WHAT IT TAKES!! FORMING OR JOINING A BAND!!
by Dennis Helkowski
Things to watch for:
First off if one band member is not happy he is going to leave most the time not to dicuss it or try
and work it out. Most see this as fun and will just move on no matter what. It is not a job for most so they figure
they will find something else if they cant get along wiht someone or dont like the song selection, ability, schedule, dedication,
attitudes, etc and leave most with an email or some just will stop showing up.. This is especially if there is no money coming
in or anything that attaches them to stay.
Signs someone is leaving:
The equipment they leave each week all of a sudden they take it home randomly.
Can't make a practice because of a useless reason (most of the time they may have another audition
already and they are playing both cards until they decide)
They have no input on the bands future.
They bring less gear to use and only what they need.
In more than one band and start to not come to practice prepared.
The constant communication starts to lessen.
Body language is huge, the I dont care whatever approach.
UP FRONT!!
Be very up front with everything cummication is key, I was onced accused of trying to replace a band
member and didnt even know it. It turned out that something I said a year before was brought up 365 days later
a in diiferent context and had relativity to the current situation and the one person was in arms, dont blame him just wish
he would have said something so I could have told him it was a year ago and a different situation. So talk, talk,
talk... Few things should be discussed and set right from the beginning. These should not be altered at all through
the life of the band or could be the end of your band.
1. How many times a week will you practice?
2. What night and what time? A consistant day,time, and place always works best so everyone
else knows that this is the way it is and doesnt feel the pressure to consistanly keep changing home life plans/schedules.
Which could end up to missed practices and or band member leaving do to a hectic schedule.
3. How many times a month you will gig?
4. What nights you will gig? This is important if you play with a band member who works on a
friday or saturday night the most sought after night for bands, or someone is only available certain needs do to other commitments.
5. Have a band contract and have each member sign it, this shows they understand what is expected
and what will happen it is all up front.
6. Where you will practice and if it will be free or cost per hr ex. studio.
7. Role in the band, each person has a role and what is expected.
AUDITIONS
Ok so you want to have an audition and you have someone down you think you might like and be a good
fit. What do you do? Well first off chances are it is not the right person. It usually takes about 3-4 months
to find out if that person is the right fit. Yupper, the first few months are just like the honey moon phase.
So keep playing but keep auditioning and just play for the first couple of months and see how it goes while you keep looking.
Always do some tunes from the set list and everyone always wants to do tunes they know already.
Well hey, see how fast they can learn give them a new tune as well one they know and one they need to learn. This will
give you an idea if they will learn the material on their own or expect to do all the learning during practice. It will
also let you see how fast they can learn a song and what style they bring with them.
Keep it short no more than an hour. Always be friendly and make them want to be in your band,
sell yourself this gives you the option, if you have people down and no one has interest because you are not nice or have
something to offer, then there is a problem. Always have a member down for a second audtion or even a third, even if
you do the same tunes. See if there is any improvement from the first time and if more chemistry developes, this goes
well for guitar-drummer and guitar-guitar. Also on a personality level do you get along, can you talk, etc...
DEDICATION!!
This is a big factor: you want your bandmates to have the same dediction as you. Nothing feels
worse than you working on band stuff for a few hours then a bandmate saying, "yeah but it would be better if you or we did
this". It is important that if you want to have an opinion in the places you play, direction, photos, website, newsletter,
etc. you need to participate in the process. You want to play gigs you need to get people there everyone should
participate in that or stipulate a gig finders fee allowing that person to be properly rewarded for doing extra or every person
they bring they get extra compensation. It makes a difference!! Everyone should have a job for the band.
i.e. newsletter, website, photos, PR, artwork, etc.. Not one person.. Unless that one person is compensated and agreed
upon prior. That person will get burnt and grow old of it and the band will suffer.
GIGS
Everyone should know how much they are getting paid and all tips should be accounted for and discussed
before spending. Usually devided up equally or however discussed. One time we made 80 dollars in tips and my bandmate took
it upon himself to give it to the bartender.. GREAT!! but Ii just bought a new effects pedal and cables that cost a lot
of money to help our sound I would have rather put that money towards that instead of a undiscussed tip.. NOT A GOOD IDEAD!
Locations of gigs and a minimum amount you would play for. There should be a gig finders fee, big fan of it, a little
incentive to get all members out there wokring to get gigs. It is a lot of work and should be compensated for, which
only helps moral too. If one person is always getting the gigs he may grow tired of it. Everyone doing an equal
share..
Practice!!
Well this is where it gets to most people and where you spend 80% of your band time together.
Expectations of practice!! I cant express enough that this needs to be discussed as people sacrifice their time to do
this and if they are not seeing the agreement being carried out they will leave. Everyone shoul have their own gear
and sufficent enough to play in the given situation.
SONG SELECTION
This will really determine what kind of band you will be and where you will end up playing your gigs,
jazz music will not get you booked at the Pennant East for example, more likely BLUE EYES, so think where you want to play
and for what kind of crowd. It is important to have the tunes set before you start. I like having 25-50 songs
set then look for people who like and want to play those songs. If they ask about any other than those before you complete
them chances are he is no into that music and has other plans. Doing Originals is a whole different bag of worms
and even more difficult to accomplish, most of the times you will see one writer lookin gfor musicans to play that music.
These concepts are more generated towards a cover band.
Overall DO's and Dont's When Forming or Joining a Band, and what to look for...
DONT'S or Avoid's
1. Spend band money without discussing it.
2. Play a song live that one member is not comfortable with or ready to
3. Bands that have aliances already (package deal)
4. Family bands especailly if you are not family
5. Alter goals or expectations after discussed
6. show up late for practice
7. Cancel practices last minute or often
8. bands that have several name changes or musician changes or a musician that has been in
many bands in a short time.
9. You have an ego, everyone is replacable
10. Avoid People with egos they are replacable and not worth it
11. Offer up new suggestions or ideas after the band is established
12. Musicians who work weekends at their real job or limited free time
13. Who do drugs often often
14. Give opinions if you do not offer their time and effort
15. join a band without hearing their goals and meeting all the members
16. Expect to change what is there and set after agreeing upon
17. Married with wife or husband who doesnt like the idea or new to it
18. Musician with children or about to have children.
19. Anyone you speak too that is not in a stable situation you never know what could happen
next week with their life this could cause a change in availablitiy for band and even their desire to do it.
20. Get in a band or join one with a big age difference the age is not the issue just the
style of music is going to be.
DO's
1. Talk and agree on everyhting up front
2. Understand the commitment it takes to be in a band
3. Be honest and up front
4. Treat everyone equally band is seperate from friendship like work and after work.
5. Always keep your options open
6. Always maintain a good relationship when possible
7. Your part with your instrument musically and without help PR
8. Be a professional even if your not music wise everyone can person wise
9. Do your homework practice(respect others who make time to)
10. Come prepared to practice
11. Have the proper equipment for the situation
12. Keep options open
13. Take pride in what you do
14. Have a written contract and discuss it all together
15. Have a base song list of 50 songs prior to starting a band or reallyt enjoy the bands
list you are auditioning for
16. Have website or myspace page
17. Mp3 samples available
18. Get personal schedules of everyone and availablitiy
19. Look for musicians in the same age range they will mroe than likely have a better chance
of sharing your musical tastes.
THESE ARE JUST SOME TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS WHEN FORMING OR JOINING A BAND WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND OBTAIN
FOR CERTAIN THESE WILL WORK AND SOME THINGS LISTED ABOVE WILL CAUSE YOUR BAND TO FOLD.
