checklist for joining a band?

[Chango Malo]

Was just reading another thread where someone mentioned "X had a crappy/incomplete checklist" when joining a project. (that's paraphrased but you get the idea...)

Since I'm getting around to seriously looking for another project I thought a checklist of stuff to ask/sort out/get straight/confirm/deny would be a great thing to have worked out in advance. Hell, I could even have it layed it as a spreadsheet and compare and contrast stuff and better use my time as well as everyone else's.

So what are the things you'd like to have on a "prospective project interview Q&A checklist"?

stuff like:
set list
BL or democratic band
gig freq
reheasal freq
who picks new tunes
covers vrs own material
dress code at gigs
drug/booze policy
who owns/pays for the equipment
payout

what am I missing?

 

[Mr_Moo]

You need another column to record how truthful the answers were.

 

[garp]

These days, given technology, it's probably worth asking how the band members communicate when they're not in the same room to see if it comports with your own preferences.

Also, if it's a working band, you might inquire about the group's general attitude toward using subs to accommodate scheduling issues. For example, it may be permissible to use a sub bassist, but if the glockenspiel player can't make it, the gig doesn't happen at all.

 

[lfmn16]

What a great thread.

At minimum

How do you see the role of the bass?
How often do you rehearse?
How close to the original recording do you expect the parts to be?
Where do you rehearse
How long has the band been together, how long each member
Do you plan on adding any additional members
What is the process for getting new members
Views on alcohol/drugs
How often do you play out, who gets the jobs
Where do you play
How much do you make, how is it divided
Who provides the PA
Any band fund
How do you pick material
Songlist, including versions and keys
Do you tune down
do you plan on originals
If so, how will you finance, distribute, who will write them
Does everyone OWN their own pro equipment and have reliable transportation
Any non-music requirements - promotion, etc.

This would be a good start.

For a more thorough list, just look at all the people posting their problems with bands on TB. I think 99% of these threads would be avoided with a reasonable screening process.

 

[Scottgun]

Stage presence. Does this band just kind of jam and faff about on stage, call tunes randomly, or is it tightly coordinated, song order set in stone, minimal down time between songs and even the patter planned?

 

[filmtex]

What a great thread.

At minimum

How do you see the role of the bass?
How often do you rehearse?
How close to the original recording do you expect the parts to be?
Where do you rehearse
How long has the band been together, how long each member
Do you plan on adding any additional members
What is the process for getting new members
Views on alcohol/drugs
How often do you play out, who gets the jobs
Where do you play
How much do you make, how is it divided
Who provides the PA
Any band fund
How do you pick material
Songlist, including versions and keys
Do you tune down
do you plan on originals
If so, how will you finance, distribute, who will write them
Does everyone OWN their own pro equipment and have reliable transportation
Any non-music requirements - promotion, etc.

This would be a good start.

For a more thorough list, just look at all the people posting their problems with bands on TB. I think 99% of these threads would be avoided with a reasonable screening process.

That's a great list. I'd like to add a few things that came to my mind.

What social media sites/apps are currently being used?
Who administers these sites? How are they adminstered and how often?
What is the master plan for using social media?
Is there a website with the bands own URL? Who is the webmaster and/ how (often) is the site updated?
Who curates the e-mail list, how often is it used to promote the band, how are names gathered and added to the list?
What promo material updated and currently being used ie: audio recordings (CD's, rehearsal, live recordings), video recordings, photos etc.?
How is the current material updated?
What are the future plans for promo materials?
Who bears the costs of promo material and if the group bears the financial responsibility, how are the funds added to the promo budget?
What merchandise is currently available?
How is merch handled as far as cost, sales and profit disbursment, if any/at all?
What are the future plans for merch, if any?
Who is in charge of the merch, merch table, inventory, cash and accounting?


Boy does this get complicated, maybe we should consider running these things like a real business!

 

[RustyAxe]

Many of these i wouldn't expect to learn in a pre-audition interview, but might approach after an audition if I was still interested. Before I audition i want a general feel for the band. Genre, experience of the players, gig history, gigs on the books, rehearsal location, compensation. And a video from a gig might help, but not necessary. Mostly I want to weed out hacks, crazies, wannabes, and unrealistic expectations.

A lot can be learned from a simple conversation. I prefer that word to interview, as the latter implies one person asks questions while the responds. The former is a two-way street.

 

[gln1955]

What happened with their previous bass player?

Who's the biggest a-hole in the band?

(I know, you'll never get a straight answer to either of these)

 

[BrassedOn]

What happened with their previous bass player?

Who's the biggest a-hole in the band?

(I know, you'll never get a straight answer to either of these)

If you ask all these questions, probably you.

 

[rtslinger]

Was just reading another thread where someone mentioned "X had a crappy/incomplete checklist" when joining a project. (that's paraphrased but you get the idea...)

Since I'm getting around to seriously looking for another project I thought a checklist of stuff to ask/sort out/get straight/confirm/deny would be a great thing to have worked out in advance. Hell, I could even have it layed it as a spreadsheet and compare and contrast stuff and better use my time as well as everyone else's.

So what are the things you'd like to have on a "prospective project interview Q&A checklist"?

stuff like:
set list
BL or democratic band
gig freq
rehearsal freq
who picks new tunes
covers vs own material
dress code at gigs
drug/booze policy
who owns/pays for the equipment
payout

what am I missing?

Flaky drummer and second guitarist who may or may not stay on
no really looks okay if you feel you need a list

 

[mikeyjm2]

Covered already, but rehearsal location / associated cost (if rented space) is good to know.

 

[mrcbass]

A couple of things you omitted from my checklist:

where are gigs? (radius from rehearsal location - that $200 per member gig sounds sweet until you realize it 300 miles away...)
do I need to help with community load in/out? (this is not always yes!)
note for note or can I feel it out? (pre-audition question. I always prefer to be myself when I can get away with it - honor the groove and signature stuff. I can't even say how many auditions I over prepared for getting as close to note for note and they didn't care at all - just wanted a solid bass line.)
vocals? (do I need to? can I? whichever applies to you...)
do they care about what gear I use? (I'd wouldn't play with folks who are gear snobs - my gear is in good condition, just may not be that iconic stuff that people sometime need.)

unfortunately some off the really important stuff like band management, band chemistry, and depth doesn't really become judgeable until you've spent some time together. You tend to get a little feel for band management during the pre audition/audition - if they manage that well they probably do a good job of managing regular stuff - but not always. If they can't manage an audition process, beware. As far as depth, they may just know the audition songs well enough to impress you and not much else. And it just takes some time to get out of first date behavior to really see how everyone interacts in real life.

 

[City]

Talk about a timely thread. Tryout tonight, only 2 of the 4 members are going to be there. BIG STRIKE ONE!!! Female vocalist for 1/2 the songs won't be there. Now I'm not a neophyte when it comes to these so the questions above should be asked but unfortunately my decision tonight is whether I want to come back and give them their audition for me, since I don't get to see what the full band can do. Unfortunately I kinda know the guitarist through a business relationship so I have to play this one out, but if I didn't know them the BIG STRIKE ONE would be enough for me to cancel outright. Can I just say Sheesh!! These are older professional people, yet appear to be flakey musicians.

 

[lfmn16]

That's a great list. I'd like to add a few things that came to my mind.

What social media sites/apps are currently being used?
Who administers these sites? How are they adminstered and how often?
What is the master plan for using social media?
Is there a website with the bands own URL? Who is the webmaster and/ how (often) is the site updated?
Who curates the e-mail list, how often is it used to promote the band, how are names gathered and added to the list?
What promo material updated and currently being used ie: audio recordings (CD's, rehearsal, live recordings), video recordings, photos etc.?
How is the current material updated?
What are the future plans for promo materials?
Who bears the costs of promo material and if the group bears the financial responsibility, how are the funds added to the promo budget?
What merchandise is currently available?
How is merch handled as far as cost, sales and profit disbursment, if any/at all?
What are the future plans for merch, if any?
Who is in charge of the merch, merch table, inventory, cash and accounting?


Boy does this get complicated, maybe we should consider running these things like a real business!

Good questions!

 

[pappabass]

As said before:
1. What happened to previous bass player.
2. If this is a permanent gig, make sure they will not replace you if previous player shows up.
3. Ask what type of sound they want. Basic bass or show off bass.
4. Check for cocky conceited lead singers. (That will have to be a different post!)

 

[Bodeanly]

What happened with their previous bass player?

Who's the biggest a-hole in the band?

If you ask all these questions, probably you.

I believe it's important to find out why their previous bassist is no longer there. If history has taught me anything, it's usually because of the answer to the second question.

 

[Tnavis]

These days, given technology, it's probably worth asking how the band members communicate when they're not in the same room to see if it comports with your own preferences.

This is so important. One of my previous bands all used Facebook Messenger for general discussion within the band, except for the three drummers we had in the course of two years. One of them didn't use Facebook, one only had phone service without messaging, and one only used prepaid phones, and so frequently ran out of minutes or data, so we couldn't get a hold of them if gig information/rehearsal changed. It was a huge part of the band calling it a day.

With my current band, I finally got everybody on the same page and we're using Slack, which is awesome for band chat.

 

[mrcbass]

A couple of other things popped into my head:
- Do you require that I'm dedicated to this band, or is it OK for me to be in other bands, first come first server for gigs?
- Prompted by the facebook communication post: community calendar?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The other band members names and cell numbers. Then you can update your contact list and have names pop up on your phone instead of random numbers.

 

[RustyAxe]

A couple of other things popped into my head:
- Do you require that I'm dedicated to this band, or is it OK for me to be in other bands, first come first server for gigs?

I'd never ask up front. What I play, who with, and when is my business. If the new band is working as much as I care to the situation will change. Many bands want exclusivity with little or nothing to offer for it.