Why I Am Unsuccessful At Starting A Band

Why I Am Unsuccessful At Starting A Band: 

When someone says, "I want to get a band together," they imply that they want to be in charge of that team of musicians to their ends. The goal that the person saying it may not align with the goals of the members of the band. And the musicians who would join said band, notoriously, are basically equally opposed to dealing with authority as them, will not put themselves into a position of being "controlled" by said band leader. 

I got to admit; I have some issues with authority. Likewise, other (Most) musicians will too. The trick to leading a band of liberal-minded blokes is to influence rather than dictate. Delegate and motivate rather than designate. Let the members bring to the table what THEY have as individuals, and set the guidelines for their goals as well as yours. If the goals don't match, or at least co-align, it is not  a go to be a band. 

In teams for projects that are tight and go anywhere popular, especially in the eyes of the audience, there has to be a common thread of joy in doing the music. A common goal that says something about the team through the time that they go through the trials and tribulations of being a band and gigging to whatever popularity is achieved. 

Meshing personalities in a band is like painting. If you take different colors and blend them, you'll get another color. When you paint with different colors on a canvas, you essentially get a collage of them. Not just one. 

So, the resulting personality of the band becomes something different than that of one individual. You can't force a group to be all about the concept of the one...unless you're PAYING them NICELY, or you're a superstar already and just hired them for fill-in help. Yuck! Work.

Most musicians, I've found, seem to think that in order to lead a band, you have to be the most bad-ass one in the group. (B.S.) They don't seem to want to accept your leadership or direction if you don't play as well as they do or know more than they do. Hmm! To offset this, I will prioritize valuing the person's contribution to the band/project, rather than see it as a job for this person to perform. I will say, "What you bring to the table is invaluable to this band. You're awesome! Love you for that." That will be the mindset for each interaction I make with members over any issue. We need to step back from our conflicts at some point, and have the mindset of the over all joy it is to play music together in the first place. That has to be the main motivating factor in it...always. 

So, I will ask prospective band formers; "What do you bring to this table? How do our tastes and influences affect the whole result of our endeavor as a band?" "Here's what I bring." And if a drummer can play guitar, it doesn't mean he has to be the front person. If a guitarist can play bass, it doesn't mean he needs to be the bassist. If one member can play ALL the instruments well, so what?! It doesn't mean he/she can lead the band or should be interchangeable with another seat. 

Now, my admission is this: (And I don't try to seem like a big shot of a mature "better person," in saying this.) I saw bands from the outside looking in. I have seen bands from the inside dealing with. I am the layman AND the musician who sees the myths and the truths of what goes into what makes those bands look so good and be so impressive to audiences. I saw it as a businessman who could have someone fill this slot of bass player...someone fill the slot of treasurer/accountant...someone fill the slot of security....the drummer...the roadie...etc. Everyone has a role. If only I could get the personnel to cooperate with....MY CONCEPT! (A show)

(Ooh! He didn't....) 

Yeah. That's NOT how it's going to work. I had to accept that a few years back. And then I have laymen tell me, "You know, you're so talented and got so much music in you, if you had a band together, why don't you get out there and mingle for the right hook-ups and you could take off?!" 

...And I just look at them with a blank face for a minute, and say, "Oh really?" ....BROO-HAH-HA HA HA HA!!! "Ya think??? after 45 years?" 

So if you're not a show biz exec. or mentor with more than me achieved in the music biz, kindly shut the fuck up! 

One of my favorite phrases is, "I don't give you advise on how to run YOUR business outside of music, so don't give me advise on how to do my music!" 

So if it's so hard to even start a band, much less get anywhere with music in business...(Yuck!) Why am I still trying? One might ask. It brings us back to the main principle and reason for this essay; The love and joy of making music in the first place. That's got to be your main motivator. Or else I'm not going for it. I'm down a different rabbit hole. If you are too, let's rock! 

Thank you.

Cyborg Johnny