As soon as you put a band together, you never truly know how long it’s going to last. You’ve put time, money, and bucket loads of effort into finding your bandmates and trying to make it a success. Even when things seem to be going well, your ‘shelf life’ as a group could be only moments away from expiring. Here at BandMix, we’re looking at how bands tend to break up and how to tell when your musical project is doomed.
Lack of commitment
Quite often, one or more band members have other commitments that become more important to them. Whether they’re focusing on work, starting a new band on the side, or have decided to start a family, these can be contributing factors to why they can no longer commit to the band. If your band is continuously busy or very time-consuming, other side projects can seem very appealing to musicians. Sometimes, too, band members may realize that their heart’s not in it or that they can’t commit so much time to the group.
Band conflicts
The classic band break up reason! We always hear of bands who split due to ‘artistic differences’ or personal conflicts. This may include friction between personalities and ego clashes or simply because there’s been some band disagreement. Most bands have had petty arguments and disputes that blow everything out of proportion, and it’s usually something that could have been dealt with differently or avoided altogether. These altercations can be awful for morale and very commonly cause band breakdowns.
Poor communication
Linked to band conflicts, poor communication is often another downfall of many bands today. It can be easy to think that we’re so connected, especially with the technology we have nowadays, so when one or more band members don’t communicate well, it can frequently lead to quarrels. Something written in your band messenger group can be taken the wrong way, and this miscommunication can magnify problems within the band dynamic.
You’re no longer having fun
Being in a band should be fun, right? If you’re turning up to rehearsals, gigs, and band meetings with no enthusiasm or belief, the band is likely headed for rocky ground. When you’re no longer having fun with your bandmates, it’s time to make a change. By scheduling the occasional social event or bonding time away from your music’s responsibilities, you can boost band morale and prevent stepping onto the slippery slope of a band split.
You’ve come to a standstill
It’s common to feel like your band has come to a standstill, and it can be tiring to keep it going, especially if you’re a bandleader. Especially if you’re experiencing a mental block or a shortage of creative inspiration, it’s never a good idea to put out a record when your heart’s not in it. Many groups take a hiatus to focus on other things temporarily, but this can cause a lack of momentum, and the band can become a little stale. If you’re static for too long or you’re getting nowhere with your efforts, it could be the start of the end.
Exhaustion
On the other hand, if you’re doing too much too quickly, this may cause your group to fall apart. You may continuously be touring or getting trapped in the ‘write-record-promote-tour’ cycle without any breaks. Members might eventually get tired of the grind or be suffering from fatigue, and it’s only a matter of time before someone bows out.
Financial troubles
We hear so often of bands that end prematurely due to money. It is becoming increasingly challenging to fund a musical project and receive some payback to make the band financially viable. Not only can this end a band before they’re ready to go, but it can also cause friction and jealousy, especially if some band members are getting more of a payout than others.
If you think your brand is in jeopardy, it may be time to take a step back to reevaluate. With a chance of a band break up always comes the opportunity of starting a new project – so whether you need new musicians for your new brand or a replacement member for an existing group, BandMix is here!
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