MIDAS Tip-Sheet 5: Your Band

Positive attitude

If you’re already in a band, the chances are you’ll have been friends for a while, that you’ll all live fairly locally and you’ll have some shared idea of the kind of music you want to do and where you want to play. This doesn’t mean you’ll never argue or differences of opinion, but that’s part of life and applies to all of us at some stage or another. The main thing is that ultimately you all have to agree that your band is going to be great one day and that the world deserves to hear you.

There are not really any set rules about the line up of a band. Not all bands have singers, drummers, or even guitarists. If you have a drummer, you’re likely to want a bass player, but there are exceptions to that. DJs can work very effectively in a band line up, as can brass players and possibly even dancers. Too big a line up can lead to problems however, and many venues have small stages and limited sound equipment. Be realistic about what you’re trying to do and maybe save the string section for the Brit Awards, and even then only if the record company is paying.

If you live in the Highlands, you will possibly experience one major problem that people in the major cities don’t. That is, it’s quite likely your bass player and drummer live twenty five miles in opposite directions from the rest of you, with no transport and little desire to load a drum kit onto a bus (if there is one). There is no simple solution to this other than asking a lot of favours for lifts, but remember when you write the best selling history of the band in years to come, it’ll make a great story. The truth is, there is no substitute for determination. All successful acts will testify to that, and it always pays off in the end.

A band without determination will never get anywhere, and neither will anyone with a bad attitude. Think about how you would all get on if you got a record deal. There are rehearsals, recording sessions, television shows and, above all, days and weeks on the road. That’s a lot of time to be in each others company, and you have to be able to get on even on bad days. So, there are a few things that are never too early to learn.

Be patient. Every day has its problems, and things won’t always go your way first time round. Always try to see the bigger picture, and remember you’ll overcome setbacks much quicker with a clear head.

Listen to what other people are saying. The other members of the band have as much right to an opinion as you, and as time goes by you’ll meet others who have more experience and knowledge of the business. You don’t have to take advice, but it’s always worth hearing.

Learn to take criticism. None of us are perfect and we can all learn from a bit of input from others. If you’re giving criticism, make sure you have an alternative suggestion to put forward and don’t be confrontational. If you can’t resolve whatever it is, move on and come back to it later. It’ll probably all look different tomorrow.

Always act like a professional. Get places on time, treat people with courtesy and respect, and take yourself and your band seriously. This will make others want to work with you and will be noticed by promoters and record companies when you do the bigger gigs. Get into the habit of thinking positive, even when you don’t feel like it.

A note on band politics

When business starts to take off you’ll need a manger, and at that point some kind of band agreement to cover various eventualities. In the early days though you’re pretty much relying on common sense to keep things together.

We’re all human beings and clashes of personality are natural. It is usually that rather than musical differences that will break a band up. Keeping a few of the above points in mind will help minimise the risk. As bands develop, it’s often the case that some members progress more quickly than others. Sometimes people leave because of other commitments, or because they just get fed up with it. The worst situation is when you really are getting somewhere and one member of the band is holding the rest back. This is tough because it’s likely to be a friend you’ve known for a long time. If the rest of you feel strongly that this is the case, talk to that person, explain the problems and look for a solution. This is best done by one of you rather than the whole group – you don’t want it to seem they’re on trial. See what you could do to help make things better, give them a chance to make improvements, and then see how things go for a while. It might well be they want out but just didn’t want to let the rest of you down. Whatever the problem, there is no need to fall out. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to go behind their backs and get someone else in without telling them. Ask yourself if you would like it done to you, and the answer will be no.