New Band Check List

[Rudreax]

Do they like a lot of different kinds of music and are they into music apart from just playing it?

This is something that's an absolute must for me. I don't really want to be in a band with someone that listens to nothing but power metal or nothing but punk rock from '76-'84, etc... I've found that people that are into and expose themselves to a lot of different music are more creative, open-minded, and easier to work with when it comes to writing and arranging.

+1000

 

[bolophonic]

That covers most of it.

I think liking the material should go somewhere near the bottom, but other than that, yeah.

Really? This would be my number one criteria. If I am not into the music, my interest fades quickly.

 

[BagelBruin]

Now that I think about it, this would probably be Number 1 on the list;

Are they good people, reasonable, professional, easy to get along with

+1

I was once in a band which we got into fist fights.

 

[Red Rover]

Yeah, I agree,I don't think anyone will say;

BTW, I like to stay high all the time.

You have no idea how often people say this actually. I've seen the following in far too many ads. "BTW, applicants must be 420 friendly."

 

[HolmeBass]

Man you really are serious when you say you want to run a band like a business. If I went to a rehearsal and anyone used a white board I would berate them endlessly hoping they would stop, and if they didn't I would quit. I use white boards at work to build quality software; I have no intention of turning making music - art - into the same sort of exercise. Of course YMMV as it obviously does.

 

[sleepytime]

Man you really are serious when you say you want to run a band like a business. If I went to a rehearsal and anyone used a white board I would berate them endlessly hoping they would stop, and if they didn't I would quit. I use white boards at work to build quality software; I have no intention of turning making music - art - into the same sort of exercise. Of course YMMV as it obviously does.

Constructive criticism and productive ideas would be welcome. Compromise is part of working together. Berating would simply be stopped.

 

[bluewine]

Man you really are serious when you say you want to run a band like a business. If I went to a rehearsal and anyone used a white board I would berate them endlessly hoping they would stop, and if they didn't I would quit. I use white boards at work to build quality software; I have no intention of turning making music - art - into the same sort of exercise. Of course YMMV as it obviously does.

The White Board works at work and also is a tool (not the only tool) that also works for bands that understand that while it's our passion in life it's also a business.

 

[ksandvik]

I would spend some extra time checking out the personalities of the guitar players. Why? Because if they are big ego-trippers, the whole band psychology will be very neurotic and few want that.

 

[WayneS]

•Do they all use professional level gear (guitars &amps)

I'd like to know what your definition of this is.

I can understand a 10W amp and a First Act guitar not being professional level... but what else?

 

[ksandvik]

I'd like to know what your definition of this is.

I can understand a 10W amp and a First Act guitar not being professional level... but what else?

* Old wireless unit
* Strange MIDI guitar
* Line 6 Spider transistor amp that just crumbles on stage next to a decent bass amp

I had to play with such a guitar player last night.

PS: Not to speak of drinking lots and lots of beer during the gig, fortunately he didn't collapse. Not to speak of changing all his guitar strings *two minutes* before we started and continuing tweaking/tuning for the rest of the first set.
PSS: Needless to say, this was the first and last gig with that configuration for me.

 

[WayneS]

* Old wireless unit
* Strange MIDI guitar
* Line 6 Spider transistor amp that just crumbles on stage next to a decent bass amp

I had to play with such a guitar player last night.

PS: Not to speak of drinking lots and lots of beer during the gig, fortunately he didn't collapse. Not to speak of changing all his guitar strings *two minutes* before we started and continuing tweaking/tuning for the rest of the first set.
PSS: Needless to say, this was the first and last gig with that configuration for me.

Ahhh... gotcha!

 

[bluewine]

* Old wireless unit
* Strange MIDI guitar
* Line 6 Spider transistor amp that just crumbles on stage next to a decent bass amp

I had to play with such a guitar player last night.

PS: Not to speak of drinking lots and lots of beer during the gig, fortunately he didn't collapse. Not to speak of changing all his guitar strings *two minutes* before we started and continuing tweaking/tuning for the rest of the first set.
PSS: Needless to say, this was the first and last gig with that configuration for me.

Yeah, thats pretty much an example of insuficient gear. And I am talking about playing bars and clubs, even bands playing tier 3 bars usually will have something redeeming about their gear.

For me you want to see these names, Fender, Gibson, Marshall, Ampeg, Orange, Mesa Boogie, Ibanez, PRS, there are a lot more.

 

[bluewine]

Just thought I would share this as an FYI.

I responded to two ads for bass players this week.It was hard to tell from the way the ads were written whether they were a start up or not.

I used some of the questions we have discussed in this thread;

Mission of Band

Web Site, Face Book My Space

Giggiing history of the band

What happened to your last bass player.


I did not receive a response from either band. To me it tells me they had things to hide.

 

[ksandvik]

Just thought I would share this as an FYI.

I responded to two ads for bass players this week.It was hard to tell from the way the ads were written whether they were a start up or not.

I used some of the questions we have discussed in this thread;

Mission of Band

Web Site, Face Book My Space

Giggiing history of the band

What happened to your last bass player.


I did not receive a response from either band. To me it tells me they had things to hide.

Yes, indeed. Reasonable questions, if no answers, there might be things they don't want to talk about which is bad. It's a good checklist, I will start using it myself.

 

[TBrett]

We auditioned a drummer yesterday and I think we passed every item on the checklist, including the additional suggestions that were posted. Except for the PA. We rent fully equipped rehearsal space each week and any decent venue in this area already has one. If we needed one for a gig, we'd simply rent it, so at least that item would be covered if it ever became an issue.

Great checklist, though. I think it should be stickied!

 

[jive1]

I did not receive a response from either band. To me it tells me they had things to hide.

Maybe. Or they may have already found their guy/gal, or decided to keep their guy/gal. Or maybe they may have received a bunch of responses, and they picked and chose the ones to respond to based on the vibe. Or maybe they are too lazy, or not taking it seriously enough to respond. Maybe they don't check e-mail as often. Maybe you already responded to one of their ads in the past. There's lots of potential reasons.

 

[bluewine]

Just a reminder, the check list is best suited for those looking for working bands.

 

[bluewine]

Maybe. Or they may have already found their guy/gal, or decided to keep their guy/gal. Or maybe they may have received a bunch of responses, and they picked and chose the ones to respond to based on the vibe. Or maybe they are too lazy, or not taking it seriously enough to respond. Maybe they don't check e-mail as often. Maybe you already responded to one of their ads in the past. There's lots of potential reasons.

Maybe, they didn't have a history of gigs, no gigs on the books for 2011, no web-site, ect..

jive , I have responded to a lot ads.

I have to say that all bands that demonstrated they were in business spelled out why they lost their bass player, what gigs they had coming up, what they were looking for and most of all got back to me within 24 hours.

And sometimes it was to tell me they had a lot of responses and picked the ones they had the most interest in (usually their friend) but thanked me for my interest. Thats fine and professional in my book.

To me, if they don't respond , more than likely they were losers with nothing to offer.

 

[jive1]

Maybe, they didn't have a history of gigs, no gigs on the books for 2011, no web-site, ect..

jive , I have responded to a lot ads.

I have to say that all bands that demonstrated they were in business spelled out why they lost their bass player, what gigs they had coming up, what they were looking for and most of all got back to me within 24 hours.

And sometimes it was to tell me they had a lot of responses and picked the ones they had the most interest in (usually their friend) but thanked me for my interest. Thats fine and professional in my book.

To me, if they don't respond , more than likely they were losers with nothing to offer.

Easy, killer......

Not trying to be malicious, just stating possibilities.

 

[bluewine]

Easy, killer......

Not trying to be malicious, just stating possibilities.

I don't think were that far apart on this issue.

However I am thinking in your part of the world you don't have or see as many loser bands as we have up here.