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👋 Welcome to The Band Plan!
This guide will help you get started with managing your band, songs, and setlists. Let's walk through the basics step by step.
Quick Start: 5 Steps to Your First Setlist
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Create Your Band
- Click "Bands" in the navigation menu
- Click "Create New Band"
- Enter your band name and save
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Add Songs to Your Band
- Go to your band page
- Click "Songs" tab
- Add songs one at a time, or import from a Google Doc
- Include title, artist, key, tempo, and any notes
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Create a Setlist
- From your band page, click "Create Setlist"
- Give it a name and date
- Add songs from your repertoire
- Organize them into sets (Set 1, Set 2, etc.)
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Use Your Setlist
- Music Stand View: Full-screen lyrics/chords for performing
- Rehearsal View: Access chord charts and documents while practicing
- Audio Playlist: Listen to reference recordings
- Print: Generate PDF for offline use
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Invite Your Band Members
- Go to your band page
- Click "Invite Members"
- Enter their email addresses
- They'll receive an invitation to join
Key Features
📚 Song Management
- Add songs individually with all the details you need
- Import from Google Docs for bulk song entry
- Add links to audio, MIDI, PDFs, YouTube, Spotify
- Tag songs with genres, moods, and custom labels
- Mark favorites and filter your repertoire
- Private songs for personal use
🎵 Setlist Creation
- Drag and drop to reorder songs
- Multiple sets (Set 1, Set 2, Encore, etc.)
- Quick filters to find songs by key, tempo, or tag
- Copy setlists to reuse for similar gigs
- Finalize to lock and preserve your setlist
🎤 Performance Views
- Music Stand: Clean, full-screen view for performing
- Rehearsal View: Access to all your charts and documents
- Audio Playlist: Play through your songs with reference tracks
- YouTube Playlist: Watch performances
- MIDI Playlist: Play backing tracks
- Lead Sheets: Print-friendly PDF charts
📄 Gig Documents
- Create chord charts for any song
- Format with sections (Verse, Chorus, Bridge)
- Print view for paper copies
- Share with band for collaboration
🎙️ Recording
- Record directly in browser during your gig
- Upload existing recordings (MP3, WAV, etc.)
- Split into songs with visual waveform editor
- Link to setlist for easy playback
Tips for Success
💡 Best Practices
- Keep your song data complete - Add keys, tempos, and notes
- Use consistent naming - Makes searching and filtering easier
- Add links early - Audio, MIDI, and PDFs help you prepare
- Test before the gig - Make sure everything works in performance mode
- Invite your band early - Get everyone collaborating from the start
- Create template setlists - Copy and modify for similar gigs
Next Steps
Now that you understand the basics, explore these guides for more details:
- Songs & Setlists Guide - Master song organization
- Recording Instructions - Capture your performances
- Gig Documents Guide - Create chord charts
- Band Management - Collaborate effectively
🎉 You're Ready!
You now know the basics of The Band Plan. Start by creating your band and adding a few songs. The rest will follow naturally as you explore the features. Happy gigging!