25 Golden Rules for Bands

[TheKingOfDirk]

Before rehearsal, make notes and come with an agenda: "at the last gig the middle 8 of XYZ didn't sound right. Let’s look at it."

you seriously bring notes from last weeks practice with you?

do you print one out for every band member with the important parts highlighted?

sorry that just seems like going a little too far to me. It's practice not a stock report

 

[Munjibunga]

No girlfriend/wife interference.

Amen on that. I subed last month for a band I know & the guitarist's drunk girlfriend 'decided' that I should play with a pick becuase the regular bass player used a pick (she had ALSO dated the bass player).

I told her that I would be happy to play with a pick, but I would have to play guitar & replace her boyfriend.

She yanked her guitarist boyfriend out of the room for a 'meeting' & then left a few minutes later.

The gig went well - haven't heard from them since (geez - was it something I said???)

You are hereby appointed my "Main Man of the Day."

 

[txbasschik]

Before rehearsal, make notes and come with an agenda: "at the last gig the middle 8 of XYZ didn't sound right. Let’s look at it."

you seriously bring notes from last weeks practice with you?

do you print one out for every band member with the important parts highlighted?

sorry that just seems like going a little too far to me. It's practice not a stock report

I used to do that. Its impossible (pointless?) in the band I'm currently with, but with my former bands, I *always* took notes. I kept a notebook with entire songs charted out. I didn't, like, go re-type them or anything. Just wrote over messy parts more clearly. But having those notes was very valuable. "Man, how did that passage go on that new original?" "Here, I've got it from last practice...it goes to an F# there."

And not one bit stock-reporty. Our singer was the biggest ol' hippie boy you ever saw. He would never have allowed anything to feel as if we needed a suit, I promise. He really appreciated me keeping notes and some loose organization going.

Cherie

 

[TheKingOfDirk]

I used to do that. Its impossible (pointless?) in the band I'm currently with, but with my former bands, I *always* took notes. I kept a notebook with entire songs charted out. I didn't, like, go re-type them or anything. Just wrote over messy parts more clearly. But having those notes was very valuable. "Man, how did that passage go on that new original?" "Here, I've got it from last practice...it goes to an F# there."

And not one bit stock-reporty. Our singer was the biggest ol' hippie boy you ever saw. He would never have allowed anything to feel as if we needed a suit, I promise. He really appreciated me keeping notes and some loose organization going.

Cherie

just seems a little too anal and business-like to me. That's why we do quick recordings of stuff on the boombox.

 

[gyetman]

I used to do that. Its impossible (pointless?) in the band I'm currently with, but with my former bands, I *always* took notes. I kept a notebook with entire songs charted out. I didn't, like, go re-type them or anything. Just wrote over messy parts more clearly. But having those notes was very valuable. "Man, how did that passage go on that new original?" "Here, I've got it from last practice...it goes to an F# there."

And not one bit stock-reporty. Our singer was the biggest ol' hippie boy you ever saw. He would never have allowed anything to feel as if we needed a suit, I promise. He really appreciated me keeping notes and some loose organization going.

Cherie

That's our keyboard player's job. He makes little jot notes on the song where we stop/move up a step/yodel/etc because we might not play the song again for a couple of weeks and you don't have to reinvent the wheel everytime. It might seem a little anal retentive but it saves you a ton of time during practice and frees up more time to try new tunes or just jam.

 

[punkbassistfc]

do not fart in the rehearsal room

 

[not_jason]

This is a good thread. I've also made some resolutions this year to improve my band.

These were some things I came up with after watching a video of a set we played in December:

- If we can't play the song perfectly, don't put it in the set.

- Talk less, my banter isn't as funny as I think it is.

- The crowd's not going to be excited about something that I'm not excited about.

- Not all songs work live. Pay attention to crowd reactions, and base future set lists on what seems to go over well. If things don't seem to work in a live setting, is there anything that can be improved?

- Don't make excuses.

 

[threshar]

Good list.

However in my band - and all members agree - family first. If say my daughter is sick, I am certainly not going to go to practice. If its a gig, well, if its a crap bar gig, screw it. If it is say, the tonight show, I'd be seriously torn. (Same goes for my regular job. )

I think recording practice is invaluable for a tool. You can go back and listen and see what isn't sounding right. Being able to step away and listen to the whole without devoting brain cycles to playing. I do our bands rehersal recordings on my laptop. Just use its internal mic. Comes out fine. (I record with Audacity) and spend 10-15 minutes cutting it into mp3s.

 

[txbasschik]

just seems a little too anal and business-like to me. That's why we do quick recordings of stuff on the boombox.

Well...when you use a notebook covered in hot-pink Chinese dragons, with paper that has the same border, and purple ink, it takes the "business-like" riiiiiight out of it. LOL!

I never did type any of that stuff. I would scribble chord changes quickly as they were given to me, we'd play (and tape using old-fashioned cassette and a boom box), then I'd scribble in whatever I missed. During break, I'd write over my scribble more clearly, as we drank our beer and chatted.

Quick and deadly.

When the particular band I'm discussing meets a couple times a year (singer moved to Cali), those notes become invaluable. It helps refresh everyone on those originals that we only get to play together infrequently.

My current band leaves me no time for notes. They're too busy arguing, which throws me right off track.

Cherie

 

[txbasschik]

That's our keyboard player's job. He makes little jot notes on the song where we stop/move up a step/yodel/etc because we might not play the song again for a couple of weeks and you don't have to reinvent the wheel everytime. It might seem a little anal retentive but it saves you a ton of time during practice and frees up more time to try new tunes or just jam.

Ayup. Anal? Maybe. Useful? Definitely!

Cherie

 

[twistdpair]

+1...agreed...

However in my band - and all members agree - family first. If say my daughter is sick, I am certainly not going to go to practice. If its a gig, well, if its a crap bar gig, screw it. If it is say, the tonight show, I'd be seriously torn. (Same goes for my regular job. )

 

[Broadbent]

The day my band makes rules is the day I stop playing music with those people.

 

[thedude77md]

I didn't know playing in a band required musical fascism.

If anyone in any of the bands I play with posted a set of rules like this, I'd be out the door for good. Forget that.

If the people I am playing with don't have the common courtesy or self-accountability to get things done without a sophomoric set of rules on the wall, I wouldn't be playing with them to begin with.

Personally, I've been in some fairly successful acts that have broken many of these "rules." In my main band I could show up wearing sweatpants for a gig and the crowd would think no differently than if I was dressed to the nines.

 

[Blueszilla]

Wow, what a buncha rogues, can't take notes, won't dress the part.."We play by our own rulz". You guys are just too cool to fool.

You don't have to write anything down, but working out parts so everyone agrees is essential to a good result. It's not about being anal, it's about being accurate, stop focusing on the pen and paper, yer ego is showing. If you don't care if it's right, what do you care about?

IMHO if you show up to the gig in shorts and flip flops, I won't be spending any time/money at your show. What you look like is part of the show, the crowd isn't composed of 100% blind people. You don't have to wear a suit and tie, but you don't have to look like you just got out of bed either (although it seems like a lot folks go for exactly that ). It's all connected and the total effect includes chops, gear, sound, timing, and looks. You don't have to go overboard, you just have to care, even if it's just a little. The 'homeless' look doesn't qualify.





No offense to anyone who is, or has been, homeless.


FWIW, I've never played in a band in 30+ years that had 'rules' listed in the practice space. But most of all those listed by the OP seem more or less reasonable. I wouldn't quit because there was one.

 

[thedude77md]

Wow, what a buncha rogues, can't take notes, won't dress the part.."We play by our own rulz". You guys are just too cool to fool.

You don't have to write anything down, but working out parts so everyone agrees is essential to a good result. It's not about being anal, it's about being accurate, stop focusing on the pen and paper, yer ego is showing. If you don't care if it's right, what do you care about?

IMHO if you show up to the gig in shorts and flip flops, I won't be spending any time/money at your show. What you look like is part of the show, the crowd isn't composed of 100% blind people. You don't have to wear a suit and tie, but you don't have to look like you just got out of bed either (although it seems like a lot folks go for exactly that ). It's all connected and the total effect includes chops, gear, sound, timing, and looks. You don't have to go overboard, you just have to care, even if it's just a little. The 'homeless' look doesn't qualify.





No offense to anyone who is, or has been, homeless.


FWIW, I've never played in a band in 30+ years that had 'rules' listed in the practice space. But most of all those listed by the OP seem more or less reasonable. I wouldn't quit because there was one.

Well I suppose I wouldn't have to worry about you ever showing up at any gig I've played!

Seriously, I suppose my point is this- music should be fun. Rules ruin it. If we all followed "rules," music would still be where it was in the middle ages. We'd have no rock, no blues, no rap, no atonal classical music, etc. The second anyone starts talking about rules, you kill the spontaneity and passion of at it, or at least it does for me.

If you have to spell out common decency, courtesy, etc. to someone, are they really worth playing with?

 

[twistdpair]

Maybe "rules" is a strong word...guidelines, maybe? As for everything on the list, YMMV.

I should mention that for me, this is not like Moses presenting his Ten Commandments or anything - just some thoughts to keep toward the front of our collective minds. I think all of us as human beings fail in some ways and sometimes it's good to catch that yourself early on. I've been guilty of a lot of things on that list. I'm in it for 2 things - the love of the music and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with being a great band (though I know we're nowhere close yet).

As for dressing the part...that's up to the band. If you have a wedding gig, you better not show up in sweats. If you're playing in an 80's hair-band tribute, looks count. If your band and audience are cool with it, wear sweats. But I think if everyone looked sharp, it certainly would not hurt and may even differentiate you from other equally accomplished bands.

Our band needs to draw in young, attractive, borderline alcoholics to play the good rooms around here, so it is a consideration for us.

I didn't know playing in a band required musical fascism.

If anyone in any of the bands I play with posted a set of rules like this, I'd be out the door for good. Forget that.

If the people I am playing with don't have the common courtesy or self-accountability to get things done without a sophomoric set of rules on the wall, I wouldn't be playing with them to begin with.

Personally, I've been in some fairly successful acts that have broken many of these "rules." In my main band I could show up wearing sweatpants for a gig and the crowd would think no differently than if I was dressed to the nines.

 

[Blueszilla]

Well I suppose I wouldn't have to worry about you ever showing up at any gig I've played!

Most likely..

Seriously, I suppose my point is this- music should be fun. Rules ruin it. If we all followed "rules," music would still be where it was in the middle ages. We'd have no rock, no blues, no rap, no atonal classical music, etc. The second anyone starts talking about rules, you kill the spontaneity and passion of at it, or at least it does for me.

If you have to spell out common decency, courtesy, etc. to someone, are they really worth playing with?

I understand what your sayin', but 'rules' don't necessarily equate to 'no fun'. IMO, the OP and his list are a bit overzealous in approach, as you say no need to state the obvious( courtesy, decency, etc..), but at the same time you may find over time that many of the points listed come into play, and they are not obvious to everyone. It's the small misunderstandings that undermine our good intentions.

I was mainly just bustin' chops, not telling anybody what to do.

I make a comfortable living during the day, so playing music is all about fun for me. I do plenty for a weekend warrior, last year about 125 (actually down some from '06), so having some common ground in terms of expectations from my bandmates and myself is essential for survival. I don't have any false aspirations about being a rock star, so a little utility when it comes to the weekly gigging schedule goes a long way. If those are 'rules', then I'm glad to follow them.

Peace, nothin' but love for ya'll.

Listen to Cherie, she knows what she's talkin' 'bout.


EDIT: this is a great exchange of points of view and experience, I wish I could continue, but I got a gig in Taos. Have a great weekend folks!

 

[NorCal Dog]

Good list.

However in my band - and all members agree - family first. If say my daughter is sick, I am certainly not going to go to practice. If its a gig, well, if its a crap bar gig, screw it. If it is say, the tonight show, I'd be seriously torn. (Same goes for my regular job. )

I think recording practice is invaluable for a tool. You can go back and listen and see what isn't sounding right. Being able to step away and listen to the whole without devoting brain cycles to playing. I do our bands rehersal recordings on my laptop. Just use its internal mic. Comes out fine. (I record with Audacity) and spend 10-15 minutes cutting it into mp3s.

i have to disagree with this, all it says about you is that your iffy at best, or pretty much unreliable. you can't call off a gig cause little jenny has a cold sore , or her tummy hurts, especially if there's someone else there besides you & her, like a spouse. her little tummy is gonna feel funny wether you're there or not.

now if you just found out like 10 min ago that she like has been diagnosed with something like leukemia or something,, TOTALLY different story,, you find a fill-in,, or you find another band quick, to fill-in

if you're in a band, you have a commitment to the players you play with

 

[Winemule]

If you have to spell out common decency, courtesy, etc. to someone, are they really worth playing with?

Unfortunately, the answer is sometimes "Yes." I've played with people who were really lacking as human beings, but they had that bad ol' Something that made them really musical. Not my idea of a good time, ordinarily, but I want to make the best music I possibly can, and once in a while it means holding my nose...

 

[guy n. cognito]

i have to disagree with this, all it says about you is that your iffy at best, or pretty much unreliable. you can't call off a gig cause little jenny has a cold sore , or her tummy hurts, especially if there's someone else there besides you & her, like a spouse. her little tummy is gonna feel funny wether you're there or not.

now if you just found out like 10 min ago that she like has been diagnosed with something like leukemia or something,, TOTALLY different story,, you find a fill-in,, or you find another band quick, to fill-in

if you're in a band, you have a commitment to the players you play with

Nah, threshar has is right. You know he's not talking about a tummy ache.