|
So, you want to know how to start a
band? This is important - you must pay equal attention
to both playing music and the business of showcasing
your talent. Most bands devote too much time to playing
music and too little time to business to achieve success.
The problem is, musicians aren't usually good at business
and business types aren't usually great musicians. You'll
probably find that the members in your group will either
be strong musically or have good business sense. The
business minded members of your group should be prepared
to organize a plan to successfully reach your group's
mutual goals. They also must be able to convince the
other band members to follow their lead.
Just to make myself clear, I'm not saying
that you can't be a talented musician and talented businessperson.
What I'm saying is that typically the scale leans in
one direction or the other. We all have a combination
of different talents and it's important to understand
the proper contribution that each member can make to
the group.
To Start a Band good business sense
is essential. I've always been good at the business
of playing music. When I was in my first band, we were
the least skilled group in town. Even though we were
at "the bottom of the heap" as musicians,
we were the most popular band in town. One of the reasons
for our success was our business approach. We set goals
and attained them using a step-by-step method.
I progressed as a musician and moved
on to the "cover band" circuit for a couple
of years. It was a similar story. We weren't the best
but we took care of business and grew to become one
of the top bands on the circuit.
Then there were my Hollywood days with
Hawk. The second time we played The Roxie it was a sold-out
performance. Members of Hawk went on to play with Judas
Priest, King Cobra, The Bullet Boys, and other successful
bands of the 80's. Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses and Velvet
Revolver recorded with Hawk. So, I have a pretty good
idea of what it takes to be successful in the music
business. The following is a five-part article that
was originally written for my "Metal Message"
newsletter in 1984. This is the third time that the
article has been published and the third revision of
the article. The methods I describe here can be adapted
to achieve success at any level of the music business.
How
to Start a Band - Getting Started
Once you have learned the fundamentals of how to play
guitar you should consider starting a band. Sure it's
fun playing songs for your own enjoyment, but it's more
fun to share your music with others. Playing in a band
keeps you motivated. What is the motivation? You'll
either improve or get kicked out! For example, when
you're practicing by yourself and set a goal to learn
a song by next Wednesday, if you don't reach the goal
it's no big deal. If the band agrees to learn a song
by next Wednesday and you're the only one that failed
to do so, it's a big deal. That's motivation.
The
primary excuse I hear for not starting a band is "I'm
not good enough." That's actually an advantage;
the less experience you have, the more musicians there
are to choose from. Face it; it's a lot easier finding
inexperienced players than top-notch professionals.
Start a band of equals and grow in experience together.
The sooner you get started the faster you'll achieve
your dream. How
to Start a Band - Continue
Written by Doug Marks, Copyright
2007, Metal Method Productions, Inc.
|
