From: gt6851a@prism.gatech.EDU (Brian King)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Fledgling Band
Date: 15 Oct 92 01:08:30 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

>>I'd like some feedback from other musician types out there- How did
you folks get started?  What tend to be some common problems for
fledgling bands?  What are some realistic short term goals? 


>>I don't
know exactly what the other guys goals are, but we are definitely going
to discuss that on Saturday before we so much as turn the power on our
amps!  My main goal for the time being is to improve my musicianship
and have some fun.


You've started out well!  You should definitely discuss your goals and
expectations in great detail beforehand-- after all, you don't want to 
practice with your drummer for three months and then find out he wants to
go pro!  If you have only been playing for a few months, then you should
try to have fun and learn (just like you said.)

Since your bandmates all have more playing experience than you, you are in
a good position to have them pull you along.  You will make quick progress
this way, unless they are very far ahead of you, in which case you will hold
them back --but it sounds like you are well matched.

>>But I don't
exactly feel like i wanna be the next Petra.  If God decides I should
be a professional musicina, then i will honor that.

That won't happen --God doesn't just "zap" you into a pro musician.  You 
will have no chance of that as long as you "don't want to be the next Petra."
To go pro, you have to eat, sleep, and breathe music-- a commitment you 
haven't made (at least not yet...)  I am in a similar position though: some
days i want to be a pro, but i know it will never happen if i only want it
some days.)

I started out playing with some guys from church --Xian cover tunes, like
Petra, whiteheart, and D & K.  (Try The Pledge --there is hardly an easier
Xian bassline that you will ever find :-)

If you have to decide between an easy, unimpressive song, and one that is 
more difficult (but that you can't pull off) --PLAY THE EASY ONE!  Believe
me, playing a song Right is much more impressive than doing a mediocre job
on a tougher song.

We soon stopped playing Xian music (except for King's X) for several reasons:

1.  tired of "preaching" at people --we're musicians, not evangelists...
2.  people don't recognize the songs
3.  nowhere to play them, except at church functions, and they don't take very
well to heavy rock.  "Youth functions" are few and far between.  When you 
want to gig (clubs/parties/frats/bars) you will have to dump your songs for
new ones.
4.  relative lack of variety, quality in Xian music compared to secular.


Xian music is good for working up your skills, but unless you live in 
Nashville or want to just play for yourselves, you will have to go secular
eventually.

>>What
equipment do y'all recommend?

MInumum:  decent mikes (shure 57/58), decent amps all around (don't use a
guitar amp as vocal pa), stands, equalizer, GOOD CORDS.  Try not to practice
in a room with rectangular, concrete walls, floor and ceiling (how do i know
this?...)

The main problems for beginning bands that i know of is bad sound/mix.
try to get monitors if you can, or at least position the amps so everyone
can hear, including the drummer.

Hope this helps...

P.S.  Don't play any Metallica around Republicans!

-- 
"in this day & age...music performed by humans?...Hum?! - Wilde Silas Tomkyn 
"and for the Catholic students... FISH!!!" - Galactic Cowboys
Brian King - Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta: gt6851a@prism.gatech.edu