The Off Stage Life Podcast

The Sound Guy’s Side of the Story: Sinking Boats, Stage Chaos & the Truth About Live Music

This week on The Offstage Life, we’re celebrating Episode 10 by going behind the desk with Sydney sound engineer, lighting operator, award-winner, musician-at-heart and professional chaos wrangler — Steve.   From growing up in a musical family and being classically trained on violin, to falling in love with Aussie rock, working backstage, mixing live bands, managing egos, fixing gear minutes before showtime, and somehow surviving a gig on a boat that started sinking in the middle of Sydney Harbour… Steve has seen the side of live music most people never think about.   We talk soundcheck disasters, loud guitarists, soft singers, lighting as part of the live experience, the magic and burnout of turning music into your job, wild backstage stories, The Frocks, the infamous two Chrises, and why the people behind the stage are often carrying the whole show.   It’s funny, chaotic, honest, and very Offstage Life.   In this episode: Soundcheck etiquette, sinking boats, Elvis impersonators, backstage madness, live music disasters, The Frocks, sound engineering, lighting, egos, and the real work that happens before the crowd ever hears a note.   0:00 - The boat started to sink in Sydney Harbor. 1:03 - Introduction to episode 10 of the Offstage Life podcast. 2:09 - Discussion about Steve's musical family background. 3:20 - The importance of playing the violin and its impact. 4:45 - Transition to becoming a sound engineer. 6:09 - High school experiences and musical journey. 8:26 - Falling in love with rock and roll music. 11:17 - Desire to be on stage and pursue music. 13:16 - First opportunity to learn sound engineering. 16:34 - The importance of lighting in music performances.   Follow The Offstage Life: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube @the_offstagelife_podcast   #TheOffstageLife #LiveMusicPodcast #AustralianPodcast #BehindTheScenes #MusicPodcast #Podcast #MusicPodcast #LiveMusic #SoundEngineer #AudioEngineer #BehindTheScenes #MusicIndustry #SydneyPodcast #BandLife #EntertainmentIndustry

Teaching Kids by Day, Punk Rock Drummer by night: Kate spills the Tea on Drum Teaching

From teaching kids in schools by day to touring stages by night, Kate’s journey is the side of music most people never get to see. In this episode of The Offstage Life Podcast, Kate shares her untold story of building a career as a drummer while balancing private drum teaching, touring life, bands, financial survival, and the constant hustle behind being a working musician. From chaotic student stories and wild first jobs to navigating burnout, passion, and identity, this episode dives deep into the hidden reality of what it truly takes to build a life in music. In this episode: * Kate’s first professional job in music * Building a private drum teaching business * Teaching while touring in punk bands * The realities of balancing creativity and income * Wild student and parent stories * The hidden emotional side of being a musician * How teaching shaped Kate’s career both on and off stage * This episode is for musicians, creatives, music teachers, touring artists, and anyone chasing passion while balancing real life. Because the most important part of creative careers often happens offstage. 🎙️ Episode 09 — Out now on all platforms Timestamps: Introduction and Testing - 0:03 Break and Return - 0:30 TikTok Success - 1:30 Interview with Jess - 2:26 Drum Teaching Era - 5:18 Challenges of Teaching - 9:10 Memorable Teaching Moments - 11:59 Balancing Music and Teaching - 19:04 Student Stories - 23:27 Teaching Philosophy - 37:17 Performing vs. Teaching - 40:29 Future of Teaching - 55:21 Upcoming Guests - 61:59 #Podcast #MusicPodcast #Drummer #DrummerLife #WomenInMusic #MusicIndustry #MusicianLife #TourLife #PunkRock #RockMusic #DrumTeacher #CreativeCareer #BehindTheScenes #BehindTheMusic #SpotifyPodcast #YouTubePodcast #AustralianPodcast #IndependentPodcast #FemaleDrummer #OffstageLife

She looks normal... She's NOT: The most interesting people aren't always on stage!

She looks normal… but she’s not. And that’s exactly the point. In Episode 8 of The Offstage Life, we sit down with Jess — someone who might seem like your everyday person… until you start peeling back the layers. From Disney classics and punk music to tarot cards, spirituality, taxidermy art, and some of the most unexpected hobbies you’ll ever hear — this episode dives into what everyday people are really like. This is what our podcast is all about: 🎙️ The lives people don’t show 🎙️ The identities beneath the surface 🎙️ And why the most interesting people aren’t always the ones on stage If you’ve ever felt like there’s more to you than what people see — this episode is for you. — 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @theoffstagelife — ⸻ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – She looks normal… 00:15 – Meet Jess 02:10 – Music that shaped her (Disney to punk) 06:30 – Feeling like the “overlooked” girl 10:20 – How music connects people 14:00 – Identity vs how people see you 18:30 – Dopamine dressing & self-expression 23:10 – Creative hobbies & bug art 28:40 – The bug wall reveal 😳 32:30 – Spirituality, tarot & intuition 40:15 – Live tarot reading on the podcast 52:10 – The truth about repeating patterns 58:00 – A message for listeners 01:02:30 – Taxidermy, oddities & creative expression 01:10:45 – The tooth fairy story (yes… really) 01:18:00 – Crystals & energy explained 01:25:20 – Ending cycles & new beginnings 01:30:00 – Music that still hits today 01:35:00 – Final thoughts #theoffstagelife #podcastaustralia #australianpodcast #storytellingpodcast #selfidentity #spirituality #tarot #creativelife #reallifestories #podcastclip #hiddenlives #offstagelife #womeninpodcasting #sydneypodcast #music #taxidermy

A weekend off gigging: Why is it so hard to mentally turn off...

What happens when you finally get a weekend off… and realise you don’t know how to relax? In this episode of The Offstage Life Podcast, we dive into what it’s actually like to slow down when you’re used to living a busy, chaotic life. With Kate having a rare break from gigging, we found ourselves navigating a “normal” weekend — and quickly realised that switching off isn’t as easy as it sounds. From falling asleep on the lounge after one whisky, to exploring the Camden Show, to wandering through Newtown soaking up the creativity, this episode is a mix of funny, honest, and unexpectedly deep reflections on rest, routine, and identity. We talk about the guilt that can come with doing nothing, why relaxing feels like a skill you have to learn, and how easy it is to forget to actually enjoy life outside of work, gigs, and constant productivity. We also cover: • What a “normal weekend” looks like for us • Why musicians (and busy people) struggle to switch off • The mental shift of not gigging • Camden Show chaos and country Australia • Dance performance trauma (yes… really) • Newtown adventures, street art, and inspiration • Why changing your routine can reset your mindset • Reducing plastic and small lifestyle changes • And… meet Pablo 🦜 our new podcast mascot We’re also introducing a new segment: Pablo’s Questions — where YOU send in questions for us to answer in upcoming episodes. ⸻ 📲 Get involved Follow us on Instagram: @the_offstagelife_podcast Keep an eye on our stories to submit your questions for Pablo’s segment 👀 ⸻ 🔔 Listen & Watch Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow so you never miss an episode. Chapters * 00:00 The Hectic Life * 05:23 The Art of Relaxation * 10:02 The Camden Show Experience * 29:50 Pablo's Segment #podcast #lifestylepodcast #musicianlife #worklifebalance #relaxing #burnout #slowliving #australianpodcast #sydneylife #creativelife #offstagelife #mentalhealth #routine #productivity #rest

Get to know your Host's: From a Teenage Crush to Coffee and Sunset's

Most couples turn off their show for a week, but we’re shaking things up with a hilarious, unfiltered get-to-know-your-hosts episode—no prep, just fun, facts, and surprises. If you love candid chats, spontaneous stories, and discovering the real personality behind the podcast, this is a must-listen. Discover Our Favorites: Comfort foods, childhood dreams, and quirky talents. Embarrassing Moments: Work stories and the weirdest jobs we almost took. Music Memories: From first concerts (hello, Foo Fighters!) to songs that teleport us back to teenage nostalgia. Dream Interviews: Artists like Tones and I, G Flip, and global icons like Oprah or Barack Obama. True Passions: Habits, pet peeves, and who’s more organized or emotional. Why does this matter? Because understanding the hosts behind the mic makes the stories even more meaningful—and reminds us all that we're just ordinary people with extraordinary stories. If you're craving an episode full of humor, surprising revelations, and genuine connection, hit play—you won’t want to miss it. Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Break Announcement * 06:25 Dream Artists, Music Genres, and Best Gig Ever * 13:20 Useless Talent, Surprising Facts, and Pet Peeves * 20:53 Childhood Aspirations, Proud Achievements, and Personal Preferences #PodcastLife #RealTalk #BehindTheScenes #FunnyStories #Inspiration #MusicLovers #Authenticity #LifeStories #TonesAndI #GFlip #USA #Australia #UK