ABC's Making the Band gave viewers the opportunity to see how O-Town, an accumulated group of musicians, could come together and attain fame and fortune. For local musicians, the road to success is not paved with big-time producers and instantaneous record deals. This, however, does not mean it is impossible to make a band in State College — methods just have to be fine-tuned.
Pat Huff (junior—telecommunications) needed only a month to put together a band he had been dreaming about since junior high. Success for him was found in fliers placed around campus and downtown asking to start a punk-emo band.
Huff followed a pattern that had been a mainstay for many that have come before him. After posting ads in various locations, Huff received five calls within the first week responding to his flier.
The now-assembled band has practiced only enough times to count on one hand but is already slated to play its first show — a party at the drummer's house. Armed with a few covers and perhaps one original tune, Huff is ready to take his band, tentatively named Philly Skyline, to wherever it can go.
Other bands can attest to methods used to get a band together, one of which is Seven Souls. Matt Braden, guitarist and vocalist for the band, said that it is important to have a clear vision of "what exactly you want . . . and what your goals are."
Braden started the band by playing at coffee shops for food while friends filled the audience. From there, the band recorded a demo and used it to get shows at local bars. He said he tried to make his band look as professional as possible, using press kits and photos to present the band.
He advises that anyone starting out should not become discouraged if things do not happen right away. Seven Souls even had some shows at its start where the audience was sparse, but Braden said he and his bandmates did not let that hinder their collective drive. They kept their eye on the vision of the band and never looked back, and he encourages others to do the same.
"Don't be afraid to get out there and do it," Braden said. "Just have fun."
The bar owners, however, are as excited about new acts as the musicians themselves. Dave Staab, general manager for Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave, said he does not have any preconceived ideas about bands he books to play at the bar. Determination, Staab said, is the most important quality for a band to have.
"There are no hard set of rules," Staab said. "It all depends on the time of year, how the calendar looks, and . . . what kids are looking for."
Staab advised that new bands should offer themselves up for any opportunity to play live. Playing parties, open-mic nights or even opening for a local, established band will also give a fledgling band a name for itself in the State College scene, and thus a spring board to obtain performances.
"If you offer yourself up to play at a party, when you do get some bar gig, you'll have a following," Staab.
If all else fails, Staab said he'll give a show to anyone that lets him play on stage and showcase his percussion abilities with them.
Huff and his band for now will continue to practice and look ahead to what the future can bring. At the very least, if nothing else comes of this, Huff said he will be content to the moderate amount of rock-stardom that awaits him at his first performance.
"I'm sure I'll be nervous then," Huff said. "But as of now, I'm just really excited."
