There’s more to a successful band than just assembling a group of good musicians. Musical talent is only one factor that affects the fortunes of a band. Today I’m going to outline some of these factors to help you steer clear of the pitfalls and problems that every band encounters when it’s on the road to success.
First, there is group direction.
Before the musicians ever pick up their instruments, all of the band members should discuss and agree on which direction the group should take. Keep in mind that a band can go in a few different directions.
For example you may form a “60/40″ group, playing 60% old pop standards and 40% “Top 40″ tunes. This type of band will generally play mostly local gigs such as dances, hotels, and weddings, These kind of gigs can assure your band a steady income. Your recognition, if you go in this direction, will probably remain at the local level.
Alternatively, you might want to play primarily original material and set your sights on a recording contract and tours. Bands that do this don’t make much money until they become well-known.
When a band starts out, it may be best to stick with the 60/40 approach in order to get some experience and the money needed to buy better equipment. Whichever road you take, make certain that everyone agrees on the number of musicians that will be in the band, as well as the types of instruments and the style of music that you will play.
Be sure to choose a style of music that everyone in the band enjoys hearing and playing.
In order to gauge a music style’s popularity, as well as get a feel for which genre you would like to perform, it is a good idea to listen to other established groups’ live performances. And once you have chosen your style, don’t change it. You may start to notice that your audience will get smaller, that is due to you playing for a niche market; remember though you can’t please everyone, so it is better to give a pleasing performance to a select group than an average performance to everyone.
Another very important thing to consider is your group’s structure. Basically, a band is composed of two sections: the rhythm section and the lead section. The “rhythm section” consists of the bass and rhythm guitarists, and the drummer. The job of the “Rhythm Section” is to lay down the beat of the music you are playing. The drummer and bass player set the beat up while the rhythm guitarist fills in and gives the whole rhythm a complete feeling.
The lead guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist makes up the “Lead Section.” This section of players embellishes the beat established by the rhythm section with vocals, melodies, and harmonies.
Each member needs to be doing their part while making sure not to over do it. Your goal is to work together as a team to create a well blended sound.
If your band is serious about being out there and creating a big impact with your performances, then rehearsal time (a lot of it) should be a top priority for you over almost everything else (except maybe sleep). It’s very important for a band to be organized and each member to be faithful to the group, as bands often split up over commitment troubles. In fact, it is a good idea to make sure you both establish and record the goals you as a band wish to achieve.
Even though rehearsal is an important element, nothing can compare the importance of playing to a crowd. The amount of experience you will gain from performing on stage is 20 times greater than just practicing in the rehearsal room. In fact, it would be a good idea to work on a good stage appearance and to even think of what you may say to your prospective audience members. Connecting with your audience is also very important. Besides your music, these things are also something you and your band should practice in the rehearsal room.
And it’s not all group work; you need individual practice as well. Keeping up or even increasing your skill level while knowing your parts before you get to rehearsal is a responsibility you need to keep to the other members in the band. Working on band music outside of rehearsal can save you countless hours.
It all comes down to one important thing when establishing a tight, successful band and that is unity. Working as one, your band will accomplish great things when you are united in your goals and processes.
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