Lurker wanting advice

[dogwomble]

Hey guys,

I'm only an occasional lurker/poster in this forum - mainly because I generally only come here to find out something on a specific music issue And this is one of those moments.

I've been wanting to get a band type thing going for some time now. I've finally found a few people that would be keen on working with me, and we're going to have a huge planning session this Saturday involving pizza, soft drink and/or beer, two big boards, some butchers paper, and a whiteboard marker. That side of things is going to be incredible organised.

I've been putting a list of things together that I want to try and nut out. I thought it's best to try and make sure we cover anything and everything about what we want to be and where we want to go before picking up our instruments to try and avoid arguments. I wanted to post them here so that some of the more experienced banders can give me advice on whether it's a good point, bad point, or non-existant point (ie. have I forgotten something?)

So if I could please get some feedback on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance guys!

-> BAND NAME: Pretty obvious We think we've got one, we just have to all agree on it

-> BAND STYLE / IMAGE

-> ROLES IN BAND: Who plays what? Who does what?

-> PERFORMANCE/RECORDING GOALS: Where do we want to go re gigging and recording?

-> WRITING PROCESS: How are we going to write new material?

-> COVER VERSIONS: Are we going to cover existing songs, and how are we going to do so while covering ourselves for copyright?

-> MARKETING: What mediums are we going to use to market ourselves?

-> LEGAL: eg. registering band name as a business

-> MONEY: Setting up bank accoutns for the band, ownership and running of said account, taxation

-> COPYRIGHT: Covering our own material for copyright, and how to enforce that without coming across as the RIAA

 

[MadAudio]

What say you start out with the music?

 

[legionserial]

-> BAND STYLE / IMAGE

Personally I would leave this one out until you have made some music together at least. You don't want the style or image influencing the music in any way really, unless you all have a taste for the theatrical. But if it's a serious musical thing, leave the image out, at least until you know where you are musically.

I think knowing where you are musically is the most important thing, and personally, although brainstorming is a very good idea, I think jamming together could well be the most primary thing. It's all very well visualising a sound together, but that may completely change when you pick up your instruments. I odn't think any band I have been in have sounded how we thought we might before playing together. Unless we are playing something one of us already wrote. but I can't remember the last time that happened. And even then, the other band members put their tint on it. For example, I play thrash metal at home but when I get into a band situation it turns into a progfest.

I think you should all take your instruments along to the brainstorming session and see what comes out of you. If you try to pin down your sound before you make a sound, you'll be dissapointed. Rather than impressed with what you did come up with.

 

[MadAudio]

Personally I would leave this one out until you have made some music together at least. You don't want the style or image influencing the music in any way really, unless you all have a taste for the theatrical. But if it's a serious musical thing, leave the image out, at least until you know where you are musically.

I think knowing where you are musically is the most important thing, and personally, although brainstorming is a very good idea, I think jamming together could well be the most primary thing. It's all very well visualising a sound together, but that may completely change when you pick up your instruments. I odn't think any band I have been in have sounded how we thought we might before playing together. Unless we are playing something one of us already wrote. but I can't remember the last time that happened. And even then, the other band members put their tint on it. For example, I play thrash metal at home but when I get into a band situation it turns into a progfest.

I think you should all take your instruments along to the brainstorming session and see what comes out of you. If you try to pin down your sound before you make a sound, you'll be dissapointed. Rather than impressed with what you did come up with.

Didn't I just say that?

Kidding aside, that's a very good post.

 

[Dani Pace]

While having a "game plan" is great and it is always good to set goals you have several obstacles to overcome first. No matter what your plan, the music has to be the first and main thing. Don't worry too much about a name until you are sure you have a band to name. Be who you are, image will develop from within, regardless of what you plan. Rolls are simple, guitar players play guitar, bass player plays bass, drummer plays drums, vocals from whoever has the best voice for a particular song. Performance and recording goals are likely to change as you develop your abilities and style. Writing process is something that just happens, do it more and a formula may develop or it may remain spontaneous. Play music you all enjoy, if you don't "get into it" you can't expect your audience to. For legal matters, consult a lawyer. If money is going to be an issue of conflict, hire a CPA to deal with it. Keep in mind there is more to a band than just the guys playing. You need a network of people to do the "legwork" so you and your band mates can devote your attention to the music. A successful band is a combination of teamwork, talent, cooperation, and everyone involved doing their part to make it happen. Be a band first, the rest will follow its natural course. One tip I can add is, surround yourself and your band with people who believe in you and what you hope to accomplish. Good luck has little to do with success, hard work is what makes it happen.

 

[cusebassman]

Sounds like just about everything that needs to be said has been. A lot of these things are stuff that cannot be mapped out and followed, because the way we think and the way we behave are two entirely different things.

I'd like to say I sit down and make it a point to write music, but it really just pops into my head, usually at the most inopportune times. When I actually sit down and try to finish things, it usually comes out awful and I scrap it anyway.

Creativity can't be forced. Also, you don't want to get ahead of yourself - its all well and good to decide if you want to write original material verses playing covers, but for one thing, you don't even know if you are compatible as musicians yet. This may all prove to be a moot discussion come Saturday night. Good to have a game plan, but things like lawyers and CPAs are only useful when you are actually generating money.

For now, I would sit down (perhaps with the whiteboard on standby), and chat over food about what you'd like to start playing. I'd recommend playing some covers to start simply so you can see if everyone meshes with one another, or just jam to some general parts you think of - be they parts you've written, or ones you know from other artists.

Doesn't really matter, as long as you get the band to a point where you realise what you want - no amount of brainstorming can tell a lot of these things straight away, unless you are a record company trying to mold the next "big thing", at which point all spontaneity and creativity is lost anyway.

 

[andyhix]

By over-organizing this, the other guys are gonna think you are trying to take over the band, or at least define yourself as "leader" right off the bat. While that may be true, it's best to slowly let that role develop, so they aren't taken aback by it. Stick to the beer, pizza, and jamming. The rest will come as a result.

 

[lasagne]

What about "Who has first pick of the groupies?"

That can cause no end of arguments.

 

[mikeh]

I will assume you and the other people have spent some time jamming together to make sure you like the way either other plays. As so many have already said - if the music is not happening, planning is mute.

I've always found the first thing to determine (after making sure that the music is happening) is what do you all expect to happen. Some people want to gig quickly to make some money (this may dictate the need for a large amount of cover material). Is this a full time or part time project? How much time will people commit (rehearse/write once a week, three times a week, etc.)? Can you travel out of town for gigs- or do you have to stay local? What is local (a 1 hour drive, a 4 hour drive, etc.)? If you plan to record, do you have a space or gear?

I would not even start to think about shared equipment costs or a bank account until you actually have a band that has some material together and has proven they can be depended on. Everyone should have their own gear and if needed you can always rent PA & lights. If you need recording gear perhaps each person buys something and owns it outright. Candidly, until you know if what you have works, perhaps buying some cheap studio time in someone's basement demo studio would likely be better than spending a lot of money on gear (unless you are positive that you are commited). Rarely does buying geaar together work. Every band (and I mean every band) is destiined to break up from the day they form - it is simply a matter of how long it takes.

At this early stage I personally think you are trying to be waaaay too anal in planning. Having a plan is not a bad thing - but first make some music, really get to know each other (musically) and if you have something, it will start to fall together. If you get to that point - then maybe some anal planning would be in order.

In any case - good luck.