The Band Girlfriend Checklist

When I was younger, I always wanted to date a guy in a band. Now that I am dating a guy in a band, I realize there is much more to it than love songs and cutesy guitar playing. Ladies, a lot goes into being a band girlfriend. Band boys, you better thank your band girlfriend after you read this.

Band girlfriends are basically the designated drivers, roadies, photographers, videographers, merch girls, and occasional cooks, all wrapped up into one person.

I'm lucky because my man candy's band doesn't play too many gigs and is just for fun, so my job is fairly easy. Dating a member of a touring band or somewhat popular band comes with a whole different set of issues. But for now, all I can give you is a checklist on how to be the best damn band girlfriend in the world.

1. Know the equipment: Being a band girlfriend requires helping the band load/unload, or mostly standing there while they unload, but you have to be able to hop in and find things when necessary. Know what your man's microphone looks like—not a euphemism—and you could be the one that stops it from getting stolen after a show.

2. Get your photo on: I am a very, very amateur photographer, but being there to take pictures of your man's band is important. Years from now, he might thank you when they are playing at the Pepsi Center. Just kidding, he'll never be famous. But he still will appreciate the photos and videos you take. So practice in low light and learn how to brighten photos in Photoshop.

3. Be prepared for anything and everything: Dating a guy in a band is mostly fun, but then you find yourself driving four drunk boys home from Fort Collins at 2 a.m. Or you spend Saturday night by yourself eating cereal for dinner because the band is in the studio. Prepare yourself for anything and don't get too stressed out.

There are many other things that go into dating a guy in a band—like listening to the band's new mixes over and over for days until you have nightmares about it—but this list covers some basics. Band boys, don't forget to dedicate a song to girls like this, because we work just as hard as you.