Getting a New Band off the Ground?

theroan · Mar 20, 2009

For those of you in new bands, how are you finding the beginning stages? Formation of members, writing, gigging etc?

ErebusBass · Mar 20, 2009

Do you think you could possible be less specific?

theroan · Mar 20, 2009

Okay, what is difficult about starting your new band?

stylonpilson · Mar 20, 2009

Finding the slot to put the key in.

S.P.

theroan · Mar 20, 2009

LOL I don't even know what the means.

T-Forty · Mar 20, 2009

My latest (incomplete) band has been together for 6 weeks. The beginning stages have been good between the 3 of us (drums, guitar, bass) and we have written some awesome material (indie-pop). We've had a hard time with trying to add another guitarist and/or singer though. People are either not as good as they think they are with their instrument/voice or in the latest case they're great but they're huge arseholes.

Also..what is the point of this thread?

theroan · Mar 20, 2009

I've a few project over the last year and bit that just haven't taken off. I'm pretty close to giving up. Just curious if other people are going through the same stuff.

Trevorus · Mar 20, 2009

Finding the right people can be the hardest part. I have been casually looking to start things for years, and nothing ever really goes anywhere. People often have too many different goals for the entire band organism to be able to survive long enough. Part of the problem for me is that I can write riffs and such, but for some odd reason, I'm a terrible lyricist. I can conceptualize big and amazing things (to me), but cannot put them on a sheet of paper. It'll float around in my head, but I cannot put it into writing. Maybe I just need to lock myself in a room and force myself to write stuff. Whether it's terrible or not, there is bound to be something worthwhile in there.

theroan · Mar 20, 2009

My last attempt was the most disappointing. We manage to write a few songs. We find who would be our last member. We find a rehearsal space. Then the guy I'm co-leading it with says he's into it anymore. I find out that he had a secret practice with our drummer the month before with his own material. Just sucks, like why did you waste our time for six months if you wanted to do only your stuff?!

Stumbo · Mar 20, 2009

theroan · Mar 20, 2009

Cool thanks! It's just hard when you're 26. I feel like I'm running out of time.

scottbass · Mar 20, 2009

theroan said:
Cool thanks! It's just hard when you're 26. I feel like I'm running out of time.

Nah. I'm more than twice your age and I formed one band two years ago (which is gigging regularly now), I'm leaving another band in a couple of months, and I might try to form another band next year.

The older one gets, the more REAL credentials one acquires through experience. It gets easier and easier to tell who the REAL musicians are based on their credentials. The ones without talent don't last in the band and gig scene for 20 or 30 years.

I'm thinking I might be running out of time in another 15 years or so - not too many 70 year olds are still rockin' it!

baalroo · Mar 20, 2009

theroan said:
Cool thanks! It's just hard when you're 26. I feel like I'm running out of time.

nah, unless you wanna play teenie bopper pop junk, 26 ain't even close to "running out of time."

theroan · Mar 20, 2009

Well that's encouraging. I miss posting here.

RH434 · Mar 21, 2009

Trevorus said:
Maybe I just need to lock myself in a room and force myself to write stuff. Whether it's terrible or not, there is bound to be something worthwhile in there.

I find it is better to get something on paper before the thought is lost. Frequently I think, I'll remember that... Never do. Besides, you can always go back and fix it later, maybe with others input.

I have been toying with the idea of trying to start something new. Thanks for the links and advice.

xgator4u · Mar 21, 2009

theroan said:
Cool thanks! It's just hard when you're 26. I feel like I'm running out of time.

YEAH that is a rough age. Too old to be cool, and hip, and "with it",and too young to fit in with the "grown ups". LOL

Discount Saint · Mar 24, 2009

I am in a startup band right now, and it will be the 3rd band I've started in the last couple of years. I would say the hardest part is finding the right people, for several reasons.

A) Just finding people period can be difficult. I've spent so much time putting up ads, and sort of weeding out people who don't seem to have much potential, and then trying out the others, and getting a feel for what they are about. Lots of the time it seems like there is just nobody around.

B) Musicians are flaky, and not always the most up-front individuals. The previous band to this had some killer material and 3 people who were really in-tune with each other, but we went through 5 drummers who just couldn't commit. Twice we had a drummer who we thought was the one, only to have them bail a month later (both the night before jam rent was due) with no warning, giving crappy reasons that they should have known before committing to the band.

C) Getting a core of good members together that all have the same work-ethic and priorities is next to impossible. When you find a few good musicians HOLD ONTO THEM!!

I was in a band last year that I enjoyed - the material was pretty good and I got along with everybody, but I had a lot of chemistry with the singer/guitarist in particular, and after we kicked out the other guitarist and our drummer bailed to go to school, he and I worked together to get the band's demo finished up, and really connected on a number of levels. Since then I've been dragging him around with me and he was in my previous band as well as my current startup. There's just no substitute for chemistry and complimentary personalities.

rokkitt · Mar 24, 2009

nice stumbo, nice!

oh, and plus one to the hearing/earplugs thread.....watch out!

Stumbo said:
Here's some links that you may find useful(maybe not). They cover many of the issues we all come across being in a band. Follow the link in my sig. to a bunch of other useful bass stuff.

Good luck.

6. BEING IN A BAND

~Starting
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497571 How "good" do you have to be to play in a band?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=496467 Playing in a 3 piece band

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6777630&postcount=9 New Band
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=493356 Cover band
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=495628 Covers vs. Originals

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6999210&postcount=9 Advertising for new member(s)

~Auditioning
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=483181 How to audition for new band 1 of 2
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508611 2of 2
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=494723 Auditioning -new member 1 of 3
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492200 2 of 3 -red flag stories
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=501208 3 of 3 -story

~Band names
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113925 Best/worst real band names
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391461 Infamous band name thread
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6734711 Changing a band's name
http://www.bandnamemaker.com/
http://www.1728.com/bandname.htm

~Leaving the band
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=507131 Quitting
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=510146 Getting fired

~Band management
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73200 Intro
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=425221 Books

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=507322 First band
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=477182 Running a band: democracy or dictatorship?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466534 How to fire a band member
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=504370 Band "funds", "to be or not to be?"

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508702 Originals Band "paying dues"
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508446 Is playing for "free" really "free"?

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=509379 Getting gigs
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=494100 Advertising yourself
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=503211 Business cards

~Band Reheasal/Gigs/P.A.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173764 Bassist's guide to singing
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3743 Protect your hearing! Wear ear plugs!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=518269 In-ear monitors
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521015 Band rehearsal through headphones

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=524880 New member of a gigging band: Learning a set list
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=479102 Rehearsal -tips 1 of 3
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=486490 2 of 3 -efficiency
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484615 3 0f 3 -how often?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458468 Recording rehearsals/practice/gigs
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=489244 Learn Live Sound mixing

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237521 Moving equipment 1 of 3
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=483338 2 of 3
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=526223 3 of 3
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6914637 Coiling cables

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=500417 First gig 1 of 2
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=442203 2 of 2
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492051 To noodle or not to noodle?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497067 Being asked to turn down the VOLUME
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7048418&postcount=7 Compression will save your
amp/speaker(s)

~~P.A.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181555 What size?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=441138 First
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84740 Upgrading
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7044862 Upgrading
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5622952 Configuring
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=43 Learn Live Sound mixing
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429034 Recording/Mixing

Study and memorize these:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434246 If I only knew then..
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497571 Best musical advice

thudfromafar · Mar 24, 2009

I started my own band and it's been a long process of weeding people out. People are too flaky, cocky, lazy, different, unskilled, etc. But eventually you may find someone you work well with. Then you spend all this time looking for the next person who fits in. It takes a while, but it will probably happen. Think, if bands were impossible to start, we wouldn't have any. Yet if it was too easy to find the right people, there would be way more good bands out there.

I've almost given up several times but it will be worth it when stuff does completely fit together.

Discount Saint · Mar 25, 2009

Certainly not impossible, but unless all the stars just happen to align on the first try, it's going to take some time to get something up and running that you are really excited about, and you're going to encounter a whole ton of really annoying people.

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Getting a New Band off the Ground?

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theroan

ErebusBass

theroan

stylonpilson

theroan

T-Forty

theroan

Trevorus

theroan

Stumbo

Guest

theroan

scottbass

Bass lines like a big, funky giant

baalroo

theroan

RH434

xgator4u

Discount Saint

Bassist for the music in my head

rokkitt

thudfromafar

Discount Saint

Bassist for the music in my head

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