So I'm In A New Town

BassPushesAir · #1 11-09-2009, 02:24 PM

Well, i've been living in San Francisco for around two months. I don't really know a lot of people, which i feel is halting my musical progress. I'm having a hard time meeting people who aren't already in bands or who like to go to live shows as much as I do.
So can anyone give me advice on how to get on the music scene when you don't know many people or many of the hotspots for music? & if i did find shows, would it be weird if i just went by myself when everyone who's there is in a group?

UncleFluffy · #2 11-09-2009, 02:37 PM

In SF:

- check out Craigslist for band stuff
- grab the SF Weekly and/or Bay Guardian from the street dispensers for event listings (new editions are out on Wednesdays, I think)
- head down to Amoeba Music on Haight/Stanyan and look at flyers around there

If you add regular musician flakiness to regular California flakiness you can guess how the music scene here can get at times.

BassPushesAir · #3 11-13-2009, 12:22 AM

what about going to shows by yourself to meet people? anyone had success doing this? my past experiences, i've went with a friend and everyone else is just really into the music too much to be open to talk.

ggunn · #4 11-13-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassPushesAir

Well, i've been living in San Francisco for around two months. I don't really know a lot of people, which i feel is halting my musical progress. I'm having a hard time meeting people who aren't already in bands or who like to go to live shows as much as I do.
So can anyone give me advice on how to get on the music scene when you don't know many people or many of the hotspots for music? & if i did find shows, would it be weird if i just went by myself when everyone who's there is in a group?

Surely a town like San Francisco has places that have Open Mic Nights, doesn't it? There's gotta be 10 or so here in Austin.

kesslari · #5 11-13-2009, 05:26 PM

Going to shows to meet which people? You can certainly talk to the band. Meeting other folks at the show - harder, at least for me.

Craigslist - get out and do some auditions and jams. Some will be turds. Some will connect you with one or more good players, and those connections, once made, multiply.
Jam sessions - there are a few blues jams in the bay area. Again - you'll encounter some turds and some gems. Bypass the turds, connect with the gems.