Banjo Camp North Classes for 2015

We can talk about the complexities of guitar-playing until the Cows come home (whenever that is) but one thing that not many people teach is how to start a band- or more specifically- how to increase your chances of success with a band.

So to cut to the chase- here’s some tips on how to start and manage a band:

PREPARE TO BE BROKE

I’ve banhed on before about the hardships of living a life as a professional musician- it sucks. You will constantly be spending your fleeting currency on replacing strings, upgrading equipment, renting spaces and generally doing anything. Low-level gigs don’t pay much- if anything at all. It is highly advisable to find a manageable part-time or freelance job. Maybe even a full-time job if you’re hardcore! Financial backing of some kind is a must- anyway.

YOU HAVE TO THINK BUSINESS

It may not exactly be Rock ‘n Roll, but you have to be realistic and think of your band in terms of a musical business. You cement a unique sound/style, you brand yourself with your logos and designs, and you generally have a Unique Selling Point about you. If crowds aren’t responding to certain songs then consider scrapping or re-writing them. That is unless you’re extremely dedicated to a niche genre and you really believe in it!

DON’T FALL INTO THE “NICE GUY” TRAP

Your bandmates are musicians- first and foremost. They are there to make music with you and play it well. Them being your friend should come second. Of course you can’t have everyone in a band hating each other, but keeping a sub-standard musician in because they’re a: “Nice Guy” is counterproductive.

BE TOUGH BUT FAIR

If a band member isn’t pulling their musical weight then tell them. You can’t have someone ruining all your time and musical efforts. If they don’t start to pull their weight after you’ve warned them then fire them and start looking for a replacement. At the end of the day you should never victimize someone, but if they’re pulling the entire band down just because of their own laziness then you need to fire their ass! Be tough but fair and think of what’s best for the band as a whole.

HAVE A GOOD DRUMMER

It sounds obvious, but having a bad drummer can screw a band up massively. It’s common sense really, but if your drummer can’t maintain a constant tempo and is constantly slowing down and then speeding up his BPM between sections- then your band is going to suffer in it’s live performances. Also- you want a drummer who’s gonna provide you with some unique and interesting beats, if they’re going with a basic “kick kick snare” pattern with every song, you’re gonna have a problem. Music may be melodic, but rhythm is a huge factor too, and you want someone who can provide a good and solid rhythm.

COPY EVERYONE

Phil Anselmo, vocalist of Groove-Metal band Pantera, offered similar advice to this, and I completely agree with him. When asked how his band got their signature Groove-Metal sound, he explained that they just copied bands they loved, not just 2 or 3, but like 15 or 20. After a while all the Groovy influences mixed with all the Metally (if that’s a word?) Influences and Hey Presto! A sub-genre is born! Top stuff.

DON’T ARGUE WITH THE BAND LEADER WITH NO GOOD REASON

If you’re reading this then there’s a good chance that you’re the band leader because you’re taking the initiative to research such things- but if you’re not- then heed my advice.

Every band has a band leader- one of the members that acts like a manager and sorts the majority of stuff out for the band. Now if you don’t really involve yourself in the managing of the band- then don’t complain when they organise something you disagree with. If you don’t agree with something then speak up sooner- otherwise it will just cause unnecessary tension.

GIG A LOT

Gigging is your best experience and practice. You get to see what the audience likes and doesn’t like- you get to see how you all cope in a live situation and how you recover from any mistakes that you might make. It all makes sense- so do it whenever you get the gosh-darn chance.

BE PUNCTUAL

Show up on time. This includes gigs, rehearsals and general band events of any kind. Time is money in this world, and lateness is expensive! It also means that venues and such will never want to work with you again… So you know… it’s just generally not the world’s best idea.

I hope you have enjoyed these (non-musical) tips for starting/ maintaining a band! Remember to have patience and have fun! Good luck!