One of the most integral and important parts of music performance is ethics. Ethics not only dictate how we act, but facilitate a supportive and welcoming environment for others.
What am I expecting from my fellow band members?
Most of all, I expect to maintain a healthy line of communication. There is no way to ensure universal happiness without talking through your concerns, which is why I believe it is imperative to the functioning of a successful band.
Healthy communication includes constructive criticism, respect and understanding.
Another principle I expect my colleagues to exhibit is commitment. This entails punctuality, passion for the project and reliability. Without commitment, the band simply will not make it - could you imagine a band where one of the members doesn't show up for half the set?
I believe my behaviour mirrors the expectations I have of others.
What non-musical benefits are there from being in a band, and of what use are they likely to be going forward?
The most obvious one is obviously teamwork. There is not one day as a musician where you aren't working with others. Being in a band can drastically improve your capabilities in developing interpersonal or professional relationships in a working environment.
As time goes on, your band will experience changes and your relationships with the other band members may deteriorate or build.
Professionalism and business skills can also be developed as a working musician as you are constantly dealing with finances, event planning and contracts.
As a band member, you will learn that patience is a virtue. It might take years before you make actual good music - you can't expect to make a masterpiece during your first rehearsal. You have to work with all sorts of people, from the most humble and highly-skilled musicians to ego-fuelled maniacs.
Performing music is riddled with compromises and you might have to sacrifice your ideal image of the band to achieve a common goal; and without patience, you will never reach that common goal.
Knowing what you're doing and performing in stage can do wonders for your confidence. You need the confidence to tell the sound guy to turn an instrument up; the confidence to tell your guitarist to turn their amp down; the confidence to perform in front of tens, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people.
Additionally, being in a band is great for your physique as all of the co-ordination and lifting keeps you in shape. On the other hand, if you fail to take care of yourself through using proper technique and ear protection, you can suffer from lifelong ailments. In this way, being in a band can also teach you about self-care and discipline - if your wrist is hurting, take a break; don't continue playing even if you want to.
Multitasking is a skill many will learn through being in a band. A lot of smaller bands have only a few people juggling writing, learning, performing, setting up gigs, signing contracts, managing social media and maintaining the band's public image. Doing all of these things at once can be very stressful, but once you get used to it, multitasking and stress management will be second nature to you.
In your experience, what are some effective strategies for making the most of your rehearsal times?
One suitable strategy would be making a plan detailing what you aim to accomplish in each rehearsal session. These would likely be small, manageable goals - not like learning an entire album in a day.
After the rehearsals, it can be valuable to reflect on what was accomplished and how to proceed in light of the circumstances.
As a performing musician, what responsibilities do you think you have to your audience?
Bottom line, the people in your audience have paid money and taken the time to come see you. Therefore, the most important thing is for you to actually be there.
Professionalism is another key aspect to a great performance. Obviously, talking with the crowd and making a joke or two is perfectly acceptable (and actually encouraged) - it's a great way to break the ice with the audience and make them feel a more personal connection to the band.
However, making basic mistakes like allowing unwanted feedback to deafen everybody or accidentally pulling out a lead just makes you look like an idiot on stage. And who wants to look like an idiot on stage?
As aforementioned, creating a personal relationship with the audience can really set your performance apart from others. When I went to a gig last Saturday, I felt really connected to the guitarist who came up to the front of the stage constantly and made eye contact. It's small things like this which just bring your performances to another level.
Those small things might be co-ordinated stage moves, exaggerated expressions and even conversations with the audience in-between songs.
Finally, health and safety are crucial in performances. You want to make sure there are no hazards present that could cause bodily harm or death to yourselves, your fellow band members, the technicians and your audience (for obvious reasons).
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