In garages and basements all over the world, amazing bands are practicing, writing, and developing their own styles. Some of these could become hitmakers or achieve heavy rotation on your iTunes playlist. But you also might never hear them, because they can’t get out of that garage. Due to youth, a lack of experience, or a lack of leadership, these bands aren't getting booked consistently and nobody is hearing them. That’s because no one in the band is taking charge of the non-musical things that keep bands playing out.

During a live gig, the relationship between the artist and audience is beyond that of simply performer and observer. Physically and emotionally, there's little separation between both parties and a huge deal of direct interaction, both explicit and subliminal. Self-assurance is essential and, as with so much in life, confidence is the key. If a band looks like they're enjoying their music and project a sense of confidence, that will convince a crowd as much as their material will. Conversely, bands that look shy and embarrassed will make the crowd feel awkward, and that negative emotion becomes associated with their music.

Building a dedicated fanbase is a vital part of sustaining a music career. Every person who shows that they truly believe in your music will make a difference in the long run. However, many bands often make the assumption that once they gain a fan, they’ve automatically acquired a lifetime’s worth of support. This is not the right attitude to have! The top mistake bands make right after gaining a fan is thinking they don’t need to work to keep that fan. It takes a lot of effort to keep your fanbase consistently engaged, especially when you consider how many different artists the average music fan listens to.

The road to finding great bandmates can be long and tiring. With inevitably lots of turnover, trial and error, and silly disagreements, you'll eventually find the right talent for the job. But know that not only is your struggle real, it's also hilarious, as we all seem to meet the same types of musicians on this journey to finding the perfect bandmates.

Whenever you book a gig at a fresh venue, you’re on a learning curve. Circumstances are different in every room and if you don’t know the deal, the night can go off the rails before you hit the first downbeat. As any well-gigged player will tell you, gathering a little information ahead of time can prevent some big headaches.

A band is simultaneously a friendship, a collaborative partnership and a business. Although it might be less personal and intimate than a romantic relationship, it is quite possibly more complicated. That's because there are usually more than two people involved, and everyone has an opinion. We are artists after all, so being sensitive and having opinions come with the territory of creating things.

Some people are born with an innate sense of confidence that they carry with them through life. For others, confidence is trait that has to be won in battle. Among all of the talent that exists in the world and the unfortunate realities of the music industry, it's easy for somebody who doesn't have innate confidence to feel intimidated. Below are six tips on what to do when your confidence starts to falter, and what you can do to improve the confidence you already have.

Too many people fail to see the bigger picture of life as a musician and the miserable state of the industry. If you are one of these people and catch yourself feeling in some way cheerful, stop right away and follow this simple 12 step plan to guarantee your return to a completely horrid existence on this miserable rock. Warning: Contains strong language. If you don’t like that, then you should probably still read on anyway as it will just give you more reasons to be pissed off.