21 Things You Need To Know About Playing in a Band
You've spent countless hours practicing, and now you've got the chops and you're ready to take it to the stage. Whether you're forming a new band, or joining an existing one, here are some things to be aware of in the beginning.
1. Be Prepared for a Change
If you've been holed up in your practice room up to this point, get ready for a new experience when you start playing music with other musicians. The dynamic of multiple personalities, egos and talent levels can be a shocker in the beginning. Going from playing only for yourself, to having every note you play scrutinized by other people can be frustrating and humbling at the same time. It can also be extremely rewarding with the right group of musicians.
2. Start Slow - Start Small
Ease into a band situation by testing the water a little first. Find a friend that plays music and try to arrange some informal get together's to jam and exchange musical ideas. This will not only give you a good feel for playing with another musician - it may also foster a new relationship with a future band mate.
3. Choose Your Direction
Most bands fall loosely into one of two categories. Try to know what direction you are headed in before you jump out there.
4. Cover Bands
For the most part, cover bands will predominately play other artist's material, and maybe mix in a few originals. Cover bands can often be classified by the genre of music they play and audiences expect to hear songs they are familiar with. You can make a little more money in a cover band, but you trade off the "artistic integrity" of performing your own material.
5. Original Bands
Original bands typically play their own music and stay true to their own style and genre. It can be a lonely proposition sometimes because the gigs that cater to strictly original material can be few and far between.
6. Making Money
One of the perks of playing music in a band is that there is often the opportunity to make a pay check. It can range from a few dollars in the tip jar, to several hundred dollars in your pocket for playing a wedding or corporate party. Sometimes the pay is in the form of cash ("under the table"), but with stricter tax laws, you may be faced with a 1099 at the end of the year. Be prepared to pay taxes on your income and be sure to consult your accountant for legal deductions against your income.
7. Know Your Equipment
Make sure you have the right "rig for the gig". If you are playing with a laid back wedding band then you probably don't want to go in with a Marshall 100 watt stack! It is important that you have a guitar and amp combination that will allow you to play the style of music that the band is playing, that you have enough "head room" for leads, but that you also are not going to "over power" everyone.
8. Maintain Your Equipment
There is no worse feeling in the world than cranking out a hot lead to a packed house... and suddenly your rig goes down. Like cars, houses, and anything else mechanical - guitars and amps must be serviced and maintained on a regular basis. Guitars should be adjusted for intonation and action, and amps, especially tube amps, need constant TLC to stay on top of the game.
9. Have a "Survival Kit"
Be prepared for the aforementioned rig taking a dump on you. It will happen. It might be a broken string, shorted cable, dead pre-amp tube - or any number of things. Murphy's Law is always fully in force and, if you are going to have a problem, it will happen in the heat of the show! I've been there many times. Put together a survival kit with spare strings, cables, tubes, picks, batteries etc., and always take it to the gig. You'll be glad you did.
10. Buy a Watch
Musicians are notorius for running late. As a coreutesy to the audience - and those that hired you - start on time. If the gig starts at 9:00, start at 9:00!
11. Set Up Early
Always try to gain access to the venue well in advance of show time to get the equipment set up. Trying to set up right before the gig can be a drain on your energy level for the show, and you will want to know if something is not working and needs to be repaired or replaced long before showtime.
12. Always Sound Check
Take a few minutes to put the PA system, lighting system, and your rig; through the paces to get your volume and EQ levels set before the show.
13. Sound Check Early
Try to do the sound check well in advance of the show. Preferably early in the day when setting up. This is usually the "quiet" time for the venue and you will not disturb the audience. This will also give you a chance to see if there are any problems with the equipment.
14. Dress the Part
If you're playing a biker bar then jeans and T-shirts might be acceptable. But if you're playing a wedding or corporate party you may have to step it up a notch. You don't necessarily have to run out and but a tux, but be aware of what is expected of you by the people who hired you. When in a bind, wearing all black will usually get you through.
15. Cut Down on "Down" Time
Silence on stage can be a curse. Nothing worse than the band standing there in between songs, scratching their heads trying to decide what to play next. Sometimes writing a set list in advance will help, but at least try to have in mind the next song you are going to play before the previous one ends.
16. Treat it Like a Business
When you get on stage and are having fun making great music, it can be easy to forget that you are getting paid to be there. Remember that you are running a business. There are contracts to abide by, and there is money to account for. Even a moderately busy local band can make a decent amount of money in a years time. Keep good books, account for expenses and repairs, and hire an accountant for taxes.
17. Have Agreements with Band Members
By knowing what is expected of everyone up front you can greatly reduce the chances of problems down the road. If the band is going to purchase and maintain the PA system etc. as a group, make sure everyone has a clear understanding of how it will be paid for, and who owns what. Also have an agreement as to how the equity will be divided if the band splits or if someone quits without giving notice. Many bands have written agreements covering these, and other related issues.
18. Rehearsal
When getting a number of musicians together for rehearsal, one of the most frustrating things can be if one band member shows up unprepared. Always try and have your part ready before you walk into the practice room. Standard etiquette also applies - be on time, be nice, and focus on getting the work done. Socialize afterwards.
19. Auditioning
If you are still in "search" mode for a band, chances are you will have to audition. Always go into an audition "overly" prepared by knowing the bands material in advance, their history, and hopefully their names. Do not try to monopolize the audition and "show boat", just show them how well you can fit in by playing their material the way they want it played. "Show out" later> Arrive on time, be courteous, and don't bad mouth the member whose position you are auditioning for. Things like that have a bad way of coming back and biting you on the butt!
20. Listen
A band is a collective unit of musicians making music as a "whole". One of the hardest things to do is to truly "listen" to what's going on around you. By being totally aware of all the other parts that are being played, and working to make your part fit the others, you will ensure a much higher quality of music - and therefore, more gigs. When it's comes time to take your turn at playing a solo, step out there and do it. When you are done, step back and become part of the whole again.
21. Check the Ego at the Door
Musicians, by nature, tend to have a healthy ego. And a healthy ego is a good thing. You have to have a certain amount of self confidence to get on stage and "bare your soul" musically. An out of control ego, however, is a different story. The streets are littered with bands that had all the parts, all the things they needed to "make it" - only to have one or two egos slam the brakes on everything. The truth is, no matter how good any of us thinks we are, there is always someone just around the corner to knock the chip off our shoulder. Better to be a confident member of a successful "group", than a raging ego with no one to play with.
Playing in a band can be fun, exhilarating, rewarding, frustrating and humbling all at the same time! This is just a short list of some of the many different issues you may encounter while playing with a band. And you could literally write a separate book on each one of these.
I have played in bands for over 30 years, had some great times, and some not so great - but never regretted a minute of it! Hope you enjoyed this insight and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Keith Dean
