Advice for teenage bands

[C. Hanson]

Sorry if this has been raised before, but anyway...

Ok, so I'm a high school English teacher (lapsing into colloquial mode now), but most of the kids at school know that I moonlight as a muso, and have done for the past 20 years or so.

I occasionally get the question:

"Hey, Sir. We've got a kind of a band together. So, what do we need to do to get some gigs?"

I then propose the basic: "Well, you need to get about 60 songs together."

"What? Sixty?"

"Yes. Four sets, at twelve songs per set, plus a dozen spares, to suit a different crowd, if needed. And that's just a start. Most good local bands know, say, 200 songs. And you'll need to get some transport. The drummer will probably need his own transport. And each player will need his own amp and instrument. And mics, stands, leads, cases, tuners."

"What about a PA, Sir? Any chance of borrowing the school's?"

"Talk to the Principal about hiring it, but start saving for your own small PA."

"And what about getting the gigs?"

"Well, there are agencies around, but of limited use in these parts. Go and talk to publicans and club managers. Brush your hair and try to be nice. They don't trust teenagers, they don't know you, and they'll go for the easy, safe option every time. You have to convince them that (a) you won't blow the roof off the place and get noise complaints, (b) you won't get stoned or drunk, or bring a bunch of drop-kick, non-drinking pot-heads, and (c) you can actually play a whole night of songs."

"A bit harsh, Sir."

"Yeah. Good luck with it all."

What would you say to teenagers starting out in a band?

[TonyB]

I got two teenage sons (twins) in a successful band.

One thing I learned.... you can't tell them anything!