Starting a Band Part 1 - Members

At some point, whether we're musicians or not, classical or heavy metal, we all think it: "I want to be in a band." And why wouldn't we? We see the rock stars performing to hundreds of adoring fans at concerts, wearing what they want, acting how they want. They don't have a boring 9-5 job, they don't have to worry about how they're going to scrape together the money to pay this month's bills. For the non-musicians and the casual musicians, this is usually just a passing thought, but what about those of us who dream of it? Not just for the glamour and the easy life the media presents us with, but for the chance to perform, to make even just a few people happy for an hour or two, the adrenaline rush from hearing the audience applaud after a show.

The trouble is, while the steps for so many careers are all clearly laid out for us, doctor, teacher, engineer, we were never told how to be in a band. No one ever laid out how to start a band, how to find a band to join, none of it. The only information we were given was that we had to know how to play an instrument or sing, or both. But knowing this by itself won't get us anywhere. Getting started is the hardest part, and there are many easily-avoided traps that will hold you back if you're not prepared. This is the first of a trilogy of entries on some of the pitfalls I've run into time and again.

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The first thing you need, obviously, is other band members. The difficulty here is, it's easy to find casual musicians, but it's considerably harder to find people who are willing to commit hours out of each week for band rehearsal, individual practice, and whatever gigs you might get. It doesn't matter if he's your best friend, if he doesn't show up to rehearsal, if he doesn't know the songs, he doesn't belong in your band. And speaking of friends, don't only ask people you're friends with to be in your band. Ask around your school or workplace, post signs on a community bulletin board, let people know. There are also many find-a-musician sites online* where you can post a profile for free to find musicians in your area.

While finding people to be in your band, do not limit yourself to either the "standard"** or your own personal dream instrumentation. Use what you have. On the other hand, you don't have to use everything you have. If you think someone isn't skilled enough, doesn't fit your musical style, or even if their personality just rubs you the wrong way, don't be afraid to say no. Remember, it's your band. You have the final say on who gets to be in it. But what if everyone you've talked to sounds perfect to you and is friendly and you just have to have them? Do yourself a favor and resist temptation. If you have ten people in your band, it will be next to impossible to schedule rehearsal time to fit everyone's schedule.

In the end though, it all comes down to finding dependable, band-mates who can handle the music. They don't have to have been child prodigies(and if your songs require that level of training to play, you should probably take another look at them), they just need to be able to show up to rehearsal and practice on their own until they know the music. Make sure the other members are committed and hard-working at the start, and you'll make things a lot easier for yourself.

*joinmyband.co.uk has sections for both the UK and the US. bandmix.com is good for american musicians as well, but put your email address in the visible part of your profile, as they require you to get a paid membership before they'll let you contact other members through the site.
**lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums