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Finding a new band.
- Thread starter NubScrub
- Start date
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Your real question should be finding "good" people to play with- the chances of this happening at CL, Open Mics or anything else are very slim.
Sifting through the garbage is a lot of work- there really seem to be two levels- "Full-time, serious , business pro level players vs. weekend warriors, reliving their fantasy players, and perpetrators of all stripes"
There are a few people that get lucky, and find a happy medium, but my experience has been, it is very difficult to find quality people/ bands that aren't full-time endeavors. Most of the part-timers include a lot of basement level garbage with egos, way outsized to their actual playing ability.
Sifting through the garbage is a lot of work- there really seem to be two levels- "Full-time, serious , business pro level players vs. weekend warriors, reliving their fantasy players, and perpetrators of all stripes"
There are a few people that get lucky, and find a happy medium, but my experience has been, it is very difficult to find quality people/ bands that aren't full-time endeavors. Most of the part-timers include a lot of basement level garbage with egos, way outsized to their actual playing ability.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
So obi - how would YOU do it? Unless you know people, those are the options. If he did , he wouldn't be asking us.
There's a bunch of sites similar to Bandmix. But it's hit or miss depending on your area. Giggem is one example. You could do a search on Reverbnation.com for local shows go see them and start asking around.
I always ask unsuccessful leads for more leads, then try to keep them in mind and send people they way when I can.
I always ask unsuccessful leads for more leads, then try to keep them in mind and send people they way when I can.
Are these the same cats that put hp sauce in each others water bottles as a joke ?
There's no one surefire instant method. Going to open mics is a good way to meet musicians, show that you can actually play and meet other people who can. One band I was in started when the singer and guitarist kept running into each other at open mics. After she'd heard him a few times, she approached and said, "You're pretty good, wanna start a band together?" Of course, you won't necessarily walk into your first open mic and walk out with a band. But you can make connections and meet people and something might happen.
CL is full of dreamers and flakes. But if you're willing to put the time into it, and sift out the flakes, it can still lead to good things. One of my current bands contacted me in reply to a CL ad I posted. It's a very good group. Another example is more complicated; maybe three or four years ago, I replied to a CL ad and joined up with some guys, they'd never really had a band before. I wasn't too experienced either, but had some idea how things worked. I practiced with them for maybe 8 or 9 months, we finally played an open mic and it was a train wreck. That in itself wasn't a deal-breaker; but they clearly had no idea what to work on or what to fix, and I wound up leaving (for the aforesaid group that started at an open mic). However, one guitarist from that group was quite good and very sensible. He and I stay in touch from time to time, and I'd play with him whenever he needed me (we've done some library events and stuff). So even though the CL group was a bust, it made me a valuable contact.
My other current group came about from a TB GTG. There was a guy who makes cabs there, he liked my playing and said he had a friend whose band needed a bassist, their old one had moved and they were limping along using subs. It took a few months to get together, but now I'm in with them and gigging pretty regularly.
CL is full of dreamers and flakes. But if you're willing to put the time into it, and sift out the flakes, it can still lead to good things. One of my current bands contacted me in reply to a CL ad I posted. It's a very good group. Another example is more complicated; maybe three or four years ago, I replied to a CL ad and joined up with some guys, they'd never really had a band before. I wasn't too experienced either, but had some idea how things worked. I practiced with them for maybe 8 or 9 months, we finally played an open mic and it was a train wreck. That in itself wasn't a deal-breaker; but they clearly had no idea what to work on or what to fix, and I wound up leaving (for the aforesaid group that started at an open mic). However, one guitarist from that group was quite good and very sensible. He and I stay in touch from time to time, and I'd play with him whenever he needed me (we've done some library events and stuff). So even though the CL group was a bust, it made me a valuable contact.
My other current group came about from a TB GTG. There was a guy who makes cabs there, he liked my playing and said he had a friend whose band needed a bassist, their old one had moved and they were limping along using subs. It took a few months to get together, but now I'm in with them and gigging pretty regularly.
Sift thru CL and find a band that can play out (even if it isn't ideal for what you want)- Go play out with said band, and troll for a better band while you are playing out with the non-ideal band.
The key is you have to get a CL grade band that is at least good enough to play out, which 75% of them aren't.
I've hosted 20 open mics, and IME the vast majority of players who come to them are:
A: Already in a band they like and not in the market.
B: wannabes, who only know how to play 3 songs by the same band. Like my favorite guy who would come to every open mic I hosted- he was pretty good on guitar at playing 3 Creed songs.
Those were the ONLY songs this 'tard knew. I would tell the other guys in the band- "Oh no, Creed is here again- I ain't playing with him again." Because he aslo had a bad 'tude on top of sucking.
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Never heard of Bandmix, just checked it out, they seem to have a few people in the area that I might call on soon.
This seems to be true, though I think that finding the right band requires sifting though the stuff you don't want no matter where you find them. I always have to go to a few lousy "jam sessions" or a meet and greet that turns into a nightmare to find what I'm looking for, CL or not.
Canada's version of Craigslist = kijiji = is pretty much the same. A lot of crap to sift through, bands looking for musicians that have years and years of pro/touring experience, etc., etc. That being said, a couple of the musicians I met via kijiji I'm still in touch with, exchanging emails/ideas, just haven't found that other missing piece yet.
Advert land is full of wannabes, been like that for as long as I can remember.
The problem is that the wannabes think they can do it. Some reach the point where they can answer all the screener questions and even give the distinct impression at an audition of having genuine playing ability.
These are people who can talk the talk but only pretend to walk the walk.
This problem goes beyond musicians though, there are plenty of "professions" where going through the motions and creating an image of something happening is completely acceptable to the point where it is accepted as reality...
Anyway, I digress.
Guitarists......
One guy turned up to an audition without actually playing the theme riffs to any of the songs he had said he knew....
Also, many guitarists cannot actually play in time to a click. The most recent guitarist came straight to audition with the full band and sounded like he was trying to lock in with everyone and just a bit nervous. 4 rehearsals in, and I still have a nagging feeling something was not right, and the drummer cannot make it that evening. I bring the drum machine, thinking we can work on the detail, but all the guitarist does is moan about how "it's not the same without the drummer" as he speeds up and slows down against the sound of the Alesis SR-16.....The man has NEVER practised with a metronome and has been hiding behind a good drummer....
From what I can gather, this is quite common amongst guitarists, they come out with "loose timing" and " it's the drummer's and bass player's job to keep time" as they wobble around the pulse and ignore or add the occasional extra beat....interestingly, they can still play to a groove and find the pocket. They may even understand harmony and may have great tone on their instrument.
The intelligent ones are the worst. They know exactly how to avoid the situations that would show their lack of ability and steer conversations away from anything that puts responsibility on them to actually count the beats....
After guitard number 3, I quit the band.
Next time, I need to hear the guitarist *without* a drummer, strumming at an even tempo for an entire song.
Quite a lot of them cannot actually do that, and that is walking the walk.
The problem is that the wannabes think they can do it. Some reach the point where they can answer all the screener questions and even give the distinct impression at an audition of having genuine playing ability.
These are people who can talk the talk but only pretend to walk the walk.
This problem goes beyond musicians though, there are plenty of "professions" where going through the motions and creating an image of something happening is completely acceptable to the point where it is accepted as reality...
Anyway, I digress.
Guitarists......
One guy turned up to an audition without actually playing the theme riffs to any of the songs he had said he knew....
Also, many guitarists cannot actually play in time to a click. The most recent guitarist came straight to audition with the full band and sounded like he was trying to lock in with everyone and just a bit nervous. 4 rehearsals in, and I still have a nagging feeling something was not right, and the drummer cannot make it that evening. I bring the drum machine, thinking we can work on the detail, but all the guitarist does is moan about how "it's not the same without the drummer" as he speeds up and slows down against the sound of the Alesis SR-16.....The man has NEVER practised with a metronome and has been hiding behind a good drummer....
From what I can gather, this is quite common amongst guitarists, they come out with "loose timing" and " it's the drummer's and bass player's job to keep time" as they wobble around the pulse and ignore or add the occasional extra beat....interestingly, they can still play to a groove and find the pocket. They may even understand harmony and may have great tone on their instrument.
The intelligent ones are the worst. They know exactly how to avoid the situations that would show their lack of ability and steer conversations away from anything that puts responsibility on them to actually count the beats....
After guitard number 3, I quit the band.
Next time, I need to hear the guitarist *without* a drummer, strumming at an even tempo for an entire song.
Quite a lot of them cannot actually do that, and that is walking the walk.
YUP.
Virtual.
Heck, I don't actually have to be able to DO it.
Machines can make it O.K.
Thus creating the illusion.
Weekend warrior here.
I have a pretty consistent turnover of a new band about every 2 and half to 3 years. But I'm usually in at least two bands at a time and have more opportunities to play than I have time, which is a good thing.
I've had the best luck getting to know a few drummers and deliberately keeping in contact with them, more so than with guitarists and such.
Working and networking as a "rythm section unit" with about three different drummers has kept me playing as often as I can and letting the various guitarists, keyboardist, harmonica players, and singers sorta come and go as anyone pleases. Seems to keep the music tight and the drama to a minimum.
Anyway, you've just got to get out and make music with as many folks as you can. Word of mouth seems to still rule.
Good luck.
I have a pretty consistent turnover of a new band about every 2 and half to 3 years. But I'm usually in at least two bands at a time and have more opportunities to play than I have time, which is a good thing.
I've had the best luck getting to know a few drummers and deliberately keeping in contact with them, more so than with guitarists and such.
Working and networking as a "rythm section unit" with about three different drummers has kept me playing as often as I can and letting the various guitarists, keyboardist, harmonica players, and singers sorta come and go as anyone pleases. Seems to keep the music tight and the drama to a minimum.
Anyway, you've just got to get out and make music with as many folks as you can. Word of mouth seems to still rule.
Good luck.
I just signed up for Bandmix, not going full out with it just yet, but at least wanted to get a profile started and see what's out there. Most likely I will be done with my current project in about a month, we have a radio gig coming up and I committed to doing it, but I'm pretty much done after that. Take a month or two off then dive in again.
I'm keeping an eye on CL as well, though I agree with everyone, there's a ton of crap to sift through to find the right fit, but I saw that when I was answering adds in the back of local music mags in the 90's. Some of the people I would find there were unbelievable to say the least. I remember I saw a classified ad for a metal band that sounded promising, I went to meet the singer and guitarist at the singers house, they seemed nice enough until I heard the music, and then the rant started. Turns out they were full-on, card carrying members of the KKK. I made a quick exit.
I'm keeping an eye on CL as well, though I agree with everyone, there's a ton of crap to sift through to find the right fit, but I saw that when I was answering adds in the back of local music mags in the 90's. Some of the people I would find there were unbelievable to say the least. I remember I saw a classified ad for a metal band that sounded promising, I went to meet the singer and guitarist at the singers house, they seemed nice enough until I heard the music, and then the rant started. Turns out they were full-on, card carrying members of the KKK. I made a quick exit.
HA. LMFAO
Boy that brings back some memories I had purposefully suppressed.
the "penny saver" and the "city paper".
lot of chaff among that grain.
LOL yeah this is true. I've run into all kinds on auditions or meetings with potential band mates. Most of the time it's just wishy-washy people that don't have a clue, usually harmless, or harmful only to themselves. I get a laugh at some of the folks I've met over the years.
