4 Attributes of a Great Side Person
I’ve been playing in rock bands for more than twenty years. Most of that time I’ve been the leader of the band; the singer; the front man. It sure is fun but it has its own challenges. Being the front man taught me how important great side people are. I’ve actually been a side person too – a drummer in several bands. So, I’ve gleaned a little bit of wisdom about being a good side person and I know that really great side people are hard to come by. They probably won’t be in the spotlight very much and they won’t be asked to do interviews. But that’s OK because they don’t need their ego stroked. They live for the music – for making the song sound great. A good side person is usually a true musician. Over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate good side people as much as charismatic front people. Here are four things that truly great side people have mastered:
Listening
They listen to everything. They listen to the parts of the song and they listen to the front man. They are willing to adjust to their leader’s ideas, even if they don’t agree with them. Sacrificing your own opinion to please your leader doesn’t mean you’re a door mat, it just means you can see the bigger picture and you know you don’t need to inject your own vision onto everything. Going with the flow is the name of the game and following your front man’s lead ultimately makes for a better show.
Dynamics
Because they are a good listener, a side person knows how loud a part needs to be – or if they need to play at all! Often, you’ll see a good side person not playing anything; that shows true restraint! But when they lay out of a section, they know they’ll have the opportunity to make a big impact when they come back in.
It’s all about blending with the rest of the band. A good side guitarist gets friendly with their volume knob, adjusting the volume and working with the vocalist to make the lyrics stand out. Working together the rest of the band can get the sound and visual dynamics perfect. A side person lays low behind the spotlight when the singer is delivering an emotional line. But they also take their turn in the spotlight – stepping up when it’s their time to shine – and their showmanship and musicality can truly be appreciated.
Simplify
A good side person knows how to simplify a part. Maybe only two notes are needed – or just a little lick to answer a vocal line. And, again, maybe nothing is best.
They simplify the parts in the music, but they also simplify their needs on stage – come with the appropriate amount of gear –ask for what they need, but are not demanding. There is no need for a huge ego and a bunch of unnecessary demands when it comes to performing. This is good advice for front people, too.
Good side people save their antics for their performance. They don’t give the sound man a hard time. They work with the venue, manager, agent and any other people in the mix.
Always do what’s best for your audience. If there’s a big ego in the room, you don’t have to let them step on you, but keep things in perspective. The audience don’t need to know that the singer decided to have a tantrum at sound check. The personalities involved have little significance in the big picture so keep the music at the forefront.
Bonus Tip: Have a Good Contract
If you’re a side person, protect yourself up front by having a solid contract in place. Name your price and collect it at the end of the night. For multiple shows sign a contract to ensure you get paid. Lay low and play your part during the performance, but when it’s time to get your reward, make sure you get it with no hesitation. Don’t think because you are a side person you are dispensable. You may not always be in the spotlight, but you are an integral part of the performance and you should be well compensated for your role.
