So, you have a guitar, a voice, and some friends that want to make music. Well, in order to succeed in this difficult industry you’re going to need some help. Many bands try and fail hard because they don’t remember these important factors that will help you reach your dreams of rocking the big stage.
You are going to need a place to practice. Chances are, and hopefully, one band member will have a garage style space to practice in. Garages, although cliché, are a great space to practice because you can be louder than if you were rehearsing in a house. A great idea is to hang up packing blankets around the room to help muffle the sound so you don’t scare off your future fans. If you don’t have a garage then a storage unit from a company like Wheaton World Wide Moving is a great alternative. These spaces are generally inexpensive and you can leave your gear set up and lock it up safe after each rehearsal. Just make sure to check with the company whether it’s okay before you claim it as your new rehearsal spot.
You are going to need gear and it’s going to cost you. An instrument is an investment and if you invest a lot of money, chances are you won’t want it to just sit in the corner and collect dust. Don’t be afraid to spend money on your gear if you’re serious, even for the “cheap” stuff. If you’re just starting out, find a guitar at a garage sale, but when you get serious, don’t be afraid to pull out the big bills.
Practice as much as you can. We all have busy schedules but to put on a really good show, you have to practice! Know everything forwards, backwards, and upside down. Don’t just know your licks and lyrics, know them so well that you think you created them. If you are performing originals, practice even more. This is your product and you want to present it in the best form possible to your audience. If you only go half way, the audience will be able to tell and they won’t want to see you again.
Remember that you were friends first before you were rock stars. Have open communication within the band. Talk about your goals and how you want to achieve them. If you are transparent with your band and they are transparent with you, then you will have a much lower chance of something little becoming something big and ultimately breaking up the band. If you’re unhappy about something, talk about it and come to the table with a solution. Bands fight, and often it about something that is so easily prevented. Remember, you were friends first!
If people don’t know about you they can’t come see you. Start a Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat and constantly keep them updated. Post all the time, even when you’re just hanging out! Fans love to see that side of the band and they will follow you! Play any show you can regardless of how much you get paid. Play coffee shops, bars, open mic nights, and whatever you can get your hands on, and don’t be ashamed to play for free. The more experience and the more exposure the better.
With these helpful hints, your band will surely do much better than you could have ever thought. The most important thing to remember is to have fun. Being part of a band is something special and if you forget why you started it or lose sight of what’s really important, you won’t last. Dave Grohl said, “Musicians should go to a garage sale and buy an old drum set and get in their garage and just suck. And then they’ll start playing and they’ll have the best time they’ve ever had in their lives and then all of a sudden they’ll become Nirvana.” Go out, make some noise, but remember to have the best time in your lives!