diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/band.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/band.rb
index 47ba88455..500b7eab3 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/band.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/band.rb
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ module JamRuby
     include HtmlSanitize
       html_sanitize strict: [:biography, :website, :name]
 
-    attr_accessible :name, :website, :biography, :city, :state, 
+    attr_accessible :name, :website, :biography, :city, :state,
     :country, :original_fpfile_photo, :cropped_fpfile_photo, :cropped_large_fpfile_photo,
     :cropped_s3_path_photo, :cropped_large_s3_path_photo, :crop_selection_photo, :photo_url, :large_photo_url,
-    :band_type, :band_status, :concert_count, :add_new_members, :play_commitment, :touring_option, :paid_gigs, 
+    :band_type, :band_status, :concert_count, :add_new_members, :play_commitment, :touring_option, :paid_gigs,
     :free_gigs, :hourly_rate, :gig_minimum
 
     attr_accessor :updating_photo, :skip_location_validation, :skip_genre_validation
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ module JamRuby
       band = id.blank? ? Band.new : Band.find(id)
 
       # ensure user updating Band details is a Band member
-      unless band.new_record? || band.users.exists?(user)        
+      unless band.new_record? || band.users.exists?(user)
         raise JamPermissionError, ValidationMessages::USER_NOT_BAND_MEMBER_VALIDATION_ERROR
       end
 
@@ -205,15 +205,17 @@ module JamRuby
       band.concert_count = params[:concert_count] if params.has_key?(:concert_count)
       band.play_commitment = params[:play_commitment] if params.has_key?(:play_commitment)
 
-      if params.has_key?(:genres) && params[:genres]
+      if params[:validate_genres]
         # loop through each genre in the array and save to the db
         genres = []
-        params[:genres].each { |genre_id| genres << Genre.find(genre_id) }
+        params[:genres].each { |genre_id| genres << Genre.find(genre_id) } if params[:genres].present?
         band.genres = genres
+        band.skip_genre_validation = false
+      else
+        params[:validate_genres]
+        band.skip_genre_validation = true
       end
 
-      band.skip_genre_validation = true unless params[:validate_genres]
-       
       unless band.new_record?
         OnlinePresence.delete_all(["player_id = ?", band.id])
         PerformanceSample.delete_all(["player_id = ?", band.id])
@@ -222,7 +224,7 @@ module JamRuby
       online_presences = params[:online_presences]
       if online_presences.present?
         online_presences.each do |op|
-          new_presence = OnlinePresence.create(band, op, false)      
+          new_presence = OnlinePresence.create(band, op, false)
           band.online_presences << new_presence
         end
       end
@@ -230,15 +232,15 @@ module JamRuby
       performance_samples = params[:performance_samples]
       if performance_samples.present?
         performance_samples.each do |ps|
-          band.performance_samples << PerformanceSample.create(band, ps, false)                
+          band.performance_samples << PerformanceSample.create(band, ps, false)
         end
       end
-    
+
       band
     end
 
     # helper method for creating / updating a Band
-    def self.save(user, params)      
+    def self.save(user, params)
       band = build_band(user, params)
 
       if band.save
@@ -296,7 +298,7 @@ module JamRuby
 
     def check_lat_lng
       if (city_changed? || state_changed? || country_changed?)
-        update_lat_lng 
+        update_lat_lng
       end
       true
     end