Fun Stuff > BAND

Forming a new band

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Patrick:
I will say that the one I did at the bar this week kicked asses all night, even despite a few technical malfunctions. And I did wind up having a really dope band come in, and I immediately got contact info so we could book shows together. Hope is not always lost, you just gotta be there on a lucky night.

blaha 41:
I say this out of bitterness, jealousy, & reluctant yet complete respect: Regina Spektor is the only "lead" (i.e., singer-songwriter) to get anywhere in the past 10 yrs by playing NYC (supposedly "THE"place to "BE") open mics.

I think it's different in other towns though.

idontunderstand:
I live in a small town, meaning two things: First, there is still the same percentage of good/bad music as anywhere else, meaning that the good bands are very very few, and second, the good bands/musicians therefore get a rabid following very quickly and it's difficult to be there at the right time, so to speak. So open mics wouldn't be that bad, if we had any. :P

Patrick:

--- Quote from: idontunderstand on 09 Jul 2012, 06:55 ---The problem I want to address here is therefore: How do you go ahead and form a new band?

I've always been the kind of person who's more into working together with someone rather than using them as sidemen to play my songs the way I've pictured them beforehand. I already know what I sound like, I don't think it's very interesting to just project my style or whatever onto others. I may have a bass line, a lyric, a melody or something, and we'll write something together using that as a basis.

--- End quote ---

My band experience is limited, but here's the biggest things I can stress in the band-forming process. Two things:

1. Professional relationships and social relationships are entirely different. However, they are not mutually exclusive, and when combined (as it should be!), one can and will affect the other. You must constantly keep the flow of communication open and honest. But you mustn't forget that your bandies' feelings are as important to them as yours are to you.

2. Your bandmates are not just there to play an instrument, that's only a very basic expectation you should have for each other. They're there to help shore up each other's shortcomings. Using my band as an example, Matt's a phenomenal songwriter, promoter, and band face, and Paul excels in arranging pieces of song structures and keeping tempo. I specialize in session playing and vocal harmony. If any one of us were to up and quit, we'd be completely fucked during every process that matters.

These two considerations alone have served to remind me on numerous occasions that I don't hate my bandmates. I love the members of both of my bands, I think of them all as brothers, no matter how pissed I get at them for whatever dumb reason. That's the bond I feel you not only should, but MUST have.

idontunderstand:
Very nice reply, just the kind of stuff I want people to share here. What do you think about dedication? Is it OK if one or two members (depending on the total number of bandmates) just doesn't seem as dedicated as the others, for example by missing more rehearsals than the others, not doing as much for the band as the others (both musically and er.. professionally, booking gigs and the like), playing in other bands at the same time etc.

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