We’ve all been in failed band projects. If you haven’t yet, or you’re new to the game… chin up! Bands come and go. Never stop playing.
Whether you’re in a cover band or an original band, there are plenty of challenges to overcome. In most cases, the more band members you have the more complicated things become.
Musical taste.
This is a challenging one. In cover bands, people often debate over which songs to play based on personal taste. Of course, the correct direction is choosing songs people want to listen to, sing along to, dance to, etc. If you’re choosing songs only to please yourself, you’re doomed right from the beginning. Granted, no one wants to suffer an entire night’s setlist full of songs that are not fun to play. Compromise is important. In cover bands, it’s all about pleasing the audience. In original bands, of course, it’s important to play music your fans love. Imagine a 3-piece coming from 3 completely different musical backgrounds. This could train wreck if you can’t appreciate each other’s different styles of playing or can’t make the differences work together. If you can embrace those differences, however, you may find yourself striking gold.
Recently I played in a group with a killer co-lead guitarist alongside me. His biggest inspirations are Van Halen and Steely Dan. Those two influences alone are night and day! My strongest influence was always Def Leppard. One could argue that Van Halen and Def Leppard are both the same genre and generation of music, but they are still very, very different bands. We both played differently, but when you put our playing styles together our different tones and styles complimented each other. The result: Success!
Now if your band has 5 or 6 members, or even 12, you might be looking for a greater challenge. Don’t let that discourage you – there can be gold in different styles of playing. Granted, we’re also assuming you auditioned and selected the right players for the job. If you’re in a Van Halen tribute and you just picked up a bassist who grew up listening to Miles Davis there’s a chance things aren’t going to fly.
Schedules.
Schedules are tough. I’ve always been a full-time musician with a full teaching schedule. 25 years of teaching Monday through Friday. More often than not bands have said to me, “We’d love to have you in the band, we rehearse on Tuesdays at 7!” The response, unfortunately, is, “Sorry, guys, can we do it later? I teach until 9!” In today’s world, not everyone has a 9-5 job. As we get older, we find ourselves with families and playing with people who have families. Schedules are tough, no doubt about it. So how do you make it work?
In original bands, it’s important to spend time together. You have to hone your skills, learn each other’s playing styles, and tighten up as a group. While many bands like to play several times a week this might not be an option. Frustration occurs if 3 members want to work 3 days a week perfecting their songs and 1 member only has time on Sundays. How do you make this work? Inevitably, most bands just find a new member who happens to be more available. Still, what if the guy you’re replacing is genuinely THE guy for the gig? Do you want to replace him based on schedule alone?
Today, it’s easier than ever to work remotely. Perhaps bands can adopt virtual rehearsals to go over song parts, ideas, etc. You can play a little bit over video conference, with the right setup. While playing, you can discuss things and organize ideas so when you get together in person on that one day a week it’ll be as productive as possible.
In cover bands, a few early rehearsals can be important. You need to get a little off the ground and learn how to play together. You might want a rehearsal periodically when adding new songs to your setlist, too. However, these are covers. The songs have been written already and have been on the radio for years, right? I’ve been in plenty of cover bands that never rehearsed. We just learned our parts and showed up for the gig. Of course, this is no easy taste for beginners but intermediate players and up it’s worth putting that pressure on your shoulders. You’ll become a better player over time and you’ll find that you can gig more and rehearse less. This in turn solves the scheduling issue, too.
Personalities.
Ohhh, Lordy. The personalities. Sometimes you have 3 nice guys in a band and one extremely impatient bastard. There’s constructive criticism; then there are blatant insults. Your ideal band should be a group full of friends. Nice guys (or gals, or both) who get along together. No egos, no attitudes, etc. Patience is important, no one is perfect, and remember above all else YOU’RE THERE TO HAVE FUN!
I’ve been in plenty of bands where someone had the worst personality to work with. Sometimes they were bossy, too bossy. I don’t need another mother or father, thank you, I have them already. I’ve been in bands with musicians you slam down their instruments (or drum sticks) and walk out. Heck, I’ve even had bands require me to give them far too much personal information just to be in their band. Can you imagine?
It’s just a band. I know it’s one’s livelihood sometimes, but it’s a GREAT JOB. Think about it, you could be digging ditches, working in factories, cleaning toilets, dealing with politicians, or putting in your 12th year at the drive-thru of your local McDonald’s. It doesn’t matter if being in a band is a part-time gig or a full-time gig. You’re there to have fun and it’s one of the best experiences any musician could ask for out of life. ENJOY IT. If someone in the band is toxic, either ask the other band members about voting them out – or simply leave. You’ll be glad you did.
Goals.
This one doesn’t have to be complex, but it can still be a brick wall if not approached correctly. Original bands, cover bands; whatever your project is, stick to a rational game plan. Let’s say you’re in an original band that wants to be all Metal. Then stay metal. Focus on that and make it the best it can be. Don’t veer off writing ballads and jazzy numbers just because you had that idea one day and don’t wish to lose it. You can always save your ideas for another project, a side project, or a personal project. If you’re in a cover band, what kind? Do you want to play more dance songs? Rock songs? Who is your audience? What’s the music scene like in your area? What are the venues like?
Always consider all of the facts in front of you and then set a logical goal. In my area, country music is a big thing. Do I like country music? No. I’m from the North. There’s not a single country band in the area where I grew up. However, I’ll throw in 4 or 5 country songs if it makes a group of patrons happy. If I’m playing restaurants, I keep the music a bit less engaging and somewhat more on the level of background music. If it’s a captive audience like a theater or some sort of dance hall, then it’s rockstar mode! Foot on the monitor, guitar in the air, wireless system hooked up, and hard-hitting songs.
Find your niche and keep on track. I was in a band once called Rockzilla. We had “Rock” right there in the name. We were, inarguably, one of the best cover bands in the area. At one point, we had to modify our hard-hitting rock setlist to adapt to different venues and private events. The banner which read, “Rockzilla” didn’t seem to make sense, but people were forgiving because the music fit. Some argued, “You took the ‘rock’ out of ROCKzilla.” This is an understandable argument, but just the same people overlooked it because the word “rock” can be used in any context. “These nachos ROCK, dude!!” No one was breaking out their guitar at the local Taco Bell and playing a punk rendition of La Bamba. Sure, your band name is important, but sometimes your songs are more important. So is your attitude – remember to have fun and smile on stage.
Conclusion.
Soldier on, boys and girls. Keep diligent and never forget that you’re in one of the greatest gigs in the world. You’re playing music with other musicians, for other people, AND you’re getting paid for it. (Maybe the money doesn’t seem like much, but it was money you didn’t have when you walked in the door that evening.)
As a final thought… have any of you seen the film, That Thing You Do? The story is about a group of high school kids who form a band and distribute one great song to the country before their inevitable breakup at the end of the film. (No, that’s not a spoiler, it’s a story about a one-hit-wonder. Watch the film, it’s rather enjoyable!) During one scene, the drummer of the band is having a chat with one of his idols, a Jazz great who he met at a local club. His idol tells him, “Ain’t no way to keep a band together. Bands come and go. You got to keep on playin’, no matter with who.” Don’t look at your band now and think “doom and gloom!” Just remember, if it works out that’s great and if it doesn’t you’re not dead in the water. Your bandmates will find new bandmates and so will you. KEEP PLAYING.
Courtesy of Niko Lalangas
Featured by Line 6 Guitars!