Getting A Band Together: Do's and Don't's?

[Runlikegregg]

i think you're just gonna need a lot of patience.
we all do.
you'll know the right people when you find them. And it probably won't have anything to do with any of the things you thought it would, they may or may not meet any of your prerequisites and it won't matter.
I think the most important thing is finding players (and people) you click with. When that happens things come easily and be mostly really fun.
Good Luck!

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Do:
-Familiarize yourself with all different types of music.
-Find musicians with common interests.

to the first point: AMEN!!

to the second: there's pros and cons here. Some of the best bands to ever exist were comprised of musicians with very different backgrounds and styles (Queen, Zeppelin, The Who, etc). The more places you come from, the more places you can go, IMO.

However, yes, if the vocalist wants to be a rap MC and the drummer thinks he's in a Carpenters cover band, you WILL have problems.

 

[MatticusMania]

So many musicians, especially around here, just want to show up and play, and think all the work of being a band just happens by magic. There are a lot of opportunities for those willing to do the work. If you just want to show up and play, you're pretty replaceable.

Part of the reason I left my last band was that 2 of the 5 members did exactly this. Show up and play.
I understand the attitude, but when the bandleader is trying to take the band somewhere these types tend to hold the band back.

 

[bluewine]

Part of the reason I left my last band was that 2 of the 5 members did exactly this. Show up and play.
I understand the attitude, but when the bandleader is trying to take the band somewhere these types tend to hold the band back.

Even the cover band I'm in where we are not looking at going anywhere, our focus is to maintain and increase our bookings and that's a team effort.

I don't think there's room for the just show up and play guys in any band that's productive and active.

blue

 

[melvn]

+1 to above. The only thing I would add is that, you don't need to have the best guitar player, drummer,whoever. That person is usually a douche. Out of our last three guitar players we are playing w/ the least talented. He is still very good but he is also a good guy and is noticeably improving because we all like playing together. Point is not setting your standard too high might open it up to musicians that will fit and can still do the job. Plus as the bass player you can pick up the slack anyway.

 

[greybox]

However, yes, if the vocalist wants to be a rap MC and the drummer thinks he's in a Carpenters cover band, you WILL have problems.[/QUOTE]

Or you will end up with a RHCP cover band....

This is a very informational thread. I have been playing guitar for a while, could handle rhythm duties, and just started picking up bass. I am debating whether its better to get together with other people that are new/excited but far enough into learning they won't give up or working with experienced band players because they can teach me and have some background. This might make it hard to develop a cohesive band sound though as they are already set in their knowledge...

opinions?

 

[ChopperDave]

Where was this when I was 16? Ah, hell, I wouldn't have read it anyway ...

Some additions:

DO:
- Maintain your instruments. Even if you're not that great right now, good intonation will go a long way toward making you sound better than most of the noobs who slap some strings on an axe and flail.
- Similarly, learn how your equipment works--your EQ, effects, etc. There are so many resources here that will help you learn what things do
- Know your drink/drugs limit. I can't say "just say no" without being a hypocrite; just know what you can handle, and never (never) use drinks/drugs as an excuse (sorry, man, I was high, that's why I was late). You'll be opening yourself up for a firing, maybe even an ass-kicking.
- COMMUNICATE openly and clearly. See don'ts below ...
- Learn how to take criticism, and learn to tell the difference between criticism and being an a-hole. See above point.
- Share music. Our influences are critical in our development, but they're not worth as much if we aren't sharing them with our musical partners. I have learned so much by opening my mind to the stuff my bandmates are into (our tastes are all somewhat diverse), and we constantly share music.

DON'T:

- Confuse order and organization with lack of creativity. Bands need to be sensible and organized. It's not "artistic" to be late, unprepared, or sloppy (unless that's the aesthetic of the band, I guess). At least someone has to be the band Dad or Mom, and make sure schedules are adhered to, shows are booked when members can play them, get gig $, etc.
- Don't let stuff fester. If you have an issue, take it up at the next meeting, or practice.
- Don't talk **** about your bandmates behind their backs, especially with other bandmates. You should be a unit* and stick together. If you have issues with a member, take it on as a band ... unless you want to burn bridges, in which case, enjoy.


*I know lots of other bands operate differently, but I am talking from experience in originals bands with let's-try-to-do-this-for-a-living goals. This might not apply to pickup bands, just-for-fun bands, interchangable cover bands, etc.

 

[ChopperDave]

Ohhhhh, one more ...

Try to learn how your band members learn/listen/communicate. They may communicate their art completely differently than you. I'll give you a recent example:

When I write songs, they tend to come mostly fully-formed. I have an idea of what the verse, chorus, bridge, etc. are, and I piece them together and arrange them before bringing them to the band. Then I'll play the whole thing (sometimes I'll even record everything myself and play it over the PA). I always explain that everything I've done is up for debate, rearrangement, etc. but that I had to get it out of my head this way, otherwise I'd go nuts.

I found that this was causing all sorts of anxiety with some band members. To them, they can't get to part B without hearing part A over and over and over again until they think they've nailed it. Even though I thought I was doing a service by explaining my method, it didn't help. It's not like they thought I had a big ego (this is my song and my way!), just that they couldn't wrap their heads around an entire song being presented like that without having a chance to absorb any of it.

This allowed us to reach a compromise where I'll go part-by-part first, then we can go over it with my arrangement, again knowing that it is completely up for change.

Now there's less tension in the writing process, and less personal tension when I say, "Hey guys, guess what I came up with over the weekend!"

Thread hijack over.

 

[mambo4]

Do : find people who are musicians , and want to play in a band, and whose primary relationship to you is musical.
Don't: recruit friends or relatives whose primary relationship with you is NOT musical. (Unless they can compartmentalize band vs non-band issues.)

It is easier to make a group of friends out of a group of musicians than the other way around.

 

[Fat Steve]

Do : find people who are musicians , and want to play in a band, and whose primary relationship to you is musical.
Don't: recruit friends or relatives whose primary relationship with you is NOT musical. (Unless they can compartmentalize band vs non-band issues.)

It is easier to make a group of friends out of a group of musicians than the other way around.

Interestingly enough, my group of friends stem from the musical projects I've been in for the last 10 years. My best friends are my band members, and it really helps make us come off as having a good time while performing because we really are. Of the four bands I'm in ( 2-7 piece bands, 1-9 piece and one 4 piece), there are 19 members, so we have a lot of overlap.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Part of the reason I left my last band was that 2 of the 5 members did exactly this. Show up and play.
I understand the attitude, but when the bandleader is trying to take the band somewhere these types tend to hold the band back.

I have three of these (out of 5) in my current band. What makes matters worse is that they then complain when we don't play enough gigs for their liking. I warned them that they needed to start contributing, but they ignored me. So...I joined a second band. I get my fill of gigs and they've been left to consider the consequences of their inaction.

 

[nojj]

Consequences of Inaction

sounds like a good band name...............

 

[bluewine]

+1 to above. The only thing I would add is that, you don't need to have the best guitar player, drummer,whoever. That person is usually a douche. Out of our last three guitar players we are playing w/ the least talented. He is still very good but he is also a good guy and is noticeably improving because we all like playing together. Point is not setting your standard too high might open it up to musicians that will fit and can still do the job. Plus as the bass player you can pick up the slack anyway.

Today,established working bands have their sights set higher than wanting the best guitar player, best bass player or best whatever.

They want guys that have experience, have a complete understanding of "working band dynamics", know how to be in a team focused band (meaning it's not about them or what they like) reliable responsible guys.

Blue

 

[nojj]

Today,established working bands have their sights set higher than wanting the best guitar player, best bass player or best whatever.

They want guys that have experience, have a complete understanding of "working band dynamics", know how to be in a team focused band (meaning it's not about them or what they like) reliable responsible guys.

Blue

Well, that lets me out.