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8. Talk it over. Being in a band is like being married to a number of partners at once. It's not easy, but it can work if everyone communicates. Once in awhile you may need to ask (not pry -- there's a difference) what's wrong if a bandmate is struggling with a song, the practice schedule, or with performances. A member may be going through a tough time in their life, or maybe you're the one that's not fitting in. Hopefully someone will care enough to ask what's going on.

9. Cut your losses. If everyone's really trying to work out a particular song, but it just isn't happening, put it on the back burner. You can come back to it a few months later. Some of my band's best songs came about after we'd left them alone for a few weeks. If a song still doesn't work, cut it for good. There are plenty more tunes waiting to be explored. The old expression "polishing a turd" comes to mind. Spend countless hours on a crappy song and you'll still have a crappy song. Cut your losses and refocus those creative juices on another song.

10. Record it! Let everyone know that the musical portions of oractice sessions will be recorded. This serves several purposes: a great source for your band archives, an opportunity to listen to songs to hear how they really sound (once the euphoria dies down), a chance to take notes on what parts of a song you need to work on, and perhaps most importantly, it lets you capture those moments of creative genius such as an informal jam that could be developed into a full-blown original song. Digital multitrack recorders are extremely inexpensive now, so take advantage of it and capture your sessions. Note: if you're auditioning a new member, be sure to ask permission to record first.

11. Be comfortable. The old line about "leave your worries on the door step" apply here. Do whatever it takes to be comfortable while practicing. Maybe that means you eat a meal beforehand, or you show up to practice fifteen minutes early so you don't feel pressured. Or you bring an electric fan to keep cool (or a thermos of coffee to warm you up). Or you put on a pair of comfortable shoes and turn off your cell phone before you walk through the door. You know the material. Your gear is in good mechanical and electrical condition. You play an instrument that you know like the back of your hand. The sound level is right. The PA system sounds great -- especially the mix of your vocal mic.

12. Get to know each other. Have a band meeting at a restaurant, or plan a picnic where you can invite the family members. The idea is to grow together as a musical family. Photo shoots are an example of an opportunity that get the band away from your respective comfort zones. Take a bus, or carpool to a different city or town. Not only will the different surroundings make for great backdrops and photo ops, but the time spent together will help the band to know each other as human beings (not just musicians).

13. Have fun! Once you feel comfortable with your band mates, and know what subjects are taboo, you can start to reap the benefits by having fun with one another. Maybe it's a joke you tell before or during practice. Or bringing an old piece of crap musical instrument for "show and tell." Or playing a prank on a fellow band member (or having one played on you!). Remember the first two Beatles movies? Or the Monkees TV show? It ain't all fun and games, but adding humor to the mix makes for a more enjoyable practice, a better live show, and can keep the band together longer.