I wanna start a new band. The last time I started one, I was fourteen years old and noodling on my guitar in Jon Brusco’s garage. The goal would be mostly cover tunes, not much original stuff, with the aim of playing local clubs, block parties, outdoor events in my town and nearby, and that kind of thing. I’d like to have a 3-hour set ready by next summer.
So if you were starting a new rock band, and didn’t know anybody in your area who played an instrument, how would you get started? Would you be a petty dictator and have the set list already outlined when the first person auditioned, or would you have a lot of band input? If you knew you weren’t going to get paid (much, or at all) for the first couple of years, how would you keep members?
A couple of options…
I think when you go looking for new members, you are looking for people more interested in the music than turning a profit right? That may be tough to find, but shouldn’t be impossible. You could try open mic nights (if they still have those… ) Is there a local college / university with a music program? You will find some younger talent which may come with their own kind of issues, but they won’t be hell bent on turning a profit either. Craigslist has ads on their for people looking for gigs.
So far as set lists go, I would definately have your desires layed out for a set list. This may not be the definitive “final” list, but it will give the people you talk to an idea to the type of music you are looking to play.
Wish you the best of luck – Maybe there will be another “Fred the Cat” in your future.
Suggested Plan
In addition to your listed goal, you need to decide the frequency at which you’re going to play and rehearse. A group that plays live four times a month attracts a different level of musician and a different level of commitment than a group that plays four times a year. Determine whether regular rehearsals will continue after the set list is worked up.
The best advice I can give is this: someone needs to be in charge. A cover band playing a local circuit should not be a liberal democracy. Those on both sides of the stage (bandmates, clients) need someone to turn to with full authority and decision power. Otherwise, things take forever to get accomplished. Administration functions, booking, marketing, tech and client management will likely all be handled by this person.
Select at least 20 tunes now (approx. 2hr) that you envision playing. You’ll need this as part of the recruitment process; interested musicians want to know the general genre. Fill out the full set list after the band is assembled. Musicians bring to the collective their own stalwart hits which they’ve been performing for years, and you want to be flexible enough to leave room for tunes that feature particular talent.
You need more than one lead vocalist. The ideal scenario is to have one woman and one man working the front. This increases audience engagement and also broadens the range of available tunes you will play.
Starting from scratch, the best way to ramp up your profile, attract members and gain a booking track record is to do 45-minute solo sets at a local tavern. Assemble a 45-minute set and start gigging around. This is the easiest way to meet and converse with potential mates is over one of your set breaks on the scene.
me too
I also want to form a new band. I’ve been thinking about it for a few years. But I have different goals (I think) than Matt.
I want to do *some* cover tunes, but primarily I want to perform original music – either just my originals, or, if I were to hook up with someone else who wrote music, both of our originals.
Ideally, I’d like to perform maybe once a month or once every six weeks, at local venues that cater to indie singer-songwriter-type groups. There aren’t many around here, but they exist. I’d like to do some recording and have a good local following. I don’t care about money at all.
And, I want to have a band of excellent musicians. There are a lot of so-so musicians out there, and I want it instead to be an entirely collaborative effort.
What I’ve been thinking is that I should find people who are in an existing band who are interested in a side project that wouldn’t play out much. Otherwise, I can imagine that we’d run into disagreements about whether to take a band to the next level or not.
Hmmmm…
— Ben
Excellent..
I’m not an excellent musician, but I think I am a pretty good lyricist.. and a fairly food producer.. I’d be VERY interested in collaborating on a tune or two..
A while ago I had an idea for an album called “Whole Wide World” that I never did. It was going to be 10 songs that were all cowritten and performed by different people.
I (or you) should do something like that.
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