by Darrin A Yarbrough

Created on: February 07, 2011

The following tips are for those who would like to make a great band. Any novice can avoid some common pitfalls if they understand the dynamics and focus required to develop a professional band. The common element for success is to stay together; any band that can survive the test of time is in an excellent position for success.

Focus on standards for the genre and forum in which you intend to play. All too often, beginners become obsessed with playing their favorite songs. The focus of any band should be on playing to the genre and forum in which they intend to perform. Focusing on the standards in that area of interest and making them sound like their own is far better than changing the interest of the audience to what any single person wants to play.

Focus on maintaining a steady lineup of personnel, all too often bands will want to exchange players in favor of better musicianship. Recognizing relationships and commitment are everything enables a band to focus on manifesting and realizing their goals. This is impossible when everyone in the band is uncertain of his or her status. Also, with every change in the lineup comes a completely new relationship dynamic for everyone, having to adjust this dynamic makes development of sound and style difficult if not impossible. The idea is to play public performances not wonder with which one is playing public performances.

Do not decide in advance, what you will or will not do. All too often players do not maintain the flexibility required to develop a cooperative relationship that mutually supports the objectives of the team. A band is a team and teamwork is paramount. The objective is to create an entertaining experience for an audience, if there are ego’s or issues between personnel, friction will destroy the musical relationship between members. Relationships are places we go intending to give without any expectation of return. Realizing that expectations will destroy relationships is the start of a cooperative effort that will succeed on stage where it matters most.

A bandleader must understand the dynamics of developing a “Buzz,” for the band. A band without a “Buzz,” is a bore. The band must be kept busy or individuals will begin to focus on each other. Always maintaining a book full of events, newspaper coverage, recording objectives will insure talent remains on music and entertainment not each other. Also, realize that relationships have tension in them; this is not only good

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