How to Start a Band Right Away

Playing a musical instrument is a great and fulfilling hobby, but it can get even better if you play along with other musicians. The most logical way to do that is to start a band or join an existing one. Your strategy will depend on your own playing experience and the goal you want to accomplish. Some people will play just for fun and relaxed gigs, while other will have bigger plans. In this article, we’re going to share some tips on starting a cover band with gig-centered ambitions.

1. 1. Gather team players.

If you’re a music enthusiast, you must have read dozens of articles about cult bands that have dismembered because of irreconcilable artistic differences. In other words, the members were either too vain or too proud to continue working together.

This is something you should avoid at all costs in your band. It’s important to gather team players, rather than have superstars who will ruin the atmosphere in the band.

Because of that, it would be wise to accept members who might be less skillful with their instruments, but true team players. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should form a band with bad musicians. It only means that you should conduct a thorough audition and test a large number of musicians. Once you’ve selected only the best players among them should you handpick the one(s) with more positive personal traits.

1. 1. Practice through continuous rehearsals.

Playing live gigs is imperative for every band to gain experience and, more even important, to become self-confident.

But it’s essential that your newly started band has regular rehearsals. Their pace and duration will depend on your ambitions and musical skills. On average, you should meet at least twice a week and spend some 2-3 hours rehearsing in a studio. This regular practice will help you meet all the band members more thoroughly.

What might be an obstacle for regular practice sessions is the rehearsal space. The most logical thing to do would be to book a studio for your weekly practice, but every such session costs a certain amount of money. Although it most probably won’t cost you an arm and a leg, some of the members might not be willing to pay for something they do just for fun.

That’s why it’s clever to inform your best candidates during the auditions that you’re planning to book a studio for regular practice sessions. By doing so, they’ll know in advance whether they should join your band.

Another solution is to start with home rehearsals. In that case, it’s advisable to keep the noise down, which is why you should use some new electronic drums and an acoustic guitar, as well as a bass-guitar of the same sort. This choice of instruments will reduce the level of noise your band is going to produce during homes practice sessions.

1. 1. Assign the frontman.

Every band is a group of equals, but one of you should be more equal than the others. In other words, one member of your music group needs to be the frontman of the band. This person will be responsible for communication with the audience, gig negotiations, and public relations in general. Since the entire article is focused on a cover band, we can assume that you won’t have any large PR-needs. Whatever these communication demands might be, it’s good for the entire band if one member is in charge of that part of work.

What’s more, one of you should handle the social media posts. Today you can win numerous fans and appreciators if you use social media to promote your band efficiently. Of course, other band members can give their contributions to the band’s social media accounts by taking original photos, taking videos, etc.

Since cover bands usually don’t have roadies or agents, band members need to make an agreement on the communication terms. Assigning the main communicator, i.e. the frontman will help you become easily recognizable to your fans.

1. 1. Name the treasurer.

Most bands fall apart when they reach commercial success. While you can’t predict with certainty what will happen with your band in that case, you can at least take some measures in advance to reduce the number of potential issues.

To start with, you need to name the band’s treasurer. It sounds so friendly and romantic that you can all take care of the band’s finances, but that’s not the case in reality. One of the band members should take the responsibility for that part.

The extent of that responsibility will depend on your musical and professional goals. If you just want to have fun and play low-budget gigs, then you’ll probably settle the financial terms immediately after each gig.

But if your band starts playing larger gigs, the amount of money you receive might become too large to be handed to you in cash. In that case, you’ll also have to pay some taxes. At this point, the treasurer should either read these taxation rules on the website of the Musician’s Union, as well as contact an experienced accountant.

Additionally, it would be smart not to direct all the earned assets on your personal earnings, but to put a certain percentage aside for various accessories for your band. These funds can be used to improve your equipment, buy additions for your instruments, or simply to save them for any other investments of the band.

1. 1. Pickthe right name.

Forming a new band should include the process of picking the right name for it. Even if you’re planning only to start a cover band, it’s good to have a cool name. You can never tell if the muses of musical creation will visit you one morning and inspire you to make your own original music.

So, if you’re planning to found a rock cover band, a name in plural is the most logical option. This is very long tradition that dates back in the 1950s. If you’ve decided to embody the entire band in your frontman, you could add his name to the band name, like Derek and The Dominoes.

While there are many different paths that can lead you to the perfect name for your band, we have to mention the most logical one – have a look at the coolest band names and make an original combo of words. Alternatively, these names could inspire you to come up with something completely genuine.

When you choose your name, don’t forget to trademark that band name. As you legally protect it, you prevent other bands from stealing your precious brainchild. Also, in case somebody else somewhere in the world has named their name the same way, you can rest assured that you’re protected by law.

Conclusion

Forming a band from scratch is a great thing for every musician who doesn’t want to play alone anymore, or for those who want to take a new musical course. One of the crucial elements of every band is the chemistry between the members. That’s why you should try to gather people with different music tastes, who play for the team. Also, make sure that all the financial and artistic goals are defined as you’re being formed. Finally, you need to find a suitable name and choose the front person for communication with the public. After that, you need continuous practicing and rehearsing, to make your band sound properly and get ready for live performances.