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In September, we gave you a list of red flags that your band is holding you back, and hopefully that helped you put your bandmates to the test. If you’ve identified that your bandmates are, in fact, keeping you from reaching your full musical potential, the next crucial question is: What do you do next? Quit the band? Start another? Go it alone?
It sounds like a daunting task, but sometimes it can be far better to cut your losses and move on, rather than working at something that might be doomed from the start, even if your band came together with the best of intentions. Here are four possible solutions you can choose from if things just aren’t working out.
1. Voice your frustrations
First of all, make sure you let your bandmates know if you’re unhappy with how things have been going before you quit on them. If you see a way to make your band more successful, talk to them about making it happen.
I’ve always thought the best environment for a band is one where people can be open, but not overly emotional. After all, you’re treating this like any other career, right? (Most other careers don’t condone day drinking, but you get what I mean.) Talking to your bandmates and being transparent about your concerns and ideas is a great first step in determining everyone’s expectations, and whether or not it’s time to call it quits.
2. Start a new band
Not getting the response you’re looking for? Here’s the part where it might be a good idea to look elsewhere. If you’re confident in your playing/writing ability, look around your local scene for other musicians who are looking to start a band. If you find someone who benefits from your particular skill set, start working with him or her. There’s no rule against playing in multiple bands at once – in fact, most working musicians have played in multiple bands at some point, even if they had a strong connection to their original band.
[6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Joining a Second Band]
Being in a band can be a lot like being married, but don’t feel like you’re chained to the first band you started. Starting another band shouldn’t be terribly difficult if you’re involved in your local music scene and have played shows with other local talent.
3. Join an existing band
Easier said than done, but definitely possible, especially if you live in a bigger city. If you’ve played around town or even just gone to local shows, you’ve probably run into some bands that are starting to gain some traction. Look for the bands that are on bills at all the local sold-out shows, opening for bigger bands when they come to town, putting out music you like, or even getting some formidable label attention, in a best-case scenario.
Band members come and go, especially in those pivotal moments when a band is either “making it” or doing exactly the opposite, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for some potential openings.
[Should You Join a Band or Form Your Own Band? A Look at the Pros and Cons]
4. Go solo
Sometimes if you want something done right, you’re just going to have to do it yourself. Going it alone can seem difficult, but if you’re confident in your songwriting chops, it might be the best choice for you.
Plus, there are a lot of advantages that come along with doing everything yourself. Creative differences aren’t an issue, you get 100 percent of any money you make, it’s easier to brand and market yourself as a single personality, and you still have the freedom to collaborate or tour with anyone you want (Think Mac DeMarco). Going solo can really take a lot of the pressure off of making music that comes along with being in a band, especially nowadays when recording and releasing material is much more accessible.
No matter what you end up doing, one of the best ways to find any success as a musician is to simply keep at it. Don't feel like you have to quit the band you're in just because things haven't clicked yet. However, if you've given it some time and decide that your current situation really isn't worth pursuing, it could be in your best interest to move on to a new project.
Leaving a band can be difficult, but it's good to keep in mind that it doesn't mean you have to go back to square one – there are always going to be opportunities out there to get something going.
Mitch Davis is an active singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the former lead vocalist of the indie rock band Staying for the Weekend, who he recorded and toured with from 2012-2015. Mitch is currently recording his own music and pursuing a degree in Entertainment Industry Studies from Belmont University’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
