5 Tips on How Not To Break Up Your Band
In one of my previous articles we talked about starting a band. So let's move on: the band has been playing for let's say one year, and new issues – and cracks – begin to appear. Everything may work fine in the beginning but give it a few years and your sweet band life can easily turn bitter. Today's article will be about how to heal the cracks and continue successfully with your start-up project.
Bands aren't made up of people – they're made up of musicians – and that's a completely different story. You can ask an accountant or a consultant to be less egoistic. But it's hard to ask that of someone who is supposed to draw the audience's attention for the whole concert, to create something, to engage crowds.
At the same time, creative souls are fragile. If an accountant makes a mistake, it happens, move on. But if you tell a singer in the studio that he or she sings out of tune? Anything can happen. Here are five things that can benefit a band. Your mileage may vary.
1. Agree on common goals or do we want the same thing?
Most bands can handle failure. Driving four hours for a gig, playing at an empty venue and driving back – even that can be survived with a smile. What can totally disintegrate a band is a success. Sit down with the band and imagine the following picture. The band's lead singer walks into the rehearsal room and says, "We got it!" and pulls out a contract for 100 gigs a year and two records in the next few years.
- Would you sign it or would you take time to think about it?
- Would you invest (real money) in equipment?
- Will you practice your instrument more and rehearse more?
- Will you quit school or work? What will your family say?
I'm not saying that every member needs to have clear answers, I don't think that's possible. But if some people approach a band as a fun thing to do after work where they can enjoy a few beers with friends, while others toil, never drink because they drive an hour to rehearsals after work (which they don't like so much)... Is it the same thing you want? Reveal it at an early stage.
2. Split the work
Having a band is a job. A lot of work. Playing an instrument is essential. But it's not a bad idea to say explicitly what individual members will be doing for the band. I don't know one single model that suits everyone. I only know one model that can destroy everything: pretending the job doesn't exist.
3. Be good travelling companions
A lot of time in the band life will be spent on the road. Imagine going on a road trip as an adult with preschoolers. Along with playing an instrument and rehearsing, this is another sensitive spot. And lots of friction areas of various kinds. You cannot stand certain topics (bullshit), you're bothered by smoking/booze, continuous stopping at petrol stations... Tell the person and then maybe, if you can't help yourself, tell everyone. To make it a bit more complicated, beware of the direct conflict of point three with point four.
4. Don't get at people
Everyone knows that it's not always a bed of roses. The band burdens family life, so as soon as your child blows out the birthday cake candles, you say goodbye and rush to the agreed-upon place at the agreed-upon time. And there's one missing person because he's stuck in the pub with his mates. An alternative scenario runs through your head where your wife is not sad and the kids don't ask why you have to leave them. Despite all this, try uttering the mantra of DON'T GET AT THEM. In your head. Either find in yourself enough forgiveness or once you've gotten through the gig, after some time, follow the spirit of point three: communicate.
5. Art of quitting
Disregarding the four points above, there are probably a billion other reasons to quit a band. Half of them would be signed by your spouse or partner, the other half would be approved by your GP and employer. So yeah, it happens that people leave bands. Whether it takes the form of an ancient tragedy is up to you. But back to the beginning: the band is made up of musicians, not people. Still, try to keep it decent despite all the emotions. Here are three useful principles:
- I will not compromise the band's commitments. I'll play what we've agreed to.
- In the age of social media, I'll agree on how to communicate it and we'll stick to it.
- I leave so that I can come back – life is long and you never know... Simply: don't forget what you've been through with the band!
To sum it up. It's no coincidence that the five points have one thing in common: talk to each other. Not only the notes are important but also the words. There's always time for that. Because lack of communication will backfire badly and cost even more time.
If you have found an error or typo in the article, please let us know by e-mail info@insounder.org.
