The double-triangular shape of a successful band
There is a great book in the business world called the E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. It’s a book I recommend constantly because of its simple premise: just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you’ll make a good entrepreneur. It’s a myth (hence the “E” in the title). To succeed in business, there has to exist a triangle of talents: your subject matter expertise or skill, matched by marketing ability and management ability. Marketing ability helps you locate new business and management ability helps the business run. Most businesses fail because the entrepreneur only wants to focus on what he/she does best, leaving the other two sides of triangle unattended, at which point the business collapses.
It’s the same with bands. Many people form bands, with the idea of jamming once per week,and then maybe getting a gig somewhere. There are a lot of talented, passionate musicians out there. But for the band to make it out of the basement, they must fit themselves inside two triangles: The first is the combination of talent, chemistry and schedules; people have to be able to play, but they also have to get along in some form – be on the same mental page; and finally, they need to be able to get together no less than once per week, in order to keep up the momentum.
Once they complete the first triangle, they must then step into Mr. Gerber’s triangle and recognize that although playing music is fun, the industry they are operating in is called show-business, not show-play. A band is a business. It needs management and marketing just like any other entrepreneurial undertaking. That means contracts, bank accounts, insurance, punctuality, advertising, competitive analysis, pricing strategies and a plan. That’s not so much fun, but there’s the rub. Without all of these items backing you up, the band will just fall back in on itself.
For the musicians I meet who get into music to get away from the trappings of the business world, I say, do yourself a favor: pick up Gerber’s book.
