S3E10 – The Story Behind DepsApp: The WhatsApp Community Connecting Musicians to £250K in Paid Work
In this episode of The Full-Time Function Musician Podcast, I chat with Danny Bigland — guitarist, bandleader, and founder of the Musicians Community / DepsApp, a UK-wide network that connects musicians to paid work opportunities through WhatsApp.
What started as a simple solution for finding dep musicians for his own band has grown into a nationwide community of over 1,000 players, helping musicians collectively earn more than £250,000 in paid gigs all without ads, commissions, or outside funding.
Danny shares how he built everything organically through SEO, word-of-mouth, and genuine connection, turning a personal project into a purpose-driven movement. He opens up about balancing his creative ventures with a full-time job, hiring a team to support the community, and keeping the focus on helping others first — not profit.
We dive deep into:
How DepsApp became one of the UK’s largest musician networks
Using SEO and social proof to grow a business without spending on ads
The importance of authenticity and slow, steady growth
Why giving back to your peers builds trust, loyalty, and good karma
How helping others can open unexpected doors for your own success
This episode is a reminder that good things happen when you focus on value over money, community over competition, and the belief that what you give will come back to you.
Whether you’re a working musician, a creative freelancer, or building your own project from scratch, this is a powerful conversation about purpose, generosity, and sustainable growth in the modern music world.
Connect with Danny
@db16lnd
@depsapp
www.depsapp.com
@peakspeakerhireltd
www.peakspeakerhire.co.uk
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