I think I might be founding a band

[Micha84]

Hey everybody,

here is what happened: For the last two years and after more or less ten years of homestudio only, I have been looking for a band again - as a hobby, no financial interest. I have played with some people and even joined a band for about nine months, but haven't found anything that suited me. So, for a few months now, I had this idea of starting something on my own, with my own songs. But there were a lot of doubts: Are my songs good enough? I don't know anybody who I could start with, it would have to be all new people. I don't have a room suitable for a band, I don't have a PA or anything for vocals, I don't even have a bass amp at this moment.
Then, last week, I had nothing to do one afternoon, I was playing with that idea again and then - I just published an ad. A very honest ad, saying that I don't have anything except a few songs and that I am looking for musicians who want to start something new. And, very much to my surprise, I got a lot of responses fast.

I may have accidentally started a band.

Now I am of course happy that people heard my songs and are willing to do something with them, but I also have no idea how to go about it.
So far, I have contacts to a singer, a guitarist and a drummer who I have a good gut feeling about. There is also a very young singer who seems enthusiastic, but the age gap might be a problem and a supposed piano player, who I have doubts about both his ability and his fit for this project.
I am thinking of renting a space for an evening that has amps, PA and drums and invite everybody except the young singer (as the other one is my first choice and I guess it would be weird having two female singers there). We could get to know each other, play some songs and then see how it goes from there.


Now, what I would like to ask everybody is for general tipps and advice. What should and shouldn't I be doing? What would be a common mistake I might be making? What first steps when founding a band do you have to take under any circumstance? When chosing members, what are red flags that you have come across in the past?

Thanks so much for your input!

 

[ArtechnikA]

State your goals and especially expectations VERY clearly.
It is a band you formed for playing YOUR originals.
If you don't make that clear up front, it will be a cover band in 6 hours...
If you never plan to play out, it doesn't matter if the songs are good...
If you are paying all the bills, you are calling all the shots; some people won't like that. 'Thank you for playing, goodbye.'

I would argue that a bunch of musicians that doesn't record and doesn't play out is a social club, not a band, but my opinion is not important, and there's nothing wrong with that, if it's what everyone wants.

Red flags? People who will want to take control of your project and make it theirs.
Some people -have- to be in control and will destroy the project if they can't be in charge. Say goodbye, find another player...

 

[Not Insane]

Hey everybody,

here is what happened: For the last two years and after more or less ten years of homestudio only, I have been looking for a band again - as a hobby, no financial interest. I have played with some people and even joined a band for about nine months, but haven't found anything that suited me. So, for a few months now, I had this idea of starting something on my own, with my own songs. But there were a lot of doubts: Are my songs good enough? I don't know anybody who I could start with, it would have to be all new people. I don't have a room suitable for a band, I don't have a PA or anything for vocals, I don't even have a bass amp at this moment.
Then, last week, I had nothing to do one afternoon, I was playing with that idea again and then - I just published an ad. A very honest ad, saying that I don't have anything except a few songs and that I am looking for musicians who want to start something new. And, very much to my surprise, I got a lot of responses fast.

I may have accidentally started a band.

Now I am of course happy that people heard my songs and are willing to do something with them, but I also have no idea how to go about it.
So far, I have contacts to a singer, a guitarist and a drummer who I have a good gut feeling about. There is also a very young singer who seems enthusiastic, but the age gap might be a problem and a supposed piano player, who I have doubts about both his ability and his fit for this project.
I am thinking of renting a space for an evening that has amps, PA and drums and invite everybody except the young singer (as the other one is my first choice and I guess it would be weird having two female singers there). We could get to know each other, play some songs and then see how it goes from there.


Now, what I would like to ask everybody is for general tipps and advice. What should and shouldn't I be doing? What would be a common mistake I might be making? What first steps when founding a band do you have to take under any circumstance? When chosing members, what are red flags that you have come across in the past?

Thanks so much for your input!

Managing relationships can be a nightmare. When there are two people, there is one relationship. When there are three people, there are three relationships. With four people, there are six relationships to manage. With five people there are nine. It can get complicated real fast, especially if one or more band members are women.

Also, originals are a touchy subject with me personally. Rarely are they any good. But besides that, if you try to control your originals too tightly this will be very short lived. There is a local guy where I live that has a LOT of originals and one of the members of my band has a great home recording studio. He records them all for free. They all suck. Well, some of them are potential raw material for a possible good song. But the problem is that he considers them all "finished product", and with a vengeance. That doesn't fly. It could be fun for a bunch of musicians to collaborate on one and use his song as a starting point, but it ain't happenin'.

A funny thing happened to me personally in that regard. My daughter and her husband met in a band they were in. For their wedding in Seattle they asked me to play bass in their band for their wedding reception. I live in Kentucky and the band emailed me their songs (all originals) and I practiced up before the trip to Seattle. Well, the song I loved the best simply screamed to me for a key change after the bridge and I even practiced it that way a bit. Then at the rehearsal in seattle I offered up the idea and they loved it.

So we performed the songs at the wedding reception and several guys that were well familiar with all their songs actually came up to the leader and said how awesome that song sounded with the modulation. And to be honest, it did. It had the emotional impact such a thing can have with some songs.

But here's the thing. There is nothing special about my arrangement skills. Rather, I was someone from the outside listening to the stuff and was hearing ideas they just didn't hear. They were used to the songs as-is. It took an outsider to notice a small thing - a small thing that almost completely changed the feel of the song.

All that to say, let them fiddle with your songs. You may be surprised.

 

[pepj]

If the band doesn't have musical chemistry then look elsewhere.
For me this is rule 101.
And that dictates what else you need and where to get it.

However, if you haven't been at this very long, you need to know who is out there and what do they do.
So, getting to meet as many people as possible is key too.
Don't settle for Don't know anyone...get to understand the who is who in the local scene.
Might take a fair while but its required, imv.

 

[Micha84]

State your goals and especially expectations VERY clearly.

Maybe I should clarify that here, as well.

I want to play live, I think small venues like coffee houses or even garden parties would well suit the music. Money is not a priority, it is about the experience and sharing what I have done in the last ten years.
I do not want the project be about me, however. I would like for everybody to chip in, be it on their instruments or with whole songs.
I don't expect everybody to be a master of their instrument, but to be reliable when it comes to rehearsal, learning songs and other things that come up when you start playing gigs. I want everybody to understand and respect the general direction of the music with their contributions.

 

[pcake]

i've started a couple bands with similar goals and ads. some people decided to join me in a new band in order to use the people i put together and take over and change the entire direction of the band. watch out for those, because i ran across a few of them. some tried manipulation, some tried brute force, ad some kept bringing in millions of ideas and songs that were often not in even the general genre of music we were playing.

and somehow i found myself the BL in one band, which i wasn't sure i wanted to be at that time. i was the person who put out the listing, i was the person who found the rehearsal studio and made the reservations, and somehow i was gifted the responsibility for being the tie-breaker, booking shows, deciding what singer to have join us and more. so decide if those are things you're willing to do in case that arrises.

 

[jerry]

If you are not the singer, you might have a problem with calling it "your" band unless you pay them.

 

[MegaSwing]

Don’t get trapped in the basement. Waiting until every little thing is ‘perfect’ is a ticket to basement oblivion. Better players will start deserting the project.

Lose troublemakers as soon as the trouble escalates once.

Start building contacts right now to play out.

Be the leader. Always have a plan. The world of bandcraft abhors a vacuum.

A bandleader will ALWAYS be judged on how well he/she keeps the band busy and paid. Your knowledge of the music will always be secondary to that.

 

[Neil Folkard]

As a drummer friend of mine once told me: "If it's the right fit, you will know it almost immediately". As to starting a band issues. Go with people who won't make your life miserable is all I've got. And big egos can be big problems.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Have a plan for rehearsals. Make a defined list of songs to keep the focus. But don’t be afraid to veer off if it wants to go another way.

If you are doing original songs, be careful about trying to make your band mates into a session band. It is always fun to collaborate on music when everyone has ownership.

Some songs need to cook and ferment before they are ready.

Learn about energy vampires and narcissists before admitting anyone as permanent lineup.

 

[Pocket Dave]

State your goals and especially expectations VERY clearly.
It is a band you formed for playing YOUR originals.
If you don't make that clear up front, it will be a cover band in 6 hours...
If you never plan to play out, it doesn't matter if the songs are good...
If you are paying all the bills, you are calling all the shots; some people won't like that. 'Thank you for playing, goodbye.'

I would argue that a bunch of musicians that doesn't record and doesn't play out is a social club, not a band, but my opinion is not important, and there's nothing wrong with that, if it's what everyone wants.

Red flags? People who will want to take control of your project and make it theirs.
Some people -have- to be in control and will destroy the project if they can't be in charge. Say goodbye, find another player...

It's going to be a cover band in 6 hours no matter how well you communicate expectations.

Because expectations simply don't work.

There has to be boundaries based on mutually beneficial, shared interests.

In the absence of monetary incentive, other musicians are going to want a seat at the creative decision table.

Otherwise other players will force their own agendas, either monetary/covers or creative/taking over control.

If you already have a mutually agreeable agenda and incentives where everyone feels they have a say, the band leader's job becomes much easier; Recognize and acknowledge good talent; Act as moderator rather than director to get the most out of that talent.

IOW trust creative talent to do what they do. If they don't make the grade, try to work with those who do.

 

[51PRI]

Hey everybody,

here is what happened: For the last two years and after more or less ten years of homestudio only, I have been looking for a band again - as a hobby, no financial interest. I have played with some people and even joined a band for about nine months, but haven't found anything that suited me. So, for a few months now, I had this idea of starting something on my own, with my own songs. But there were a lot of doubts: Are my songs good enough? I don't know anybody who I could start with, it would have to be all new people. I don't have a room suitable for a band, I don't have a PA or anything for vocals, I don't even have a bass amp at this moment.
Then, last week, I had nothing to do one afternoon, I was playing with that idea again and then - I just published an ad. A very honest ad, saying that I don't have anything except a few songs and that I am looking for musicians who want to start something new. And, very much to my surprise, I got a lot of responses fast.

I may have accidentally started a band.

Now I am of course happy that people heard my songs and are willing to do something with them, but I also have no idea how to go about it.
So far, I have contacts to a singer, a guitarist and a drummer who I have a good gut feeling about. There is also a very young singer who seems enthusiastic, but the age gap might be a problem and a supposed piano player, who I have doubts about both his ability and his fit for this project.
I am thinking of renting a space for an evening that has amps, PA and drums and invite everybody except the young singer (as the other one is my first choice and I guess it would be weird having two female singers there). We could get to know each other, play some songs and then see how it goes from there.


Now, what I would like to ask everybody is for general tipps and advice. What should and shouldn't I be doing? What would be a common mistake I might be making? What first steps when founding a band do you have to take under any circumstance? When chosing members, what are red flags that you have come across in the past?

Thanks so much for your input!

It wasn't weird for Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, The Fifth Dimension, Ace of Base, or Chic to have two female lead singers.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

If you don't sing, you'll have to assert your position very, very firmly. My cover band became an originals band because of our singer.

Sadly, he writes mostly bad songs. And considers them finished after the first collective run-through.

I am not sad it all ended when it did.

 

[Pocket Dave]

If you don't sing, you'll have to assert your position very, very firmly.

You'd better have something big to offer in return - gigs, pay of some kind.

Otherwise asserting a firm position of leadership when you have no leverage is probably not going to end well. You're likely to be seen as a replaceable annoyance when band members want to play in a less restrictive atmosphere where they have more input.

 

[hrodbert696]

My rule when starting or joining a band is not only to clearly communicate MY expectations, but to ask the others about THEIRS, and listen to the answers. Unless you're paying them enough to cover their bills, they will participate in the band exactly as long as it fulfills their wishes, and no longer. As long as what the band is doing is compatible with what they want to do, they're with you. If it doesn't offer what they're looking for, they'll move on. So if they want to play your songs, great. But if they want to contribute to the writing process, or they want you to learn their original songs, then you'll need to give them that, or find someone else. Etc.

 

[Wissen]

Statement 1. Every band I have ever had that failed did so because there was a mismatch of individual expectations among members.

Statement 2. Every band I have had that stayed together long enough to gig regularly benefited from everyone agreeing on expectations. At such point in time where this was no longer true, see statement number 1.

If anyone has different expectations for the band and their time in it, the band will not succeed. And know that even as the founder of the band, it won't necessarily be your fault. You can't make anyone see things your way. Best to part ways with the minority voice before it sinks the whole ship. There's a way to do that and still preserve the dignity of all parties involved. It's the poopy side of the business, for sure. But it will eventually sink the ship.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Get gigs on the books as early as possible. This serves as a huge motivator for the band and allows you to avoid forever rehearsing syndrome that many bands fizzle out over.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

You're starting a band!....cool!
I say this with real honest to God sincerity. Good luck.
I mean it.
Bands can go so many ways. But when they go well, they can be a huge part of your playing life.
Have fun....that's the goal!

 

[Michedelic]

Hey everybody,

here is what happened: For the last two years and after more or less ten years of homestudio only, I have been looking for a band again - as a hobby, no financial interest. I have played with some people and even joined a band for about nine months, but haven't found anything that suited me. So, for a few months now, I had this idea of starting something on my own, with my own songs. But there were a lot of doubts: Are my songs good enough? I don't know anybody who I could start with, it would have to be all new people. I don't have a room suitable for a band, I don't have a PA or anything for vocals, I don't even have a bass amp at this moment.
Then, last week, I had nothing to do one afternoon, I was playing with that idea again and then - I just published an ad. A very honest ad, saying that I don't have anything except a few songs and that I am looking for musicians who want to start something new. And, very much to my surprise, I got a lot of responses fast.

I may have accidentally started a band.

Now I am of course happy that people heard my songs and are willing to do something with them, but I also have no idea how to go about it.
So far, I have contacts to a singer, a guitarist and a drummer who I have a good gut feeling about. There is also a very young singer who seems enthusiastic, but the age gap might be a problem and a supposed piano player, who I have doubts about both his ability and his fit for this project.
I am thinking of renting a space for an evening that has amps, PA and drums and invite everybody except the young singer (as the other one is my first choice and I guess it would be weird having two female singers there). We could get to know each other, play some songs and then see how it goes from there.


Now, what I would like to ask everybody is for general tipps and advice. What should and shouldn't I be doing? What would be a common mistake I might be making? What first steps when founding a band do you have to take under any circumstance? When chosing members, what are red flags that you have come across in the past?

Thanks so much for your input!

How are you writing your songs? On guitar or keyboards, or are you running a bunch of bass riffs/root note changes together? Any chordal instrument players will need to know the progressions, major/minor chords, embellishments, and so on. Will you be providing chord charts/lead sheets for the sake of rehearsal efficiency? If one of the others comes up with any little musical “seasonings”(intros, outros, riffs, hooks, bridges, separate chord changes under solos, arrangements, etc.)are you prepared to accept those, and maybe recognize them as co-writers? Are you writing all the lyrics? If the singer wants to add or change any words or phrases, are you good with that?

The organization of all of this will establish and maintain your position as leader. How prolific are you? If you’ve only put together five or six tunes, where do you go from there? What if one of the others says, “hey, I’ve got something I want to try”, are you willing to accept that? What if their material just sucks, and doesn’t fit in with what you’re doing? Are you up for dedicated co-writing sessions?