THE GLUE THAT HOLDS BANDS TOGETHER: AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AGREEMENT
Successful bands practice and love performing together, but how much do they communicate about the band’s business activities? The truth is that most bands focus too little time and attention on the glue to hold the musical team together to soar to new heights: communications.
Young performers are driven by the passion for their music, but generally are not business people. Hence, they often neglect—or don’t know how—-to establish upfront an effective communications strategy for managing the day-to-day activities of the band.
As the founder of Music On & Up’s Young Performers Club, artist manager, and an entertainment consultant to many musicians, I have witnessed so many bands fall apart due to inadequate communications. The most frequent communications problems result from:
• Inconsistent practice commitments
• Calendar conflicts
• Disagreement on song selections and genre
• Band members not making the band a priority
• Band members involvement in other music activities
Any communications problems—no matter how insignificant they may be perceived initially—can break up even the most talented band!
In addition, there are so many diverse parties, besides just the performers themselves, involved in a band’s success. Therefore, I advise my bands set themselves apart at the beginning by creating a Communications Agreement. This document should provide an understanding of the band’s practices, expectations, development and marketing activities. Most bands will respond, “We get along great and don’t need one.” Without this document, bands will most definitely face relationship challenges.
It is essential, from day one, that the band members work together to develop the Communications Document. The document should contain all aspects of the band’s communication, and be updated monthly in the event revisions are necessary.
The most important question is, “Who is the Band Manager”? Every band member can’t be the manager. It is best to have someone outside the band take on the manager role. If a parent is the manager, I recommend parent agreements be created. If a band has family members involved, I caution that many more challenges often present themselves with so many others controlling and influencing major decisions. The agreement, therefore, needs to address potential family dynamics.
Some recommended components of a Communications Agreement follow:
• Band management role and responsibilities
• Development plans
• Approval structure for utilizing outside professionals
• Band image and genre
• Marketing focus and responsibilities
• Online marketing policy
• Equipment needs, budget and purchase plans
• Song writing plans
• Public relations—decide who approves all online and print PR activities.
• Future goals and commitments— do a three tier plan, with the top goal being tier 1, followed by the second most important goal as tier 2, and the third targeted goal as tier 3
• External support—identify who approves and recommends outside coaches and consultants
• Financial investments and band member commitments
• Approval of music activities outside of the band
• Gig management—a process for choosing what gigs to do and who organizes gig details
• Termination clause conditions—under what conditions is a band member terminated
Every band member should sign the Communications Agreement. Band issues need to be addressed as they arise, or they become bigger and tougher to manage.
Set yourself up—and APART from your competition— for ongoing success in staying together as a band. Don’t be in the majority of those other bands who avoid clarifying an effective communications plan upfront.
By taking this agreement seriously from the inception of your band, you can keep your band tight in all communications, both verbal and musical.
Best friends often become great band mates. This communication document can serve as the glue that continues to hold the band together through new levels of success.