If you want to perform more music, then starting a band might seem like a fairly straightforward process. However, getting the band set up and finding the right musicians can actually be a frustrating process for many people. If you don’t put the time and effort into getting your band set up right, you might end up stuck in an endless cycle of trying to replace players or figuring out what is going wrong. A dysfunctional band is certainly not going to make good music, so finding the right musicians for starting your band is an important step that you should put a lot of time into.

Know Who You Need

Before you get started with looking for band members, it is crucial to figure out exactly who your band will need. For example, if you are playing together with a friend and you are looking for new band members to join you, the most obvious factor to consider is what instrument you need. Maybe you play the drums, and your friend plays the guitar; in this case, you will need another guitarist, a bassist, and a vocalist at the very least. However, it’s often more difficult than it seems to get the right fit; the person you find needs to be able to play the kind of songs that you want to make. Figure out the roles that need to be filled in your band and find people that fit into them, rather than doing it the other way around.

Start Looking for Musicians

You may know how to join a band, but how do you create one from scratch? Now that you know the type of musicians that you are going to need to join your band, it’s time to start looking for them. Maybe you are lucky enough to know some people who might be a good fit for your band but bear in mind that this is not always the case, and don’t fall into the trap of having people play in your band just because you know them. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to find suitable musicians, from searching online, word of mouth, and more.

Create Music Together

Once you have found somebody who you think might be a good fit for your band, don’t welcome them in with open arms just yet. It’s a good idea to practice and create some music together to see if they are actually going to be a good fit when it comes down to it. Sometimes, somebody who seems like the perfect addition to your band could turn out to be a horrible fit when actually playing together. A good way to do this is to get a rehearsal studio from PIRATE that you can use to play and record music together. PIRATE offers music studios in various locations kitted out with all the equipment that you need, and their website has lots of useful information on how to find band members and how to start a band.

Lay Down the Ground Rules

When you are just starting out with your band, there’s probably no need to make everything overcomplicated. However, there are some basics that you will need to consider to make sure that everybody is on the same page when it comes to working and performing together as a band. Band management involves more than simply finding and booking gigs, and as your band grows, you will usually face more things that will need to be figured out together, such as your practice schedule, where you will practice, and how any band expenses are going to be paid.

Name a Leader

Many bands will have somebody who is a natural leader for them. Most of the time, this is the person who formed the band. If you’re setting up your own band, it’s important to consider how much of a leader you want to be. Does everything need to go through you, or are you happy to allow everybody to have their own input while being ‘the boss’ for important stuff like promoting your band and booking show? It’s a good idea to have one person who can act as the main contact for the band, since this will make it more efficient and ensure that miscommunications are avoided.

Start Playing Music

Of course, the most important part of starting a band is to be able to get together and play some music. Even when you have the best plans in place, playing music is the best way to make sure that your band works well together and gives you the chance to work out any issues that might get bigger over time. Playing together with your new band as much as possible also gives you the opportunity to figure out who’s taking things seriously and who is committed to making the band work. It can help you determine if some band members want to make a career out of this, while others might view it only as a hobby, which may lead to issues in the future.

Get Experience

Ultimately, once your band has been put together and you have the right members, the only way you’re going to get any bigger is by working hard. Get as much experience as you can to play together as a band – not just in practice and rehearsal sessions, but also by taking on as many gigs as you can find. Performing smaller shows and gigs at the start is a good way to practice your live performance abilities as a band and master your band’s stage presence before you go on to playing larger shows, performing as a supporting artist and eventually going on tour with your band.

Starting a band can be an ideal way to make the most of your musical abilities, meet new friends for life, and create a career out of music. However, if you are serious about putting together a successful band, there are lots of important factors to consider during the early stages.