Forming A Band:  Finding The Right Band Members
By Joe Kleon

If you’ve been in bands and are part of your area’s music scene, you probably already have a network of acquaintances and know musicians from the area. If you’re just getting started into being a musician and playing in bands, you will need to find ways to meet potential band members and determine if you can work together well. Using social media, going to local shows, and networking with other musicians are all great ways to find people to jam with. More and more people are producing beats. If you’re a rapper, talk with beat makers and other up-and-comers. Networking is key. Building a bank of friends and people you have worked with and want to work with will only help you as you progress and become a professional.

Once you are starting to encounter a lot of musicians, you need to analyze potential members to see if they will fit into your musical world and will not be a detriment to your success.  Of course, musical chops and a prowess playing music in the genre or genres you play is key.  After musical chops, personality should be at the top of list of qualifications.  You are going to be around your band a lot, find people who interact well with others, can handle stress, and are nice, honest people.  Background checks are very helpful.  You can look online to check for criminal records, talk to others in the scene who know them to get an idea of what they are about and how people perceive them.  You will need to easily converse and share ideas with them. 

A person’s character is just as important as their musical skills.  How a person acts offstage is very important, because off stage elements of life almost always affect a band sooner or later.  Romantic relationships can often help or seriously hurt a band.  Are they constantly breaking up with and/or fighting with romantic partners?  Are their romantic partners causing problems with the band?  Remember Yoko Ono and Sharon Osbourne and the drama and damage they did to their husband’s careers?  

Where the members reside and their method of transportation should be considered.  Can they make it to practice and get to gigs easily?  Their “day job” also can affect a band, if it hinders their ability to travel, rehearse, record, and perform live. 

It is necessary to know a lot about a person, before inviting them into your band.  Once they enter the band, they become part of your close inner circle.  Choosing someone who clashes with you or others in the band will have serious negative consequences. 

Are they creative?  Can they write and come up with ideas for songs, to aid in the songwriting process?  Do they have stage presence?  Are they comfortable performing in front of a crowd?  Do they interact well with people on social media?  Will their image gel with the rest of the band?  Can they bring fans into the picture and help you sell merch, music, and tickets to shows?  Do they have studio experience?  Will they help promoting the band?  Is their gear in good shape?  Do they have a positive attitude and are they good at conflict resolution?  Do they have an alcohol or drug problem?  Are they mentally and emotionally stable and able to handle the stresses that being in a band can sometimes generate? 

Taking time to evaluate not only musical ability, but also the personality and social traits of a potential member will help you find people that you can succeed with and be comfortable with in all aspects of life.  You want someone who now only is a great musician, but someone who can be a great friend and enhance the reputation of the band.