Editor’s Note:  In this series of articles we will look at the different aspects of band/artist relations in an attempt to provide those at/considering this step with some information.  The following is an overview of the articles to be submitted by Chris Mancini, one of the Opry North Crew and a member of various bands though out his long musical career.  Chris has been with the current members of his band for many years now and will point out the things you may encounter along the way.    Starting Or Joining A Band      One look at today’s circuit will reveal one of the hardest things to do is keep a band together.  Constantly changing line-ups make it hard to obtain a tight, polished sound and show.  So, how do you find, or even harder, start a band?  We hope to illustrate some of the key points to consider when trying to do either.    Musical Compatibility:      You should first assess your own musical capability.  Are you a beginner or seasoned pro?  Perhaps like most you’re somewhere in the middle.  Now you must consider the style of music you wish to play. Obviously you don’t want to approach a heavy metal band if you’re a country singer.  Even ‘country’ ranges from traditional to new country.   Agenda/Coming to an Understanding:      What is everyone looking to get from the project?  The most common motivators are money, better gigs, recordings, stardom and even fun!  Whatever the reasons, some guidelines and boundaries must be set.  Coming to an understanding is crucial to avoid any future problems.  Ask questions like these to start:  “How far are we willing to travel?”  “What is the least amount of money we’ll play for?”  “How long or late can we play?”  “Are we a band or we a solo artist with a backup band?”  These things break up a lot of bands because they weren’t addressed first.   Set Goals/Have a Plan:      “When you don’t know what you want, you often end up where you don’t want to be” – Bob Green.    This quote says it all for everything in life.  Tomorrow becomes yesterday very fast.  Once you know what you want to accomplish you can make a plan of how to get there.  Actually, write down a plan of all the things you need to do to succeed.  Is your goal to write and record your own music and practice until you conquer the world?  Maybe just putting together a decent cover band to play your favourite tunes in clubs for fun is your dream.  Although they’ll be very different, you still need a plan.   Personalities:      This is a very common problem.  This destroys even the biggest and best bands.  Can you get along with each other?  Chances are you’ll spend more time with these people off stage than you will on.  Also, it’s easy in a group to find yourself ‘guilty by association’.  Working with positive, open minded, responsible people is a Must Do to succeed in any business.   Investment:      There are three types of investments we’ll look at.  Financial is one.  Does your band have it’s own gear?  Do you have transportation, rehearsal space and promotional material?  All this can be quite costly.  Remember, no one will invest in you if you haven’t invested in yourself.  Mental is another.  Follow your plan and stay focused.  There will be many distractions and disappointments.  Ask questions, read articles, do anything to learn.  Most of all, STAY POSITIVE.  Last is physical.  Practice, practice, practice!  Prepare to become a roadie, bus driver, manager, musician etc.   Professionalism:      Expect the best and prepare for the worst.  If you want people to treat you as a professional, then act like one.  Have your act together on and off the stage.  Always be on time, organized, courteous, understanding etc.  The bottom line is be responsible. There’s nothing like a bad reputation to keep you out of work. On the other hand though, a good reputation can keep your calendar full.     Well, let’s not forget why we picked up instruments in the first place.  For the love of music and most of all – FUN!     Written by Chris Mancini ©2001 Chris Mancini/Opry North All Rights Reserved.