Am I wasting my time?

[HolmeBass]

If you don't want to do someone else's project, what do you have to offer that they would want to do yours? I'd reconsider that stance. If I were you and the keyboard player, I'd go out and do whatever projects you can to go out and meet other musicians and get them interested in working on your project, too. You have to give musicians an incentive for doing it, either monetary or the offer to help them do their separate things in return for doing yours.

+1 My thoughts exactly. This to me shows your lack of experience. A lot of great players are simply not going to commit solely to your startup original electronic music project, and you are shooting yourself in the foot with this attitude.

In fact, I would go so far as to say you need another project or two yourself to take the pressure of this project. Get in a cover band, go get that performance experience, network with other musicians on the gig, with club owners, with the music crowd in your town. You might be coming off as a bit needy right now since you've got all your eggs in this one basket.

 

[Jim Nazium]

How do these start ups attract good musicians when you can't offer them gigs or money?

Maybe because they like the music? Or because they think that there will be gigs and/or money in the future?

 

[TRichardsbass]

I am a little befuddled and bemused. So you are doing "electronic music?"

So doesn't that mean you really are in a genre that will allow you to use sythnesized drums and other backing tracks to perform out?

I'm thinking do some drum programming on Garage Band Live and go out and play as a duo. Shouldn't be an issue.

tom

 

[HolmeBass]

I will add that a musician in multiple projects - a good one - doesn't take any project "less seriously" than any other. I know I don't! If anything, though, my band that does original material is my most cherished project because I get more creative freedom than other projects. It doesn't mean I don't take other projects as seriously, in terms of rehearsal and preparation and performance, but if it ever came to loggerheads and I had to pick one over another, I'd pick the originals band.

So if you hook the right guy, and he loves your music as much as you do, and begins to consider it his own- which means you have to let him own a part of it- then there is no way he won't be serious about your project. This fear of yours is holding you back in a big way.

 

[bluewine]

Maybe because they like the music? Or because they think that there will be gigs and/or money in the future?

Possibly, especially if the start up involves long time area veterans that know and understand the market.

blue

 

[the yeti]

How do these start ups attract good musicians when you can't offer them gigs or money?

Blue

sometimes it's by offering a fulfilling musical experience, or an opportunity to build something. there's a whole world of motivators out there.

 

[bluewine]

I know I don't! If anything, though, my band that does original material is my most cherished project because I get more creative freedom than other projects.

I have creative freedom with all our bands material too, the covers as well as originals.

I have a friend that has been bandless for 2 years because he's so picky. I try and tell him, no matter what band you play in regardless of genre, you will still be playing guitar the way you feel it.

blue

 

[experimental bassist]

How do these start ups attract good musicians when you can't offer them gigs or money?

Blue

Already better answers than I would have given, but I'll add, lots of monster musicians are about more than just gigs or money.

Every band I've been in, I mean EVERY band, has brought me into the orbits of talented (and yes, sometimes even famous) musicians and entertainers that I would never have imagined having the privilege to not only meet, but have a good time making music together.

And although I've still had to audition per se, every band I've been in has been because someone knew me or saw me in a previous band, or jammed with me years before.

Sometimes it's amazing how small the music world can be, particularly one's local music scene.

Again, bottom line, one just has to get out there.

 

[JimmyM]

I am a little befuddled and bemused. So you are doing "electronic music?"

So doesn't that mean you really are in a genre that will allow you to use sythnesized drums and other backing tracks to perform out?

I'm thinking do some drum programming on Garage Band Live and go out and play as a duo. Shouldn't be an issue.

tom

Good answer!

 

[Mystic Michael]

I am a little befuddled and bemused. So you are doing "electronic music?"

So doesn't that mean you really are in a genre that will allow you to use sythnesized drums and other backing tracks to perform out?

I'm thinking do some drum programming on Garage Band Live and go out and play as a duo. Shouldn't be an issue.

tom

Agreed.

Take the advice to start gigging some of it - including perhaps a drum machine + some prerecorded backing tracks.

MM

 

[malicant]

Thanks again for the replies. I actually feel some what better after reading this thread, it's nice to know that my frustrations aren't unique!

I suppose that my big problem comes from the fact that I played no gigs between the ages of 19 and 24 and I haven't played a gig in just over two years. The reason for this is that I am the kind of person who allows bad experiences to put me off things. I had a bad experience with a band when I was 19 it put me off the whole thing for nearly five years, though I always practiced for myself.

Anyway, I guess the only way to overcome a lack of experience is to go out and climb the hill in front of me.

 

[bluewine]

Thanks again for the replies. I actually feel some what better after reading this thread, it's nice to know that my frustrations aren't unique!

The reason for this is that I am the kind of person who allows bad experiences to put me off things. I had a bad experience with a band when I was 19 it put me off the whole thing for nearly five years, though I always practiced for myself.

This is why it's so important to understand what your looking for, what kind of band and people are going to match up with what you want.

What burns me is that your not unique, I know several talented musicians that would be great in the right band.However, they never put much thought into the bands they decided to join. So they end up with a history of bad band experiences and they give up and feel all bands are a waste of time.

I love being in a band and the whole band experience. All of my band experiences have been good.

If my years of doing this has taught me anything it's knowing what I want from a band not what I can offer a band.

blue

 

[Hobobob]

Thanks lads, many great replies as always.

Some more info. I don't think superb would be the word I'd use to describe the music but it is good and it does allow me play in ways I enjoy so in that sense, that would be good for me. We actually did have a guitarist for a while but he left as he simply couldn't think of anything to play that would work for the tunes.



I don't think I'm too good for anything, please don't think that I meant that. I simply meant that I don't want to be a part of a band that isn't taken seriously, that's all. Thanks for replying though.

I'm getting the scene that I really lack experience in these matters

I apologize for the snark, but you have to realize that for a musician to survive, they have to get gigs. There are very few out there that make do with only one thing going. I'm in five different projects right now, and I'm still struggling. You want to play with musicians who have been around the block a few times, which includes folks who may already be in a band or two. These are the guys/gals who know what's up. It's pretty rare to nab a band-ready musician that doesn't have anything going on.