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So, you play a little guitar. Your goal, become a rock star, of course. You have a few buddies that you play with a little bit and you’ve written a few songs and played them for some close friends. Your friends think they are pretty good.
Writing Songs:
Writing songs is the most important component of a band. The key to success is having great songs and lots of them. Many bands stop writing for a while when they start playing a lot of shows. This is a huge mistake. You should never stop writing. If you should ever make it to the next level all good producers / record companies want to hear everything you have written. If you have 50-80 songs they might find 12 they like. Then again, they might ask you to write more. I would also add that on a local level it improves your chances with local audiences, radio, promoters, and clubs. The more they hear the more chances you’ll hit on something they like.
Promoting:
You’ve been booked into a local club. The club tells you that you can play a Monday and you’ll be paid $50. So you show up and play to an empty club. Most bands believe that the club didn’t promote it enough. They also blame the night of the week. In fact they blame pretty much everything except themselves. The most important truth you can learn that will earn you success as a band is simple:
Your number one responsibility as a band when performing live is to draw.
To draw means simply to fill the club or event with people. The reason is two fold. The first is completely selfish: If your band can draw then it can demand significantly more money. Why? Because more people translates into more food and drinks sold at the club and that’s how you get paid in the first place. For bands that are trying to get to the next level this money becomes extremely important when it is time to make a CD and then promote it. The second reason is another important truth: You want to make the club to make money. Why? If you make the clubs and promoters money then they are going to be very motivated to give you more shows, better shows, and more money. That’s a good thing! Financially healthy clubs and promoters mean a wealth of events and places to play and that’s what you need more than anything. Bands that draw also get more press, more recognition, and more respect from the other arms of the music business such as newspapers, radio stations, and TV.
Tired (lazy) musicians believe that it is their right to be paid handsomely for picking up their instruments. That’s fine and that’s your opinion. However, don’t blame me when you are still playing the corner bar for $100 in twenty years. That’s a sick attitude that won’t achieve anything for anyone. Remember this: No one owes you anything because you have played in a band for however many years. No one cares. Give us something new. Entertain us. Then we’ll love you forever.
Being in a band is extremely hard work. I believe for every hour that you practice you need to spend an hour promoting and an hour booking. That’s a lot of time if you have a day job. Make being successful in the music business your number one priority in life. Don’t let ANYTHING stand in the way. Otherwise you’ll be trampled by the stampede passing you by.
Well, no one said it would be easy. The payoff however, makes the work worth it. Ask Grandaddy. Ask Flying Blind. Ask Cake or the Deftones. All Valley bands. All with record deals, all working harder than ever, but all creating careers in the music business with the chance of worldwide success.
Think about it. Then go for it. Modesto is an unbelievable place for bands right now. Plug in and hang on. We’ll be rooting for you.
On another note, I love to hear any and all local music. If you have a band that you want me to hear mail it!
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