Band "To Do" List

Mooch · #1 11-01-2011, 11:53 AM

Good idea? We currently have a lot of things on our plate and just curious if anyone thinks this would work. Have it laid out with band members names to take care of each thing.

Ironically(or maybe not

) don't have something for my drummer because I have no faith it would get accomplished.

foq1978 · #2 11-01-2011, 12:36 PM

Subscribed. I have a (probably) similar issue going on.
But are those To Do things music-related (recording, etc) or Management related (who's in charge of the website, scheduling gigs etc) ?

chokeslam512 · #3 11-01-2011, 12:38 PM

We actually just did this. It has worked great so far.

jaywa · #4 11-01-2011, 12:47 PM

Sounds like a good idea as long as:

1) Everyone in the band has at least a semblance of personal responsibility (which it sounds like is lacking in your drummer so that's a red flag right there).

2) All the items have DEADLINES attached (things that don't have to get done by a certain date, generally don't get done at all).

3) No one band member is saddled with an inordinate amount of the responsibility, whether that be in time, effort or financially.

BTW if the drummer can't or won't do his share effort wise, then offer him the option of paying for some of the things that need doing. And demand the money up front. I bet he gets with the program pretty quickly if that's his only other option.

MNAirHead · #5 11-01-2011, 02:43 PM

I've had zero luck through the years.

I've found it more successful to just do it...

Ask for volunteers.

-----

I have found that for guys like your drummer, if it's done politely... feel free to suggest the folks doing the work are leaders... many folks are ok showing up and doing as told.

jive1 · #6 11-01-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooch

Good idea? We currently have a lot of things on our plate and just curious if anyone thinks this would work. Have it laid out with band members names to take care of each thing.

Ironically(or maybe not

) don't have something for my drummer because I have no faith it would get accomplished.

If you let someone not do anything, the rest of the band will sooner or later resent the person or reduce their level of effort to the laziest person in the band.

IME, the best way to organize labor is for a bandleader who owns the band and does it all, or a sincere team effort where everyone else chips in. Anything short of either usually doesn't get much accomplished. And even if they do, the level of effort will dwindle over time.

Mooch · #7 11-01-2011, 04:15 PM

Well its not sooooo... That he won't get it done persay, but the last thing I had him do he did a terrible job, but then he did redeem himself the next time and did it better. Thing is is I'm not sure what I need him to do. We have our guitar player who is the graphic artist.

We need "cd single" artwork done, along with next show flyer but he could use the same thing for the flyer. Also we need a new shirt design, again no problem with using the cd artwork for it.

We need to figure out a bank account type thing so if we sell mp3's online the money has a place to go.

Also need to talk to our internet radio hookup about doing a release special for him. Bug is in the ear but we need to hammer out details.

Need to hook up next gig. Decide what to ask for money wise and date.

There is a bit more but need to get this done by Dec 1st.

jaywa · #8 11-02-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooch

Need to hook up next gig. Decide what to ask for money wise and date.

Of everything you listed I'd say this is Priority One. It's beginning of November and you're trying to get a gig booked by Dec. 1? Good luck with that. Most clubs I know of book 4-6 months out, some even longer than that.

Keeping gigs in the pipeline is just about the most important "offstage" activity of any band, IMO, and while everyone in the band can and should be on the lookout for gig opportunities, you need to have at least one member who's pounding on doors, making the calls, and getting the deals done. That task should fall to whoever in your band is the best "people person" and/or has the most contacts that could land you gigs... and whoever you choose to do that job should pretty much be excused from everything else cause it's a full-time job to do right.

CD cover, shirts... meh. Nice to have merch but without gigs, what's the point? Unless you're all satisfied just being a "studio" project, recording songs and marketing them over the Internet. Then gigs maybe aren't that important. But around here at least, the bands that don't get out and gig, don't make it.

Mooch · #9 11-02-2011, 11:58 AM

The gig I mentioned is from a place calling us. We just need to decide a date. We have our next one lined up for Dec 3rd, but trying to get some things done by that date. We just had our first "single" recorded and are planning to give out free cd's to our fans of this song. I'm thinking of trying to setup our next gig at the end of December.

But, with 5 guys with full time jobs and some with families you know how hard it can be to find the extra time besides rehearsal to do those extra chores.

Did talk to our guitar player/graphic artist last night and he is researching selling mp3's online and has the idea down for artwork. Should take him about 5 hours he said. Also, figured out how to get our next shirts done.

Friend of the band has his own shirt business and said we can get them dirt cheap if we all go up and print them ourselves. So my guess its just the cost of shirts for us. So a lot of this is getting figured out. More things to hammer out but going well so far.

lowfreq33 · #10 11-02-2011, 10:51 PM

This is why bands that run like a democracy rarely get off the ground. Someone needs to be in charge or nothing ever gets done.

Mooch · #11 11-06-2011, 09:51 AM

Don't know if the above comment was a jab at my band of guys, but that may be your experience, but here is the deal with having a one person gastapo "run" a band. NOTHING gets done. Here's why. Everyone gets sick of some jerk constantly barking orders at them and no one can stand that person and the band implodes in a firey mass similar to the Hindenberg.

We all(in our band), have been doing this for years and years and we are an originals act but are beyond the point of trying to get anywhere(famous, record deal, blah blah blah) teenage dreams. We are doing it for fun and all get to have a say. We've all been in those bands with so called leaders that are just ego's with legs.

With that said, brought my list to rehersal Friday night and all of it is getting taken care of. Most of it is almost done actually. Just simply bringing all this crap up and everyone got on board and we accomplished a lot. Got new band photos done yesterday, Artwork for flyer/single cover is done, Drummer is even helping out with some things.

So far a "to do" list was a good idea for my band. Kind of got us going on some things we needed to take care of. With full-time jobs and families it can be hard to get motivated beyond playing the music sometimes.

moli · #12 11-22-2011, 11:28 AM

Hello I often write on my TO DO List to play on the some music instrument. But I often haven't time on it((

bluewine · #13 11-22-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooch

Ironically(or maybe not

) don't have something for my drummer because I have no faith it would get accomplished.

Every band has a member that doesn't get it.