From Band Member to Band Leader

[3toes]

After years of being a member of bands that were close to, but not quite the kind of music I really want to play... I'm finally starting to put together a project to further develop, and hopefully record/perform some material I've been writing on and off for the past few years. It's stuff that didn't really fit in with any of the other bands I've played with, so I figured I'd work on it in my spare time and when the moment came, build a band specifically for that material.

I've had a nice vacation/hiatus from playing since this past May, but now I've got the itch to play again. So instead of just finding a band around here to play in, I figured this would be the perfect time to put my "vision" into action. The problem is, I've never "led" a band before or put one together, or anything like that. To quote George Porter Jr., "I'm just the bass player." (the joke there being is that I'd pretty much consider him the leader in most of his bands). Has anyone here made the transition from just being a member of a band to actually building and leading one? What kinds of challenges did it present?

I've got a pretty clear idea in my head of how I want things to sound, but at the same time, I'm a big fan of collaborative effort. I certainly don't want to be a jerk and try to dictate every single note to be played... I'm not trying to be Frank Zappa here.

I know the key will be to find musicians who share similar tastes and ideas as I, but even thinking about putting this whole thing together kind of intimidates me.

Just seems like it'll be a delicate balance between achieving the kind of sound I want, and still being open to collaboration and input from others.

Thoughts?

[JimmyM]

the biggest challenges are:

1. finding people who want to help you get your vision.

b. being a salesman.

1 is easy enough...people will gladly share your vision if you pay them enough. b, however, is totally necessary to attract people to do what you want. if you can't sell people on hiring your band, you won't have a band to lead.

[3toes]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

the biggest challenges are:

1. finding people who want to help you get your vision.

b. being a salesman.

1 is easy enough...people will gladly share your vision if you pay them enough. b, however, is totally necessary to attract people to do what you want. if you can't sell people on hiring your band, you won't have a band to lead.

See, I think that'll be a last-resort... I *HOPE* I can find some people who dig my material for what it is and are interested in contributing and helping make it better. Not just because I "hired" them.

I kind of want it both ways; I want collaborative effort (because I think that there can be some awesome ideas present from an outside source), and at the same time I don't want things to get so out of hand in a collaboration that the material loses all sense of what it was in the first place. And I'm not trying to say the only music we'd ever play is the music *I* write. I'd love to sit down and come up with new tunes once we start getting in a groove together. But I'd want some cohesion between the material.

I'm just wondering if it's possible to find that balance.

[JimmyM]

it is possible, most definitely. before weezer made any money, for example, they were still just as big a dictatorship with rivers cuomo being the supreme being who refused to let anyone else do anything. but as much as we want to believe people love us for us, with bands there's always that element of needing to keep people interested and involved. even when money's involved, it's tough. rivers has had a lot of turnover, even after having hit records.

and that's where the sales element comes in.

[A Strohman]

Originally Posted by 3toes

I'm just wondering if it's possible to find that balance.

Sure its possible.....but like most things worthwhile, its difficult.

For the longest time I shied away from being a part of cover bands since my first love and passion is writing and recording original music. But then I realized that if I played in some cover bands and those bands played a lot of shows, I'd likely meet a bunch of musicians along the way. And thats exactly how it worked out. The past few years I've met a lot of musicians and subsequently met like-minded musicians and we've put together side projects.

Once you meet like-minded muscians, anything is possible.

[3toes]

Thanks guys, that all makes sense.

This may (and probably will) end up failing miserably, but I'd be angry at myself if I didn't at least TRY to put something together.

[IbanezBass69]

Originally Posted by 3toes

Thanks guys, that all makes sense.

This may (and probably will) end up failing miserably, but I'd be angry at myself if I didn't at least TRY to put something together.

Power of positive thinking my friend. I'll bet if you run into a bunch of guys who like similar stuff, and love music as much as you, you really can go far as long as you have the heart and attitude for it.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by IbanezBass69

Power of positive thinking my friend. I'll bet if you run into a bunch of guys who like similar stuff, and love music as much as you, you really can go far as long as you have the heart and attitude for it.

+1. nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[Stumbo]

Here are a couple of links you may want to check out:
Democracy/dictator?
"Leading" a band

[3toes]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Here are a couple of links you may want to check out:
Democracy/dictator?
"Leading" a band

Sweet, thanks!