if you were starting up a new band what list of rules would you have?

[livinitup0]

Going along with what jive said....
This sounds like an originals project...

Are you as good at coming up with vocals, harmonies, drum lines and melodies as you are playing bass? Can you shred like your guitar player? Will you be able to tell the rhythm player exactly what chords and what rhythm to play?

If not... I really don't see how you can justify saying you need to control everything. I see what you mean but a big part of an original band is working together to "develop" music together.... Or you write literally everything and hire people to play the parts you write for them.

If this was a coverband you could get away with this.... Originals? Methinks not in most cases.

However... You can still be an effective bandleader without ruling with an iron fist.

[Icey101]

Originally Posted by livinitup0

Going along with what jive said....
This sounds like an originals project...

Are you as good at coming up with vocals, harmonies, drum lines and melodies as you are playing bass? Can you shred like your guitar player? Will you be able to tell the rhythm player exactly what chords and what rhythm to play?

If not... I really don't see how you can justify saying you need to control everything. I see what you mean but a big part of an original band is working together to "develop" music together.... Or you write literally everything and hire people to play the parts you write for them.

If this was a coverband you could get away with this.... Originals? Methinks not in most cases.

However... You can still be an effective bandleader without ruling with an iron fist.

its going to be a tribute band...

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by pmchenry

This really depends on you and your drummer. Everyone has different goals. Do you want to place an emphasis on having a good time, or is being professional more important to you?

This makes it sound like these two goals are mutually exclusive. They're not. In fact the more "pro" the band, the more I enjoy it because there tends to be a lot less drama and people's time is valued. Also they tend to make more money and play better quality gigs, which to me is as good of a time as it gets. Playing bad music poorly, with hacks who either don't know any better or don't care, has never been my idea of fun.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Winterpegbass

I've been in "dictatorship" bands as well as democratic bands and I believe that both have their place.

If the band is a working band eg paid rehearsals or no rehearsals and everyone is making a significant amount of cash then then dictatorship model can work.

If the band is a hobby band eg many unpaid rehearsals and infrequent/low dough or charity gigs then the democratic or consensus decision making band is better.

The worst scenario is a hobby band with a dictator eg unpaid rehearsals, low dough gigs, and a bandleader who monopolizes decision making.

I never thought about it this way, but I think you're on to something there. At least my experiences would confirm this.

[placedesjardins]

Originally Posted by Icey101

i need something to stop the guitarist and vocalist taking over when we get them

You need to tell everyone that you are the bassist and the band leader. Rickey Minor (NBC's Tonight Show band leader) plays bass and doesn't sing, but he's been in the business for awhile and he's good at it. It's doable.

You probably need to have good chemistry with the other members or its going to be a fallout. You establish the rules and give them to the new band members. Your drummer is going to have to back you up on this since you are the originating members. You can't have new members preying on the weaker of you or the drummer to stage a coup d'etat.

[Chico16]

I don't think you'll need something so extreme as some of these replies have suggested. The band that I play in was started by the vocalist/rhythm guitarist and the drummer. I didn't have a meeting with them or anything the vocalist just contacted me via phone, asked me if I was interested, and laid out what his vision is. He just told me where he wants the band to go and told me he wants someone that will be responsible and be able to compromise with the band and take it serious. Since then we've had no problems at all we started playing together since late January and we're making great progress. Most of it depends on the maturity level of the musicians you will be seeking. Gotta do some research before calling them in.

[Chico16]

By the way he never said "I'm the leader here" or anything like that he just automatically established himself as our head. Any decisions or plans he has he shares them with all of us and asks us how we feel about them. We don't have special meetings or anything we just all tend to chill and talk after every practice unless we have some place to be right after. I mentioned the maturity earlier because with us, 4 out of the 5 musicians that are a part of this band have been with other great bands before that have split up due to childish drama. Because of that, everybody is tired of that and instead we all try to understand each other and respect each other's opinions in order to avoid problems like the ones from their past experiences.

[Marko5657]

Originally Posted by Chico16

I don't think you'll need something so extreme as some of these replies have suggested....

Since then we've had no problems at all we started playing together since late January and we're making great progress. Most of it depends on the maturity level of the musicians you will be seeking. Gotta do some research before calling them in.

Not to berate your input- I truly hope you've found the perfect band, but five months into the last band I was in, I thought it’d be my “rest-of-my-life” band, and invested $thousands in it.

Since then, enough band drama to fill this whole forum for a month, and a breakup I doubt anyone can match.

Fake edit: You’re 19… just noting that.

[NoiseNinja]

Well, I'm 35 and never experienced any sort of band drama, other than having a drum stick thrown at me for playing with my self () in between songs in my old band. The drummer there were sort of the unofficial band leader since he came up with most of the riffs, never had a problem with that, apart from that one drum stick that went over the line, as we all had our fair share of creative input in the band.
In the band I'm in now, I make most of the riffs, but again I don't consider my self the bandleader, and everyone have their fair share of creative input. In this band we like to jam in between songs, so that's what we do. And couldn't imagine the drummer having a fit and throwing the stick at anyone.
Being in a band for me is about respecting each other personalities and level of creative input, as well as respecting each other as musicians. A part of it is also to be at about the same level skill wise.
And yes, that has something to do with maturity, and how serious you take the band. Not all people act their age, and not all skilled so called serious musicians are able to take the band thing serious.
I do think that's something you can feel, if not the first time you practice together, then at least within a couple of months.

[Chico16]

Originally Posted by Marko5657

Not to berate your input- I truly hope you've found the perfect band, but five months into the last band I was in, I thought it'd be my "rest-of-my-life" band, and invested $thousands in it.

Since then, enough band drama to fill this whole forum for a month, and a breakup I doubt anyone can match.

Fake edit: You're 19... just noting that.

Yes sir I am 19 years old. Pardon but, does that make my experiences less significant? I didn't think I'd have to include this in my last post, but I'm actually the youngest in the band and the only person that is under 26 years of age. Vocalist and drummer are 27, lead guitarist is 26, and our trumpet player is 37 years old. These guys are well rounded musicians with tons of experience. Out of the 5, I'm the only one that hasn't been in a band before this one. That's why earlier I said "4 out of 5 of the musicians have had big band breakups"

[sledgehamer73]

Don't focus so much on rules, but more on structure of the band and how you want it to flow. If its not jiving the way you want, make a change. If people are doing things you don't see fit for the band, get rid of them. Whatever is working, stick with it. Good luck!

[Muttleybass]

I've played in both situations... If there's a leader, I do what I'm told for the most part, unless the guy's a total jerk. In a "leader" situation, it's usually more professional. My rules are show up prepared, no booze or drugs, keep my mouth shut, don't take criticism personally.

In my regular democratic band, it's no drugs, do your homework, smoke outside only on breaks, no booze at practice except for special occasions, be respectful, leave your ego at the door, no noodling.

I view the whole band thing as a business and a job. Although I like to have fun, I take it pretty seriously. For those who are in it just to party, more power to you. That's just not my thang.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by jive1

As far as rules, I believe that the less the better.
Rule 1: Respect everyone's time, property, and person.
Rule 2: Don't be a douche bag
Rule 3: Follow rules 1 and 2

+1

The less rules the better. People don't like to follow them. The more you have, the more chances of getting into a stupid argument over small fries.

Be a good player and a decent human being. Things will fall into place.

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by Chico16

Yes sir I am 19 years old. Pardon but, does that make my experiences less significant?

No, but it means you have less of them.

[pklima]

1. No songs that make women stop dancing

2. No playing songs that make women dance in the style of songs that make women stop dancing (especially no guitar solos in "I'm On A Boat")

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Russell L

= no fun. Gyah, Munji.

But, yer right. Oh yes. Yep.

My current band essentially follows those rules - not because anyone imposed them - we just picked people who didn't carry that baggage. A couple of the guys have a beer or two at gigs, but not at rehearsal and not to any excess. In this band and my previous one, the no drugs rule is absolute. My former lead guitarist is a Deputy DA and my current drummer (and leader) is a cop.

[Tractorr]

There are few rules that fit every band situation.

Beyond wanting to control everything. What goals do you have for the band? I assume that getting a lot of good paying gigs is high on the list (as a tribute band that is), so what sorts of things would help you achieve that goal?

[DaDrew2112]

Originally Posted by jive1

Here's the thing: You can have all the rules you want, the issue is getting them to follow. If you want to lead, you need to have something to give.

If all you have are a couple of basslines to base songs off of, it's going to be hard to establish your rule. Those grooves are going to have to be pretty bad-@$$, and even then it may wear off. IME, if you want to be in charge, be hard to replace. Get the gigs, own the PA, write good songs, have lots of fans, etc.. Just saying that you're in charge and writing out rules won't go very far.

If you want guys that are creative, talented, reliable, and don't need babysitting you gotta give them something. Otherwise, they could just start something themselves.

As far as rules, I believe that the less the better.
Rule 1: Respect everyone's time, property, and person.
Rule 2: Don't be a douche bag
Rule 3: Follow rules 1 and 2

Logically this makes complete sense. People are going to try out for your band thinking but one mere thing: Is this band worth my time? What you offer will dictate what kind of control you're going to have.
Unless your ideas are fantastic, connections numerous and your talent unquestionable, you may not be in a position to demand control over other musicians.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

There are many instrumental rules (no pun intended) that you can institute, mostly having to do with taking personal responsibility, i.e. devoting time to personal practice in order to come to rehearsals prepared, no drinking at the gig, etc. But IMHO, it all comes down to this - especially during the formative stages:

The leader has the last word. Period. Everyone's input into decisions is welcome, and will be used as much as is feasible - in the judgment of the leader. And as time goes on, and as the band evolves & matures, it is hoped that management of the band - including decisions - can be done more democratically. But the bottom line is still the bottom line: The leader has the last word. Period.

Anyone who doesn't feel comfortable with the leader's judgment is free to leave, with no hard feelings. But if you stay, you have implicitly accepted the leader's judgment.

In my experience, bands operated as a pure democracy almost never work. Any successful band is almost always operated as a benevolent dictatorship. That's just the way it is...

MM

Big +1

And part of the reason I decided to not lead anymore. I may in the future but certainly not now. If the band doesnt have a clear leader who people will give the last word to, its going to be very difficult to get important decisions made. Nowadays, even if I don't agree, I go along with the leader's ideas. I now very much enjoy being in a supportive role, where I can help out as much as I can, yet do not feel the pressure of all the responsibility.