Queen, Talking Heads, Fontaines D.C, REM, The Pixies, The Strokes, The Doors... all bands that started in college demonstrating one undeniable truth: If you want to start a band, NOW is the time.
If anyone has ever visited the website Age Geek - the platform that tells you what others have done at your exact age to the day - you will have noticed the sheer amount of Rock and Pop Stars that made it big during their college years. College is possibly the only time when creativity, energy, and youth crash together to create the perfect conditions for starting a band.
Bands take time, energy, money, and everything else you have to offer. You face embarrassment, rejection, complicated relationships, and shitty promoters, but anyone that has ever been part of one knows it’s all worth it. Personally, it has been the most invigorating and exciting part of my college experience.
Playing in a college band often means performing in cramped, sweaty spaces with a stoned tech-guy and a broken amp, where the crowds are either genuine music enthusiasts, a group of drunk freshers, or your mum.
If you’re willing to face the hardships that come with it, then this guide can explain how to get your college band up and running.
Firstly, and arguably the most important stage: choosing your bandmates. It is the hardest part to change later and requires an intuition about how someone will cope with arising challenges. Music is about feeling; if a trial rehearsal doesn’t feel right, then you need to follow your gut. Of course, finding people you genuinely get along with is crucial. The Strokes spent six months drinking and practising in New York rehearsal spaces before they got any gigs. Admittedly, this is a long stage, but you’ll look back on it as the seeds that grew your band.
But, how to find bandmates? If you’re new to the world of music, then UCD Music Soc could be a good port of call for you. They host weekly jams in the Student Centre where you can bring along an instrument and get to know other musicians around campus. For this, it’s important to know the ‘how to jam’ essentials - know the classic blues progressions and have an open attitude to what others might want to play. Don’t be afraid to suggest songs and learn from the people around you, but don’t be put off when someone inevitably brings their 50 watt Marshall amp and insists on shredding over ‘Let It Be’.
Another method is putting up ‘Musician Wanted’ posters. It may seem old-fashioned, but if it worked for the Rolling Stones and Metallica then it could work for you. I recommend placing one at the Music Soc Freshers Stall, around the notice boards on campus, and in the bathrooms…musicians love a good poster in the bathroom.
Once a band has been formed, it is now a matter of practising at least once a week to get comfortable playing together and forming your own sound. This is only achieved through time; so don’t rush into getting gigs before this. Trust me.
Despite popular perception, finding gigs is the easiest part. The Soundhouse is a relatively new, but ideal beginner venue; they host ‘Soundhouse Rising’ events which are the perfect platform to share a ticket with other bands, involving as many friends and family as possible.
Other venues like Anseo or Sin é offer another takeoff point; to get something started there, you need to put together three or four bands and contact the venue with a pitch on all the bands and potential dates that work. As a warning, most of the people you’ll be liaising with are very busy bar managers who have dealt with hundreds of college bands looking for gigs, so don’t waste their time. Be concise and to the point.
Another important aspect at this stage is meeting other bands. Consider every band you share an event with as a possible partner in future endeavours, because they probably are. Don't be late for soundcheck and if you are organising the event, make sure they send their tech specifications to the Sound Engineer in advance. This makes everyone’s life a lot easier on the day.
Social Media is another crucial element for bands nowadays. This may seem obvious, but it is essential to have a constant online presence. If you're a band that can curate an aesthetic on social media, while consistently posting quality content, the insurmountable odds of the music business are in your favour.
However, the most important part of all of this is the music. Play what you enjoy playing and find a middle ground for your band where you can all thrive. Don’t get caught up in how other bands “made it”. In a college band, you always have a good time, you make great friends, and you get to be part of something bigger than yourself.