General Music Chat

I've always played alone, written alone, ect................i want to get a country band started. Any helpful hints on how it was works together, setting up gigs, how much to charge, what money gets divided amongst the group that kind of stuff. anything will be helpful. thanks

Brian Randall
Coloma, MI

I did that very thing a long time ago, Brian. It's a huge transition (at least it was for me).

First - meeting ppl. Try open mics, music stores, theaters, schools, whatever. Try to meet in person. You can weed out weird personalities that you don't get along with a LOT quicker than you can by using the o/l meet.

Second - working in a group. It's way different. Takes some getting used to. Try to keep things on an even keel, with all members having equal say, unless you (or they) are a hired gun. Then you just gotta shut up & do your job.

Third - no matter who had the equipment, or who wrote the most songs, or what - I've only worked in bands that paid all members equally. We all have jobs to do. One guy may be best at fixing/maintaining equipment. Another gets the gigs. Another has the big van for carrying stuff...whatever. Everyone does an equal part, in the ideal situation. (Of course it NEVER works out that way, but you pretend that it does, until someone abuses the system, or becomes too heavy a load to carry). Of course, there are times you hafta chip in on gas or something, like renting a PA if yours breaks down, stuff like that.

Since you do solo stuff, I assume you will continue with it, while you work in the band? I did. Make sure you keep them informed of your schedule at all times. I mean as SOON as you get a gig, you make a call. Demand that of the others as well.

Learn your parts BEFORE you get to practice. If you're introducing a new song to ppl, give 'em cheat sheets to use, AND a recording, & don't expect it to work out before they take the stuff home to work on it, unless it's a 12 bar blues thingie. Remember that rehearsals are to RE-hearse that which you have already "hearsed," & to fine-tune the band as a whole.

Try to choose material that ppl can dance to, cuz, after all, they aren't going out to see your chops. They're going out to have fun, & you are there tp provide it.

Keep it light-hearted & fun, preferably without all the substances that assure such things, cuz that never works out well...

It depends on your objective. If you're a songwriter you don't HAVE to have a band. You need a great song and equally great recording of it. This will cost some but will be well worth it provided your songs a good. You can pick up a band easily when you have interest in your stuff. Also, a move to Nashville and a country stage name - Randy Lee Jackson, for example wouldn't hurt. If you're good things will happen.

However if all you aspire to is to play covers at the local country bar on the weekends then yeah, you will need a band. Try to put your own band together if possible; joining a band rarely works for leader types. Get a great drummer and guitar player and the rest will be easy.