Your "Band Rules"?

[phatbass]

Prompted by a post on another thread:

Hello Legal? I got fired, yet they still use my photos/demos on their web page

If you were to have a list of rules for your band, that everyone has to abide by, what would they be?

Try and keep it at least semi-serious...

[sleeplessknight]

Show up with enough time to be ready to start playing when rehearsal starts. If you show up at 7pm for a 7pm rehearsal, you're late.

Show up at rehearsal with the tunes for the week already under your fingers. Few things are more annoying than a "group learning session".

Just my $0.02, but then again I can be a grumpy bastard ;-)

[ForSix]

That's exactly what I was going to say.

[ForSix]

I mean the part about being on time for rehearsal. I don't really care if you're a grumpy bastard.

[Phalex]

1) Don't be an asshat.

2) See rule number 1.

I think we're walking the razors edge as a band because of flagrant violations of rule #1. We're opening for Slaughter this weekend, and I'm pretty sure we'll all show up to play that gig, but I don't know how much longer we can remain standing under the crushing weight of someones ego........

[T2k5]

For my band they go like this:

- All decisions are done by voting. Everything will be discussed before voting and everyone has a say. (5 members so there won't be any draws)

- Anyone is allowed to make new songs and suggest changes to old ones. (Although it is very rare for anyone else than our guitarist to make songs)

- No relationships between bandmembers.

- Being drunk or otherwise intoxicated on gigs is not allowed. Our guitarist is somewhat exempt of this rule at the moment due to severe spinal disc herniation, which led to broken spinal discs. He's been heavy on opiate-based painkillers for almost a year now and the situation hasn't improved much.

- Profits are split evenly. Expenses are split evenly if financially possible. If not, any possible profits linked to said expenses are split according to whatever everyone paid.

- Tasks (promotion etc.) between bandmembers are balanced as evenly as possible, with everyones' work, other activities and proficiencies taken in for the equation.

- If you bleed on it, you pay for it. If you vomit on it, you pay for it. Mainly for after-gig activities, there are a few more rules in this set but I'm leaving them out for mild profanity.

- Credit where credit is due.

All rules are gone over verbally whenever we get new recruits, with the exception of the "bleed on it, pay for it..." -rule. Everyone has to sign that one when a party is held in someone's house.

[ducknturtle]

rule #1: nobody wants to hear what your wife/girlfriend thinks.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Don't suck.

[s_mcsleazy]

Originally Posted by ducknturtle

rule #1: nobody wants to hear what your wife/girlfriend thinks.

thats farely simalar to one rule i always have

1. no girlfriends/wifes/boyfriends/husbands in the practace room. they make the place look untidy (plus i had a bad experence)

2. PHONES ARE SWITCHED OFF (see rule number one for explanation)

3. if you have a song idea TELL US.

4. never turn down a gig

5. you must make said gig

[Skitch it!]

Anyone found messing with the money will be punished accordingly.

What happens on the road, stays on the road ; )

Girlfriends to be excluded from all personal/private matters regarding anything to do with the band.

You came to play, whatever your habit's maybe, I don't care, but if it affects the band or the music, that'll be something to be addressed, or dropped completely and replaced.

[bossman1989]

Originally Posted by ducknturtle

rule #1: nobody wants to hear what your wife/girlfriend thinks.

+1

We had 2 rules in the old band though they were often broken;

1. Eat before we practice, either on the way or before you leave home! We broke and re-wrote this rule almost every week

2. No more than 2 drinks before we go on stage. Though once again I sneakily broke this rule by getting vodka on the rocks in a tall glass :P I put on a better show on the sauce!

[dj150888]

Our rules are fairly simple.

1) Don't do anything that will compromise any band activities.

[intheory]

Great rules.

I would add:
Everyone helps with setup/breakdown.

That seems to happen really well in some bands, and not so well in other bands.

Also, show up at least 1 hour before gig (1 1/2 hours is preferable for adequate setup/soundcheck time).

-Dan

[zachoff]

Don't get too drunk before a show
Pick a driver before the day of a show
Show up to practice

Rule #3 can be broken for work and family.

[Stumbo]

Here's a TB sticky on the topic:
If I only knew then...

A few more to check out:
~Band management
Intro
Books
Book - "Bandalism"

How to handle a big band
Playing in a band w/o rehearsing
If your significant other is a non-musician
Democracy/dictator?
"Leading" a band
Band "funds"?
Why many bands fail

Originals Band "paying dues"
Is playing for "free" really "free"?

Check out the link in my sig. below for more great TB info that may help you out.

[doctorpunch]

1. No Metallica.
2. No Blues.
3. Carry your own gear. If you get it done quick enough help someone else carry theirs.
4. Party it up if you want, but don't let it affect your performance.
5. Show solidarity in public.

[lomky]

We're pretty loose. Guitar/vocalist writes songs, drummer drives and does promo, I record, do any techy work and help with promo. I don't think we have any rules other than using the honor system to rotate the beer buyer, only problem is drummer buys cheapest **** available and I buy the good stuff, vocalist is somewhere in the middle.

We have been a serious band for about a decade, and we are friends first.

I guess the biggest rule is, if you aren't feeling it don't play it.

It's worked so far.

[NS2A]

Originally Posted by Phalex

1)We're opening for Slaughter this weekend, and I'm pretty sure we'll all show up to play that gig,

Cool!

[klokker]

The only rule we've had so far is that if you disappear for a while and then want back in the band, too bad for you.

Other than that, just basic common courtesy is expected.

[chokeslam512]

No whining, no excessive drinking during gigs, no Mustang Sally, everyone buys their own gear and beer, everyone splits the overhead costs of the band evenly, don't mow another man's lawn, everyone gets to pick the same number of songs or defer to another member.