Musicians are like dogs.

First of all, a disclaimer: as a musician and dog lover myself, I mean for that statement to be a little flip. But there’s real truth there, and understanding this will make every one of your interactions with musicians go more smoothly onstage, in rehearsal, or in the studio.

Put aside the obvious jokes about shedding and the desire to be loved. To musicians, “shedding” means practicing, as in “going out to the woodshed to practice”… and we all want to be loved, right? This article is really about leadership, and how to get what you want as an artist from the musicians you work with.
Here’s the key point: if you don’t know what you want or how to communicate it, you won’t get it. Whether you see yourself as an “entertainer/front-person” or not, if you perform supported by others you are the focal point on stage to both the audience and the band. Not just visually as the person in the center, but in terms of onstage dynamics….everything that happens onstage is led in some way by your body language and explicit or implicit direction. The leader of every ensemble gathers and channels the energy of the band: like the lead dog in a sled race, you point the way and move the group ahead.
First and foremost, know how to give cues. You want to be able to let the band know when you’re about to sing, when sections of the song will change, and when and how to end. Most of this is worked out in rehearsal or written into the charts, but even so you need to be able to take the reins onstage. There’s lots of ways to do this, and you can find one that suits your performing style. When James Brown screamed out “take it to the bridge!” it sounded cool and fit perfectly with his vocal style, but he was also telling the band to go to the next section of the song.

If you’re a songwriter you already understand the importance of song form and structure, but you may not have thought much about the parts of the song that don’t involve a lyric. It’s important to be able to FEEL how long an 8-bar intro is, or know what the words “turnaround” or “tag” mean to musicians. Be clear on whether you start right with the band or whether they play an intro. If they do play an intro, know how long it lasts and when your vocal is supposed to begin. Know what key you sing the song in, and how to “count off” the tempo at the beginning to show how fast or slow you want it. Even better, learn to read and write charts, or at least learn how to follow the form or “map” of a tune from a chart. You don’t have to know more than a tiny bit of music theory, just a few basic principles (starting with how to count to four!) If you can do that, you’re already on your way.
Being solidly in command of these things allows you to speak the same language as the musicians who back you. This will not only earn you more respect but make them enjoy working with you more. Like dogs, most musicians are happiest when they know exactly what is expected of them….which means you need to be able to communicate effectively.

There’s a flip side of this, though….you shouldn’t need to micro-manage players to get what you want. If your directions are clear and you are in command of your role as leader, good musicians will know what to do and deliver what you need. If that’s not happening, you may not be working with the right people. Some dogs are stubborn and hard to lead. Some lack the training necessary to understand the commands. It’s not up to you to do the training, but to assess the personality and skill level of the people you work with. A skilled person accustomed to leading who is not receiving clear direction may quickly grow frustrated. A skilled side player accustomed to following will expect to be led or they won’t be able to deliver what you need. Happy musicians play better, bring more energy, and raise the level of the whole experience for you, them, and the audience. Just like happy dogs.