<img width="750" height="750" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?fit=750%2C750&amp;ssl=1" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="From the Eric Church Tour to the Grammys: On the Bus with Cellist Kaitlyn Raitz – Gig Gab 522 episode image" style="display: block; margin: auto; margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%;" link_thumbnail="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=2048%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?resize=50%2C50&amp;ssl=1 50w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/kaitlyn-raitz-eric-church-grammys-gg522.jpg?w=2250&amp;ssl=1 2250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><p>You’re riding along with Kaitlyn Raitz as she breaks down the real mechanics of touring at scale: staying human on a bus, finding tiny routines that keep you sane, and surviving the sleep math when you’re one of twelve buses on a massive run. Then it’s straight into the onstage reality of modern country arena production: 24 musicians, a full string quartet, choir, and horns, plus the challenge of making strings translate in a loud arena. You get the practical gear-and-tech layer too: DPA mics and pickups, dynamic EQ, managing cello loudness, and how tools like ToneDexter fit into keeping tone consistent when the room is working against you.</p> <p>You also get the career side, unfiltered: how the Eric Church gig happened through the Nashville relationship web, why being excellent and easy to be around matters, and why “Nashville is a ten-year town” if you want longevity. Kaitlyn’s stories span arranging and learning charts mid-tour from iPads, to the whiplash of getting a Grammy call with barely any runway, to recording in LA and wondering how anyone actually functions there. The episode closes with the mindset and performance skills that keep pros durable: protecting your brain and nervous system, flipping a stage persona on and off, and the practical win of transitioning to IEMs for a cellist when monitors are run well. Bottom line: this is how you keep your craft sharp, your head steady, and your show consistent night after night. Always Be Performing.​</p> <p><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe loading="lazy" class="youtube-player" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZL-0FValdU4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe></span></p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">00:00:00 <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/">Gig Gab</a> 522 &#8211; Monday, <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/february-23">February 23rd</a>, 2026 <ul> <li aria-level="1">February 23rd: <a href="https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/curling-is-cool-day/">Curling Is Cool Day</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Guest co-host: <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/tag/kaitlyn-raitz">Kaitlyn Raitz</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:01:55 Protein and Joy on the bus</li> <li aria-level="1">00:02:14 Passing the time productively on the bus…and on the tour <ul> <li aria-level="1">Swimming</li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://swimply.com/">Swimply</a> OR <a href="http://placestoswim.com/">PlacesToSwim.com</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Thrifting</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:05:53 Sleeping on the bus! <ul> <li aria-level="1">Twelve tour busses on this tour</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:07:26 24 Musicians on stage <ul> <li aria-level="1">String Quartet</li> <li aria-level="1">8-Person Choir</li> <li aria-level="1">Horn/Woodwind Quartet</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:09:45 Micing a string quartet in an arena <ul> <li aria-level="1">DPA Mics AND pickups</li> <li aria-level="1">Dynamic EQ</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:14:47 Cellos and Loudness <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://audiosprockets.com/tonedexter/">ToneDexter</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:18:50 Writing, arranging and learning charts mid-tour! <ul> <li aria-level="1">Reading from iPads</li> <li aria-level="1">Eleanor Denning, String Lead and Arranger on the Eric Church Tour</li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bitterpillband.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopAlHib8YWpiRLp8AHtwRXcrPe0HBxJGru9jkVAESybvwor_itP">Bitter Pill</a> has a cellist, too!</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:21:33 Getting the Eric Church gig <ul> <li aria-level="1">Sub list for the Nashville Symphony</li> <li aria-level="1">Everything in Nashville is relationship-based</li> <li aria-level="1">Be good at what you do, and also be a pleasant person that people want to be around</li> <li aria-level="1">Nashville is a ten-year town</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:25:07 SPONSOR: <a href="https://squarespace.com/GIGGAB">Squarespace</a>. Check out <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/GIGGAB">https://www.squarespace.com/GIGGAB</a> to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code GIGGAB.</li> <li aria-level="1">00:26:55 You played on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Awards">Grammy</a>’s? <ul> <li aria-level="1">Used to play with Brandy Clark, and occasionally gets a one-off gig call still.</li> <li aria-level="1">AND, a week-and-a-half before the Grammy’s, the call came in</li> <li aria-level="1">Do you want to play the Grammy’s with me?</li> <li aria-level="1">Kaitlyn has questions for LA-denizens: <ul> <li aria-level="1">How do you live in LA?</li> <li aria-level="1">Do you see people that you know?</li> <li aria-level="1">Do you take public transportation?</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">Recorded at <a href="https://www.sunsetsound.com/">Sunset Sounds in LA</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:33:05 Protecting your brain and nervous system <ul> <li aria-level="1">Take on a persona <ul> <li aria-level="1">“You are Kaitlyn Motherfucking Raitz”</li> <li aria-level="1">“We are bad bitches, we have earned this”</li> <li aria-level="1">Gary Cherone is the master of turning the stage persona on AND OFF</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">Let the lights blind you</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:40:25 Transitioning to IEMs <ul> <li aria-level="1">It’s great for a cellist!</li> <li aria-level="1">IEMs are better than having to use bone conduction</li> <li aria-level="1">Kaitlyn’s IEM mix &#8211; she hears the band</li> <li aria-level="1">It comes down to who’s running monitors</li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://pro.ultimateears.com/products/ue-7-pro?srsltid=AfmBOoq47Qj6UstxaPOt7e6t5umBgi8JbpUCDyku9N84hu_5fCgH_CuS">Ultimate Ears UE7 Pros IEMs</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:47:06 <a href="https://www.kaitlynraitz.com/listen">Kaitlyn Raitz’s Music</a></li> <li aria-level="1">00:48:52 Gig Gab 522 Outtro <ul> <li aria-level="1">Follow <a href="https://www.kaitlynraitz.com/">Kaitlyn Raitz</a> <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kraitz/?hl=en">On Instagram</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KaitlynRaitzCellist/">On Facebook</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">Contact Gig Gab! <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/giggabpodcast/">@GigGabPodcast on Instagram</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/subscribe-to-podcast/">Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>The post <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/2026/02/23/eric-church-grammys-cellist-kaitlyn-raitz-gg522/">From the Eric Church Tour to the Grammys: On the Bus with Cellist Kaitlyn Raitz – Gig Gab 522</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com">Gig Gab</a>.</p>