The Full Time Function Musician Podcast
The Full Time Function Musician Podcast is here to help grow your function musician business. Get inspired and learn from others who have been doing it successfully for years. Join host Jack Twiner and his guests as they explore all the topics involved with becoming a full time function musician.
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Episodes
6 days ago
6 days ago
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with singer-songwriter and guitarist Mikey Rainsford to explore his journey from original bands to becoming a full-time working musician. Mikey shares how he built his business, Blackbird Weddings, combining music, wedding videography, and design. We dive into the struggles of the industry, building a brand from scratch, how Instagram drives his leads, and the power of personality in business. Expect laughs, chaos, and practical advice—from being toppled by a wedding guest to making money writing songs for strangers.
Connect with Mikey
@mikeyrainsford
@blackbirdweddingsuk
www.blackbirdweddingsuk.com
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
In this refreshingly honest episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with wedding and event pianist Christa Hugo about thriving in the function scene while embracing her introverted nature.
From her early ballet-accompanist gigs at age 12 to leading choirs of hundreds and becoming a sought-after wedding pianist, Krista shares the twists and turns of her career — and how she navigated it all as an introvert.
We dig into:
The difference between introversion and shyness
How to protect your energy in high-output social roles
Finding your niche as a quieter creative
Social media struggles (and alternatives)
The underestimated power of quieter musicians
Whether you're a fellow introvert or just interested in a different perspective on the music industry, this one is packed with wisdom and warmth.
Connect with Christa
@christahugopianist
www.christahugopianist.co.uk
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with premier wedding and event pianist Josh Nesbitt and international Jewish singer Serge Fagelman about how they found their way into the Jewish events scene — and how that niche transformed their careers. From high-energy weddings that blend tradition with chaos to the power of carving out a specialist role, they share how musicians can turn one gig into ten, and why mindset, structure, and adaptability are everything. Whether you're in the function world or just curious about what makes these events so unique, this episode is packed with insight, stories, and laughs.
Connect with Josh & Serge...
@joshplaysthepiano
@sergemusicofficial
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
On today's episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I'm joined by Tim Sentance, musician-turned-entrepreneur and the founder of Boujee Music. Tim shares his inspiring journey from being a freelance jazz musician to becoming a successful business owner. We dive into the do’s and don'ts of making the leap into entrepreneurship, as well as the mindset shifts necessary for the transition. Tim also shares some memorable stories from his gigging days that shaped his path. Whether you’re looking to move from musician to business owner or just curious about the process, this episode is packed with valuable insights!
Connect with Tim...
@timsentance
@boujeemusiclive
www.boujeemusic.com
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with my good friend, Paul Glover — a professional drummer, teacher, and entrepreneur — to chat about his incredible journey from early struggles at ACM to touring with major acts and eventually building a successful entertainment business. We also talk about how meeting Paul played a pivotal role in the origin of my business and essentially this podcast itself. We discuss the power of answering opportunities, building a strong network, and creating a sense of community in the music industry. Plus, you’ll hear hilarious gig stories (including playing a show with a broken drum kit), his philosophy on teaching, and how one answered phone call changed everything. This is an inspiring listen from my perspective for any musician or creative professional!
Connect with Paul...
Paul Glover Drummer
Twilight Music Entertainment
Go Dynamite
Rich Meehan Trio
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
In this episode, I sit down with singer, guitarist, and DJ Tom Powell to chat about how he’s built a thriving career as a full-time function musician without niching down. We talk about making versatility your superpower, using pub gigs as paid marketing, and the power of creating head-turner moments that land you bookings. Tom also shares candid stories from the road — from wild wedding moments (including being slapped by a guest!) to heartwarming care home gigs. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale smarter, this is packed with ideas to help grow your business.
Connect with Tom...
@tompowellmusic
www.tompowellmusic.com
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with Richie Cooper from Happy Hour to talk about the realities of running a function band in today’s industry. We dive into their journey from punk covers to packed wedding dance floors, how they’ve adapted to industry changes, and the business strategies that keep them consistently booked. Richie shares insights on branding, social media, and the rise of pop-punk nostalgia in weddings. Whether you're a gigging musician or just curious about the function band world, this episode is packed with stories, industry know-how, and plenty of laughs.
Connect with Richie...
@richiecooper77
@happyhourmusic
www.richie-cooper.com
www.happyhourmusic.co.uk
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Monday Mar 03, 2025
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with singer, DJ, event producer, and business coach Kerri Layton to discuss the reality of building a successful music career. We dive into:
🎤 How to market yourself without feeling sleazy💰 The biggest mistakes musicians make when selling their services📈 The secret to getting consistent bookings (hint: it’s all about follow-ups!)🔥 Why balancing creativity and business is the key to long-term success
Kerri also shares her personal journey, from overcoming a vocal injury to running her own entertainment business and coaching musicians. If you're looking to book better gigs, charge what you're worth, and finally get off the feast-and-famine cycle, this episode is packed with actionable advice!
Connect with Kerri...
@kerrilaytonmusic
@dixiebirdacademy
@dixiebirdmusic
www.themusiciansbusinesscoach.com
www.themusiciansbusinesscoach.com/services-5
www.facebook.com/groups/prosperousambitiousmusicians
www.dixiebirdmusic.com
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Feb 24, 2025
Monday Feb 24, 2025
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with Connor Brown, a 19-year-old drummer who has already carved out a thriving career in the function scene. From studying music in college to landing international gigs and launching his own agency, Connor shares how he made it all happen at such a young age. We dive into his best marketing tactics, the unexpected gig that kick-started his career, and the lessons he’s learned from both incredible and disastrous gigs. Whether you're a drummer, a function musician, or just someone looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with valuable insights on navigating the industry early on.
Connect with Connor...
@connorbrowndrumming
@cecilia_entertainment_
www.ceciliaentertainment.com
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco
Monday Feb 17, 2025
Monday Feb 17, 2025
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I sit down with Matt Saunders, founder of Gecko Live and an experienced function band leader, to dive deep into what it takes to succeed in the wedding and events industry. Matt shares his journey from being a gigging guitarist to running a top-tier entertainment agency, the biggest mistakes bands make when booking gigs, and how to secure consistent work without spending a penny on ads. We also discuss why networking is everything, the dark side of overbooking, and how musicians can make themselves irreplaceable in the industry. Whether you're an aspiring function musician or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with insights that could change your career.
Connect with Matt...
@mjsguitar
@gecko_entertainment
@akapartyband
www.geckolive.co.uk
Boost Your Bookings: 7 Essential Marketing Strategies for Function Musicians
Get Your Free Guide Here -
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk/marketingguide
Win a £100 Amazon gift voucher! Details on how to enter are located on our Instagram
@thefulltimefunctionmusician
feedback@thefulltimefunctionmusician.co.uk
www.infocusrecordingcompany.co.uk
@infocusrecordingco