Finding A Band.

ErikP.Bass · #1 12-14-2011, 07:28 PM

Anyone have any tips for finding a band to play with? I am convinced that craigslist is not the way to go. It seems it is the same folks looking and a lot of times just startups. I'm located just south of Boston, MA. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

nun lover · #2 12-14-2011, 11:04 PM

i've seen a ton of local original bands sprout up and start gigging & recording but they seem to originate from an incestuous group of musicians. for example: guitarists that sing and play guitar in one band, then play drums in another band (other band being members from other bands) and so on...just find a way into any band and network with people i guess. that's sort of how my band was completed. i found my guitarist on craigslist and my singer and drummer are borrowed from other bands. we all play shows together.

guy n. cognito · #3 12-14-2011, 11:13 PM

Have you tried a site like bandmix or a local classifieds site?

hrodbert696 · #4 12-15-2011, 04:50 AM

To be sure, there's a lot of flakiness on CL. But it's basically that or word of mouth, as near as I can tell. Go to open mics and music stores and other peoples' gigs and hobnob all you can till you hear that someone needs a bass player.

I do have to pick a bone here; I really hate the "no startups" mentality. If there were no startups, there would be no bands, period. Getting a band started is a lot of work, takes the investment of a lot of time before seeing a return on it, and runs the risk of never working out. When people look down their noses at startups as not worth their time, it seems to me what they're basically saying is that they want someone else to do all that work, invest that time, and take those risks, and THEN they will deign to sweep in and collect an equal share of the money. Excuse me if this leaves me a little nonplussed.

Groove Doctor · #5 12-15-2011, 05:09 AM

+1. Something I learned many years ago:

Three types of musos -
1. Pillars - leaders, bear the weight of responsibility, hold the band together.
2. Team players - carry their own weight, but no more, supporting role.
3. Freeloaders - want everything done for them, dead weight.

5% are Pillars
20% are Team Players
75% are Freeloaders

Learn to be a pillar and the world is your oyster.
Learn to become a good team player and you'll always get work.
Learn to quickly identify freeloaders and you can save a lot of time and frustration.

lfmn16 · #6 12-15-2011, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groove Doctor

5% are Pillars
20% are Team Players
75% are Freeloaders

Only 75% Freeloaders is very generous.

To the the OP, there are some good suggestions here. I would get business cards made up and hand them out to everyone that you see play and like. If you see a band you like, give them a business card and tell them that if they ever need a bass player to give you a call.

There is no ONE way to do this:

1) Craigs list; post ads and answer ads
2) Bandmix and other online services
3) Open Mics
4) Go see bands at clubs
5) Network with other musicians you know

anderbass · #7 12-15-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikP.Bass

I'm located just south of Boston, MA. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

You could search/post here:
boston - musicians available and musicians wanted - backpage.com

klejst · #8 12-15-2011, 07:43 AM

There is a lot of flakes on Craigslist, but if your local newspaper has a classifieds section perhaps look in there? Do even bands post "looking for (musicians)" ads anymore? Also sites like Bandmix and there are others are good too.

Mharris · #9 12-15-2011, 01:28 PM

While I do agree that CL is full of flakes or people that just plain suck, I also think that it is possible to have a lot of success meeting people. You just have to know what you are looking for and be consistent with it.

First impressions while interacting hold a lot of weight.

It took me several years to find people worth having a musical relationship with. I met my current roommate, bandmate, and best friend on CL.

ErikP.Bass · #10 12-15-2011, 04:08 PM

Thanks for the input folks. Lots of great suggestions here. I didn't mean to put down startups in any way. I am just hoping to find a working band to join. Someone once told me to always try to play with musicians that are better than you, so you're challenged and because you can learn a lot from what is going on around you. I'm not trying to be all high and mighty in any way just looking to get into group that seems like a good fit for both what they, and I'm looking for....if that makes sense.

ksandvik · #11 12-15-2011, 04:10 PM

Network, attend various jams, get a reputation of being a reliable and good musician, show up on time, deliver what promised. Avoid drama. Stay away from drama. Do not never get involved with drama.

**butchblack** · #12 12-15-2011, 04:37 PM

You never mentioned what type of music you want to play. Blues, classic rock, and covers should be easier to find. If there are open mikes doing your genre, start hitting them. Make friends with the good, relatively sane musicians. Be patient. I went a year between bands found one on CL stayed with them a year. Unfortunately a couple of the members were more then a little flaky. A couple of weeks after I left I answered another CL ad from a band I had auditioned for 3-4 years prior. The band leader remembered me and offered me the gig on the spot, which is the band I'm in now. So don't assume an audition without an offer is wasted time.

droo46 · #13 12-15-2011, 05:12 PM

Networking is the way to go. My band went through three drummers and all of them were people that knew people.

MatticusMania · #14 12-15-2011, 05:14 PM

Go to a local music venue while an artist is performing, sit outside with a sign that says "Musician Looking For Band" and see what the cat drags in. It might help to play an instrument in the process, to demonstrate your skills. Hell, throw down a hat and make a couple bucks while youre at it! Hey, NOT YOU HAVE GIG! WHO NEEDS A BAND!?

**jmattbassplaya** · #15 12-15-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lfmn16

Only 75% Freeloaders is very generous.

Agreed. Once you've been on a music scene for over a year or so you'll begin to notice that you see a lot of the same faces over and over again. These are the pillars and team players that have been mentioned, and they definitely make up a very small percentage of the musicians in any given area.

ErikP.Bass · #16 12-15-2011, 05:22 PM

I'm not too picky about genre but ideally would like to get into a cover band. I really want to play music that will make people dance. I am open to most anything though...don't want to limit my options. I know there are things I can take away from almost any situation....seems at the moment I'm learning about flakes. I picture myself as a team player not a pillar by the way.

fourstringdrums · #17 12-17-2011, 01:31 PM

Where are you living now Erik? I'm actually going to be looking for a band in a few months myself too as a drummer. Though I'm in NH now so I may be more out of the way than I used to be.

winstonthecat · #18 12-17-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksandvik

Network, attend various jams, get a reputation of being a reliable and good musician, show up on time, deliver what promised. Avoid drama. Stay away from drama. Do not never get involved with drama.

What was your point about drama again?

ErikP.Bass · #19 03-18-2012, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groove Doctor

+1. Something I learned many years ago:

Three types of musos -
1. Pillars - leaders, bear the weight of responsibility, hold the band together.
2. Team players - carry their own weight, but no more, supporting role.
3. Freeloaders - want everything done for them, dead weight.

5% are Pillars
20% are Team Players
75% are Freeloaders

Learn to be a pillar and the world is your oyster.
Learn to become a good team player and you'll always get work.
Learn to quickly identify freeloaders and you can save a lot of time and frustration.

This is great advice.