- 1). Determine where your blank spots are and work toward filling your needs, but don't go into the process with blinders on. For example, if you are starting out with a guitarist and drummer, you will probably need a bassist and vocalist to round out the group. Naturally you will work to fill those spots, but if you find an incredible guitarist who can also sing, maybe you can switch your current guitarist to the bass to take advantage of the new guy's talents. Flexibility is often the key to success.
- 2). Utilize all resources at your disposal to locate talent. Gone are the days when friends, acquaintances and the classified ads were the only places to find musicians. Now, the Internet makes it much easier to find people interested in joining a band. Sites such as bandmaking.com and Bandmix allow musicians to find potential bandmates by state and experience level. At the same time, don't neglect your circle of acquaintances. The bass player in your church might not have any interest in playing in your death metal band, but you won't know unless you ask.
- 3). Discuss what style of music you want to concentrate on once you have assembled your band. Consider the type of venue in which you plan to perform. Playing gospel music might not go over so well at the local bar and grill, and alt metal like Korn and Slipknot tunes probably isn't suitable for family-oriented establishments.
- 4). Find a suitable practice facility. Mom and Dad's garage or basement is a popular choice, but the neighbors may not appreciate the noise. A church recreation hall or spare room at someone's place of work during off hours may serve as an acceptable alternative.
- 5). Determine how you are going to manage yourselves. A good manager is an important component in scheduling gigs and getting exposure and publicity for your band, but the reality is that most bands start off self-managed. This is not a bad thing if there is one individual in the band who is good at organization and promotion and has contacts he or she can call upon. If not, then management is going to be a collective arrangement. The important thing is to make sure all band members agree to do their part. A good way to deal with this up front is to draw up a contract that specifies the details, including the financial details. The split should be spelled out as to what percentages of the purse each band member will receive and what portion goes to cover operations, including any management fees. Generally, fees are not paid up front by small clubs; checks are cut only after a performance has been completed. The contract should include who is responsible for receiving and cashing/depositing the checks.
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