Gio Bard Zero is a talented musician and multi-instrumentalist based in Denver, Colorado. From studying classical piano to flamenco guitar, he has a deep passion for a variety of musical styles. In this month’s talent spotlight, Gio discusses becoming a professional musician, his influences, and insights for using GigSalad to grow your career.
Becoming a Guitarist and Pianist
From an early age, Gio Bard Zero was immersed in music, thanks to a family that recognized his natural interest. What began as casual piano lessons blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of mastering multiple instruments, from classical piano to guitar and beyond.
Musical Roots
Gio’s musical journey kicked off early, with his parents enrolling him in piano lessons at age 6 after he couldn’t stop humming TV jingles and catchy tunes. “I wasn’t exactly the star student,” he admits, “but having musicians in the family helped fuel my interest.” From there, his passion grew, leading him to study classical piano at Tbilisi State Conservatory and jazz at MSU Denver. Though guitar and piano are his go-to instruments, his curiosity led him to learn a number of instruments, including the accordion, oboe, and drums.
Performing all across Colorado, Gio has performed at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Newman Center for Performing Arts, the Dazzle Jazz Lounge, as well as countless private events. Recently, the band Flobots invited him to join them as a guest guitarist on a song he helped arrange. “Getting to jam with musicians I’ve been listening to since high school was an absolute honor.”
Influences and Inspirations
Gio Bard Zero’s musical influences span an impressive spectrum thanks to his deep appreciation for various styles. On piano, he’s drawn to jazz legends like Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Chick Corea, alongside classical virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz. “I love blending that old-school ragtime and blues vibe with rich harmonic textures and intricate voice leading — and maybe a little fusion here and there,” he says.
As for guitar, his passion sparked after seeing Marty McFly rock “Johnny B. Goode” in Back to the Future. His guitar expertise grew through studying classic rock and guitar icons like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. He also spent time mastering flamenco by studying Al di Meola and Paco de Lucia. For his own music and vocals, Gio draws inspiration from folk and rock songwriters like Bob Dylan and Neil Young and modern indie folk artists like Andrew Bird and Sufjan Stevens.
Looking Ahead
When asked if there are any other instruments he’s eager to learn, Gio enthusiastically responded, “Totally! I’ve been interested in violin and cello for many years. I even have a violin on my instrument wall, but I have yet to fully dedicate myself to making real progress on the instrument. I did recently pick up a Peruvian charango that is a lot of fun to play. I also would love to play the Chinese erhu one day.”
When it comes to his professional journey, Gio shared his excitement for the future. “These last two years have been wild. I discovered that there really is money in music, particularly private and corporate events. I am now consistently discovering even more corners of the industry, meeting successful musicians who have much to share, and in general, am excited to further grow my professional career.” Additionally, he is excited about developing a unique performance art concept but will take time to ensure it’s perfect.
Gio’s GigSalad Journey
Gio has been a member of GigSalad since 2023, primarily advertising as a guitarist and pianist. While a fairly new member on the platform, he has quickly learned techniques to being successful. He’s discussed some of his favorite GigSalad features and tips for landing bookings as a multi-instrumentalist musician.
Using GigSalad
GigSalad: How did you first hear about GigSalad, and what made you decide to join the platform?
Gio Bard Zero: A musician friend of mine told me about it and some success that he was having finding gigs on here. I decided to give it a try.
GS: What features of GigSalad do you find the most helpful in managing your bookings and interactions with clients?
GBZ: I appreciate that payments are taken care of through the platform. I book a lot of gigs outside
the platform, too, which involves sending invoices and contracts, following up when payment doesn’t
come in on time, and all that. It’s nice to just send out a quote, and once it’s accepted, not have
to worry about collecting.
🧑💻 Get the most out of your GigSalad profile: 12 Valuable Tools You Should Be Using on GigSalad
Expert Tips
GS: Do you have any tips for responding to potential clients to increase your chances of being hired?
GBZ: Respond quickly and make sure you have text alerts enabled for leads (I even have a different
text ringtone for GigSalad, so I know it’s a potential client). Make sure your message is personal
and shows your enthusiasm about what the client wants, not just a copy-and-pasted routine.
Including video is very powerful, but it has to be done right: good quality video/audio portraying
you as a professional and, of course, appropriate to what the client is seeking. I will usually
follow up by text shortly after sending a response on the platform and include a call to action in
all my communications.
GS: As a musician offering multiple instruments, how do you market yourself on GigSalad to showcase
your versatility?
GBZ: I list myself in various categories and have different highlight reels for different types of clients that feature short clips of my performances. There is my general reel, which shows me on different instruments, with or without vocals, at a variety of events. But sometimes, a client is looking for something specific (singing guitarist, jazz pianist, etc). I’ve put in the time to make a highlight reel for each specific category, featuring me doing only that thing. I think I have close to 10 reels in total. I send different ones to different clients to assure them that I’m not just a hobbyist playing different instruments just for kicks.
🎤 Create a stunning musician profile with these tips: Create a Great Profile: Expert Tips for Musicians
Words of Wisdom
GS: What advice did you receive from a mentor or fellow musician that impacted you and still rings true today?
GBZ: Mulitple mentors have told me to focus more on the client’s journey and needs, as opposed to
showcasing how awesome I am. I think it’s one of the biggest things differentiating professionals from musicians who are just talented. No one really cares about how many degrees you have, how many notes per minute you can hammer out, or the number of followers on your Insta. They care about what you will add to their event and the experience of their guests. Of course, we shouldn’t hide our accolades either, but communicating them in a way that shows how we will serve the client is much better than just bragging about how great we are.
GS: For artists considering joining GigSalad, what would you say are the biggest benefits of being on the platform?
GBZ: A steady stream of leads is nice. Just under 20% of leads actually hire me, but that small percentage makes up a big chunk of my income, so it’s totally worth it. GigSalad’s support is also great. I’ve had a few calls with the team as I was figuring out how some things work, and they’ve been nothing but helpful.
🌟 Looking for more inspirational success stories? Check out last month’s Member Spotlight: Meet Balloon Twister Irina Patterson.
As Gio continues to explore new instruments and push the boundaries of his musical creativity, his passion for performance remains at the heart of his journey. With big plans on the horizon, we can’t wait to see what inspiring melodies and unforgettable moments he’ll bring to the stage next. 🎹🎸
Matt Holland is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad. With 10+ years of experience performing as a jazz drummer, he has gained insights into the life of a gigging musician as well as what makes an event go off without a hitch. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and watching the newest TV shows with his wife.