Starting Your Own Cover Band? 3 Things You Should Know
I began playing guitar many years ago while in high school. It wasn't long before I got the itch to play in a band. Back then, putting a band together was fairly simple and straight forward. There was always enough talent to choose from roaming the high school hallways. So it just became a matter of finding the right group of fellows that fit your particular musical taste.
Today, things are way different, especially if you're working a full time job, dealing with a family and still yearning to hit the stage. With life as hectic as it most times is, putting a band together can be a daunting task. Often, it's a bigger job than you at first imagined. Just finding the right members can take up a huge chunk of time. But don't worry too much, it CAN be done.
Four years ago, I was 49 at the time, I began sitting in with a local band. Well, it wasn't long before I wanted more. And the only way to get more playing time was to join a band, or start a band. I settled on the latter, as I felt I would have more artistic control over the sound I wanted. As it turned out, I was right...it did give me control, but it also gave me all the responsibility that went along with running a band. And running a band today is way different that it was when I was in high school. Back then...all you needed were the instruments, some microphones and some amplifiers (talent helped too).
Today, you almost need to be an electrical engineer to perform on stage. I got a crash course in this as I progressed, and there are three main things I learned, that, if you know in advance, can save you some headache down the road.
Become Familiar with the Art of Mixing
The first thing I learned was that a band lives and dies by its PA system. In order to deliver a quality sound, you not only have to be able to play, you have to be able to use a mixing board. There are many types and styles of mixers, and choosing the right one for your band is just as critical as choosing the right guitar or keyboard you use. My suggestion is to acquaint yourself with as much literature on mixing as you possibly can. Understand how the board works, and what can be done with it. In the long run, this will save you a lot of time. To produce a quality sound from your band, everything must be blended correctly. The bass on top of the lead is just as bad as the vocals being unintelligible. The key is always in the mixing.
There isn't enough space here for me to teach you the intricacies of mixing. But it is something that must be mastered...and if you're the one running the band...it's ultimately your responsibility. Of course, you could always hire a sound man, but in today's market, that will undoubtedly cut into the band's profits. So my advice is...read as much as you can before you choose a mixer, and know how to work it once you have.
Get the Right Sound
Ok, let's assume you've done the auditions and settled on the right group of musicians for your band. Let's also assume you already laid out your initial song list. So, you begin practicing, trying to make your covers sound exactly like the recording. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I've found that you really have to add something to make it fly. What do I mean? Shouldn't what you're playing sound like a reproduction of the band you're covering? Well, yes and no. What I mean is that you have to add your own style to what you're playing. You have to be able to put your heart into the music of someone else. If you don't, no matter how technically well it's played, it comes across flat. You have to be aware that there are certain "signature" sounds to a particular song. But you also have to be aware that you are performing...you're putting on a show. A reproduction of a song, played exactly like heard on the CD is no more exciting to an audience than turning on the radio. You have to be able to grab people and hold them. So...yes...make sure the lead solos to "Amy", or "I Should Have Known Better" are there. But on songs that don't have a "signature lead" experiment. Add your own flair. You can even do this with some "signature" solos.
Think of it this way. When you go to a concert, does the band sound EXACTLY like their recording, or do they add flair and punch to their hits. It's a live performance, and they want to make you, the audience, come alive too. And it's same if you're playing in Joe's Pub. You have to get the audience to become participants, not just listeners.
Control Your Practice Sessions
I learned very early on that maintaining control over the practice sessions was a vital necessity. There are a few reasons for this. When you first start out, you'll find yourself blasting away at your songs...amps at high volume, mics barely above that. You're intent on copying the artist you're covering. But this has a big price. My suggestion is to turn everything down. Make sure you can hear the vocals and the harmonies. If you don't do this, the vocals can get away from you, and you may not sound quite as good as you think you do. In my experience, I've found that, what truly works wonders for the vocals is turn almost everything off. One out of every five practice sessions, we use acoustic guitars only so that we can hear every note being sung. I can't begin to tell you how much this pulls the harmonies together, so that, when you do plug in again, the whole thing sounds right.
Another aspect relating to control, especially for the leader, is listening. You have to HEAR everything. It's more important to underplay than to overplay, which is all too easy to do. As I stated above, it's good to make the song your own...to add that flair that makes it come alive. The trick is to know what notes NOT to play. Sometimes, as they say...less is more. As the leader, you have to hear everything to know when a song is being overplayed. It sounds simple enough, but if you aren't paying attention, it can happen without you even knowing it.
So, is that it? Is that all you need to know to run a successful cover band. Well...no. Just like a quality diamond, there are many facets to putting together a paying cover band. Many you will learn along the way through trial and error. But if you're aware of the three I've discussed, you'll be in a much better position to bring your band on line and ready for gigs faster.
2008 Thomas A. Bradley
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