What To Name Your Band

Naming a band, as simple as it may seem, can sometimes become a huge pain in the ass. In marketing, naming your band is synonymous to branding.

The name of your band can either make or break your career. It's supposed to lead you to opportunities and endless possibilities. So it's important to note that it should be thought out well.

I hope to share three basic pointers...

1) Coin a band name that delivers insignificant meaning to you or to anyone.

Great band names like U2, The Police, Weezer, The Beatles, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, The Cure worked because the names didn't convey anything related to music.

What does U2 stand for? It's a German submarine used in World War I. The Police? Cops don't sing. Weezer? What's that? The Beatles? What's that? Pearl Jam? Nirvana? Yeah I know what this word means but it's not about music. The Cure? Weird name but it worked.

As a result, instead of the band contriving to brand their music by its name to build their career, it worked the other way around. The music that emanated from these giants instead effortlessly shaped the band.

The effect of this subliminal branding strategy now allows a prospected fan to identify a Coldplay track by simply listening to their music. How brilliant is that?

2) The alliteration approach.

Your band may have a better chance of recall with this method. Alliteration is when using two words sharing the same first letters of each.

This approach has proven to be very effective in cartoon characters - Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Woody Woodpecker. Alliteration works because it makes memorization easier especially when there are only few syllables used.

3) Check the internet.

Just recently, three local bands are on sabbatical simply because they discovered in the internet that another band shares the same name as they do gigging and selling their albums (yes they released more than one) somewhere in this planet.

A name is very important. Period.

Therefore it is very important not to take for granted such opportunities as googling just to check if your band's name is already taken or not. Uniqueness can be an advantage - or if not, at least a name that's a little different from what is popular sounding at the time.

One important suggestion is that if you think you incidentally coined a good band name, that no other band is sharing it with you, and most importantly, the domain name is available - buy it. Period.

Preparing A Good Set List

Performing live is an experience that can be totally unique each time. But I think the most challenging part for almost every band is keeping the audience interested.

I’d like to share one aspect I learned in delivering a good show in the years that I’ve played in a band - and that is how to prepare a good set list. For the sake of this article, I’ll present it in three chronological parts.

1) Launch your set with a song that allows the audience to forget about the artist that played before you.

The first song in your set list must create that first impression. Wearing fancy wardrobes and cool shirts may not be enough. Your vocalist’s good enunciation and grammar may not be enough.

Play a kick off number that breathes a powerful intro – something that should catch everyone’s attention. When you get there, keep it that way.

Some pros do this with a fast groove as a start up number. Others do the soundcheck approach – playing a chord progression over and over until all members are musically in place (volume, tone, balance, etc.).

Don’t rely too much on gimmicks. They can be superficial.

If your band plans to stage one, it's better to do it in the middle of your set. An audience’s attention span is short so always remember to start with a catchy intro.

Believe me, you don’t want to waste that moment.

2) In the middle of a set, never fail to communicate with the crowd.

Let’s assume your band has agreed to perform a 30 minute set (that’s about 6 songs). After the first two to three songs, the momentum usually starts to decline.

At this point, it should be the vocalist’s job to bring your fans’ attention back up to a perky level by talking to them. In other words, don’t be a snob.

The “celebrity” attitude and the rock-and-roll-image may help you get somewhere (superficially perhaps) but it is important to remember that the very reason songs are written is because we try to satiate our need to communicate.

It is also important to remember to never think that you’re smarter than the audience. To communicate means to "speak the language" that your listener speaks.

Be extra friendly to your fans.

Try not to be too much of an artist when you’re in between songs (and not playing). Be a person to them. Just because you’re on stage doesn’t make you any better than anyone. Your fans are people and should be your friends too.

3) Your finale song should be something that leaves a mark for your band and your music.

While the first song is the scene stealer, the last should be the memory maker. Your last song must be distinct enough to qualify for the LSS (last song syndrome) contest.

Play something that you think people can dance to, sing with, or talk about on their way home. I know this is not easy but it’s not impossible either. If your band has a well received single that's currently enjoying airplay, you may use this as your finale piece.

So there… the three basics to consider when drafting your set list for the gig. Play as if it’s your last gig (but don’t overdo it). Don’t get too drunk when you play (and if it helps, don’t get drunk at all).

The goal is to keep your band stuck in your audience’s minds (hopefully in their hearts too). But most importantly - never leave your audience wanting less, a mantra I borrowed from the Foo Fighters’ David Grohl.

Starting Up A Band

A friend is putting up a new band. His last update was that he has three musicians who expressed their interest. He added that what he’d like to do first was to start off with cover tunes and then move up to songwriting before finally recording them. Sounds like a good plan.

I got an email from him a week ago. He was asking for help. I wasn’t really sure what he wanted me to do but I suppose he was asking some inputs on how to start his new band (or whether his plans would work). This is probably the most difficult question I’ve ever been asked of. I didn’t know exactly what to say.

In all tasks, the most challenging part is usually the first few steps. But then, those steps lead to another series of steps leading to another first step and so on. One time I consulted Mr. Junks Muaña, one of the owners of The Outpost, on what I need to do first when putting up a business. He simply said “Just start with whatever you have and you will learn from there. Everything else will follow.”

I’m still hanging. All of a sudden, it got me thinking - if I were to start up a real live band today, what should I do first? What should I next? What do I need to get myself from point A to point B. Barred by these preliminary FAQs, I allowed my mind to teleport to 1990, the year when my first band in college was formed.

My selective memory showed me images of a laundry room (our practice studio for a time), a karaoke, two acoustic guitars, and a wooden box. Just like any start up band, we didn’t have any money and our options were only limited to these tools so we decided to improvise.

We would plug the microphone jack into the karaoke and the other end into one of the acoustic guitars. The amplified strings would serve as our bass. There were four of us - Blair Kriekenbeek, Antonio Mesa (Oniot), Mitchello Simbajon (Mich), and me.

I insisted that I play the bass. Oniot was still new to the 6-string instrument and at that time couldn’t get the notes right. Later, Oniot and I decided to change places (today he’s one of the finest bass players I know). Mich sat on the box and provided the beat. Blair, with his strong and powerful baritone voice married with that good diction, became the musical voice.

We tried jamming (still with improvised tools) in other places like Mich’s aunt’s house in Maria Luisa village. Sometimes we would just hang out at the “Bukid” (yes for those who grew up with us during these years, you know where this place is) and all we would do was talk, play, talk, play, write, talk, play, write, and beer.

Our little sacrifices and late night sessions lead us to Las Piñas recording studio wrapping up the very first ditty Blair, Mich, and I wrote together. The song was “Desolate” and we called our band The End. Our song enjoyed heavy rotation in Y101's airplay back then.

Today, with the many great and talented bands sprouting like weeds in a playground, the challenge is steeper and the goals are higher.

I guess my college band worked because we all share the same passion. We all wanted to do the same thing. Apart from that, Blair had a fetish for high standards. One time he said, “I will not play on stage or sing a new song if we feel we have doubts about it.”

It all started with me looking for souls who may be interested in making good music with me. Now I’m thinking… if I were to put a band together today, how will I do that? Where do I start?

I guess an important thing to look into is not to look too much on the skills of a potential band mate (although this is a huge plus). Me? I usually look more on the level of interest and the personality (and someone that understands discipline). Skills can be developed and when that happens, talent will surface.

What makes a good band is not how good the musician plays. A good band comes when there is the understanding that one musician is not any better than the other. Good music is made because each musician allows their personalities to merge.

Music is an extension of one’s personality. There is greater output when every musician in the band listens soulfully to what the other member is playing. We become better musicians with teamwork. Everyone must compliment each other. We become a great rock 'n' roll band when we start understanding the benefits of a collective effort. That’s how I think a good band is formed.

In any start up band, there are no clear-cut rules. But there’s always the drawing board in your head. A vision of what you need to happen, how you would like it to happen, and what you would like to see happening in years to come.

I guess the next thing to do is stay firm with that vision of your band and keep an open mind. Oh and keep your music as honest as you can – meaning keep it close to your soul.