This year, with long breaks, I’ve been working on a project.
The lead singer honestly admitted during his assessment that he wanted to sing more for people and for recognition. Moreover, this only became clear to him when it didn’t matter whether he performed with a band or just lip-syncing.
Many people know that if you play in a band (live), you’ll inevitably stick to a certain genre. And if you’re performing a song with a backing track on stage, you’re definitely not going to be punk rock (although there are those who do).
And so, you make mistakes:
You want to sing pop songs, but you’re recruiting a band big enough for a heavy metal orchestra.
Or, conversely, you’re putting together a band when you’re performing army songs.
Perhaps you think this is a way to stand out and be remembered, to break the mold, so to speak. But don’t forget that there are proven and very effective models. These models have been ingrained in people’s minds for decades, and if you decide to take the “creative” path, don’t count on the second, subconscious reason for your creativity (profit).
Unless, of course, you suddenly hire a talented and well-known manager (producer) who can present your work in a favorable light (but, again, for the benefit of the crowd).
Therefore, when putting together a musical group, clearly answer the following questions:
- Why do you want this?
Ask yourself what I’ll get when I create my own group. Will I be happy with it? Will I have enough time to devote to writing, rehearsals, and performances? Will I be able to balance my efforts between work, music, family, health, etc. - When should it start and end?
Every group should know its “age.” When should the group start, and when (and this is very important) should it end? - Where are you planning to perform?
Before you think about your lineup, think about where you’ll be performing. No self-respecting band performs solely at rehearsals “for themselves.” Every band, regardless of status, has venues to perform, and friends and colleagues occasionally invite them. “For yourself,” it might even be as simple as getting together at a dacha once a year and making some noise. - For whom?
We’ve already established that no one will hear your music if you lock yourself away in a garage or basement. That’s why you need to perform. BUT, you’ll have to pay for your first few gigs yourself, since no one knows you and won’t come to your concert. Until you figure out who you’re playing and singing for, until you’ve attracted a specific audience, don’t expect to be paid for your work. - Why?
Why did you decide that a band is what you need?! Are you a good singer, player, or composer? Maybe you have more talent than others. Maybe you’re well-versed in cars and machinery, maybe you enjoy healing and are good at it, maybe you’re interested in flowers or seeds—then you should use your knowledge in that area. It’s better to use your specialized knowledge. But if you’re serious about pursuing music and my examples don’t appeal to you, then you’ve already decided the “WHY.” All that’s left is to back up your theory with practice. - Who will be in your lineup?
Now you can decide who will be in the band. We’re not talking about musicians and instruments here. I’m talking about specialists (at best, a full team) who will build the band’s image. These specialists should include: a lyricist, a composer (MANDATORY, a friend or hired one), a sound engineer, a technician, a lighting technician, and a designer. If you have high-quality sound, lighting, a logo, lyrics, and music, then, believe me, that’s half the battle. A band always starts with the team. Not with the music, not with the singer, not with the musicians. Only a team is your reliable foundation. - What is the preferred genre?
A single genre is chosen only at the beginning and only temporarily, as no band plays exclusively in one genre. Then you can and should experiment as much as you like. - How many musicians and instruments?
Only now can you look for musicians who:
— share your musical vision
— agree to a specified timeframe for collaboration
— understand which concert venues are waiting for them
— are aware of the audiences they perform for and how to attract more of them
— are a good fit for the existing talent (genre characteristics)
— know approximately what genre they should play
— love the proposed genre of music.
The selected musicians will then tell you what instruments you will need to use.
Only after honestly answering the questions can you begin recruiting musicians. Deciding on less important matters, such as what to play, who to play with, where to rehearse/play, etc., is up to you.
Many aspiring bands make the mistake of assembling a lineup and only then worrying about everything else. But I recommend laying down the groundwork right away, now that we know where we’ll fall.
Assembling a band isn’t the most important thing. The key is understanding why you want to do it.
