Much of what I’ve discussed lately has focused on how to meet new people, how to sustain relationships with them, and how to prepare to make music together. However, little has been said about whom you should seek out. My last piece featured a section that talked about knowing your worth, and part of knowing your worth entails investing your time with people who can both help you grow and hold their own alternatively. Depending on what kind of experience you have in music, there’s plenty of individuals in all walks of the spectrum that will compliment your abilities well, but there are also people who probably aren’t worth your time.
One of the perks of Muze is being able to get a read on someone before you decide to link up. It goes a step further by allowing you to view their media samples and even hold a virtual jam session (among other things).
So let’s say you’ve compiled some people to start a band with. Great. What now? The fact of the matter is that there is only so much you can forecast outside of working with someone directly, so here’s a few things that might help you navigate the process once you’ve entered the stages leading up to and throughout consistent meet-ups.
Tip: all of these suggestions should be applied to you as well as the other person!
They Have Availability
Let’s say you’ve met a drummer who is about as close to perfect as perfect can get in your eyes. He’s got more experience and ability than anyone else you’ve met and he fits the musical mold of your project beautifully. Only one problem – he’s never around when it comes time to practice. This can and will happen, and if it’s with somebody who outshines all other options you’ve encountered, things get all the more complicated.
It’s a tough spot because you feel like your band is doomed without him, but don’t get hung up on one person. The truth is that unless someone is able to contribute their talent to the project at hand, that talent is virtually useless. You’re better off seeking out someone who is both capable and loyal, even if they’re not quite as polished as your first pick. Otherwise, you’re driving away any other members of the group who feel like they’re wasting their time in a band whose drummer is a ghost.
They're Growing With The Rest Of The Group
The idea of forming a band is to become a good band, which means that participation and sustainability on an individual basis as well as in a group sense is pivotal. Say you’ve met a bass player who, unlike your previous drummer, does in fact show up when she says she’s going to. Awesome! Except when she does, she doesn’t know the parts she was supposed to learn. Not awesome.
Despite her impeccable attendance record, it won’t matter much if she isn’t taking the time outside of a practice setting to keep up with everyone else. No matter how many times she “promises to get it down for next time,” she never lives up to it. Again, your best bet is to find someone who stays on top of their duties and is able to learn and perform songs at the same pace as everyone else. It can be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but it’s better to cut your losses before your losses cut you.
They're Punctual
Maybe we can consider this a sub-sect of the “Availability” segment above. While it’s more or less a small thing, it’s really not. Throughout the years, I’ve worked with people who are both good and available, but they don’t show up when they say they’re going to. It’s a pesky little thing that ultimately deconstructs progress little by little. We’re all busy, and we all have obligations outside of a band setting. When people set time aside from their lives to practice, that time is both precious and finite. Therefore, someone who repeatedly fails to respect that is jeopardizing the project as a whole.
I remember a few years back when I was preparing for a show, and it was our last practice before the gig, so it was naturally an important one. One person was an hour late, and by the time she’d arrived, everyone had already left. We went over her parts one-on-one and things worked out just fine, so I decided to let it slide. Fast forward a month or two to the next gig. Again, it was the last practice before the show, and wouldn’t you know it? The exact same thing happened with the exact same person. She was good at her instrument, but I never called her again.
Nobody’s perfect, but if you’re dealing with repeat offenders, do yourself and everyone else who has the decency to show up on time a favor and make sure everybody shows up on time. This is especially prevalent if you’re paying someone to perform your music, which I was in fact doing in the example above.
Maybe we can consider this a sub-sect of the “Availability” segment above. While it’s more or less a small thing, it’s really not. Throughout the years, I’ve worked with people who are both good and available, but they don’t show up when they say they’re going to. It’s a pesky little thing that ultimately deconstructs progress little by little. We’re all busy, and we all have obligations outside of a band setting. When people set time aside from their lives to practice, that time is both precious and finite. Therefore, someone who repeatedly fails to respect that is jeopardizing the project as a whole.
I remember a few years back when I was preparing for a show, and it was our last practice before the gig, so it was naturally an important one. One person was an hour late, and by the time she’d arrived, everyone had already left. We went over her parts one-on-one and things worked out just fine, so I decided to let it slide. Fast forward a month or two to the next gig. Again, it was the last practice before the show, and wouldn’t you know it? The exact same thing happened with the exact same person. She was good at her instrument, but I never called her again.
Nobody’s perfect, but if you’re dealing with repeat offenders, do yourself and everyone else who has the decency to show up on time a favor and make sure everybody shows up on time. This is especially prevalent if you’re paying someone to perform your music, which I was in fact doing in the example above.
They Can Learn Fast
This mainly pertains to musicians in more advanced stages of their careers. If you’re organizing a band to perform your songs live, understand that professional musicians are busy and you’re probably only going to be able to practice a couple of times before the show. That may sound like a surprisingly low amount of preparation, but if you’re working with seasoned vets, rehearsing once or twice should be enough. More often than not, these are people you’re going to have to pay to play, but it’s a professional exchange like any other, so be prepared to shell out some change to someone willing to learn your stuff.
Having said that, make sure they’re up to the task, because money and time are precious in the world of music. A great way to make sure you’re investing in someone worthwhile is to ask friends you trust to refer you to prospective bandmates they may have worked with before. Artists are able to post their credentials to their Muze profile as well, so you’ll get a solid weigh-in on someone’s level of experience through the platform. Anyone you’re going to hire should be able to learn your music in both a practice setting and via any media/examples of the songs you send their way in good time.
They Show Up Prepared
Any musician who wants to be relied upon and taken seriously (including and especially yourself) should always show up with the proper effects. If your guitarist breaks a string at a show and forgot to bring along a spare pack of replacements, you’re going to find yourself in an awkward position. Make sure the people you’re collaborating with know what they need to have on deck for any and all scenarios.
Again, things happen and nobody is perfect, but if your bandmate constantly asks to bum an E string from you or is frantically searching for a house mic wherever you’re playing because they forgot theirs at home, that’s not a good sign. It’s better to associate with people who don’t consistently need everyone around them to pick up their slack. After all, we’re all adults, so we should all act accordingly.
For more tips on how you can be more organized and prepared, check out my guide from December.
