Starting a band in a church hall or garage

Most bands don't start on a stage. They start in a garage with a borrowed drum kit, or in the back room of a church hall on a Tuesday night, with three people who can sort of play and one who definitely can't yet. That's normal, and honestly it's the best bit. This guide covers the practical stuff that trips up new bands in Aotearoa: getting gear without spending a fortune, sharing a space politely, sorting out who wrote what, and where to get proper help when you're ready.

Gear on a budget

You don't need a lot to start. You need enough to hear each other.

The basics

• Instruments you already have. Start with whatever the group owns. A band with an acoustic guitar, a keyboard and a cajón is still a band.
• Amps. Small practice amps are fine for a garage. If you're in a hall, there may already be a PA or amps you can use. Ask before you plug in.
• Drums. The loudest and most expensive problem. Options include a second-hand kit, an electronic kit (much quieter, and handy for flats), or sharing with another band.
• A simple PA or powered speaker so the vocalist isn't shouting over everything.
• Cables, stands and spare strings. Boring, cheap and the first things to go missing.

Where to find it

• Second-hand listings and local music shops often have trade-in gear.
• Some music shops hire out amps and PAs by the day.
• Schools and youth programmes sometimes lend gear or have rehearsal rooms.
• Ask around. Older musicians often have a cupboard of things they'd happily lend a young band.

Test second-hand gear before you buy it. Plug it in, turn every knob, wiggle every cable.

Sharing a hall: rehearsal etiquette

If you're rehearsing in a church hall, community hall or school room, you're a guest. Being a good one is how you keep the space.

Booking

• Book properly, even if you know someone. Find out who manages the bookings and use their system.
• Be clear about times, including setup and pack-down. If you've booked until 9pm, be out the door by 9pm, not starting to pack up.
• Ask about costs. Some halls are free for youth groups, some charge a small fee, and some will swap for helping out at events.
• Check the rules on food, drink, furniture, power use and locking up.

Noise and neighbours

Halls and garages usually have neighbours. A few habits go a long way:

• Keep volume sensible, especially in the evening. Turn amps down and let the drummer play lighter for run-throughs.
• Close doors and windows while you play.
• Finish at a reasonable hour. If the hall has a curfew, respect it.
• Introduce yourselves to the closest neighbours if you're using a garage regularly. People are far more patient with a band they've met.
• If someone complains, take it seriously. Adjust times or volume rather than arguing.

Leaving it better than you found it

Put chairs and tables back, take your rubbish, wind up cables, and check you've turned off everything you turned on. Report anything you broke. A band that leaves a hall tidy tends to get rebooked.

Running a good rehearsal

• Have a plan. Pick two or three songs to work on, not the whole set.
• Tune up before the start time.
• Record rehearsals on a phone. Listening back is the quickest way to improve.
• Talk about problems, not people. "The chorus feels rushed" lands better than "you're rushing".
• Take breaks. Ears and tempers both get tired.

Splitting songwriting credit

This is the conversation most new bands avoid, and the one that causes the most fallouts later. Have it early, while everyone still likes each other.

A song usually has two parts that can be owned: the music (melody, chords, structure) and the lyrics. Under New Zealand copyright law, a song is protected as soon as it's written down or recorded, so you don't need to file anything for copyright to exist.

Some common ways bands split credit:

• Equal split: every song is credited to every member equally. Simple, and good for keeping the peace.
• Contribution-based: whoever wrote the parts gets credit, in agreed percentages. Fairer for some bands, but it needs honest conversations about each song.
• Mixed: songs one person brings in finished are theirs; songs built together in the room are shared.

There's no right answer. What matters is that you agree, write it down (a shared note everyone has signed off on is better than nothing), and update it as new songs come along. If someone leaves the band, a clear record avoids a lot of grief.

Registering your songs with APRA AMCOS

Once your songs are being played in public, at gigs, on the radio or online, it's worth looking at APRA AMCOS. It's the organisation that collects royalties for songwriters and publishers in New Zealand and Australia. Songwriters join and register their songs with it, and it then collects money when those songs are performed or broadcast and passes it on to the writers.

A few things to know:

• Registering a song with APRA AMCOS is about getting paid, not about getting copyright. You already have copyright.
• You list each writer and their share when you register, so your credit agreement comes in handy here.
• Members can report their live performances, including cover songs, so the right writers get paid.

Search for APRA AMCOS New Zealand to find its current membership details and how to register works.

Help from the NZ Music Commission

The NZ Music Commission is a government-funded organisation that supports New Zealand music, and it has a lot of free material for new musicians:

• Resources for artists and young musicians, including songwriting guides and tips aimed at people just starting out.
• MusicLaw, a free one-off consultation with a lawyer for New Zealand musicians who need legal advice. Useful if you're ever asked to sign a contract.
• Musicians Mentoring in Schools, where professional musicians work with students from Years 7 to 13. Ask your music teacher whether your school takes part.

Playing your first gig

When you've got four or five songs you can play without stopping, it's time to find a show. Church events, school concerts, community festivals and all-ages gigs are all good first stages. If you're under 18, be aware that in licensed bars with a supervised area, under-18s can only perform there with a parent or legal guardian, so all-ages and community venues are usually easier.

Wherever you start, the main thing is to keep turning up to rehearsal. For more on music in Aotearoa, have a look at our music hub.