Ready to start gigging? Here are 7 questions you should answer before forming - or joining - a band.

1. Where will the band do rehearsals? Does a band member have access to a garage, basement or spare bedroom? If so, do they have an understanding family and neighbors? If there is nothing else available is the band willing to chip in to rent rehearsal space?



2. How often will the band rehearse? What level of commitment does everyone have? Most people have a life that is separate from music. There may be jobs, school and families to consider so it is a good idea to air these issues out up front and decide on an acceptable rehearsal schedule before there are any surprises.



3. What musical direction is the band going in? This may seem obvious at first but this should be out on the table right up front. Are you going to be an original band, a cover band, or try to blend the two? What genre of music are you going to concentrate on? Who will be the lead singer? Who will be the musical leader of the band? Although, in the beginning, a group of musicians will come together to form a band with a great deal of enthusiasm, they many times come to find out later that there were different and often conflicting goals individually.



4. What equipment does the band need? Most guitar players, bass players, drummers and keyboardists will have their own rig prior to joining a band. But what about a PA system, what about lighting and how will you haul all this equipment to gigs? Is there someone in the band that will furnish these items or will the band need to purchase them as a group? A PA system is essential, not only for gigs but for rehearsals as well. There are small systems available at reasonable prices but you want to consider what size rooms you will be gigging in and keep in mind the expandability of the system as the band grows. Lighting systems are something you can get by without for a while, but lighting makes a big impression on your presentation at gigs so you should get lighting as soon as it’s in the budget. In the meantime, you can put together a home made lighting system using coffee cans and colored spot lights that will do a nice job for you. I have played in a number of bands with home made lights and the audience never knew the difference.

Once you have the equipment you will need to have a way to haul it. Someone may have a van or a trailer that will work but, as with the other equipment, you will need to figure out how they will be paid for and who will be responsible for repair expenses.



5. Who will be booking the gigs? Every band needs that one person who will handle the business end of things. It is often a thankless job that requires extra effort beyond the musicality, but it is absolutely essential for a successful operation. Many bands want to operate musically as a democracy but when it comes to business you need a dictator – or at least a president. This point cannot be stressed enough – just look at any successful band out there that stays booked up and you will usually find one person behind the wheel.



6. What kind of gigs will you play? You will also want to take a look at what type of gigs you want to book, what venues will be suitable for your music and how often you want to play. It is good to have an agreement amongst the band as to how much, or how little, money you are willing to work for. Some gigs will only pay a draw against the door and you never know until the end of the night how much you made.

New bands will often offer to play free gigs at venues just to get established. Younger bands not old enough to get in nightclubs have had success renting out a dance hall, or similar venue, then inviting everyone they know and charging a cover charge to foot the expenses.



7. What happens when the band splits up? Notice the question was not if the band splits up. Unfortunately the longevity for a band can be short, and even bands that stay together for years will experience a change in members over time. This is an inevitable aspect of the music business so you should be prepared for it in advance. Questions need to be answered like how any equipment purchased as a band will be divided, who owns the band name, who has the rights to the gigs on the books and how will taxes be handled. It is not uncommon for a band to have a written agreement, up front, addressing issues like these. The agreement could define what rights a departing band member has and what rights they may forfeit if they leave the band without working out a suitable notice. It may seem a little counter productive to plan the band’s demise at the outset, but you would be well advised to anticipate the business and legal issues while heads are clear before the emotions erupt.


One final thought on playing with a band is that it will help you to really pay attention to the other musicians around you and what they are playing. Most of us are anxious to jump out there and dazzle everyone with a ripping lead, but ultimately, we are only as good as the group as a whole. Try to be mindful of how what you are playing blends in with the rest of the band, work on your dynamics and avoid being overly critical when someone makes a mistake. Chances are the next one will be yours.


The act of getting on stage with other musicians, each one making an individual contribution to produce one collective sound can be one of the most exhilarating experiences one can ask for. Make the most of it by being prepared for the day to day realities of band life and you will probably find yourself an in-demand player for many years to come.

Staff - TopMusicLessons.com