Playing In A Band
June 29th, 2007
A Successful Band Needs Direction First
It takes more than a group of good musicians to make a successful band. Besides musicianship there are many other factors that affect the success of a group. Today I would like to outline some of them so that you may avoid the pitfalls and problems that all bands face when trying to achieve success.
To start with, I would like to talk about group direction. Before anyone in the group even thinks about picking up their instrument, the direction of the group should be discussed and agreed upon. There are a few different directions a band can go. A ‘60/40’ group is one that plays approximately 60% old pop standards and 40% ‘top 40’ tunes. A band heading in this direction will play most of its gigs at dances, hotels, weddings etc. and can be assured of a steady income. Recognition for a band like this will probably be restricted to a local level.
Choosing a style of music that everyone in the band enjoys is a must. To gauge the popularity of different styles and to get a feel for which genre you would like to play in, it would be a good idea to listen to other established groups playing live . Once you have decided upon a style, stick to it. You will notice that your crowd will get smaller because you are playing to a niche market; but you need to remember that you can’t please everyone and it is far better to give really pleasing shows to a select group than average shows to many.
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Tag: Music, Musical Instruments, Guitar, Drums, Bass |
