starting a band

[Jeansen]

please,someone help me! What do you need to start a good band? :confused: coz i'm having difficulties with my band..they're sometimes don't have their commitment to the band..i hate them when they do that!

[Cuno]

You need to get along and be reasonably honest with the people you play with. Once you've got that you can sort most things out.
Easy to say, difficult to do perhaps...

[oscardoo]

Man, I know where you're coming from! Seems every band i'm in IM the first one there and last one to pack up. I could play all night some nights. Yes i do have a job and a family to whom i devote plenty of time to but i'm still able to budget way more time to band practice than anyone else i've ever played with. One day i'm sure i will find at least a singer willing to put in the long hours. Seems guitarists and singers have WAY more stamina than those funky bassists and drummers do (lol).

[Guila]

Jeansen you could slowly kill members of your band, one by one while replacing the dead ones for serious musicians... LMAO
sorry dude just have nothing to do now..

[Tom_Williams99]

u lot wanna start a band of our own, sod the others that odont like to jam and play with us, weat area area are u lot from? T

[Priest Becker]

LOL i havent even been in a band yet and relize how hard it is to get commitment. I have tried to form bands but it seems my generation has no comitment to make anything happen. They just never contact eachother and whenever i tried to get something aranged they had plans with someone else. You have to find the right people and get into the right areas.

[Jeansen]

yes..i've out of that band right now n now i'm with my new band..they don't really have their commitment either but at least they are really want to go on stage haha :D thx for the replies..haven't seen it for long time

[Slaindude]

Its often a lot of trouble finding musicians that would share same path of idea than yours. Chemistry is what its all about, you need to each other to the point you'll basically know what to do everytime he does this or this kind of riff etc.

I have been in a couple of bands, i am still in a band and devoted, but still sometimes it feels like there are something that are left out. Not saying i don't like my band, we have a great chemistry for what we're doing but sometimes i feel like letting go a little more. I'm one of those " Out of their head " people or maybe just too much spaced out if i can say that. That's why i enjoy doing some instrumental stuff on my own.

[Matze]

A very efficient way to get a band together to have a short term gig, like a school party, birthday party, whatever. This puts everybody under a little pressure and you have a fixed date that keeps you motivated. Once it's running you need of course the next couple of gigs.
I notice this im my own band: when there are no gigs coming up, motivation is very low. Besides, playing gigs will give you routine you won't achieve with rehearsals.

[Gig-Getter]

A very efficient way to get a band together to have a short term gig, like a school party, birthday party, whatever. This puts everybody under a little pressure and you have a fixed date that keeps you motivated. Once it's running you need of course the next couple of gigs.
I notice this im my own band: when there are no gigs coming up, motivation is very low. Besides, playing gigs will give you routine you won't achieve with rehearsals.

Agree completely with the comments about gigs. Having something definite to work towards will not only focus everyone's minds and commitment, but also flush out those who really aren't up for it.

Talking and agreeing goals and expectations is key as well. We found sitting down and discussing what each of us want from this band and are prepared to do to make it happen pays dividends. In the end, if there is a band member who is out of kilter with what everyone else wants it may be time for them to "walk"...

[stervinertist]

It's always been tough for me to be in bands. Being treated like you're "just a bassist or drummer" can really get to you after awhile. I play guitar, bass, and drums and a few years back I got sick of playing with egotistical musicians and got some friends together and taught them how to play. They knew they sucked cuz they were just learning and that eliminated the ego problem. A few months into it we were a solid rock band and though no one could go on soloing for days we played what we played better than a lot of the bands in the area. We scored a spot as the house band in a few different clubs and we made enough to buy a decent PA, lights, professional website, and pay a qualified sound guy to run our shows. Our drummer has since then been booted out due to drugs and we're currently on "hiatus" while we get our new drummer up to speed. So you could just get folks that don't how to play and punch'em in the face until they learn!!:p

[Draven Grey]

I know it seems completely unrelated, but I assure you this is not. Check out http://www.jimcollins.com . What he has to say on his site (from his book, Good to Great) can make a huge difference in how you approach your band, or a new one. From who you need to be as a person/leader, to laser-like focus on your goal(s), to getting all the "right people on the bus," his research and ideas prove to be invaluable in any group/business venture.

[Malcolm]

....please,someone help me! What do you need to start a good band? coz i'm having difficulties with my band..they're sometimes don't have their commitment to the band..i hate them when they do that!
My advise ---- don't even think of starting a band -- join one that is already established. Don't know how to do that? You don't know how to start one either................. believe me it's easier to join one than to start one.

Been lucky, with the same band for 6 or 7 years now - not sure of the exact time. Ditto the comments about not having gigs and loosing interest. And the hassle of finding people you want to play with. The band I'm with has been in existence for many years. We have a set route (schedule) we play. Gilmer first Thursday of the month, Gladewater the 2nd Thursday, etc. Works out to about 4 to 6 gigs a month. We all enjoy each others company and play pretty much the same songs so we do not have rehearsals as we have been playing those same songs for years. When we add a new song the vocalists have already worked on it and they just hand us some fake chord sheet music and we wing it from there.

Point of my post --- don't start a band, join one that is already established. Saves a lot of the hassle. How do you do that? You ask to sit in on their rehearsals or actual gigs. May have to be the rodie for awhile, but if they like you who knows there may be a spot for you. And you don't have to get the gigs, hire and fire, or haul all the extra sound equipment -- just show up and play the songs the leader has decided upon. All you have to do is the fun stuff.

[Red Shoes]

I got sick of playing with egotistical musicians and got some friends together and taught them how to play. They knew they sucked cuz they were just learning and that eliminated the ego problem.
Yeah I did the same and for the most part it works a treat! The bassist has been a bit full of himself considering he is the most musically inept of us but we're all friends so work things out. Singer is looking like he's on the way out at the moment as he keeps cancelling practices at the last minute without warning. Due to his new girlfriend not liking the band. Which is a real shame cos we've all been friends for years and he's kind of ditching us but such is life :p The great thing with us all being friends is we always have guys willing to help roadie/stand in for other members etc. Our rhythm guitarist is very keen on trying lead vocals in addition to guitar if things go sour with the singer so we will definitely be carrying on with the band.

[Bill Brown]

I've put looking for other band members on hold for a moment and I'm concentrating on solo stuff because looking for band members is a right pain in the arse!!! After months and months of placing ads and talking to people, I managed to arrange only three meetings... two of which just felt awkward (personalities and tastes being too different), the other was cool and went smoothly but the commitment wasn't there due to people not being able to make time (ie, having a family, working different shift patterns, etc.)

It turned out to be a lot harder than I thought. :(

[Bill Brown]

I know it seems completely unrelated, but I assure you this is not. Check out http://www.jimcollins.com . Thanks for that link Draven, I've bookmarked it for future reading. :)

[ImySRV]

i'm having difficulties with my band..they're sometimes don't have their commitment to the band..i hate them when they do that!
totally know what you mean - i'm in a band with 5 other girls who talk the talk but when it comes down to theres only one or two that are really prepared to put the time in. bands are tough!!!
imy

[Blutwulf]

Hmmm... You know, we could all post wonderful ideas, but I am given to wonder how many times the ideas have been tried?

The very first band I was ever in was back when I was a teenager and a friend from school who played drums wanted to start a band. He had learned on his uncle's ancient Slingerlands and had finally gotten his own set. So, he rounded up a few of his schoolmates. Within 2 months, I was in my second band after his uncle's band stole me from him. Was I a scumbag? The first band played music by Sweet and the Raspberries. The second had a bunch of guys in their late 20's playing Cream and Zeppelin. It isn't like I jumped ship. I was drafted.

For the most part, I was passed around like a joint at a party. Whenever a band I was in would break up, some other band would call me.

I only ever started/created one band. In my mid-20's or so, I was asked by yet another band to join them (I am an average player who is quite the butthole... it always amazed me when they'd call). I basically talked them into tossing one guy, which resulted in two leaving, and me replacing them with a friend of mine. This, I'll allow, made me a scumbag. But the resultant lineup was pretty tight, and we all liked the same music, etc. Alas, it only lasted a year before marriages, military service, etc., brought it down.

I have only been in one since my mid-20's, and it lasted only about 6 months. It was basically 5 guys from work killing time in the evenings. We were all tickling 40 years old, so we called it "Goat Rodeo." Helluvaname...

[Bill Brown]

Well, I aint in a band yet. Have jammed with MANY people but the interest just doesn't hold on there part. At least I've got the ability to create good quality music if the band thing doesn't happen. :)