How do you find a band?

charic · #1 07-31-2007, 01:14 PM

Im in the uk (in the unknown areas) how do you cope in your similar situations and find a band? Any ideas?

louieeadg · #2 07-31-2007, 01:19 PM

Play your music as loud as sonically possible and see who shows up?

charic · #3 07-31-2007, 01:31 PM

I think that would be dangerous... considering i have the DI out on my line6... plus a 400w PA + access to a 1400w PA + 30w bass amp + 300w of studio speakers...

OUCH!

EricF · #4 07-31-2007, 01:52 PM

Go to places where bands play. That's usually where I find a band.

If you're looking to join a band, get your name out there by what ever means you have available. www.craigslist.com is pretty popular around these parts, but that might not be so useful where you are. Put up a notice in your local music stores, or anywhere else you can think of that it might be seen by the right people. They aren't going to flock to you just because you play an instrument. You've got to put yourself out there.

louieeadg · #5 07-31-2007, 01:53 PM

Exactly what he said...^

eedre · #6 07-31-2007, 01:53 PM

If you're in a city... put some stuff up at a popular place that rents practice space. Hang out there, ask around... maybe some bands aren't happy with their current bassist.

IanStephenson · #7 07-31-2007, 02:25 PM

When I was in Cambridge I got hooked up with a couple of projects through the cam.misc newsgroup (you can get it through http://groups.google.co.uk/group/cam.misc/topics).

I'm not sure how much traffic is still on there as newsgroups are "old" tech now. Lots of stuff on:http://cambridge.gumtree.com/

Cambridge is a pretty "online" city, so you should have no probs finding stuff throught the internet.

Ian

tycobb73 · #8 07-31-2007, 02:33 PM

of the 4 other people in my band

2 off of 1 website (I searched them out)
1 off of another website (I searcher her out)
1 off of an ad in a local music store (responded to my ad)

Bass Pleasures · #9 07-31-2007, 02:33 PM

You should get on the internet, it's useful for this sort of thing.

J/K, Try here: http://www.thegraft.net/PHP/phpBB2/

It's got "Musicians wanted" and "musicians looking for bands" areas.

Best of luck!

need4mospd · #10 07-31-2007, 02:38 PM

1. Attend other band shows that you like, a lot of bands know a lot of other bands. If they know you're a bass player looking for a band, they might know a band looking for you.

2. Go to a few open mics. Although you can find some real hacks there, a few good ones show up occasionally.

3. Duh, internet! It's how I found 2 out of 3 bands I've been in, and indirectly the other one as well.

Pokeroo · #11 07-31-2007, 02:39 PM

Try checking out bars with open mic/jam nights.

Ken.

toaster2k3 · #12 07-31-2007, 02:46 PM

Make friends and be cordial to every musician you meet.

Bayou_Brawler · #13 07-31-2007, 03:15 PM

contact other bands. find the 10 most popular...or active bands in the area and let them know you are looking to play. chances are they will know just about every guy active on the scene in their "sphere" and may know of people looking for people.

classified adds are also a great idea. check with your local music stores.

i really like getting to the people that are actually playing the scene....because they are the scene you are trying to get into......obviously this may work better in some areas than others....NY, NY....maybe not....a 300,000 person city...for sure...

Bayou_Brawler · #14 07-31-2007, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by need4mospd

1. Attend other band shows that you like, a lot of bands know a lot of other bands. If they know you're a bass player looking for a band, they might know a band looking for you.
.

bingo!

also email every band on myspace in your area....

ishouldbeking · #15 07-31-2007, 04:02 PM

Myspace can be very helpful. My current band came together after our singer had grown frustrated with the freaks he kept finding on craigslist... so he aggressively messaged anyone who looked interesting and claimed to play music. He would up contacting a bunch of guys (and a gal) who had all been in bands prior, but weren't currently, and we were all secretly itching to play. It all worked out quite well!

There's a "networking tag" that you can use to search for people that play particular instruments. It's pretty handy...

Techmonkey · #16 07-31-2007, 08:34 PM

I was trying out some basses in the local music shop and a group of people who I've never met before asked me if I wanted to play bass for them.

msquared · #17 07-31-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techmonkey

I was trying out some basses in the local music shop and a group of people who I've never met before asked me if I wanted to play bass for them.

That has happened to me a few times. Unfortunately I was always out of town or in a serious band at the time.