Since time immemorial, human beings have been forming bands. From acoustic guitar & basses made from tea chests & brooms to the current days’ sophisticated gear, the intent of playing music has always been to have fun & maybe even make it to the big time.

The type of band largely depends on the style of music played by them. For example, jazz, needs the underpinning of bass & drums to hold things together as the lead instruments improvise whereas for a group working more on the electronic edge, samplers along with keyboards that offer a wider range of instrumental colors are often part of the arsenal.

The aim, ultimately, is to have fun making some music. Hence the level of ability isn't that important a factor.

Traditionally, bands have initially been put together by friends, school or college mates, social circle, or simply people who know each other. The rehearsal process can become quite fraught, & if tempers flare easily, the band can quickly disintegrate. Hence, it helps if all the members of the group are people who get along well with each other.

What the band seek, as much as anything, is the right chemistry between the members. That's an intangible factor, but vitally important. It means all the members are on the same wavelength, with the same commitment to the group, whether you're simply playing for pleasure or with the determination to reach the top.

There are several ways to asses & experience this. One is that the person can jam, or improvise, with the band on a piece familiar to all. That has the advantage of testing the versatility of the new person, especially important if they're a lead instrumentalist, & it's a technique that works well with jazz groups.

The other main idea is to see how the new person fits in with the band's original music - Especially important for a group with complex arrangements & it also works well for auditioning bass & drums. Sending them a CD beforehand gives the applicants time to become familiar with the song(s) & listening into the music will help them know how they fit in. In addition to being able to play the parts, hopefully they should be able to bring something new of their own to the piece.

Keeping the Band Together can be the trickiest part. Members leave for a number of reasons - family, school, work, all the many ways real life can intrude upon music !

Honesty is the best policy. Being honest with each others expectations from the band helps. If one person wants a professional career & the others are happy simply jamming up for fun, there will be immediate tensions. There has to be a give & take bonding between members. Developing an elastic & realistic rehearsal schedule, will help forgive a member or another who can't occasionally attend.

Just like most things in life, Bands have a lifespan too - they have a time when they end. That can be hard to accept, especially if band has been together for a while & the group consists of old friends. However, letting it go & holding on to the memories can be as important as putting it together in the first place.