How to Form a Singing Band

Forming a live singing band is a way for you to sing and exercise artistic control over your performance, the obligations you accept and the people you spend professional time with. Advertising and holding auditions are the best ways to seek out new talent to see how they fit in with you and other band members.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Finding Band Members

1. Tell people you want to start a live singing band. Word of mouth is the fastest and most effective method of communication. Tell everyone you know in the musical community and ask them to spread the word.
2. Schedule audition times. If you already have some members of the band in place, schedule auditions so they can attend, as well. Getting everyone' s input and seeing how they work together is critical to long-term success.
3. Advertise the audition times. Place posters around town, on community bulletin boards, online community pages, such as MySpace, Facebook or Multiply, and in the local papers if you can afford to do so. Make sure the scheduled times are on every announcement, along with the location, to avoid confusion.
4. Allow each person who auditions to perform their choice of songs. For those you're interested in, ask them to stay and perform another song with the other members of the group to see if there's any chemistry.
5. Hold callbacks before you make a final decision. Allow each member of the group to express their opinions, and ask the finalists to return for another audition and discussion.
6. Talk to each finalist about why he wants to join your group and what his expectations are. Ask about times he knows he cannot perform and any outside obligations that may interfere with the band itself.
7. Make a final selection and consider a trial period during which you or your new band member can change her mind with no hard feelings.

Performing as a Group

8. Decide as a group what type of costumes your live singing band will wear. Choose from traditional costumes or matching street clothes, depending upon what the group prefers.
9. Create a playlist to learn and perform. Keep the play list updated and handy to show prospective clients. Continue to tinker with the playlist to appeal to a variety of customers.
10. Seek out amateur competitions to put your live singing band in the public eye. Volunteer to open for more well known bands for little or no reimbursement. It's a great way to get connections and exposure.
11. Advertise your band in entertainment magazines and newspapers. Contact local clubs and venues to let them know you're looking for gigs and are available. Your playlist will come in handy for such occasions.