8 Dumb Mistakes that Make Your Band Fail
Here’s How to Keep Your Band Going
Is your band failing? There are several reasons why you may have a band on the verge of breaking up or having severe problems. Here are some tips to keep your band together and continue making good music together.
You Don’t Accept the Different Personalities in your Band
When you have a band, you usually work with different “colorful” personalities. You may share the same love of music, but each person is an individual who may have their way of doing things. If you push your own beliefs or think things should be run on one set path, you will have problems.
You have to accept that each member in the band is different and that you all have to get along, despite all these differences.
Things will go smoother in the band once you’re beyond egos and set ways. It can be tough to get along, but you have to look past your differences if you want a successful band. If you don’t get along, it’s time to find new bandmates or a new band. Good music won’t happen if the atmosphere is always toxic.
You Don’t Use Today’s Media
You have tons of options to promote your band in today’s world. You need a website, and a social media presence. Get your name out there as much as possible. There’s plenty of places to put up your songs for free online so people can hear them.
Get your band out there as much as you can because it will help you. You can’t rely on just trying to play clubs and bars in your local area because you’ll be just local. If you want to go places, you need to promote, promote, promote. Your marketing efforts will get you noticed the most, so work on this as much as your music.
Key Points
- You Don’t Accept the Different Personalities in your Band
- You Don’t Use Today’s Media
- All talk, No Action
- You Don’t Address Problems Quickly
- You Ignore Fans
- It’s a Business
- Money Matters
- Side Projects Can Help
- All talk, No Action
It’s fine to sit there and have dreams about your band, but nothing will change if you don’t take action. You have to go to clubs and bars and try to get your band on stage. You have to do promotions. You have to practice. You have to work on your image.
If you want to have a successful band, there’s always something to do, so get up off the coach and do something each day to make your band successful. Having a band is tough work, and if you don’t want to do the job, your band will stay in the garage, and you won’t amount to anything.
You Don’t Address Problems Quickly
A band will crash and burn fast if you don’t address problems immediately. For example, it’s fine to party and has fun, but a band member’s substance abuse can ruin your band in short order. Think of all the successful bands that crashed because of substance abuse.
Partying has a place, but abuse of drugs and alcohol is a slippery slope that can quickly destroy your hard work.
You may have a lazy band member that doesn’t show up for practice or doesn’t contribute to the band. These are examples of problems that can ruin your band, so make sure that you address any issues as soon as possible before your band disintegrates. Sometimes the only way to save a band is to ax that problem member.
You Ignore Fans
You need to keep the fans in mind if you want a following. A band without fans is a band going nowhere. So you should have giveaways at shows, make shirts, or show fans that you care. If you have a website or a web presence, get involved with it and make sure you leave comments when fans ask questions, even the stupid questions you’re sick of answering repeatedly. It’s also good to have a spokesperson that interacts with the media for interviews.
It’s a Business
There’s always something to learn, so make sure you understand the music industry. You have to be willing to learn and grow your band. You might be in a band and having fun, but it’s still a business. Your band will fail if you don’t address the money side as much as possible and understand the business aspects of your band. There’s plenty of places online to look for advice from people that have been there.
Money Matters
Many bands are breaking financially, and this can be a challenge. Use other talents you have to help the band stay afloat. For example, as a guitar player, you’re going to have guitar fans at your shows who would love to take lessons from you, so give some lessons on the side. In most cases, you’ll have other jobs besides your band unless the band gets popular, so use your extra income to help the band.
Create a band pool and add money to this pool exclusively for the band. Make sure you watch expenses and make the right choices. You might want more beer, but the band may also need a new amplifier, so prioritize and make good choices.
Side Projects Can Hurt
Many musicians have side projects where they work with other bands. This is fine, but it can interrupt your main band if you’re too busy. Manage side projects and if you find your side project is more important to you, let the band know and move on to your new project. You will hold down your current band from making progress if your mind is on other things. Take on a side project or dedicate yourself to the band you’re in.
Summary
These are some of the reasons bands fail. But, suppose you work hard and get along with your bandmates, your going to find success. It takes a lot of time and, above all, a tone of hard work. Making music isn’t easy, so be prepared for the grind. But, if you put in the work, the payoff is amazing.