Ever dealt with a lead guitarist or vocalist that was just a little too sure of themselves? What about the age old position of being the only person in the band treating it like a business, and feeling like nobody else cares like you do? Odds are that if you have dealt with the issues of ego, politics, or finances then you have seen how, when left unchecked, these issues can lead to results as severe as splitting the group up.
Have you ever considered establishing a simple set of ground rules? Ground rules may sound unnecessary as they outline common sense items, but if introduced early during a team’s inception they can serve as a map to help you avoid otherwise devastating pitfalls.
To give your ground rules the best chance of success, you should get the entire team to buy in, or approve, the items covered. Making sure that everyone in the band has their voice heard and concerns addressed is the best way to ensure these rules are followed. Of course, as time goes by you will discover new rules or changes that need to be addressed, and should make sure these are communicated to any new or existing band members as well. Don’t just rely on memory either, printing this list of rules and hanging it in your rehearsal space will serve as a constant reminder to the expectations your team has laid out.
Below, we have provided a list of common items to help get you started with your first Ground Rules draft. You will find that many of these tend to be common sense, but it helps to formalize your expectations.
- Rehearsal schedule & expectations – When will your band meet to write new material and rehearse existing material? How will rehearsal be structured? How long will rehearsals be? What are expectations for being late or rescheduling? Who outside of the band is allowed to be present for rehearsals?
- Division of labor – Which members will be responsible for the various jobs the business needs completed? Who will book shows, or promote them? Who is going to manage the merchandise designs & inventory? What about decisions that need to be made, are there some decisions that can be made without team input such as scheduling shows & designing merchandise, or does everything need to go in front of the band?
- Show protocol – Are members allowed to drink during shows? Who will be operating the merchandise booth? How long are members required to stay after a show is performed?
- Finances – Who gets writing credits? Will operational funds strictly come from income, or will members be asked to shoulder some of the costs? How often will payouts to the band members be made?