How to Start a Band

Starting a band may sound pretty straightforward, but it can actually be one of the most frustrating parts for many people. If you don't go about setting up your band right, you'll be caught in an endless cycle of trying to replace this player or that, trying to get the new people ready to play the songs, and so on and so forth - not to mention the fact that a dysfunctional band can out-drama any group of middle school girls. Save yourself the hassle and get your best band going right from the start.

Know Who You Need:

Before you can start finding band members, you've got to figure out exactly what your band needs. Say you and friend are playing together, and you play guitar and she plays drums. Well, you're set on a drummer, and whether you need a second guitarist will depend on your songs. Sounds obvious, right? But, it's easy to end up trying to fit in an unexpected keyboard player or extra guitarist just because you like that person. Remember that your goal is to get a band that can play shows together. Figure out the roles you need filled and match the people to the roles instead of the other way around.


Find the Musicians:

Now that you know what kind of musicians you need, you can start looking for them.


Figure Out The Ground Rules:

When you're just getting started in your band, there's no need to get too overly complicated and start fighting about your future royalties (if you are - consider it a huge red flag). If you're serious about your band, however, there are a few basics you should consider - it will help keep everyone on the same page:
* What is the practice schedule?
* Where will you practice?
* If there are any expenses (practice space, etc), how will you pay for them?
As your band grows, the things you need to figure out together will increase.


Who's the Boss:

Most bands have a natural leader, usually the songwriter and/or the person who formed the band. Exactly how much you want to exercise this whole "boss" thing is up to you - for instance, is it your songs, your way or the highway, or can others have some input? More importantly, when you start booking shows and promoting your band, it's good to have one person who is the main contact for the band. This can be the person who runs the show musically or someone else good at taking care of details.


Start Playing!:

Obviously, of course, the most important part of starting a band is just getting together and playing some music. Even with the best laid plans, this is the only way to make sure your band really clicks together. This is also a good time to figure out who is taking things seriously and is committed to the band, and who is not. If you have ambitions to make a living through your music, and your other band members view the band as a hobby, now is when that difference will rear it's head. If you and your band aren't a music love match, no problem - just return to step one!