Youth is Wasted on the Young

"Youth is wasted on the young."
— George Bernard Shaw

"When I was young I knew everything
She a punk who rarely ever took advice
Now I'm guilt striken
Sobbing with my head on the floor"
— Vander Ark ("The Freshmen"/The Verve Pipe)

"Ah, but I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now."
— Bob Dylan ("My Back Pages")

When you're young, the world is wide open to you. You're unencumbered, strong, and free. You can go whatever direction that you want. The problem is that you're also not very wise. Wisdom often comes after years of making the wrong choices. So, the old guys sit back... wishing we could get a second take. Also, you're often encumbered by what you think you should be doing (going to college, getting a job, etc.). This stuff usually smothers your dreams of making it as a band.

If you really want to make it as a band, give it a real try. Here's a few things I've seen over the years:

• Don't get married (yet). Marriages kill this dream faster than anything. There is one exception: If she (or he) is involved with the band. If she really digs being your manager or booking agent or bass player or just being around the band on tour — then it can still work. But if she doesn't want to tour with you, it just won't work.
• Don't have kids (yet). Kids don't belong on tour with a young rock band trying to make it. They need to be at home. There's no way to make it work if you have small kids.
  
• Don't be too responsible (yet). Holding down a full time job (and doing the band on the side) usually doesn't work. Business, manufacturing, retail: they don't care about you. And they're not going to be flexible and let you have the summer off to go on tour. They also want you to work 50-70 hour work weeks. But you need to be able to quit the job, go on tour, and then go find another job.
• Ask. Do research. It's not what you know, it's who you know. Talk to lots of people. Get lots of advice and feedback. On the road. Off the road. Make lots of contacts in the business. How do other bands do it? How long did it take them to "make it?"
  
• Believe in what you're doing. Believe that you can do it. After that, it comes down to luck.
• Stick together/Get outside encouragement. The music business is tough. What's also tough is being in a business partnership (aka "the band"). The most imporant thing is that the guys in the band remain friends. Also find someone who can speak into your lives and give you encouragement when your down.
• Vision. Know what you are about. Why are you doing this. Are you a clone of something old... or are you something new? What are you trying to accomplish... musically?
• Pick a leader. Democracy has its limits. At times you need one person who will be the point. Who will make the split calls. Who will cast the vision for the band. You'll get farther faster if you pick a leader.

If you're young, and your in a band, and your talented: Now is your chance! Right now, you would probably sleep under a bridge for a couple nights while on tour. It would be a little uncomfortable... but a little fun, too. Try doing that when there's a wife and 4 kids depending on your paycheck.

Go for it, guys!