General Music Chat

Novel idea, I know...

Anyway, I was wondering, when did you decide that your skills were up to par enough to try and start a band? I'm a bit of a coward, I've been playing in other people's bands, but haven't really tried to start my own. Obviously, not everybody needs to have their own band, but the groups I'm in don't even play the genre I'm interested in, most of the time. I've been working on my piano/organ/singing, I'll probably just do a one-man jazz thingy. That's what I've been practicing on, anyway.

Anyway, I guess my real question should be, would you rather join the "perfect" band, or start the "perfect" band?

I've been at the helm of nearly every band I've ever been in; if I join a band I usually take it over or quit! No question, I'd rather be the leader of a less-than perfect band than just a member of any band.

...Jazz Anarchy ... you are to be encouraged ... nothing ventured, nothing gained. Obviously you are not at ease in your current situation ... so do it. I agree with Jimmy Danger's post. I do not feel that it is an ego hing at all.

My personal experience is that in order to lead you must have a great desire and a greater imagination and a greater capability. You must be able to gain the respect of all the members, keep it and all this while sometimes having to make unpopular decisions. It this way it can be a tightrope at times. But... this is far outweighed by the "benefits". You will have much more control which equates as expression which in turn enables something more fukfilling...I believe.

It helps if you can provide the rehearsal space, organization, direction and booking/management ... representation. These at least can be goals. Always listen to other members and consider them but reserve the final decision. Be clear and do not hesitate or be uncertain in your leadership. In the face of adversity and disappointment do not falter and show endurance and commitment and purpose. Dead easy......

Do it as it can only be a learning experience at worst....Good Luck.
At least there are many here who have real experience and capability and who will assist you along the way. This is a great support/advice network even if you may not agree with everyone .... they are musicians for the most part and have well formed opinions based on reality. Ta

I have to kind of refer back to my Kung Fu for your answer for my part.

Perhaps you will understand ... perhaps not.

It's not about "being ready" .

It's about your will to be present in the moment without thought of success or failure.

...Jazz Anarchy ... you are to be encouraged ... nothing ventured, nothing gained. Obviously you are not at ease in your current situation ... so do it. I agree with Jimmy Danger's post. I do not feel that it is an ego hing at all.

My personal experience is that in order to lead you must have a great desire and a greater imagination and a greater capability. You must be able to gain the respect of all the members, keep it and all this while sometimes having to make unpopular decisions. It this way it can be a tightrope at times. But... this is far outweighed by the "benefits". You will have much more control which equates as expression which in turn enables something more fukfilling...I believe.

It helps if you can provide the rehearsal space, organization, direction and booking/management ... representation. These at least can be goals. Always listen to other members and consider them but reserve the final decision. Be clear and do not hesitate or be uncertain in your leadership. In the face of adversity and disappointment do not falter and show endurance and commitment and purpose. Dead easy......

Do it as it can only be a learning experience at worst....Good Luck.
At least there are many here who have real experience and capability and who will assist you along the way. This is a great support/advice network even if you may not agree with everyone .... they are musicians for the most part and have well formed opinions based on reality. Ta

I'm actually starting to like this guy. Right on!

you have to have songs to start a band,
skills?
well you should be able to play 2 or more in a row without making a distracting mistake.
the better your songs, the more errors your audience will tolerate.
Van Cliburn had no songs of his own, and his audience tolerated no errors at all.
then look at the ramones, ac dc or even dylan,
hugely poplar.
musical skills? well you can debate that for years.

I had it easy - I started out as a bass player. I was in my first band after four months. I could keep the beat... sometimes And I had gear!

Harder for a guitar player. If you do covers it's just a question of can you do it as well as the next guy, have decent gear and are reliable.

I see you more in the original space so keep working on the songs. Be bold. Everybody here seems to like your stuff.

Concentrate on refining your personal style, you are plenty good enough to play with people. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much better you can play with a band backing you up.

The suggestion that you take the lead is a good one. Not just for your sake but for theirs. Bands need direction. But don't be afraid to take direction - nothing wrong with hooking up with some guys who have a vision. As long as it is something you can run with - playing ALWAYS beats not playing.

Talbot

Join the perfect band? Start the perfect band?
I'd think either would be a great way to go,
as you play in more bands you have a larger
talent base to pull from.

Striving for a perfect ban is lofty,
but you gotta have high hopes. lol

Steve Gaines joined a perfect band,
Ronnie started it.

I've been working on my piano/organ/singing, I'll probably just do a one-man jazz thingy. That's what I've been practicing on, anyway.

The problem I always had with keyboard players is that they don't need a band. If you are a capable singer, you've got bass with the left hand, chords/melody/solos with the right hand. Add a little midi percussion and "bang", you're a band. You can set up a small PA and make 100% of the money you get.

Besides that, the band's leader needs to be assertive and able to speak directly. In the short time I've known you here, you seem to be more passive and quiet, even as the title of this thread indicates. That approach means you'll have drummers and guitar players walking all over you most likely.

Anyway, I guess my real question should be, would you rather join the "perfect" band, or start the "perfect" band?

My advice is forget a band and start working on your original recordings. When (and if) you ever need a band, you can give them your recording and expect them to show up knowing it.

And you won't have to start over every 6 months because the bass player got a night job, or the drummer ran off with the guitar player's wife.

Should a full-time band come out of that approach, it will be "perfect" and they will be a help to your career, instead of a drag on it.

It's a big hunk of something to chew on to think that you have a choice.

I really don't think we do.

One generally starts by trying to integrate into a band setup.
If that works ok, people usually stay put unless they have delusions of grandeur. "A bird in hand" etc.

The problem lies in the music. If the music doesn't do it for you, you'll want to do something else.
That's when you think about your own band or joining another band.

If you can sit down and pen out at least 3 distinctive lines per tune that aren't really like other music you know of or ever heard before, I think you should write some music and start your own band.

If you don't write music but you like to play, join someone else's band.

If what you are playing satisfies you, then you really have very little to do except hold up your own end.

Starting a band is like starting a business: you have to have a Plan.
1) What product are you going to sell? (What type(s) of music)
2) Who is your target customer? (Where are you going to play)
3) How are you going to make the product? (Find the musicians, rehearsal space, pick/write the songs, get the equipment)
4) How are you going to market the product? (How and where are you going to get gigs, move equipment, get the drummer there sober, etc.)

A lot of work? Yeah, just like starting a business. You don't need to be able to write a show's worth of songs if you are doing covers, obviously, but that's just part of your business/band Plan.

Too often I see single musicians advertising that they want to 'start a band', but their only plan is something like "I want to do music like ______" (fill in the blank) and the only thing they've got going is the ability to shred, a guitar and an amp.

Hey J.A.
Know how ya feel ...
I have one foot in my own band and another in a friends ....
Tell ya what ... I like being the sideman a bit more ... even though its not my genre - its good to fill a role .... they tell me when to show up / when to solo .....its rewarding ...plus absolutely no pressure on me to be a front guy ... love that part
With my own band ..... there is all non music BS that needs to be done ... studio / setting up practice / keeping it rolling .... I'm not a front man type personalty so there is that .....

Just glad to be making music though ....
If you got the time do both

Me personally, I never thought of it in terms of having 'enough skills" . To prove my point, would you turn down Wynton Marsales right now, if he called you and asked you to fill in for a song, (your specialized instrument) . I'm gonna take a gamble here and say that you prolly would not pass that up... regardless of your skills.

Other musicians might not be as credible, as Wynton... But if they invited you in, the skills will take care of itself...

Me personally, I never thought of it in terms of having 'enough skills" . To prove my point, would you turn down Wynton Marsales right now, if he called you and asked you to fill in for a song, (your specialized instrument) . I'm gonna take a gamble here and say that you prolly would not pass that up... regardless of your skills.

Other musicians might not be as credible, as Wynton... But if they invited you in, the skills will take care of itself...

All professional experience is good but I'm going to disagree with you there. It would be fun to take a detour if you're a musician, but not if you're "the leader". For example, I would absolutely turn that down. Nothing happened in my career until I committed to a singular vision and refused to go to the right or the left of that.

Sometimes what is "really good" isn't what is "best". Again, if you're a side man musician just looking for a job that would be a great opportunity and completely within your own personal vision....BUT....if you're a songwriter that would be end of your career until you were fired or decided to leave. Then, you'd be starting over to regain any momentum you might have had previously.

It might fit in your overall vision if you need Wynton's contacts for your music...but your music would be on the back burner until you were finished there.

Thus delaying your trip to where you ultimately want to go.

Me personally, I never thought of it in terms of having 'enough skills" . To prove my point, would you turn down Wynton Marsales right now, if he called you and asked you to fill in for a song, (your specialized instrument) . I'm gonna take a gamble here and say that you prolly would not pass that up... regardless of your skills.

Other musicians might not be as credible, as Wynton... But if they invited you in, the skills will take care of itself...

this is fact