Rules for most Portland bands I see, besides doom metal. Soundcheck for 20 mins and have all your friends come up to you and tell you how great you are.(They're lying).While were at it, play with your stage outfit and/or hairstyle. Or every song you play could sound the same. Or you have at least one female member in your band. If you don't have a female, at least one member has facial hair. Or your merch/gimmick has to make up for the fact your sound sucks.Pretty much concerned with everything else except the music. "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The answer is, "Practice".