by John Durant

Created on: February 25, 2007   Last Updated: March 06, 2007

It's Saturday night, a little after ten 'o clock at the Boogie Blues Bar, and your long-haired, leather-clad, heavily-tattooed lead guitarist comes stumbling in drunk with guitar in one hand, groupie in the other; he offers no explanation of why he couldn't make sound check by nine-thirty, and he really couldn't care less that the first set should have started ten minutes ago. The club manager is going crazy and the natives are restless; they've paid their cover charge, and they want music NOW!

There are ways to avoid this scenario and a lot of unnecessary headaches. There's nothing worse than having to accommodate band members who have massive egos combined with the reliability of a three year old. Finding a band member is almost like searching for a prospective marriage partner. Band members spend a lot of time together, so you need to find people who make themselves easy to work with. Touring band members have to live day after day in close quarters on a tour bus without killing each other. Even exceptionally talented people who cause conflicts just aren't worth the trouble.

It's hard to find folks that have the willingness to make compromises for the sake of the whole band. Bad habits are hard to break, and usually a lot of time has been invested before a band decides to unload a delinquent band member. I'd like to say that the more money a band makes, the more serious the band members will probably be, but that's really not the case at all. There are the folks that take their career seriously, and there are those who think the world owes them a living because they're so gifted. Supply and demand usually dictates how much nonsense other band members will tolerate to keep a band together.

Don't just judge a potential band mate by their skill level; get to know them on a more personal basis before getting into business with them. Don't be afraid to ask questions about possible substance abuse problems that could affect their performance and reliability. Talk to some of their previous band mates about possible issues which could be detrimental to your band. Personality clashes can kill even the most talented and successful bands.

You may want to consider drawing up contracts for band members so that your band isn't just a stepping stone for something better. There's nothing worse than putting in months of rehearsal and performance to tighten up the band, just to have one of your key members jump ship for greener pastures. If everyone is serious about working toward the same goals, then signing a binding contract shouldn't be a problem. Agents and labels make you sign contracts, so you need to get used to the idea anyway.

These are only a few tips about finding reliable band members, but sometimes experience is the best teacher when putting together and maintaining a successful band. Being part of a band can be a wonderful and rewarding experience if you're working with the right people. Good luck!

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