One of the most important, yet most often forgotten steps in the process of forming a band is the initial brainstorming and conceptualization process. There's a lot to consider, so I'll jump right in:
Questions to Ask Yourself
How Serious Are You?
One thing you must consider is your desired end result. There's absolutely nothing wrong with simply gathering a few of your musician buddies a couple times a month to just jam out for a few hours. However, some people are not satisfied with the confines of the garage and want to take their act to the stage and make a career out of it. Knowing this ahead of time is crucial in deciding your course of action as well as in the process of finding band mates.
What Kind(s) of Music Will You Play?
How to represent your vision stylistically is one of the most important things to take under consideration when forming your band. If you're looking to form an '80s hair metal cover band, you're going to take a very different approach than someone who's shooting for their own original idea and sound.
Get a Deal, or DIY?
This is a much more common question today than, say, 15 years ago. If you were to start a band in 1995, unless you were "found" and promoted by a record label, chances are you would be bound to spend your musical career in complete obscurity. Now, the internet has given musicians a way to promote and peddle their wares to the masses without necessarily needing any help from the big record companies. This section can (and probably will) warrant its own post in the future, as there's so much to think about when deciding whether to shoot for a deal or do it yourself.
Who's In Charge of...?
...writing songs, promotion, booking shows, etc.? The list of duties required of band mates (especially those who choose to go the "Indie" or DIY routes) can be seemingly endless. If you're not much of a songwriter, then it would be a good idea to consider that when looking for band mates. Are you going to need a manager to book shows, or will you and/or your band mates have the connections and know-how to take care of it yourselves? Knowledge of your own skills -- and maybe more importantly, shortfalls -- gives you a pretty good idea where to look for help, and what little "extras" you may want to look for in a band member.
Based on your own experience, what do you think are the most important questions to ask when starting a band?
Next: Recruiting Band Members
"Shining Brain" Photo By: Artem Chernyshevych
"Punk Rock" Photo By: Erik Urgiles
And yes! Definitely decide who is in charge of what! As you say, this can help you figure out what to look for in a band member (besides, you know, musical ability of course). This step is also really important if the band is going to be handling book, promotion, etc in-house. It is helpful for all of the people who need to communicate with the band to have one point of contact. It is less confusing for them and it helps stop things from slipping through the cracks on the band's end ("But I thought you were going to confirm that show!").
Great advice, Ryan!