If you’re still playing gigs for exposure or a couple of hundred in cash in 2025, you’re not just selling yourself short. You’re setting your whole band up for burnout and bullshit.

STEP 1: KNOW YOUR MINIMUM (AND STICK TO IT)

Every band needs a hard floor, a minimum fee that makes it worth loading your gear, driving across town and pouring sweat onto the stage. If you don’t have one, then you’re already losing. Seriously, forget what the other bands are charging. That’s of no concern. Ask yourself “how much should my band charge?”, then set your own minimum gig fee and never apologise for it.

STEP 2: DON’T BE AFRAID TO WALK AWAY

Venues will try it on. Private clients might plead poverty. But your job is to say no to bad deals, and mean it. The bands who get paid what they’re worth are the ones who walk away from the bullshit. If your inbox is full of “but it’ll be great exposure!” then you’re fishing in the wrong pond.

Want to know the lines that shut down chancers and get you respect? That’s all in my book – and trust me, you’ll use them.

STEP 3: CONTRACTS AREN’T OPTIONAL

If you’re still booking gigs with nothing but a Facebook message and a prayer, you’re playing with fire. A simple contract or gig agreement is your shield. It covers your fee, timings, cancellation terms and all the little details that keep you from getting stiffed.

Want a ready-to-use band gig contract template? You know where to find it. (Hint: it’s in the Band Bunker section of my book, Your Band Is A War Machine.)

STEP 4: SPLIT THE CASH, DON’T SPLIT UP THE BAND

Money arguments kill more bands than a drummer with a heroin habit. Decide up front whether you’re splitting everything evenly or paying for the hours put in behind the scenes. Keep it transparent, keep it fair and keep it simple. No one wants to be in a band where payday feels like a knife fight.

STEP 5: ALWAYS LEVEL UP

The best bands don’t just play more gigs. They play better gigs, for better money, and they keep on rising. That means building a reputation, owning your scene and knowing when to push your rates higher. If you want to go from pub king to power player, then you need a strategic plan.

Hey, and guess what? Yup, that plan is in Your Band Is A War Machine. The book is packed with real-world tactics, savage stories and the exact tools you need to get paid what you’re worth, every single time.

Let’s get one thing straight: your band name isn’t just a tag. It’s your war cry, your brand, your first shot fired in the fight for attention.

1. MAKE YOUR BAND NAME SCREAM YOUR GENRE

Don’t call your metal band “Sunshine Davey and the Daisies” and don’t call your slick funk band “The Death Rattle Bastards”. Your band name should punch people in the face and make them understand your sound before they’ve even heard a note. And, yeah, you can use the word “Cover” or “Covers” in your name, as that’s what your band does. Just don’t make it some cheesy shit. Let’s learn from some original bands.

Metal: Black Sabbath (dark, heavy, legendary)

Indie/Alt: Wolf Alice (fierce, memorable, modern)

2. GET PERSONAL, BUT DON’T BE BORING

Nobody gives a fuck about “The John Smith Band” unless John Smith is about to set the stage on fire by lighting his own farts. Still, using your names or initials can work if you do it right.

Bon Jovi (iconic, simple and all about the frontman’s swagger)

Haim (family and weird/cool-sounding)

Van Halen (family name, world domination)

3. SYMBOLS, METAPHORS & IMAGERY

Go big or go home. Your band name should paint a picture or spark a reaction. Don’t settle for bland.

Radiohead (tech, alienation)

Pearl Jam (rare, valuable, a bit mysterious)

Royal Blood (sounds like a threat and a promise)

Cage the Elephant (what the actual??)

Think about what your music stands for. What image do you want burned into people’s brains?

4. SMASH WORDS TOGETHER & BREAK THE RULES

The best band names are the ones nobody saw coming. Mix, match and mash up those words until something legendary sticks.

Queens of the Stone Age (epic, slightly ridiculous)

Red Hot Chili Peppers (kinda random words, now world-famous)

Death Cab for Cutie (weird as hell, but impossible to forget)

5. STEAL FROM BOOKS, ART & FILM, BUT DO IT BETTER

Rip your name out of a novel, a painting or a cult film, but make sure it fits your vibe. Got a wild story? Then use it. “My Chemical Romance” came from a book title spotted by the bassist. That’s how you make it personal and interesting, not just lazy.

Joy Division (dark, historical and instantly memorable)

Florence + The Machine (sounds like a graphic novel)

Bastille (history, but now a festival staple)

If you’re going to borrow, then borrow with swagger.

6. REPRESENT YOUR HOMETOWN (OR NOT)

Location-based names work if you’ve got pride and a story.

Alabama Shakes (no prizes for guessing where they’re from)

Miami Sound Machine (same deal)

Linkin Park (inspired by Lincoln Park in Santa Monica, California)

…those dudes actually changed the spelling so they could buy the domain, since lincolnpark.com was already taken and it was way too expensive to buy from the people who owned it.

But don’t just slap your city on your name unless it means something. “London Band” isn’t going to do shit for your cut through.

7. USE THE DAMN INTERNET & BAND NAME GENERATORS

Yes, you can use online band name generators. But don’t be a robot, tweak the results until it fits you. Plug in your genre, your vibe or your weirdest inside joke and see what comes out. Then make it better.

Maybe give this band name generator a shot, it’s pretty decent, with loads of options.

8. MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE OWNS IT (SERIOUSLY)

This is where a lot of bands fuck it all up. Be like Linkin Park and Google your name. Check Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Look up the domain. If it’s taken, move on. Don’t be the tenth “Midnight Drive” this week or you’re heading for a whole world of dull, monotonous shit.

9. BONUS: DON’T OVERTHINK IT

Some of the best band names started as jokes or last-minute decisions. What matters is that it feels right, stands out and isn’t already taken by a polka tribute act based out of Scarborough.

BAND NAME IDEAS BY GENRE (BECAUSE YOU ASKED)

Fuck it, here are a few band names to get you moving in the right direction:

Alt-Rock: Dead City Saints, Static Revolt, Riot Banner, Covering Fire

Funk: Groove Grenade, Voodoo Voltage, The Bassline Syndicate

Indie: Neon Wasteland, Velvet Outlaws, Paper Wolves

Metal: Hell’s Engine, The Skull Covers, Blackened Halo

Pop: Electric Honey, Sugar & Covers, Neon Echoes

Punk: Broken Banner, The Riot Routine, Snarl & Glory

I have no idea if these are already taken, I’m just throwing them out there for you to riff off as a starting point.

If you want to build a band that hits harder than a triple shot of tequila at last orders, then you need to keep on reading.

WHY BAND CHEMISTRY MAKES OR BREAKS A LIVE BAND

Band chemistry is more than just getting along. It’s what turns a group of half-decent musos into a savage, must-see live act. When your band chemistry is on point, rehearsals become addictive, gigs turn into unforgettable nights, and your band reputation grows with every show. And let’s be honest, if you’re not getting rebooked or talked about, you’re doing something wrong.

THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF KILLER BAND DYNAMICS

Shared Vision & Goals for Your Cover Band

If your band members aren’t all aiming for the same goals, you’re just spinning your wheels. Are you gigging for the love of playing live music, or do you want to headline festivals and become a top-tier cover band? If you’re not all in, you’re out. Get crystal clear on your band goals, and make sure everyone signs up for the same journey. Otherwise, you’ll end up dragging dead weight and resenting every minute.

Mutual Respect Among Band Members

No room for egos here. Respect each other’s skills, ideas and creative tangents. The best band dynamics come from being able to argue hard, then grab a pint together after. If you can’t do that, your band chemistry will fall apart. If someone’s a dickhead, call it out early. It only gets worse.

Open Communication in Bands

Say what you mean. Don’t let problems rot in the dark. Open communication is essential for building band chemistry that actually lasts. Bottling stuff up? That’s how bands explode mid-gig and end up slagging each other off in the group chat. Silence is the real killer, so make sure you talk, argue, sort your shit, and move on.

Complementary Personalities in Bands

You don’t need clones. The best live bands have a mix of personalities that spark off each other. The right tension creates energy on stage; the wrong mix leads to public meltdowns and a bad band reputation. You want fireworks, not a funeral.

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BANDMATES & BUILD REAL CHEMISTRY

Jam Sessions

No-pressure jams are the fastest way to see if the vibe is there. Chemistry beats technical perfection every time.

Hang Out Offstage

If you can’t stand each other offstage, don’t expect magic onstage. Band chemistry is forged in the downtime. If you wouldn’t share a kebab with them at 2am, why the hell are you sharing a stage?

Trial Runs

For new members, book a few rehearsals or low-stakes gigs before making it official. If someone phones it in, cut them loose, because your band’s success depends on it. Don’t waste six months hoping someone will “grow into it.” They won’t.

HOW TO BUILD BAND CHEMISTRY THAT LASTS

Set Roles & Expectations for Band Members

Spell out who’s handling social media, who’s booking gigs, who’s running the setlist. No one likes surprises, unless it’s free beer. If someone dodges responsibility, they’re dead weight.

Regular Band Rehearsals

If you’re rehearsing, make them a top priority. A successful cover band treats every rehearsal like it’s the main event. If you’re just dicking about, you’re wasting everyone’s time. You may as well not fucking bother.

Debrief & Celebrate

After every gig or practice, talk honestly about what worked and what sucked ass. Celebrate the wins, because shared victories are the glue for your band dynamics. And don’t just pat each other on the back for turning up. Demand better.

Stay Flexible

Songs and setlists will evolve. Adapt or get left behind. If you’re still playing the same tired set from three years ago, you deserve to get left in the dust.

Do Stuff Outside the Band

Go drinking, hit up a curry house, share memes. The best cover bands are gangs, not boardrooms. If you’re not mates, you’re just colleagues, and who actually likes their colleagues?

THE BRUTAL TRUTHS ABOUT BUILDING A GREAT BAND

Build a Shared Playlist

Find out what fires up your bandmates. If someone’s taste makes you want to puke, better to know now. But don’t be a music snob, some of the best bands are a Frankenstein’s monster of influences. You can be all about punk and still have a bassist who worships Stevie Wonder, as long as nobody’s a diva about it.

Here’s the deal, people can have different tastes in a cover band and still be chill, as long as everyone’s in it for the right reasons and nobody’s trying to hijack the setlist at every rehearsal. If someone’s obsessed with prog rock and you’re all about three-chord chaos, it’s only a problem if they’re sulking every time you don’t play a 12-minute epic.

The bottom line is that diversity in taste can make your band a weapon, not a weakness. Just don’t let it turn into a civil war over every song choice. If you can laugh about it, rip each other a bit, and still smash the gig together, you’re golden.

Keep Checking Your Compass

Band goals change. Make sure you’re still on the same road, or someone is going to bail. If you’re not brutally honest about this, you’ll wake up one day and half the band will have ghosted you.

HANDLING BAND FIGHTS & CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Every band fights. The trick is to sort it before it festers and ruins your band reputation. Don’t sulk or ghost, you have got to deal with it face-to-face. If you need a referee, bring in a mate you trust. Just don’t let small stuff turn into a band-ending grudge. If you can’t handle a row, you’re not cut out for this. Grow up, sort it, move on.