Headache about Forming Band......
- Thread starter Petrucci
- Start date
Intending to head that way once I'm competent and rich. 
bigblackbear
New member
there are both pros and cons about having friends as your band members.
with friends as you band members, you guys can gel better, and it might show you the quality of music that you play. however, like you mentioned, it could also cause your band members to be less serious in the way they play.
if you were to find your own band members, they might be more serious in the way they play, but they're playing style/habits might not suit you. also, band members over time gel and become friends.
so wth. i don't know what I'm saying
hahah just find a mix of both
with friends as you band members, you guys can gel better, and it might show you the quality of music that you play. however, like you mentioned, it could also cause your band members to be less serious in the way they play.
if you were to find your own band members, they might be more serious in the way they play, but they're playing style/habits might not suit you. also, band members over time gel and become friends.
so wth. i don't know what I'm saying
hahah just find a mix of both
soulfeather
New member
Kick start your band with your music serious friends however set the proper expectation and commitment and fill out the gaps from the outside...
Hold and audition to find out if that player has enough skills and proper chemistry to fit what you currently have...
Hold and audition to find out if that player has enough skills and proper chemistry to fit what you currently have...
Tribalcast
New member
Sometimes you gotta start asking this question before the get go. Am I gonna make this into a serious band or just play for fun band? After defining the proper goal, trying asking your friends that. It's good to keep it clear on what you really want from the band.
naomi watts
New member
my advise would be... be patient? u might get into a few bands that are not serious in their playing, everyone not learning their parts, or some 'playing it for the chicks'. or would just wanna keep it simple n play covers as a hobby and self-enrichment, which is fine honestly, i still do, but uve gotta keep trying.
how do u do that? i was lucky, my members consist of a school friend and his close friend. so im not sure. attend gigs, go to forums, myspace, facebook, earn urself some new friends. there's no formula in forming a band.
just be patient, keep searching. i found it when im 23.
one man bands are great too (putrid pile). or if u have another like-minded one, make it a 2 man band to keep it interesting (agoraphobic nosebleed). just dun be lazy!
how do u do that? i was lucky, my members consist of a school friend and his close friend. so im not sure. attend gigs, go to forums, myspace, facebook, earn urself some new friends. there's no formula in forming a band.
just be patient, keep searching. i found it when im 23.
one man bands are great too (putrid pile). or if u have another like-minded one, make it a 2 man band to keep it interesting (agoraphobic nosebleed). just dun be lazy!
EngelFaeuste
New member
Quit whining, don't hesitate to boot people out.
fuzzmusick
Member
Not all one man bands are one man bedroom bands.
If that one man band is more successful then a full band, then why not.. For me, Xasthur and Striborg are a great one man band.
To TS, even you you don't want to form a full band, try to collaborate with sessionist. If your friends are the lazy ones, then they shouldn't be playing music at all.
A one man band needs to do more work then full band and it takes alot of effort to do that. The best part of it, you don't have to worry about commitment at all. If you want to do it, just do it at your own time, own target..
THOA
New member
Yes, I am aware that not all one man bands are one man bedroom bands. (Burzum, anyone?)
For me a one man band is a great way to express yourself without trying to appease anyone. You just do what you like, put them up on the internet then let people listen and respond to it as appropriate. Heck, I do stuff alone as well. Nothing wrong with that, really.
But it disturbs me that when the solution offered to avoid conflict is to form a one man band. Although it is certainly an advantage for a one man band's perspective, it should not be a solution. If there's a conflict or problem in a band, just deal with it.
Even in one man bands, if one were to desire to perform in public, in most cases, a band is pretty much required. You may be playing guitars, bass, keyboards and drums on your record, but to pull that off live... you simply need a band. And you still have to deal with egos and difficulties and problems with having a real band. Yes, own time own target. Yes, you now have more control with how to play what, but is your stuff good enough to make people WANT to session for you? Chances of such things to happen is low, so the music gets stuck in the bedroom, or lost in the vast world of cyberspace. I think that is more frustrating than dealing with band conflicts.
Nine Inch Nails started out as a one man band. It wasn't a choice for Trent Reznor to recruit other musicians, but he had to cos all of the recording companies he approached told him that he needed a band.
The exception to the case is a one man band member who has the charisma and stage presence that is able to hold an audience for about 30 mins. Hard to find yeah?
In the end, TS is asking a simple question of a) to have friends in the band or b) to NOT have friends in a band. How did c) forming a one man band became a solution?
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naomi watts
New member
a one man band IS an option n might be a solution for many. and i disagree on 'you need a band to pull it off live'. for example, provided that our young man/lady is a guitarist, all he/she needs is to learn a drum machine program in a laptop and press PLAY. if he/she's a drummer... then im not sure. im open to suggestions, anyone?
do not rule it out. in this age of technology, its an option for everyone. if a sessionist does not want to play for you, then too bad. in the end your music is to please urself just like any other band, not sessionists, listeners, critics or fans.
ironically, this IS evolution in music-making.
do not rule it out. in this age of technology, its an option for everyone. if a sessionist does not want to play for you, then too bad. in the end your music is to please urself just like any other band, not sessionists, listeners, critics or fans.
ironically, this IS evolution in music-making.
theunknown
New member
when you're good, people want to play for you. simple mainstream example: secondhand serenade. not many knows that its by one man. for songs like "fall for you"(very famous chick fav song), he uses sessionists or guess bands in the music videos and for live performances.
to TS: yeah i bloody understand your problem for friends as band members. sometime, you have to make a stand, which i regret not doing much earlier. so its friends become bandmates or bandmates become friends. which is better? wondering too. hmm
to TS: yeah i bloody understand your problem for friends as band members. sometime, you have to make a stand, which i regret not doing much earlier. so its friends become bandmates or bandmates become friends. which is better? wondering too. hmm
THOA
New member
Again it really depends on the situation, musical preference and sound of what you are performing. I can understand if the music has an electro, industrial modern vibe to it. But if you wanna play along the lines of Metallica, Slipknot or A7X, would a one man band be an appropriate choice?
And before anyone else think that I do not believe in a one man band set up, let me make the point that I AM in a one man band and HAVE performed live with my music blasting not a laptop, but a CD of all things, so I know the advantages and disadvantages that a one man band has. It's definitely not an easy thing to do for 10 mins, let alone 30 mins.
You either have the energy to carry the set and stage yourself, or just look plain lonely on stage. Unless you have a great sound system that can really make your laptop music come alive, your drum track will not have the life that a real life drummer can bring. Also, when you screw up, there is noone stepping forward to cover the screw up. You're basically on your own. And nothing beats the feeling of being in a band, that is why despite my one man performances, I still look and form bands to perform in.
I believe there has to be a balance between doing everything the way you want it to be done and having people sharing the creative contribution with you. Unless there is plenty of platform for one man bands to evolve, one man band members have nothing but only their computer and the internet to showcase. And if everyone becomes a one man band and noone wants to form bands with other people, where is the social point of music scenes that way?
And come on, we don't even know what kind of songs the threadstarter is playing, whether a one man band would be appropriate for his style. He's obviously asking for opinions about getting band members, so let's stick to what he wants to know.
Hence, a great example of one man producer (a more appropriate word) who still uses a band setting for his performance formula.
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naomi watts
New member
to THOA:
well, ure absolutely right. we dun even know what genre the thread starter is playing for one. and the experience of being in a band and e energy a band can give onstage is incomparable. same sentiments. especially the social point which i didnt even realize until u said so.
to the threadstarter and everyone:
if u really find difficulty in forming a band, dun be hesitant to start the one man project. all the talent and fresh ideas inside is wasted if u just keep it to urself, waiting for a band to shape and nothing happens. it'll appeal especially to the introverts among us and the ones who think that they can be more creative than what they do in their current band. ive never had a one man band, ive no experience in anything other than fruity loops in regards to making drum tracks and recording my guitar over them haha but i recognise the advantages of it and fully support e idea that everyone can make music. even in their bedrooms. if you are not gonna do, then who will? if not now, then when?
well, ure absolutely right. we dun even know what genre the thread starter is playing for one. and the experience of being in a band and e energy a band can give onstage is incomparable. same sentiments. especially the social point which i didnt even realize until u said so.
to the threadstarter and everyone:
if u really find difficulty in forming a band, dun be hesitant to start the one man project. all the talent and fresh ideas inside is wasted if u just keep it to urself, waiting for a band to shape and nothing happens. it'll appeal especially to the introverts among us and the ones who think that they can be more creative than what they do in their current band. ive never had a one man band, ive no experience in anything other than fruity loops in regards to making drum tracks and recording my guitar over them haha but i recognise the advantages of it and fully support e idea that everyone can make music. even in their bedrooms. if you are not gonna do, then who will? if not now, then when?
Vocalistman
New member
People come and go, even friends come and go. So don't expect better things from musicians too. It's not easy to find a suitable band mates. It's like trial and error of finding people. Don't be afraid to mingle around. The more you open up and see, the more you are open to choices.
It took me really quite sometime to find band mates with chemistry. Nope, not really friends, but found right here on Soft. So you just have to keep trying my friend.
Of course, One man band is an option too, but just not one which I recommend. Teenagers should share around, if you shut yourself to your own World, it may get frustrating somewhere too. I'd rather take the pain to find other people who would grow together and share the happiness
Besides, going in as sessionist is not as 'fun' as playing in your own band. Or worse, standing on stage with people you just met last week for practice maybe quite awkward(for me at least) when compared with those who have practiced with you for months.
Just my opinion
It took me really quite sometime to find band mates with chemistry. Nope, not really friends, but found right here on Soft. So you just have to keep trying my friend.
Of course, One man band is an option too, but just not one which I recommend. Teenagers should share around, if you shut yourself to your own World, it may get frustrating somewhere too. I'd rather take the pain to find other people who would grow together and share the happiness
Besides, going in as sessionist is not as 'fun' as playing in your own band. Or worse, standing on stage with people you just met last week for practice maybe quite awkward(for me at least) when compared with those who have practiced with you for months.
Just my opinion