On our way to the San Juan Islands, My business partner and I began a conversation in regards to the balance between creativity and structure.  Music is the creative end of things, and business is an example of the structured end of things.  Thus merging both we have the music business.  Both are necessary components.  The discussion was centered around (creative) music preparation through rehearsal.  The discussion from his end was to point out that some bands  have created a persona by not being prepared or  polished.  As you can see he is the creative side of the partnership (Laugh).  Though he tilts towards the creative side,  really, we each are  a little bit of both.  He went on to mention that a lot of  bands used the stage as their grounds for preparation in the beginning. The Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, Nirvana… I can’t claim to know  a lot about these bands outside of a million bumper stickers and living in the Great Northwest.   The discussion from my end was that though these bands started out this way they found their way to the vantage of preparation.  Partaking in countless rehearsals to bring their fans an incredible show.  The Grateful Dead is our exception (smile) .   Though I understand the faction of working out the on stage kinks, don’t hope that you finally get the lyrics right on stage, if they are that difficult re-write them.  If you can’t remember the break in the song then don’t play the song until you do.  You are cheating your fans.  It is like selling someone  a shirt but not finishing all the stitching.  They won’t be back to buy another shirt.

You better believe that when the record company got a hold of a new band they put them through a rigorous schedule of rehearsals.  This was to make sure the artist represented the record company as a sound structured business and its product ( the band or artist ) could replicate itself.

Every show I have been at or been in, one of the measuring factors, when talking with other musicians after or before, was how tight the band played.

I am a big fan of rehearsal.  I feel rehearsal is rehearsing success, it is preparing for success.  The more you rehearse the more you increase your chances of success in regards to the thing you want to achieve. To me it is like putting your performance on auto pilot.  This allows for a more freeing creative performing experience.  Going on stage unprepared is inviting bad habits and bad memories of an unsuccessful performance.  Allowing yourself to go on stage unprepared removes the distinction between rehearsal and live professional performance. It totally removes the challenge or any bar set that could help you establish yourself as a better performer.

1) Set small achievable goals

2) challenge yourself or your band to be able to play through a song in its entirety  without error 3-5 times before presenting it to your fans.  It will show how much you appreciate your fans.

3) Instead going through a set list every rehearsal, concentrate on 2-3 songs for 7-14days til they are error free.

4) Set a  Jam session limit or no jam clause for a prescribed amount of time. ( of course jamming is the way to spark the next hit but put a limit to it ” Controlled creativity that is another post coming soon”)

5) Be on time to Rehearsal ( One of our next post. What you do and how you present yourself  in rehearsal is another post?)

This concept is not only to aid you in becoming a better band and musician. This concept is to aid you in becoming a better more efficient person.

Enjoy the day

Sum Mo’ Music

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