How to Start A Band and Play Live
Everybody starts somewhere… This guide walks you through the essential steps on how to start a band and point it toward success.
How to Start A Band and Play Live
by Chris Huff via Disc Makers Blog
Want to have your own band, but don’t know how to get started? In these times where the cost of everything seems high, it can be very intimidating to think about getting a musical group off the ground. Here are some tips to consider as you learn how to start a band, from finding potential band members to making the most from a live performance.
Assembling a committed band
Your first lesson in how to start a band begins with finding band members. This can be tricky depending on stage of life, money, geography, skill level, and other factors, but don’t be discouraged! The psychological payoff of pursuing a cherished goal is incredibly worthwhile. Find bandmates who are committed to rehearsing and to your musical vision; it helps if they also communicate well and are easy to work with. Making music should be joyous. One reason some bands last a long time is that they genuinely like each other and know how to communicate. Worry less about finding the “right” people and focus on getting the band up and running. The Beatles traded Pete Best for Ringo and The Police upgraded Henry Padovani to Andy Summers; sometimes the perfect player doesn’t enter the story until later.
Shaping your band’s sound and identity
There is not only a plethora of music out there, but there’s also an overabundance of entertainment in general. To stand out in the music industry, your band should have its own unique sound and identity. This step can be very intimidating, but don’t panic! For some bands, the sound happens naturally at the first rehearsal (Led Zeppelin, The Police, Cream) and for some it takes a few years of gigging (The Beatles, The Band). You might not have a few years to gig constantly, though, but no need for concern — every band’s path is different.
So, how do you find your own sound? In visual art, teachers often recommend that young painters detach from their idea of “good art” and not rest on their natural skills when seeking unique forms of self-expression. The same holds true for music; your strongest subject matter and style choices will depend on what you have to say rather than what you are “good” at producing. By all means, showcase your amazing guitar playing, but don’t get lost in that at the expense of your own originality.
Finding a distinct look that unifies your band’s individual personalities into a whole is also important. In marketing terms, you want your whole artist brand — visuals, music, social media — to reflect this unified whole. Having a unified image and sound gives listeners something to latch onto; you want to make it easy for your audience to connect to your music.
Refining your music and preparing for gigs
Now that you’re learning how to start a band, it’s time to get to work. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. The folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary rehearsed twice a week every week in the late ‘90s, 30+ years after their start. If you are new to this process, you probably don’t know how to practice effectively, especially in a group setting. Live music coach Tom Jackson delineates the difference between practice and rehearsal. Practice is the act of writing songs, learning them, and learning how to play them together, while rehearsal is working out, choreographing, and developing moments for the live show. You will need to do both repeatedly. Tom’s book Live Music Method: All Roads Lead to the Stage is an excellent resource for bands to add stage tools so that they can build their stage presence.
Building a strong online presence to attract gigs and fans
Your online presence is the face you present to the world. A strong and relatable presentation will gain you fans and show bookers you are serious about your music. Create a band website, maintain active social media profiles on the major platforms, and engage in a two-way conversation with followers. The two-way conversation is very important and something many miss; you don’t want to just be a parasocial static page. Engagement will lead to interest and to followers becoming customers.
Securing live gigs and expanding your reach
Booking live gigs is a five-step process: prepare your materials, target venues, approach the contact person, follow up, and repeat.
To begin, prepare an edited video reel of approximately 3-5 original songs showcasing the best 30 seconds of each. Have links to the full songs ready in case people want to see more. These do not have to be finished recordings. Static phone videos of the band rehearsal or small gig are fine to start, though you may want to invest in a professional video sooner rather than later. You’ll also need a couple high-resolution photos of the band and a band bio.
Target smaller venues at first where you think you can bring people. It’s better to fill a small room to capacity than half-fill a large room. When approaching booking agents, be polite, friendly, and brief. Email them your reel and your bio, ask them when you should follow up, and do so exactly when they tell you. Repeat this for other venues. Don’t let the slog of booking drag you down! If one venue turns you down, approach another. If a booking agent/promoter is dragging their heels, continue to be persistent, yet polite. The way to build these relationships is to communicate clearly about what you would like/need and have empathy for their often overworked and underpaid position.
To begin touring, start out in a spiral around your local region. This way, you are playing in the same areas with regularity but not oversaturating them. If you can interest a regional/national booking agent in your band, that will take you to the next level, but it is also ok to build your touring market slowly, step by step.
Recording and releasing music: audience growth strategies
When learning how to start a band in this era of streaming services and short attention spans, it’s important to release music at regular intervals to remind people that you exist. Depending on your genre, you might want to release singles and/or EPs to let the audience get to know you in digestible bits. Consistency is better than quantity; release shorter works with more frequency.
Just as you should take time to craft your songs, also take your time to record, mix, and master your music properly. Not every kind of music requires the fanciest recording studio, but you will need to sound comparable to what else is out there. Billie Eilish and brother Finneas record at home, but have their recordings mixed and mastered professionally. Mastering is the step you should budget the most money for as your funds allow; this can make or break a recording, so it’s worth it to invest in one of the higher-priced professionals.
Release your music in multiple formats and across multiple platforms. The more options you have, the more you might sell, but don’t let your inability to release CD and vinyl products hold you back from making something. Start small and refine as you go. Build enthusiasm in your social media; if you have been cultivating a fan base, they will be excited about your imminent release.
Monetizing your band with merch sales
In learning how to start a band, remember that significant revenue will come from your band merch sales. People coming to your live show will treasure the moments you create and will want a souvenir. T-shirts, posters, hoodies, hats — if you can print your logo on it, most likely you can sell it. Target your merch towards your crowd as part of your unified image. If you are a party band, sell beer cozies; if you are a cerebral art rock band, sell paintings or your own novels. Having new and interesting things to buy will keep your fans engaged.
Stay focused on building a lasting career
There is no hucksterism involved in building your music career. Your music is the most-important part; if you have something unique to say, people will naturally gravitate to it. Focus your efforts on making the best music you can make. The rest of your energy should be aimed at building an audience. Your relationship with your audience is like growing plants; it requires cultivation, watering, and tending, and if you do these things, it will grow.
If you have excellent music and a growing audience, then often a sustainable income follows. But this isn’t always true. The music business is difficult and will try anyone’s patience. Long-term sustenance of a creative career requires constant adjustments and course corrections; be honest with yourself about where you are at any given moment and you’ll progress towards your goals faster than you thought possible. Those goals also may change as you learn the terrain, so don’t be afraid to change course as necessary. As the great DJ Casey Kasem said, “keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”
About Chris Huff
Chris Huff has been a professional singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer for over 25 years. He has worked as a sideman with Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul, and Mary), Echo and the Bunnymen, Chuck Hammer (David Bowie, Lou Reed), and Tom Kitt (Broadway composer of Next To Normal). Chris also wrote liner notes for David Bowie’s Live And WellCD.
