I can play bass, guitar and drums. I can program and record effectively. I have all the gear and I've wrote dozens of songs.Can anyone give some hints as to how to start up a band, what sort of people to look out for, I'm tired of being messed around by timewasters. Cheers!
2007-02-28 15:43:57 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
1. Look for emotionally mature members. They may not be as flamboyant as you would first like, but four hours into the gig, they are less likely to throw up on your shoes, quit because they found a better gig, quit because they met someone, or decide that they really should be in charge because the audience really came to see them anyway.
2. Look for readers. I know that music spoils everything, at least until you realize that readers can rehearse four to five times as many songs as those who learn by rote. You need at least twelve to fifteen songs per hour (unless you do an awful lot of extended solos) so building up a strong book (a book is the songs that you knwo as a band without looking at cheat sheets / lead sheets)
3. Own the book, own the P.A., own the transportation, book the gigs. The leader generally does these things and in most bands, the individual who does these things gets an additional share of the pie (the pie is the total amount you are paid for the ig)
4. If you share in the responsibility, overlap it. Make sure that your core band can do the job no matter what happens. Take a sequencer to the first few gigs if you have to, but make sure that you get a reputation as someone who is always ready to perform, no matter what.
5. If you are the writer, make sure that you put your name on the song. The band always wants to share credit. The lead guitarist will often say that the solo adds so much to the song that his or her name should be on the song as well. Avoid these situations.
6. Get everything in writing and stick to your agreements. As soon as you give in a little, you lose all credibility if it goes to a legal situation. Start as a single if you have to, but get out there and play. Hire people who are players. They should have resumes and references, and they should be willing to audition. Just as effective, go to the club where they are playing and watch them in a real life situation.
7. Agree on a sound and work to perfect it. You can't be everything to everyone and you shouldn't try. Cover bands are a dime a dozen and nobody ever got rich copying someone else's sound. If you play someone else's song, change it enough to make it "your sound" anyway. Remember that along with the sound, you need a "look."
8. Go and see some decent bands. Bug them until they teach you one thing. Talk to their sound man and their agent. Offer to fill in for decent band members. The experience is invaluable and you will get a reputation as somebody who can make anything work. Offer to produce, run sound, do a little roadie work if you have to. anything that will give you an opportunity to work with working musicians will help you to avoid time wasters.
Good luck, hope this helps. By the way, pick an instrument. If you try to do it all in one band, you end up being resented by everyone. Pick the instrument you want to stick with, at least for the gig, and give everyone else their space on the stage.
2007-02-28 17:10:01 · answer #1 · answered by MUDD 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
DEPENDABILITY is number one for anyone I have ever recruited. Next, you want "serious" musicians with similar ideas and visions as your own. One thing I've done, (when forming cover bands), is to ask potential musicians what radio station they listen to regularly. If you're forming a classic rock cover band and their favorite station is Hip Hop Central, there might be some creative differences in your future.
The most important thing I have learned - DO NOT wait until you have everything perfect before you go after gigs. Get out there and play live, every opportunity you can, (even if it's solo with an acoustic). Once you develop a name and a reputation in your community, attracting good musicians will not be a problem anymore.
2007-03-01 09:07:39 · answer #2 · answered by M D 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First off, find people you will get along with. Thats the most important.
The Syko Ward
2007-02-28 15:49:52 · answer #3 · answered by The Syko Ward 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hang out with other bands and get to know the members. convince the desirable members to quit their band and form one with you.
2007-02-28 15:49:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can start out a band any number of ways....but you can't guarantee it will be decent..........
2007-02-28 15:47:13 · answer #5 · answered by mr_tasty_phlegm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋