Band Dynamics

So, i was thinking it would be kind of cool to start a thread not about playing guitar, but being in a band. Share and take advice from this thread. Add your own advice. I'm interested in hearing from everyone.
Here's some of my own...

*Learn how to take criticism and orders without getting all huffy
*Learn how to give orders
*Don't fiddle around on your instrument when others are talking
*Be honest when they ask if you like what they are playing
*Don't shoot down riffs people present right away. Remember that they spent time writing them, and are probably kind of nervous to show you. You may even eventually grow to like the riff
*Show up for band practice
*Create goals so you don't waste time

I've got more, but let's hear what everyone else has to say about this...

The biggest potential band-killer is what happens when the members have different goals. If someone is serious about making a career in music, they will get hugely frustrated in a band that just wants to amuse themselves, and play the ocaisional gig.

Second-worst band-bomb is the intrusive Significant Other. Girlfriends, wives, boyfriends, husbands, whatever - don't ever let 'em even think they have any kind of say in band issues.

There will always be a certain amount of ego-tension in any group of creative people. A certain amount of that can actually be beneficial, but be perpared to shut it down fast if it shows signs of getting out of hand.

A great band is composed of people who genuinely enjoy working together. Ideally, that means that everybody pulls their own weight, plus lending a hand to each other. It's all too easy to let someone else pack the gear, or load in/out, but don't let it happen. Bands have to function as a team; prima donas are deadly.

Originally Posted by: ericthecableguy*Don't fiddle around on your instrument when others are talking[/QUOTE]
Definitely. I swear to God, Michael is the worst person in the whole universe for doing that. I just wanna rip that damn bass out of his hands.

[QUOTE=ericthecableguy]*Don't shoot down riffs people present right away. Remember that they spent time writing them, and are probably kind of nervous to show you. You may even eventually grow to like the riff

Also very true. When Michael first showed me the bassline he made up for "Eye Candy," I called it stupid and didn't even want to bother making a song out of it. Now it's pretty much what I consider our signature song, and one of the most fun to play. The same kinda thing happened with one of my own songs. I made up a riff and thought it was dumb, but Mike and Luke convinced me to keep it, and now that's one of our songs too.

I would say learning to try out others' ideas for songs is important, and something I need to work on more. If I bring a song to practice, I instantly tell Luke and Mike exactly what to play, without giving them a chance to try out their own ideas. That's probably why we don't use very many of my songs.

Originally Posted by: earthman buckDefinitely. I swear to God, Michael is the worst person in the whole universe for doing that. I just wanna rip that damn bass out of his hands.[/QUOTE]
I would...My drummers mom yelled at us for always doing it and we haven't done it since...God bless her heart.

The same kinda thing happened with one of my own songs. I made up a riff and thought it was dumb, but Mike and Luke convinced me to keep it, and now that's one of our songs too.

This is how almost anything I write becomes one of my bands songs. Everyone else has the advantage of hearing it for the first time.

This is interesting stuff. Keep it coming folks.

[QUOTE=Lordathastrings]Second-worst band-bomb is the intrusive Significant Other. Girlfriends, wives, boyfriends, husbands, whatever - don't ever let 'em even think they have any kind of say in band issues.

+1000000000. Luckily we're all either to ugly/nerdy/loserish, or a combination of said to have this problem.

Explain it to them exactly the way you just explained it to us.

I'm not in a band at the moment... But what my band did in the past about riff's was to always give each riff about a 10 minute jam session to see where things went... A lot of times the riff may sound "bad" because it's missing a subtle nuance somewhere along the way... in a good solid jam session someone might be able to get comfortable with it to add in that little special thing that takes it from a crappy riff to a tasty little diddy...

We always had closed practices as well... no one was allowed in the practice area at all... until we invited them in to listen or otherwise... This keeps it to a band atmosphere and dismisses certain distractions.

Get into a routine in band practice where you have a certain amount of jam time and a certain amount of song practice time... It's important to work on old songs AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE because nothing's worse than playing a song that you haven't played in awhile and realizing how badly out of sync the band is.... Jam time will help with band timing and syncronization.

When it comes to making decisions about setlists, songs to learn, ways to play things, etc etc.... be open minded but be honest. Like was said before... That's a pretty important one. I've been in a couple bands where the kind of music just didn't fit my taste and I tried so hard to veer them away from the stuff that they were playing to suit me better... in the end it was just best for me to bow out... Since they were doing what they wanted... and I was the only one that wasn't into it.... Just be honest with yourself and theband members.

Have fun... I think that's the biggest thing. Keep it about the music. Make sure that everyone in the band is in it for the music and not just something to do or not just to get a girlfriend... That will come later. haha..... try as much as possible to keep the atmosphere loose...

One of the best things that my band and I did was go watch a lot of concerts... We went to as many concerts together as we could and we would always discuss things that we could do better after going to them... Watching professional bands play really opens eyes to little things that you don't notice... Like the way a drummer counts in or the way a lead singer interacts with the crowd... or even what gear and setups the guys are using... I'm the kind of guy that barely ever takes pictures of the actual artists... I'm always snapping shots of their pedal boards and taking notice to how they get their tones....... Also watching bands gives you a first hand look at how important it is to be in sync with each other... If at anypoint you ever get to chat with pro musicians try to get past the whole nervousness thing and pick their brain.... The best advice I'd ever had was when i talked with Eric Sardinas and his band after a show at the House of Blues in Chicago... I asked him if his band did anythign special to work on syncronization to clean up sloppy songs... and he told me "well... I guess let's put it this way, we're going to get all kinds of messed up tonight... head to our hotel room... get up in the morning... drive to where ever the (f bomb) we're going and we're going to start practicing the set list... Then we're going to play the show... and do it all over again... Pretty much when we're not playing for people or drunk.... we're playing for ourselves... Just gotta play man." Good advice. haha.

Closed practice is a must. You can't be open and honest if there are outsiders in the room.

Have a list of songs (rehearsal "setlist) to avoid wasting time.

The comment about fiddling with your instrument while others are talking (or tuning) is a big pet peve of mine as well.

Long ago I was in a band with this singer who thought I was cool/funny to attempt to harmonize with me while tuning. I wanted to smash his face in :mad:

There are a ton of things. Wow. Eh, since people have talked about the more politcal aspect, I suppose I'll jump in with the musical stuff:

1. Make sure you are all playing in time---Time is a musician's greatest skill and the one that so few actually possess. Listen to everyone and make sure that you are locked dead into that groove.

2. Don't settle for less than the best---if your drummer just did a sub-par solo or rendition of the song, tell them about it. Remember, don't settle for just being an 'average' rhythm section--if you know that the people in your band are capable of playing better or bringing more to the table, tell them so! Get great performances out of each other.

3. Encourage everyone to sell themselves. Don't just stand there looking sullen and playing, look alive. After all, if you're a live band, it's not just the music you are peddling. I'm not saying you have to become CC Deville and smile like an idiot while playing ala Poison, but just look like you are having a good time. All of you.

4. Accomodate everyone's unique musical vision into the band!! This is so very important and the reason that a lot of bands have trouble. If you have a drummer who just loves Art Blakely, and you have a bassist that can't get enough of Rush, while your guitar player could rock out to metal all day long---use it!! Blend it, instead of trying to shape the music more toward your own musical tastes. Just because you hear your song a certain way in your head doesn't mean that that has to be the song you end up with. Half the time your bandmates will shock you with how much they can augment everything you do!

5. Sing. Everyone should learn how to sing. At the very least carry a tune. Why? Simply because of the huge amount of songwriting options it brings. You don't have to have a stellar voice to harmonize, sing backup chorus, etc.

6. Practice by yourself!! Maintain your individual competancy of whatever instrument you play. Increase it whenever you can. Your goal should be to have something new/different to bring to the table every time you guys meet for practice. The sad reality of the band is that everyone has to pull their weight, be profit instead of merely overhead.



I think those are the key musical tips to being in a band.

Originally Posted by: PlatonicShredYou don't have to have a stellar voice to harmonize, sing backup chorus, etc.

I never really thought of it that way, but I think you're right. I'm a crappy singer, but I think I can do harmonies alright.

ok, well alot of band politics issues have been covered, and even a few musical ones, so I'll throw in my two cents about performance.

Firstly, the audience will usually not notice when you or a bandmate messes up, so dont look disgusted or angry at the person at fault as this will give it away.

um, what I hate is a band that plays for too long. New bands that play sets for over half an hour annoy me. No one is able to remain interested in music they dont know for too long...If you are not yet established, and the crowd dont know your songs, keep your sets down to four of five songs, leave the crowd wanting more, rather than bored with a band that they enjoyed for the first few songs.

another pet hate of mine is when the guitarist (for some reason only we do this) plays a lick/line/progression from the next song whilst the vocalist is talkting between songs...unless you have a planned intro, or interlude, dont play the riffs from your songs!

oh, and start your gigs on time!!!

When forming the band or recruiting new members, be organised about it. Communicate with the people who respond to your ad - tell them when the audition/jam session is, get back to them if they call or email you, and when you do pick somebody, make sure you inform the others so they're not left hanging in anticipation. When I was playing bass, I applied to join a band, who told me they'd get back to me - they did, but only after the audition was over and they'd selected a new bass player! :eek:

Originally Posted by: aschlemanI'm not in a band at the moment... But what my band did in the past about riff's was to always give each riff about a 10 minute jam session to see where things went... A lot of times the riff may sound "bad" because it's missing a subtle nuance somewhere along the way... in a good solid jam session someone might be able to get comfortable with it to add in that little special thing that takes it from a crappy riff to a tasty little diddy..

.

I agree with that...some of my, and my bands best stuff has come from just jamming a groove and seeing where it goes...actually, all our songs, but one have come about that way...we're thinking of putting an improv jam into our setlist, because we've done it so much, and jam so often that we rarely sound bad when we just play off of eachother...

not only is this a great way to wrtite, but it's a great way to get better as a musician, and as a band...the more you play together, the tighter you get...and you get familiar with the way your bandmates think and play.

It's also really really fun!

the other band members arent the only ones that make mistakes... when you as a guitarst blow it .. for Gods sakes dont stop to get it right... plow on thru.. fix ur own problems in playing issues on ur own dont waste band practice time with stuff you should do on ur own time