One of the biggest complaints you'll hear about just about any local or regional music scene is how much in-fighting and politicking there is within it.  Because there are generally only so many venues to play, and there are typically many more bands, one must assume that there will be at least some level of competition between bands. That's all good and well, and it's not to say that competition isn't healthy, but a lot of the problems and fighting between bands generally can be traced back to bad experiences at shows and the like.  Any band worth it's salt should take care to remember that it's not just the venue and the people you should be nice to, but to your fellow musicians as well.

A large part of any band's job is public relations. I'm not talking about ass-kissing or the like, but just general care in how you present yourselves as a band.  You'd be amazed at how much of band's reputation is based on their attitude and professionalism, irregardless of their music. There are quite a few bands in this world that can't get shows not because of a lack of talent, but because of a lack of consideration or professionalism. Now I know that I bandy the word "professionalism" about like some horrid new-age catch phrase, but keep in mind it's an incredibly valued commodity. For those of you who are uncertain of what exactly I'm referring to when I say it, let me first define what I see it as: Professionalism is the art of maintaining a professional and mature attitude toward your work and related actions.  If you're in a band that plays music for money or other material goods, you should treat it as your JOB. And for a lot of us, it's just that.  And with any job, it's generally best to put the most effort you can into your work, and be as mature and considerate as possible.  If you were on the job at the office and some fellow in IS wasn't performing to your expectations, would you insult him in front of a customer? Probably not. So why rip the soundguy when you're on stage?

Keep in mind that as a job, being a musician has some distinct disadvantages. Unlike a job at say, McDonald's, if you do your job badly, chances are you're not going to get many repeat customers. So to that end, we at the Zone have put together this handy little guide to help you keep the folks banging down your door.

The Venue: First off, let's discuss how to deal with the venue itself.  The staff and crew at any given venue are very much a part of the whole live music experience. Generally under-appreciated and disregarded by the public as a whole, it's important to remember that the staff is very much capable of ensuring your return to their establishment, or your excommunication.   And I'm not just talking about the stage manager, the sound guy, or the booking agent. I'm referring to the bartenders, the waitresses, waiters, ticket agents, door guys, security, and even the janitor.  These people work hard to ensure that that the people are enjoying themselves, and more often than not, their the ones helping you out as well.  There's never any call to be rude or mean to these people, and they certainly don't work for YOU. So be kind, eh?  If you're pissed because the bartender will only let you have 1 pitcher of a certain type of beer, bear in mind that they're not the ones making that rule, they just enforce it. So if you have an issue with it, find the person in charge and deal with them. Don't take it out on the help. 

My personal experience has always been that if you're nice and polite to the barfolk, they'll bend over backwards to help you out the next time you come down. If nothing else, you might get a couple extra beers the next time around. There's nothing to lose by being friendly, so do your best.

Along those lines, remember that when you're working a show, you need to be considerate of any rules and regulations they may have. If they say be there at 6:00, for God's sake, be there at 6:00.  Be on time and be polite about it. Lateness goes a long way toward creating a bad reputation. I've seen instances where bands intentionally show up late just so that they won't have to be the opening act. I shouldn't have to say this, but avoid this type of behavior at all costs. This holds true to your set as well.  When it's your turn at bat, load in as quickly as you can. If there is space available, set up your drums before your set and put them somewhere out of the way. (Be sure to be considerate of other people's gear of course). And while you're on stage, remember that there is most likely a band after you, so keep your break time as short as possible. Most soundguys are loathe to cut bands off due to time, but running over your allotted time does nothing more than piss off the band that's up next. Keep in mind that a lot of bars are legally obligated to empty the place before a certain time. If you're the last band on the bill and it's getting close to closing time, please be considerate of the bar and finish up. Nobody likes to cut their set short, but you shouldn't have to if you're timely and aware. So don't piss the bouncers off by keeping them open past regular hours.  Unless of course, you're willing to pay the fines if they're ticketed. Likewise, break downs should be begun immediately after you're finished playing. Don't hang about and talk to the crowd or your friends, they'll be there when you're done. Most of the time, you don't need to break down the gear on stage so move it off stage and break it down there. There's no reason to monopolize space, and you'll go a long way towards making a good impression.

The Bands: The aforementioned instances about load-ins, set times, and break downs apply to how you get along with the other bands as well. They are there to do their job just as you are. Remember that and act accordingly.  And just as you should be courteous and polite to the bar folk, remember that any road crew a band has with them should be considered just as much a part of the band as the actual musicians. You can be nice and friendly to the band, and then treat the roadie like shit, and I guarantee you that the whole band will think nothing good of you. Road crew work just as hard as the musicians, and usually for a lot less money. Take that into account.  And concerning road crew, if you have a road manager, sound engineer, roadie, etc. you should make certain that they do the same. I've seen numerous bands where the roadie/manger didn't talk or deal with anyone other than the band itself, and those individuals tend to sour the whole experience.  I once loaded out (unasked) a national act's gear, and when one of the band members told the road manager to give me some free merchandise, he acted as if I had just come up to him on the street and asked him for drug money. While I still think highly of the band themselves, it certainly doesn't impress me as professional behavior. 

Try to support the other band in other ways as well. Make an effort to see at least a portion of their set, and don't be shy about it. Stand up front and let 'em know you're there. I've noticed that when an unknown band plays, the majority of the crowd waits until some brave soul wanders up front. Be that person and stand up front, it'll encourage others to do so as well. Call it a herd mentality.

Some other things to think about concerning your dealings with other bands should be about how you treat them as fellow co-workers.  If there's limited space on the stage, don't leave gear on stage and force other bands to work around it. We've all had to deal with bands leaving their kits on stage, forcing you to crowd onto the front most part of the stage. If it's not absolutely necessary, why do it? So bear that in mind when you're the headliner.   Conversely, don't feel as if you can arbitrarily use or mess with other band's gear.  For some of us out there, our gear is our most prized possession (not to mention the tools of our livelihood), so take care in your dealings with it. If you need an extra cable or whatnot, ask first. If you break a string during a set, don't just pick up another bands guitar. (I've seen it done many a time.) As musicians, we all understand what it's like to break a string, snare, cable, strap, etc. If you need something, just ask, and 99% of the time, another band will be glad to help you out.

Concerning gear, one of the coolest things I've seen done by a band member is when they would re-string a guitar for someone who is on stage. Not only does it allow for the show to continue with the most minimal amount of interruption, it goes a long way toward insuring good feelings between bands. I'm ashamed to admit that I'd never thought to do it myself until I saw it done, but I've since made it my policy to offer. You should too. 

And just as no one likes a braggart at work, there's no need to impress everyone with what label you're talking with or what bands you've played with.  I've seen younger bands burn a lot of bridges by trying to show how hot or in demand they are. If someone asks, great...but don't feel the need to offer that kind of information unsolicited. It's just not cool.  That holds true for whatever money you make at a show. It's generally considered bad form to ask someone how much they make in a business setting, and this is just another office.  How much you take in from a show isn't something that needs to be publicly discussed. So just don't.

The Fans: While we'd all love to believe that everybody loves us and that we're just the cat's pajamas, we know it ain't so. Guaranteed, you'll run into some loud mouth yokel who insists on heckling you and generally creating a nuisance of themselves. There's really not much you can do about it, so just grin and bear it. If it's too much and you feel you must comment, absolutely do not interrupt a song to deal with them. Wait until a break and deal with it then. (But only if they're continuing at that point.) Most of the time a kindly bouncer will deal with them, but in those cases where they won't, the best policy is to make a quick joke and move on. Don't spend so much time and effort on it where you're actually making them part of the show. That's what they want anyway, so just deny them the opportunity.

On a more positive note, most of the time you'll encounter friendly folk who are a bit more entertaining to deal with. Most notably, people who come up to you before or after the show. Unless you're restricted by time constraints or previous obligation, be sure to make yourselves available to the audience.   Hang out before the show and then again after. Don't feel bad about taking a few moments for yourself directly before or after your set, but try not to be a total recluse. The best idea is to hang out by your merchandise. Not only will people know where you're at and come talk to you, you have a much better chance of selling a couple of extra CD's or t-shirts.  Remember that above all else, they're the reason you're there in the first place. If it wasn't for the audience, you might as well be sitting at home in the basement.

Etc. For the most part, that covers the essentials. Other than that, remember that the stage is a public forum. You're up there for the world to see, so use some common sense in what you say and do. For one, don't bad mouth other bands or venues. It doesn't do anyone any good, and only serves to alienate you from those associated with those bands or venues.  That holds true in other mediums as well. (Interviews, articles, message boards, etc.) Your opinion on a band or venue is fine in private conversation, but your experiences may not hold true for everyone and that should be kept in mind before speaking badly in public. The best rule of thumb in dealing with all of the above is the golden rule itself: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (That and "if you don't have something good to say about it, say nothing".)

As with any such article, I'm sure there's all manner of things I've left out or overlooked. And as always, I'm open to any and all suggestions you may have. As a music community, we all stand to gain from one another's experience. So feel free to direct any comments, critiques, etc. to myself at godot@wws.net Thanks and good gigging.