THE BREAKOUT MUSICIAN SERIES

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Start A Band, 13 Common Pitfalls – PART 2 OF 4

To keep consistent with part 1, here’s another quote from my journal as I was planning to form Mannequin. These entries really let you inside my head. I’m not usually happy to share what goes on in that mess, but I think it’s important to show the good and the bad.

Journal 9/11/2013.

“How the f*** am I going to get people that are as good as I want without even having a gig on the books? And how can I get a gig on the books without a band? I see why people give up so soon in the game. Not me.

Still… This is ridiculous. What do I do?

I’m just going to have to convince auditioning musicians that I’m the real deal.”

13 COMMON PITFALLS OF STARTING A BAND

In this blog 4-6

Whether you are a band leader, an ex-band leader or a future band leader doing research, I hope this helps you to identify some of the more common issues that break bands up. In the last blog, I covered the first three common pitfalls:

1. Money
2. Colliding personalities
3. Resistance to Advice or Criticism

 

These are pretty obvious when they show up. But today’s 3 contain my personal two least favorites… The Ego and laziness. These bug me the most because they are so self-centered and blatantly disrespectful of everyone else in the band ~ Read on!

 

4 EGO

Ego wants us to control our environment. It wants to control processes and outcomes and it can get hung up on the most unimportant issues. Striving to “win” every argument with little regard for what really is best for the band is the egomaniacs way. Ego, in any position of the band can destroy it. Different companies handle egomaniacs different.y, but it’s a deal breaker in any of our bands or companies.

This member wants front and center in most ways… on the stage, on the website, in rehearsal. They are insatiable when it comes to attention and credit. I’ve fired three egomaniacs from my band, and all of them thought they were the victim of wrongful doing. They just cannot see themselves making mistakes.

 

5 JOBS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Now, with the internet and so many resources available to assist with bookings, marketing and print, charts, etc… bands don’t necessarily need management anymore. Often bands take on all of these things themselves to save money. But then you run into the problem of certain band members not performing their assigned duties and this can be fuel for a fire.

Also, there’s the physical labor, if you are just starting you might not be able to afford a crew, so you have the band (along with yourself) doing the roadie work. In some venues that can be crazy! After load in, be sure you haven’t worn out your band. Some people abhor manual labor lol 🙂

Back to the situation of business duties and responsibilities, you are truly as strong as your weakest link here. If someone drops the ball, bad things can happen. Double bookings, unlearned songs, bills not paid, contracts not sent, etc. Don’t give responsibilities to someone you don’t think can do it.

An income generating band, as opposed to a recreational band, needs to be run like a business start-up or it will not stand a chance. Bands who really want the work are getting it! And they’re getting it by being smart, responsible, assertive and business savvy.

6 LAZINESS

You may find yourself in a situation where you are relying on others to do their part in business operations, or learn their parts in a song, or make a phone call, or buy something… only to be disappointed. There are a few reasons for what might appear to be laziness. One is, they’re lazy. They are actually just lazy. Some people are lazy. These band members are tough to work with, my only advice is to lower your expectations.

On the other hand: You may learn that their dropping the ball is a result of their priorities not lining up with yours. They mean no disrespect and may well not understand the gravity of the situation.

Just try to remember that while it’s true that these things appear to be coming from a place of disrespect, they may not be intentional. Or… they may be a result of you not clearly communicating what your expectations were when hiring them or assigning the job to them.

 

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HERE ARE JUST SOME OTHER COMING CHAPTERS/BLOGS in:

THE BREAKOUT MUSICIAN SERIES

Originally posted here on DMI’s Music School Blog ~ (not necessarily in order)

• MYTH POPPING
• WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW
• WHAT ARE YOUR EXISTING RESOURCES
• MUSIC INDUSTRY INCOME FIGURES TOP TO BOTTOM (KNOW THE PLAYING FIELD)
• MORE MYTH POPPING
• WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?
• DEFINING SUCCESS
• BREAKING INTO THE SCENE
• HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD YOU MAKE
• WHAT CREATES THE “VALUE” OF YOUR PRODUCT

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