Paul Opocensky: Hard-Earned Advice for Working Musicians | Desert Sound Check, Episode 5

Paul Opocensky has a day job, a wife, four kids, and a music career that brings his unmistakable energy and musical style to more than 100 gigs a year across Tucson.

As Derek Salois puts it, that is basically three full-time jobs.

Watch the full episode on YouTube 👇or listen on Spotify.

Episode Sponsor

This episode of Desert Sound Check is proudly sponsored by Alō Goods.

Alō Goods is Kandra’s handcrafted personal care company, creating soaps, skincare, hair care, and Tooth Suds using thoughtfully selected plant-based ingredients and essential oils. Every purchase helps support Tucson Local Bands and projects like Desert Sound Check, helping us continue celebrating Tucson’s local musicians and sharing their stories.
If you enjoy Desert Sound Check, please consider supporting the businesses that make it possible.

🧼 Visit Alō Goods

What It Takes to Be a Musician

Being a musician is about much more than getting onstage and playing songs.

For Paul, it means balancing music with work, marriage, raising four children, practice, promotion, and more than 100 gigs each year throughout the Tucson area.

That kind of schedule takes commitment, preparation, and a willingness to keep showing up even when life is already full.

In this episode of Desert Sound Check, Paul and Derek talk honestly about what it takes to build and sustain a life in music. Their conversation is filled with practical advice, hard-earned lessons, and the kinds of mistakes musicians often have to make before they figure out what works.

Practice, Practice, Practice

One of the clearest pieces of advice in the episode is also one of the simplest: practice.

Paul and Derek stress that practice matters for young musicians, experienced musicians, and everyone in between.

It builds confidence, improves performance, strengthens the connection between band members, and prepares musicians for the unexpected moments that inevitably happen during live shows.

There is no shortcut around it. Becoming a stronger musician takes repetition, patience, and the willingness to keep working even after you already know the song.

Promoting Yourself and Your Band

Being talented is not enough if nobody knows where or when you are playing.

Paul and Derek talk about the responsibility musicians have to promote their own shows, communicate clearly with venues, and help their bands reach an audience.

Promotion does not have to feel fake or overly polished. It can be as simple as consistently sharing accurate show information, inviting people to attend, supporting the other musicians on the bill, and making it easy for fans to follow what you are doing.

The musicians who build lasting audiences are often the ones who understand that promotion is part of the work, not something that happens automatically.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Much of the advice in this episode comes from experience.

Paul and Derek share lessons they learned through years of performing, working with bands, promoting shows, and making mistakes along the way.

That honesty is what makes the conversation so useful. They are not presenting a perfect formula for success. They are sharing what they have learned so younger musicians and newer bands may be able to avoid some of the same problems.

Whether you are playing your first show or your hundredth gig of the year, there is something to take away from their conversation.

What advice from Paul and Derek stood out to you? Leave a comment below and share the lesson you think every musician should learn.