For those who are considering forming a working rock band, you may want to consider these five common reasons that bands break up, so you can recognize the warning signs before it is too late.
- Apathy towards the music Some bands fail because individual musicians fall 'out of love' with the music you've chosen to create or cover. A heavy metal guitarist won't be happy in a 70s cover band any more than a country singer would enjoy playing jazz. Sometimes tastes change, and one particular band member may decide that your sound does not match their interests anymore.
As the leader of the band, you should make every effort to include everyone's personal tastes into the set selection process. Perhaps your jazz-influenced guitarist would be happy with a solo piece thrown into the mix. If your drummer prefers a hard thrash sound and you are primarily a 60s cover band, you might try finding some new music in that genre that calls for furious drumming. If you're happy with the band as musicians, you need to make an effort to appeal to them as individuals as well. If the band member has a real problem with your chosen style, you may be better off without their disruptive influence. - Solo careers Every once in a while, a talent comes along who is so amazingly good that any band would be blessed to have them. In fact, it is often this same talent that causes the band to break up. Many rock bands are a balance of egos and abilities, which can be much harder to maintain when one member begins to get so much more attention than the rest. A virtuoso lead singer or an Eric Clapton-level guitarist can put a band on the map, but it may not stay there long if tensions build. Some bands become comfortable with the idea of being a 'backing group' to an incredible talent. Others begin to feel less appreciated and lose interest in the entire project. Once word of the lead singer's extraordinary talent gets out, he or she may be pressured into leaving the band to pursue a solo career.
As the leader of the band, you have a delicate balancing act to perform. As the gap between wunderkind and band begins to widen, you should try to get a feel for where individual band members stand on the issue. Are they comfortable with their more subdued roles behind the raw talent, or do they feel underappreciated? This situation is not to be taken lightly. If you cannot coordinate a truce successfully, you may have to make some serious cuts in personnel or else risk losing the most talented member of the band. You must also get some idea on the aspirations of your virtuoso. Are they satisfied with the band arrangement, or are they seeking a solo career? You don't want to stand in the way of true talent finding its own level, but you also need to know where things stand right now. - Lack of financial incentive Band rehearsals take a lot of time and effort, not to mention money. Equipment must be maintained, upgraded or replaced. Instruments may require expensive repairs or new accessories. Time spent in the band may be time taken away from more lucrative ventures, such as a second part-time job. Many beginning bands split up simply for economic reasons. Gigs may be few and far between at first, and whatever money that is generated must be split among a lot of hands. An out-of-town club may offer good money, but travel expenses may eat up the profits. Getting a new band established takes promotion and advertising- two very expensive propositions for the leader/manager. Some band members cannot continue pursuing a musical career while trying to support a wife and children. The band may not break up as much as dissolve through lack of finances.
To address this problem, you must be open and honest with the entire band. Don't try to tapdance around the issue of money. Tell the band what sort of budget you have to work with, and let them know what sort of sacrifices they may have to make in order to achieve success. If you have a talented band member who is struggling financially, you may have to offer some support until the incomings start matching the outgoings. Never overextend your band's ability to cover expenses. If your band is offered a food or beverage tab, keep an eye on the bottom line. It can be very tempting to eat and drink the entire night's profits. - Outside influences Forming a working band is much like forming a marriage or a business partnership. You will be spending quite a bit of time away from your family, whether in rehearsals or in performance. You may find yourself putting the needs of the band over your own personal commitments. Tensions may begin to form with spouses who feel neglected or employers who feel like your primary job is not important to you anymore. Not everyone can truly commit themselves to a rock and roll lifestyle and also stay committed to the other elements in their lives. Bands often break up due to the influences of those outside the confines of the band itself. Loyalties and commitments may be questioned, creating tremendous pressure on a band member who is uncomfortable in his or her role. Personal decisions may adversely affect professional aspirations.
As a leader, you must be sensitive to the band members' individual situations. Asking a bass player with a wife and three children to spend an entire weekend out of state may be pushing the limit. Be prepared to hear a few 'no's' where the band is concerned. Avoid issuing ultimatums when choices do exist. Hire a replacement player for that one gig, or restructure the music to cover for the loss. Until a band becomes financially viable, you should always keep an open mind towards band members and their levels of commitment. - Artistic differences This has almost become a cliche in the music business, nonetheless artistic differences can break a band up fast. Band members who become proficient at their own craft may start seeing small cracks in other members' armor. The drummer doesn't seem to keep a good beat, or the bass player has no creative ability whatsoever. The original songs written by the guitarist are way too simplistic, and are not commercially viable. The manager hasn't gotten a paying gig for the band in a month, and the new record sounds terrible. None of these situations may be true in an objective sense, but that is how a band member might begin to think. Once a player starts feeling restrained by his or her current circumstances, they may inevitably lose interest in the band. Artistic differences may be the number one killer of fledgling bands everywhere.
All you can do as a band leader is follow your own path. You select the music that the band will play, and the image your band will project. If you write your own music, it will sound like your own music no matter what. Band members should respect each other's varying abilities and be willing to offer constructive criticism when needed. If that system doesn't work for a particular band member, they should feel free to leave. Rock bands are not always democratic- certain personalities will be more dominant than others. Tough and often unpopular decisions have to be made. You want the back-and-forth dialogue of a good band at work, not the disruptive influence of a disgruntled bandmate. Changes in personnel do not necessarily mean a break-up of the band itself. Oftentimes, the change in line-up leads to a stronger, more stable band in the long run. It's ultimately YOUR vision, so do what you must to make it happen.
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