Starting a band

If you’re interested in starting a band, do it right. Here are some guidelines you should be aware of before you begin.

The best way to find the band members you need is to scout the territory

It’s assumed you already play an instrument and know what kind of music you want the band to play. Here are some tips for putting it all together.

 Assembling the band members

• The band members’ talents should complement each other, and not overlap to any extent. Of course, it all depends upon the kind of band you’re putting together, but if you end up with several people playing the same thing, you’ll likely be paying more people than is necessary.
• The best way to find the band members you need is to scout the territory. Check out nightclubs, karaoke bars, open mike nights, songwriter venues, and any other event where good talent may appear. You can “audition” the talent on the spot and see how they are in front of a crowd.
• Of course, you can advertise in the classifieds, on Craigslist and other Internet sites. Also, you can post ads on bulletin boards at the above bars and venues. Don’t be too hasty in hiring your band members; make sure you’re aware of the best people available.
• There may possibly be an especially talented player in your area who plays an instrument you never considered as part of the band. For instance, you know of a great fiddle player, but you’re putting together a rock group. The fact is, really good musicians can adapt to almost any genre of music and can add a new dimension to the band. And very gifted people are often hard to find.
• The band members will be spending a lot of time together, so it’s very important that the band personnel get along well with each other. Even if someone is a great musician, he or she can be difficult to work with, or may be constantly late, or not show up at gigs. This brings the whole band down and should be avoided at all costs.

Other tips

• Some beginning bands want to perform only original songs and consider doing cover material “not cool”. You can build a cult following if you take this approach, and if that’s what you want to do, it’s fine. But mass audiences love to hear music they’re familiar with. If you want to attract large crowds you should have a lot of popular cover material on your play list. Even if you don’t like the songs, the audience does, and they’re paying the bill. Most successful bands (i.e. the Beatles) started off doing cover songs. Mix in a few originals early on and add them as you go.
• When you’re assembling your play list, here’s a general rule of thumb: start the set with an up-tempo, attention grabbing song. Bring it down a bit as the set progresses and end the set with another big song. Don’t put too many slow songs together; mix the tempos.
• Your sound system is key to your presentation. Make sure it is a good one that fits your needs. You’ll probably need a trailer or truck to transport it. The process of hauling equipment, set-up and sound check is a job in itself. You may want to consider hiring roadies to assist with the task.