the fans be my compass
- 00:43:21 In-ears became a liability
- 00:46:26 LITFA
- 00:48:39 Touring with a monitor engineer
- 00:50:58 Tour-routing post-COVID
- Headlining a tour is like throwing a birthday party and wondering how many people are going to show up
- 00:56:04 Gig Gab 477 Outtro
- Follow Monique Powell and Save Ferris
- Contact Gig Gab!
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