ARE WE BAND MATERIAL?

Posted: 28 July 2018

Are you really cut out for life in a band? 

Read time: 5 mins

At one point or another we’ve all dreamt of being in a band. We've made up band names, practiced our signatures and even rehearsed our Grammy acceptance speeches. But when faced with the reality of starting or joining a band we often question whether or not we’re the right fit. So do you have all the qualities of a great band member? Or are you destined to go solo?

Band Life

You only need to take one look at social media to see just how great being in a band is. The internet is filled with images of band members hanging out with each other, going on crazy adventures and just enjoying life. You get the sense that they really do go through everything together and that’s the part of being in a band that we all envy. Everything is shared—the experiences, the creative process and the responsibility. There’s less pressure when you all share in the success or failure of a musical endeavour.   

When bands get along, you can live some of the best days of your life but when bands fall out, things can go very wrong very quickly. We’ve all witnessed the breakup of our favourite bands. The sombre press release, the cancellation of all future plans and the inevitable bitter Twitter feud that follows. Even if the band don’t break up fully, having one member leave can have catastrophic effects for those who remain. It can spell the end of recording contracts and mainstream success.

And it’s not just the risk of breaking up that makes being in a band difficult. Just because everything in a band is shared, it doesn’t mean its shared equally. Sometimes it’s a simple case of one member not pulling their weight, sometimes it’s the complicated issues surrounding the division of royalties and sometimes its all about the media. Most bands have a front person and whether they mean to or not, they command the attention of the press. While some people are okay with this, others struggle with not getting the same recognition for their role in the band. What started out as a band with all members on an equal footing may end up as one superstar surrounded by glorified backing singers.

Solo Life

So is it any better going solo? Well life as a solo artist definitely has its advantages. With no band members to argue against you, you can take charge of the creative process and don’t have to make as many compromises when it comes to making music. Not only that but there’s nobody standing in the way of you and your fans. But this increased attention can be a double edged sword.

Without any band members for support, you take the full brunt of media attention and we’ve all seen how quickly once beloved celebrities can fall out of favour with the press. While some people can cope with this constant scrutiny, others find it an added pressure on top of an already stressful lifestyle.

Navigating the music industry on your own can be hard. Without other people to share the workload with and bounce ideas off of, this way of life can become pretty overwhelming. It may also end up being a lonely lifestyle without friends that understand all the pressures you’re under. That being said, whether you’re a soloist or in a band, you can build your own support network to combat loneliness.

So what should I do?

Some people make great band members and others make solo artists but that doesn’t mean that one route into the industry is better than the other. In the end it’s down to you which option suits you best.

If you decide to go solo then you can focus all your energy on breaking into the industry but if  you decide that being in a band is the way for you then you’re going to need some people to play with. If you’re not lucky enough to have a musically gifted group of friends—or you just don’t feel like performing with them—here are some tips on finding band members.