Starting, and then running, your own band can be broken down into 2 categories: starting a band with a group of friends, or colleagues, or instigating your own project. The first group is usually organic in some form or other (you are already friends, you have the same interests) the second is challenging for a whole set of other reasons.

Since the first category is organic, let’s talk about the second category, starting a band your self. And let’s imagine its music to which you’ve written either the music or lyrics, or both. The genre is not so important here as the fact that you’ll be performing music that’s close to your heart.

If you want to start your own band you have to know what you’re doing if you want to really get a great band together, yet again, whatever genre. The more you’ve got it together, the more the band has a chance of success. If you feel ready, but don’t have the real musical vocabulary for a band (writing musical charts, if needed, directing the band throughout the gig), but have the intuitive skills (you either write the songs or the lyrics, or both, and have a clear musical sense), then find a musical director, or MD. Look for someone you click with, who is “on the same page” of what they want from the band. How it sounds, how it feels, what it’s saying. An MD is a friend or writing partner or someone that believes in your project. Or someone you can afford to pay. An MD is often the keyboard or guitar player and does all of the above and generally keeps it all together.

Or you might have found a producer, or they’ve found you (check out the article Finding A Manager for some hints in this area. The relationship you have with a producer depends on a lot of factors. The genre of music, your age group, how sussed/gullible you are, if you’re friends, or colleagues, or you are being “produced”. So once again, use your instinct.

You might decide to run the band yourself . This means, for example, ending the songs, counting in the band, knowing where you are in the song. Check out these articles if you want to learn to read music: How Music Is Constructed And How To Read It, or have a problem with rhythm, How To Feel Rhythm, or want to learn to Ad-Lib, i.e. play with the tune: How To Ad-Lib, or Improvise. You need to read music, or play an instrument, or find a away to communicate your ideas (for example, there are many free music software programs where you can make a demo of the song. Check out the article: Home Recording.

Apart from being able to keep the band together during a gig, you’ll also need to have the business side together as well. Getting the gigs, paying the band etc. Once the band is under way it’ll develop and progress in it’s own way, the band will hopefully grow into more of a unit and the responsibility won’t be all on your shoulders. Initially, however, it’s up to you to get the proverbial ball rolling.

Generally, the higher the level of musicianship on your part, the higher caliber of musician will be drawn to the band. The word will get around. This is true at whatever level you’re starting, be it school, high school or whatever the scene the music relates to. So get lessons. Learn an instrument, even if it’s only rudimentary. You’ll know what the musicians are talking about, you’ll always know where you are in the song, which in turn gives you confidence and cred. with the musicians, i.e. they will respect you and listen to what you’re saying. Band politics are a whole other topic, but it’s the same in any other area of work. A good manager creates a good working atmosphere, a bad one, the opposite.

If you’ve written the music in some form or other, then you’ll be invested in it emotionally. So, bottom line, you need to find people who have the same enthusiasm for the music as you do. If you all suffer from general apathy, then you are, I’m afraid, well and truly buggered.

Where you look for the musicians will depend on the genre and your own situation. If you’re in school or college, you’ll probably find each other through the social grapevine. If you’re starting from scratch, aren’t part of a scene but have the drive to get a project started, then there are still a number of options open to you. Once again post on Craigslist, put an advert in the paper, put adverts in local rehearsal and recording studios, put the word out. If you need an MD, audition a whole load of people and find a guitarist or piano player you really click with. If you can’t read music but have a good idea of the sound you’re going for, you’ll hear the right player. If they’re into the music, then hopefully they’ll want to help and get involved. If they’ve answered your add, odds on they’re also starting out in the music business, or else semi pro and/or just having fun. Serious working musicians often have their own network – who they know, what they’re known for and specialize in etc etc, and often have no need for Craigslist and the like.

If you have some funds available and some training, then go to some gigs and hear the bands on the circuit, and see if you can talk to the musicians afterwards. If they’re not interested, then they might know someone of similar skill level who is. If you have a gig and can pay them, and even better a regular gig, then they’re more likely to be interested.

I started my first band in this way. I put an advert in the paper for musicians, and then I got 100 phone calls. So I auditioned everyone (not having half a clue that I really knew what I was doing, I later found out) and was advised to find an MD. As luck would have it there was a great pianist who had just moved to town and he needed the work. I had a gig lined up from a friend, so there was regular money that came with the gig (if the gig went well, of course). I have a suspicion this was strong motivation. We all had a blast, as far as I can remember, the gig went well and started its own little scene and we did many gigs together. Then I met other musicians, when for example they had to miss a gig and so recommended a sub, etc., or people came to the gig, so in this way I slowly got into that scene, started doing other gigs, other bands etc etc., just through meeting people. Everything very organic. Once I was in the scene, my lack of knowledge became apparent to me (what are they talking about, “D7″?), and so I went to college to learn music theory. However, I’d already been gigging for a couple of years by this time and had learnt a lot as I went along).

OK, so now you have your band. Quite often, you don’t have a gig because people need to hear or see you before they’ll book you. So get a demo together (see the article Making A Demo). It’s likely you’ll be doing quite basic gigs first of all, so a rough demo is OK. Record a rehearsal and see how it sounds. Borrow a camera and shoot some footage is that’s required. If you want to make a more professional demo right off the bat, then you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg. Of course, it’s better to go to a professional studio, but recording music always takes longer than you think, which puts the price up. With the advent of the home computer, home recording is available to anyone, and there are a zillion enthusiasts out there who have learnt, or are learning the art of being a sound engineer (once again, see the Making A Demo). If you can afford studio time at this stage, all well and good. If you’re using bedroom recording guy, or somewhere in between, you can still get great results. Choose wisely. Technology has come on amazingly, and with the right knowledge and with a good mastery of skill (for recording and mixing is an art unto itself), a simple computer set up can become a very sophisticated recording studio. Hear their mixes and judge for yourself.

Three songs should be enough. Try and choose songs with different dynamics, and, obviously, choose your best three songs. Many organizations (especially web based ones), events, managers, record companies et al require see you. If funds are low, then make your own DVD (Once again, see the article Making A Demo).

OK, you’ve got a good band, you have a demo/film footage you’re happy with, you’re gigging regularly, things are going well and everyone’s pretty much having a blast. So you start to think bigger and realize you need a manager. Once again, check his or her credentials. If your band is doing well, they might well just be seeing dollar signs. This isn’t true of all managers, of course. Despite their terrible rap, I’ve met some really nice (seeming) managers (see the article: Finding A Manager). They seemed like solid people, and their artists seemed happy. Bands find managers from all walks of life: Some are friends of the band, or started as fans of the music, or started to manage for one band, were good at it, and then gradually added to their roster until it became their profession, for example. Once again, follow your instinct. There are also a lot of crappy one’s, and we’ve all heard horror stories. Get to know a bit about the music industry, know what you’re dealing with. Once again, check out the Finding A Manager article for a more in depth look at getting business help.

How else do you get your name out there? Many bands find fans on websites such as myspace, garageband.com, reverbnation.com or many other such forums. Quite often, however, they also work hard doing gigs, creating a fan base, getting their songs published and thus receiving royalties, practicing hard, partying and creating a noise where ever they can. Just posting your music on a site and not doing any networking at all very rarely reaps rich rewards. You need to draw people to your band, your website, your project. There is an upside and a downside to the amazing amount of music that’s now available to the consumer, illegal downloading included. There are only a few really huge record companies left now, and the whole music business is changing and shifting. There is A LOT of music out there, a lot of it available for free. We also live in a communication age, with our senses being bombarded left, right and center with information. So for your band to succeed, if you are focused and determined you’re giving yourself the edge.

Because of the above reasons, it’s harder to get signed by a record company. They demand proof of sales and/or a large following or fan base. They can’t afford to take the risk. Many gigging bands make most of their money from merchandising at gigs or while touring. Of course, try that route, but also make use of the internet as much as you can. A book I found useful is: how to get your music on the internet . Very informative. It’s often harder, but can be done. Once again, persevere and you will always find your métier.