425 - Mike Malone: Gigging Around Northeast Wisconsin, His Youtube Channel, The Virtues of Smaller Markets

Working Drummer

Mike Malone is a performer and educator based out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He attended University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire to study classical and jazz percussion. In 2013 Mike was invited to join The Glenn Miller Orchestra's national tour. After returning to UWEC to finish his degree in 2014, Mike began touring with groups including jazz vocalist, Ray Brown Jr, and vocal jazz group, Five By Design.

As a recording musician Mike can be heard on dozens of albums as both a supporting musician and leader. His diverse skillset has allowed him to be featured musically across numerous styles and settings, and led him to be named "Drummer Of The Year" by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Awards in 2021.

Mike currently maintains a regular performing schedule and manages a private teaching studio with students of all ages and experience levels. Mike is a performing artist for Bosphorus Cymbals.

In this episode, Mike talks about

• Why he decided to make his home and career in Oshkosh
• How church gigs taught him to convey respect as a performer, which he takes into all performances
• Touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the challenge of playing true old school big band style with no bebop
• How tech has changed how we prepare for gigs, for better or for worse
• The genesis and scope of his youtube channel
• Being able to anticipate what content might be popular, i.e. manufacturing a viral video
• Tech tips to improve the audio and video quality of your online presence