Can't find a band

Pete C · #1 05-20-2007, 08:58 PM

Yeah yeah, search for something, I know, but I couldn't find anything to help me with my situation.

I am a bass player that has been playing for a bit more that five months, but I practice tirelessly and I know I am ready for a band. My problem though, is that I live in a cultural wasteland. I live in a town called Scio New York. I wish I could call it a farm town but it doesn't even do that much. Anyway, I need to find a band where I can do things, my problem is that I know no musicians my age that would be willing to seriously do a band of any sort. I started a kind of melodic deathmetal thing with a guitarist, but we only get one or two real practices in a months on account of his schedule. I'm trying to start a jazz fusion thing with another guitarist/trumpet player but I have a feeling that's going to sink too.

So here I am, a young musician that desperately wants a band, but can't get one. No real guitarists. No drummers. No nothing. Any ideas or should I just move away or something first chance I get?

AxtoOx · #2 05-20-2007, 09:46 PM

Flyleaf says they are from Temple Texas, but from what I understand, that's the closest place anyone would recognize. I'm not in a thriving metropolis myslef, but there are several around. We may have to drive for a decent gig, but finding a place to practice is a breeze.
You've been playing 5 mos? It took me almost 2 years due to work schedules to find one, and I'm not new at this game at all. I'll bet I was gigging before you were born.
Patience my friend, but then again, my daughter wasn't into the small town thing and moved to Dallas. I don't know how old you are, didn't check your profile, and most young people won't tell, but I was playing 2 years before being in a band. For all I know you may be very gifted, Fusion at 5 mos? Pretty good.

Pete C · #3 05-20-2007, 09:54 PM

I'm seventeen, I'm not gifted, though thank you. I just work my ass off. I read about how guys like Cliff Burton practiced for four hours a day and try to out do that when I can.

Depth_Charge · #4 05-21-2007, 12:42 AM

When I was 19, unemployed, and wanted to be as good as Cliff, I started practicing at least 6 hours a day, 6 days a week, for a year.

It still still took me the best part of 12 months to find a band that kept a secure lineup long enough to feel like an actual band.

And I bet Cliffs' 4 hours, with all he knew about theory etc, was worth more to him than me sitting in a room for 30 hours a week learning to cover 4 albums worth of his songs as close as possible

Good luck finding a band, slow and steady wins the race

Alexander · #5 05-21-2007, 08:39 AM

As bad as it sounds, you do need to be patient. It took me a good 6-8 months of searching before I found the right band that fit in terms of musical style\taste, experience, ambition, personality, age, etc. I finally gave up trying to join a band and formed my own - things did come together relatively quickly. We established our current lineup about 14 months after I started the process. AND I live in a larger metro area...

invader3k · #6 05-22-2007, 09:32 AM

Unfortunately, finding a band can be really tough if you don't live in a larger community. There's just only so many musicians out there, especially in a small town.

Right now I've been trying to find a second project, and I could easily find something if I was willing to drive 2 hours or more round trip, but I really can't do that with working full time and having a family, house, etc.