So You Want to Start a Band ...

Easy peasy!

As one might expect, I write a line or two on the subject of music from time to time. Why? Well, why not? I mean, music does play a fairly significant role in my life these days. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t possess all the knowledge available, and likely never will, but I do know a thing or two … perhaps three.

To the average music fan or patron, playing in a band just looks like some cats out there having fun. What that patron sees, however, is just a tiny sliver of all that has gone into making the show actually happen. I wrote about this subject last year in a couple entries: Looks Like Fun – 3/11/24, and A Successful Gig – 3/14/24. To be perfectly honest, it’s a whole lot of fun, most of the time. But that one to three hour long performance doesn’t convey how much time, effort, and expense went into making it happen.

Now being a band leader is a whole ‘nother mess o’ work, and that’s the subject of today’s blog entry. So let’s break it down, and take a closer look at what that usually entails. Might as well start right from the beginning.

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Let’s start with a few questions:

- What kind of music will your band play?

That’s a good place to start. While it’s not crucial to perform music that you have a passion for, it surely helps. Most working musicians have found themselves in situations where they are required to play music that they don’t even like. (To me and most of the musicians that I know, that sounds too much like a job!) So the first item on the agenda is to figure out your musical identity. What styles are you proficient in? What do you enjoy playing? For that matter, what do you enjoy listening to?

- Who will be in your band?

Once you decide on a musical direction for your project, the next decision is who you might want to hire for your band. While most accomplished musicians are undeniably talented, that doesn’t mean they are proficient in every genre. (There are some amazing individuals out there who are good at just about anything they do, though that’s more the exception than the rule.) The subtleties inherent to each musical style often require a specific approach in order to deliver an authentic performance.

Another important but often overlooked detail is centered on the individual personalities of your prospective bandmates. We’re all wired a bit differently, and often various personalities simply do not mesh well. The requirement to play well together is near the top of the list, but getting along with one another is right up there as well.

- What will your band be called?

Yes, naming your band is pretty important. This is your brand. It should be easy to remember, and it helps if it’s somehow connected to what you do musically. If your priority is presenting yourself as the brand, your name should be conspicuous. There aren’t really any rules for naming a band, but like any business, the name should be easily remembered and descriptive, if possible. Be careful not to get too clever with the name; it can be confusing to the public.

- Where and when will you rehearse?

As much fun as it is not, rehearsal goes a long, long way in putting together a well-crafted show. Arranging tunes; deciding who plays what and when; which songs are in your wheel house – these important details are all easily sorted out in the confines of a private rehearsal space. That’s usually a lot better than trying to figure it out during a live performance situation.

Whether you have to rent a space, or you have one at your disposal, you’ll likely have to provide a small sound system.

- Where will you perform, and how do you make that happen?

Once you feel confident in building enough of a repertoire to fill a few hours of performance time, now you need to get a gig. Some folks utilize a booking manager or service to help with this part. For a fee – typically a percentage – a service such as this can potentially make things easier. Keep in mind that if you don’t already have a following or a recognizable name, booking managers might not be very enthusiastic about working with you.

Most band leaders working on the local level prefer save the money, and do this on their own. If this is the path you choose, be prepared to be ignored more often than not. Getting zero response from your inquiries can be discouraging, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying. For every Yes, you can expect to hear No far more often, which is preferable to no response whatsoever.

When you do get a potentially positive response, then you get to negotiate dates, times, and costs. If there’s a contract offered or required, be sure to read it thoroughly before you sign it. Contracts are there to protect both the performers and the venue or event management. (At least they should be …)

Just like with scheduling rehearsals, you must also take into account the availability of your bandmates, who, most likely, are involved in several other musical projects. If you’ve ever seen a master juggler at work, trying to keep track of several dissimilar objects up in the air all at once, you can see how challenging this might be.

- How will you inform the public about your upcoming gigs?

Proper promotion is only important if you actually want people to know about and attend your show. (That’s kind of the point, right?) This is an essential piece of the puzzle, and will take some time and effort on your part. Working closely with the venue on promotion increases your reach, and demonstrates to the management that you’re willing to work together to insure the best results possible. Include them in your promotion, and provide them with all pertinent info and materials. Bios, band photos, descriptions, videos, and reviews from previous performances are all helpful resources to share with the venue. They may or may not utilize them, but if you don’t provide them, they definitely won’t.

In today’s digital world, there are many tools available to promote your shows that will give you a greater reach with less effort. Start by providing a public calendar, and be sure to keep it updated. Build your social media presence, and make the most of it by promoting your musical exploits on those platforms. Again, things like photos and videos will go a long way in catching the attention of your potential audience. And don’t forget to include the venue by tagging them.

- Who provides the sound system for the gig?

Some venues have house PA systems and a sound engineer on site to handle things for you. Most small, local venues, however, do not. If you don’t have access to the equipment that will accommodate your band’s performance needs, you’ll have to procure the necessary gear, either by purchasing your own, or renting it. Both involve money going out of your pocket, but it is a detail that can’t be ignored.

One option would be to hire a company to provide, set up, and run the sound for your show. That involves a greater cost. Or, you can buy the equipment yourself, which is usually cheaper in the long run, but requires maintenance, upkeep, and the storage and transport of the gear to and from the venue. (Hauling gear - every musician’s favorite part!)

- How are you getting paid, and how will you pay your band?

While the monetary compensation isn’t the main reason to do this music thing, it is rather important, especially if it’s going to be a contributing factor to your income. Contracts, taxes, bookkeeping, and certainly paying your bandmates in a timely fashion are all considerations. Personally, I believe it’s important to pay your musicians as soon as the gig is over, so be sure to have the necessary resources beforehand. And always pay them first. If you get shorted, or don’t do well at the door, make sure these guys get what you promised them. Take care of them, and they’ll be more likely to show you some loyalty.

And don’t forget that the government will be waiting for their share with an outstretched hand. As in any business, keeping track of your income and expenses is a part of daily operations.

- What happens on the day of the show?

Now that the day of your show has arrived, there are a few more things to consider. Start by showing up early. Factor in enough time for travel, taking into account traffic and weather.

Arriving early will afford you the time to scope out the parking and load-in situation; helpful information which you then can relay to your band. It’s also important to connect with your points of contact such as the manager, the sound man, and any other staff that you’ll be working with.

Then you need to either make sure the sound system is set up appropriately, if you’ve hired someone to take care of that, or start loading in and setting up your own equipment. You should know the stage plot at this point, so you can get all of the gear positioned properly.

If you haven’t done so yet, you might want to think about a song list or a set list or a song order. The last thing patrons want to see is a band with no direction. As the band leader, it’s your responsibility to, well, lead the band.

Assuming you’re also the front person for your band, you should probably work on your stage presence. This includes not only looking and acting like you belong on the stage, but also engaging the audience. Sure, you could just stand up there and play, but when you go the extra distance to engage the crowd, it makes them feel like they’re a part of the show. And to be perfectly frank, they are the only reason you have a gig, so put some work into this aspect of your game. Do your best to be accessible and approachable before and after the show, as well as during any breaks you may take.

If you’re thinking of putting out a tip jar, do yourself a huge favor, and make sure the management is alright with that. Every venue has their own policy regarding this practice, so don’t assume anything here. If you do employ the good old tip jar, don’t beat the audience over the head with it. Feel free to mention it, just don’t do it between every tune. It should also be obvious to you that on certain gigs, a tip jar is simply inappropriate, e.g., fundraisers, festivals, big stage events, etc.

- The show’s over. Now what?

The final notes have been played, and the applause has died off. Power down the sound system, and stow your priceless, vintage instrument, then, as you walk through the crowd searching for the person who will ultimately pay you, remember to make yourself accessible to any patrons, thanking them for spending their time and money to watch you play music.

When you find the manager, be sure to let them know how much you appreciate being hired, and if you’d like to play there in the future, tell them. If you did your job, they may want to look at some dates for future gigs right then and there.

By the time you return to the stage, your band will have loaded their personal equipment, and will likely be waiting for you to pay them what you promised. As I mentioned, even if your compensation from the venue or event is delayed, you need to pay your band while they’re still on site.

Then you can start striking the stage. If you’ve hired a sound company, pay and thank them for their work. If the system is yours to contend with, get after it; those cables ain’t gonna wrap themselves! It’s always great when your bandmates pitch in with set-up and tear-down, but if this wasn’t a part of the deal, thank them, and let them go.

After everything is loaded, one final idiot check is in order. There always seems to be a tuner, cable, capo, or whatnot left behind in a dark corner. Most cats don’t even think about this, but I consider it a good practice to clean up any trash left on the stage. Empty cups and bottles, set lists, that wrapper from the guitar string you broke in the middle of your gnarly solo, plus any lacy undergarments thrown onto the stage should all be gathered up and disposed of properly.

Now you are free to travel back to your residence where you will have the pleasure of loading all of your sound equipment back into your rumpus room. (Now where did I put the business card from that sound company again?)

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In summation:

If this seems like an awful lot of work for a three hour gig, that’s because it is. And this is only one show – the process can be pretty much nonstop depending on how often you want to work. You really have to love doing this music thing, and the vast majority of working musicians that I know absolutely love it. I know that I do!

As someone who has been doing this band leader thing for a spell, it’s been a wonderful and growth-filled stretch for me. Being a working musician takes more work than one would think, though even some musicians don’t think twice about all that goes into giving them a chance to ply their craft.

Every gig is different, and every musician and band leader has a wide variety of experiences. Much of what I described pertains to local and regional touring situations, which has been my reality for the most part. One thing that remains consistent is all the work that goes into making that afternoon or evening of live music enjoyable for everyone involved.

Why do I continue to do it? Yes, I do it for those who come out to see my shows, but I mainly do it for me – I absolutely love it!