D-Man
I'm trying to put together a band right now and I'm pretty excited to see it evolve. Call me over-ambitious but I really want to take my music seriously. I put a lot of hard work into practising and learning whatever I can about the guitar and music in general. I'd like to think that I can take this awesome passion further. I want to get some exposure, be noticed, maybe even play to a small crowd (or a big one if possible). And I'd love to get something for it. But how do I do this? Where do I start? Is it a good idea to start in a cover band? Will I be able to get small gigs?
DonovanB
Start with a plan.
Write down your goal and work backwards from there. well, at least that's my idea. some people stumble across good things by chance but that's not all of us...
inflames
I agree with Donovan.
Write down a plan of how you can achieve greatness.
1. Don't underestimate the power of posting your songs on MySpace!
2. Word of mouth is your friend!
3. Keep ego's small and the sound big ?
Best of luck, you can do it!!!!
[deleted]
There are probably many ways to go, but there will always be some commonalities that you'll need to take care of. In my opinion...
Music isn't just about music. Networking and finding people who can give you that leg up will always be just as important has playing in a tight band. Whether it's connecting with the crowd or with possible agents or promoters, it's important to decide who (within the band) has the social skills to pull this off. It's no use sending your laconic bassist over to talk to the guy from Big Concerts.
When it does come to music, sometimes bands are groups of friends and sometimes they've been recruited. Either way, as far as I'm concerned, there's no room for dead weight. If you want the band to succeed, there will be times that require ruthlessness. The best person for the job. Inflames is very right about egos - clashes are almost inevitable, and while it's good to push each other to excel, many bands are torn apart by needless arguments or crowding for the spotlight. Whatever happens, make sure everyone's into the project. If they're not, that'll slow you down.
You need to consider exactly how much a career in music might actually take - how much time, how much effort, how much networking, how much diplomacy, and how much money. It's one thing to be romantic about it; it's quite another to view music as a real job.
You'll never do it alone. You'll need a manager, or an agent, or both (not right away, but if things start to happen). At first, getting some songs down in demo format to tout to clubs (many clubs have become sticky about bands they don't know, and will require some evidence that you can play) and sending band members will be just fine, but at some stage you're going to need somebody with enough clout to talk to the heavier hitters.
Are you playing in a trendy genre? Chances are, if so, by the time you're discovered, it'll all be over. Make sure you're coming to the scene with something unique. Also, if you're writing for a fairly restricted niche, you have to be the best there is, or aim to be so. If you're writing for a more general market, you have to be even better.
Don't let your dream die a savage death because you've put all your eggs in one basket too early on. You can still get a band going while supplementing your income in other ways. There's no need to just draw a line and say, "I'm going to make money from music from now on."
Be prepared for glass ceilings. If you've put your life and soul into a band, it still may not pan out. Change is inevitable, and there will be lots of stalling points, at which you'll have to decide whether it's worth sticking it out for a while longer. Who knows? Don't be too hasty, and try other avenues with a band before calling it quits - hell, even Radiohead used to play to two guys and a dog. But don't be afraid to try new things.
Yeah - utilise all the online tools you can, for promotion, but don't go calling yourself things you patently aren't - it'll put people off if they find the product to be less professional than the grand claims make out. Be positive, but realistic.
As bizarre as this sounds, after all I've just said...it's supposed to be fun. Don't kill your songs and creativity with determination or market-chasing.
Oh, EDIT: This may seem obviaas, but you're going to have to coexist with other bands, some of whom will always have a bigger following than yours. Don't be dicks to other bands. That'll just come back to bite you. Appreciate that the public's tastes will differ, and jealousy is actually irrational. It'll drive you crazy. Just do your own thing.
Keira-WitherKay
yeah stratisfear said it all, and yeah i agree if you not unique or something special..... don't expect fireworks...... no one is there to wisk the mediocre/everyday players away to stardom..........
your question are there gigs out there???.. yeah there is work if you good enough ........ and can offer a product that people want to hear ........
as for cover bands. mmmmmmm maybe not rather focus on tribute bands or show bands and get your show into barnyard theatres theres lots of shows all over jhb and if you not into original music thats where the money lies..........
but for me it's original music all the way........ no greater satisfaction to sell cd's and have people enjoy your own compositions........ but yeah it is far tougher market than say the showband market ..........
so what style you play? or want to play ? and what instrument? guitar??? just asking cos i constantly have people asking me for band members for various acts not just acoustic music...... but if you a hot shredding style acoustic guitarist i could even offer you some work ..... ?
good luck .. and yeah take your music seriously .......... many of us do
DonovanB
Also, don't ever pass your dreams off as cheesy.
I met a guy who said his dream was cheesy and he wanted to be a Top Billing Presenter. There's nothing wrong with that IMO, get paid to travel around the world with Jeannie D... sheesh.
Show bands are cool, but for eg Swell band won't cut it as a show band cos we are 3 fat guys, 2 of which are grey, one bald and our "look" is dreadful. No matter how talented we are, we need to clean up quite a bit.
DonovanB
also, Read as much as you can...
Start
here.
D-Man
I like the direction that this topic is going in. But I have some problems at the moment all relating to one thing..... MY AGE. When you're fifteen, how often will you get a gig. Also school is taking up tons of time. 6 hours a say academically, 3 hours of sport, and then the projects and homework. I wish I had the time to fit in hours of practise a day but right now I have about an hour or two during weekdays (even less than that some days). And with the age also comes the problem of incomelessness. Right now the only gear I own that isn'e secondhand is my acoustic guitar. My Ibanez SA120, Marshall MG30DFX and my Marshall Jackhammer are all secondhand. However, they should probably do for now. Right now I'll take any opportunity I can get. Acoustic, Electric, Classical, Alternative, Metal.... If it'll get me some experience, I'll go for it...
[deleted]
Have a chat with Danny B, on this forum. He probably has some good advice for getting around the issues you mention.
Oh, and there's nothing wrong with second-hand equipment!
inflames
MY AGE. When you're fifteen, how often will you get a gig. Also school is taking up tons of time. 6 hours a say academically, 3 hours of sport, and then the projects and homework.
You are the prefect age to start playing in bands. Spend more time playing on weekends. Try and practice at least an hour or two in the evenings. It will only get harder from here. Once you go to University you will have less time or maybe more. Look at Bouwer of Straatlig Kinders. He still studies and has a killer band going, well most of the up and coming bands are at University. If you get your technique correct now at a young age you will need less time when you are older ?
Your equipment does not enable you to play better. Better equipment could actually make you sound worse.
I'm shocked with my own playing after receiving my first valve amp! The amplify faults!!!!
Don't be too hard on yourself, your still young take it easy!
PeteM
Hey Stratisfear - some very good advice there - you've put a lot of thought and effort into your reply with valuable information to anybody who is considering a career in music. Karmad or thanked or whatever it is now.
aubs1
D-Man wrote:
But I have some problems at the moment all relating to one thing..... MY AGE. When you're fifteen, how often will you get a gig.
I don't see that as a problem, in fact, it's a major plus! You have more fans sooner, school friends etc. I played in my first band when I was in Std. 8 (GR 10), pretty much at your age.......15!
The problem would be getting the right guys to play with and getting some decent gear........please don't misunderstand what i am saying here. Decent gear (and I'm not saying expensive) equals decent sound equals decent band.
Everything else has already been said.
MIKA-the-better-one
Since iwas 14 I have tried to be in a good band, I used to be in all sorts of bands, truthfully you probably will not go anywhere until you are out of high school, unless there is some amazing phenomenom. It may even seem like you have songs which will concur the world but really in a few years you will probably say they sucked. While in school parents often have a way to make you forget your band dreams and focus on school..... strange enough......
What I would suggest t do, is practice all you can, and your level of commitment will show you how much practcice you get in. If you are out every friday and satirday night then I wouldnt call you to commited as those could be prime practice times. The average band here in SA thats doing anything (not that youy can do much) practcices 3 to 4 times a week for 3 hours. So you want to aim for that as an ideal.
Record some songs, and in relation to your songs you have to be critical as possible, theres enough bad music in SA where people dont consider that they suck ?
Get a myspace up, put your songs up..... sont waste your time trying to sell your music (its a dead industry) Encourage piracy, its the one thing music has going for it......
While in school try organise to pla yin schoool assemplies, and any funtion you can. You will see how this makes you grow.
To end off try not to be to happy with your music, try and grow, and equipment wise, what you have you can make work, actualy you can use anything its just knowing how to use it and make it work, So dont expect to be Clapton with a behringer strat BUT !!!!!! BUT try to improve your equipment and your band members stufff, and if they seem lazy KICK THE MTHE HELL OUT........ In the few bands i have been in this has been the end to many a band mate.
YOu wont get gigs till you are out of school but you can really work hard through school so that when you out you are GOOD
Danny-B
D-man.
I hear you on the age thing my man. I'm only sixteen myself. But what I've found is that age really means nothing if you behave in a professional manner and you treat everyone you deal with in a professional manner. You'll also start to gather a reputation as someone who's easy to work and deal with, and festival organisers and such will only be happy to work with you, regardless of whether you're 15 or 40. I've seen countless bands act in such unprofessional manners it's a wonder they even get hired.
I've been performing since I was about 7, and I picked up guitar at 12. My first big show was when I was 14, where I was the guitarist in a production of School of Rock at Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban. I had only been playing for two years, and here I was playing for 400 people every night! It was an awesome experience, and I was playing on a Squire Tele, into a Marshall Valvestate, which I didn't even own. So gear is and was not an issue.
I'm in a band, and we're all in school. We've just come back from playing at Splashy Fen, which is one of the big South African festivals. Yeah, in the beginning, the crew were a bit like "Pshfft, you guys are young", but we behaved properly, didn't drink and didn't break any rules. We played as hard as we could, and everyone was happy. I still meet sound techs and such years after I've had anything to do with them and they say hello, ask how I am and how I'm doing, all because they remember I listened to what they had to say and didn't act like a know-it-all.
With regards to gear, I've had the luck of the devil. I've got what is close to my dream rig now, but I've paid very little money. I suppose it's all just getting to know the right people in the right places.
The most important thing is motivation. No one gets anywhere if they have no meaning in what they do or if they just want to be in a band because they want to take drugs and drink. My band members are some of my best friends, and we've been playing together for 3 and a bit years, albeit only in a band for 8 months or so.
Goodluck D-man. Making music and playing it is one of the most incredible feelings, and it's one hell of a ride.
D-Man
You know what? That's just the reply I needed. As long as I know that It's been done before and that it's something I love, I will go at it with everything I have. Thanks a lot man
Danny-B
Sure thing my man ?
Goodluck! I hope to hear some of your stuff in the future, and if you're ever in Durban give me a ring ?
DonovanB
Danny B wrote:
if you're ever in Durban give me a ring ?
Only if he likes it...
