The Art of Keeping Band Members

The Band is a Team!

Recently, I received this letter from a reader:

Mr. Suttle,

I recently read your article about finding band members. I only need a drummer to complete my four piece band and I'm having a hell of a time finding this person. But I feel we will eventually find him (or her). My question to you is this: I am the front man (vocalist and rhythm guitarist) for our band. I am also the main lyricist. I am not one of those egotistical, inflexible band leaders (at least I hope I'm not) I feel that my band's input is vital to making good music that gels well. But I do often think certain ideas don't fit or should be done differently. How can I remain open to other ideas and still keep a big piece of the creative process? Better yet, how can I tell my band members that certain ideas just don't fit the mood of the song without getting everyone offended? Thank you for your time.

[I kept the readers name off the letter on purpose to protect the innocent (mainly the letter's author).]

At first glance, it seems that this is a caring individual who really wants the band to work. However, without knowing it, he could be a big part of what may be pulling his band apart. The first thing I noticed in the letter were some subtle clues that the writer might be a part of the problem. They were little things, but I had a feeling that he wanted to be the head of a Dictator band not a Socialist or Democratic group, even if he didn't know it. Such phrases as:

"I am not one of those egotistical, inflexible band LEADERS"

"I feel that MY band's input is vital"

"BIG piece of the creative process"

"How can I tell MY band members"

I was sort of sensing a theme here. It's time for him to realize that he is not the leader, but part of the team. A front man isn't the leader, he is just the quarterback. Quarterbacks don't do well without line men to protect them. A lot of players resent the singer anyway, just because they get a lot of the spot light (by necessity). Unfortunately, the way he was talking about them makes the other members of the band sound like they belong to him. If you do this with a band, they will stick to their ideas to the last just to spite you. Give in a little. Listen and try all ideas. You may find that some of the ideas you don't like at first can be molded into something better than any one person could have come up with alone. That's the team approach.

Remember to always refer to the band as WE/US/THE BAND (not MY BAND) etc. For most musicians this will be difficult, at least at first, because face it - as a group, we are all pretty egotistical. Every time you use the word WE instead of I, it will become easier for you to do so. Each time you use the word US, your team will become stronger.

I once heard Patti Smith get introduced at a record signing session. The store owner proudly announced that Patti Smith was here to sign records. Ms. Smith quickly grabbed the microphone away from the store owner and proclaimed "Patti Smith is not here, but Patti Smith GROUP is". You can bet that her comment went a long way with the band.

The band I'm in, "Armed to the Teeth", is a socialist group. The lead guitarist and myself pretty much run things, but Jeff, our drummer, is really important to the sound, image, and idea generating machine that is the "Teeth". To lose Jeff would be a major blow to our band and so it is important that Jeff realizes that he is as important as anyone else in the band. I make sure that no one in the group gets second billing or is made to feel like a second class citizen. However, as I mentioned above about socialist bands, we have a problem finding and keeping a bass player. As discussed earlier, Socialist bands have a hard time with one or two spots in the band. For the Teeth, this is because we have a hard time finding a bass player to which we will be loyal to and will have loyalty to the band. This leads me to my next topic.

Loyalty

A band must believe in their players and themselves. Players should be ready to stick up for other members who may be verbally or emotional attacked. If a musician feels secure in a band he/she will perform better and be happier in the group. Isn't this what we all want? Happy players don't go looking for other groups.

You need to believe in your bandmates and protect them. This works in the army, it works on a hockey team, and it works in a band. I don't know how many times I have heard a good band, then during their break I overhear the drummer bad mouthing the singer. I'm normally not surprised to hear about that band breaking up. As the musketeers said, "One for all and all for one".

Don't settle for band members who you can't feel this way about. If you don't feel as if you can be loyal to a band member, then you shouldn't be playing with them at all.

Capitalist and Dictator bands will not really need this quality. But then players come and go quickly in these types of bands. For the rest of us, believing in the other players will make them believe in you and probably create some good friendships along the way.

Closing

A band is sort of like a marriage. There are always going to be problems in a band, just like in a marriage. How you react to those problems will determine whether your band lives or dies. With almost half of all marriages in the United States ending in divorce, it doesn't bode well to keeping a band together. However, for those willing to work hard on the relationship, there is always room in music for another successful band.

I hope you have enjoyed part two of the "Art of" series of articles (see also The Art of Finding Band Members). If you have any comments about this topic, or would like to suggest an idea for a future article, please email me at the address listed below.

Keep Jamming,

Cliff

Cliff Suttle (cliffnotes@harmony-central.com) has been studying music for over twenty years including studies at the University of Michigan. Fluent on keyboards, guitar, and bass, Cliff is currently playing in an all original rock band Middle Earth. Cliff's motto: Understand the theory and you can play anything.