The Challenges and Rewards of Band Leadership

So You Think You Can Lead a Band? A Reality Check

Leading a band may seem like an exciting challenge, but it's not as easy as it might appear. Whether you’re playing full-time or just on weekends, taking on the role of a bandleader comes with a host of responsibilities. You become the focal point for everything—if things go well, you get the credit, but if they go south, you're the one held accountable. This includes the actions of your fellow musicians. While some of these points were mentioned in a previous blog, they are important enough to bear repeating.

The Key to Success: Preparation

Being prepared is crucial, and it starts with the musicians you hire. It’s better to hire a responsible player who shows up and follows directions, even if they're not the most proficient musician. As the leader, you need to set a good example. If you expect your band members to learn new material, make sure you’ve learned it too. When issues arise, handle them privately—never air grievances on stage. Remember, you're also responsible for collecting payment, so be sure you pay your musicians fairly and promptly. Musicians talk, and word gets around.

Communicate Early and Often

Many potential issues at gigs can be avoided with proper communication between you and the venue manager. It's best to handle these details before you even arrive. Discuss set times, break lengths, and other logistics well in advance. Always have a current stage plot ready to send to the sound crew before the gig. A stage plot is a simple map of your stage setup, including microphone and amp placements, and drum setup. If the sound crew has this information, they might be able to set up before you arrive, saving valuable time for sound checks. This is especially important for gigs where setup time is limited.

Mastering the Standard Bar Gig

Your typical bar gig is usually the easiest to manage. Show up on time, start on time, and stick to your scheduled set times. Adhere to the agreed break lengths and avoid playing past your stop time without approval. Respect the bar staff and the DJ—you’re all part of the same team.

Preparing for Festivals and Opening Acts

For festivals or when you're an opening act, it’s essential to “advance” the gig. This means contacting the promoter, stage manager, and sound crew ahead of time to get all the details sorted. Find out your set time, load-in time, sound check time, and whether the venue provides food for the band. Learn where to load in, where to park, and whether there are dressing rooms or a green room. Ask if there’s a drum kit or other backline equipment provided. Share all this information with your band members beforehand.

Understand that these events can be fluid, with last-minute changes happening often. Be prepared to adapt—show times might shift, or you might have less stage space than expected. The more professional you and your band are, the more likely you are to be invited back or recommended for future gigs. Keep in mind that these events are usually stressful for the organizers, so being easy to work with will make you stand out.

Opening for Major Artists

If you get the chance to open for a major artist, remember that their stage manager is in charge. Cooperate fully and you’ll have a great experience. Accept the limited stage space and never, ever run over your allotted time. Professionalism in these situations can lead to more opportunities to open for big acts in the future. Bands that are easy to work with are remembered just as much as those that aren’t.

Tips for Booking Gigs

When booking gigs, always factor in expenses before settling on a price. Consider travel arrangements—are you all traveling together or separately? Are accommodations and meals provided? Is the sound system included? All these details should be worked out before agreeing to the gig and deciding how much to pay your bandmates. This will also help you determine if the gig is financially worthwhile. Sometimes what seems like a great deal isn't so great once you factor in all the costs. If you make a mistake in your financial planning, own it. Don’t shortchange your band. Additionally, if you don’t know the promoter, it’s wise to get half the payment upfront.

The Bottom Line: Be Professional

As I mentioned in the previous blog, professionalism is key. A good rule of thumb is to approach your music career as you would any other job. Would you work overtime for free? Probably not, so don’t do it with your gigs. Would you accept having your paycheck delayed indefinitely? Then don’t do that to your bandmates. Being responsible also means respecting other bands—don’t undercut them to get a gig.

In the end, being professional in all aspects of the music business will pay off. Your reputation will grow, and so will your opportunities.

Musically yours,

Randy Hess

Musician/Producer/Consultant