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Finding bandmates

J

Jazzman23

Dec 23, 2005
189
1
#1
How do you find potential bandmates?

My guitarist and I have been on a search for a drummer and vocalist for almost a year now. We FINALLY found a drummer that we think is "the guy", but our vocalist is no where to be found. I'm sure plenty of you have been in this situation.

Things we have tried or are currently trying:

-Ads on craigslist / other online joints
-Scouting and playing at open mics
-Physical ads around the city
-Akwardly going to other bands' shows in a vein attempt to steal singers we might like


Anyone have other ideas? Everyone input, and lets help out those who need help! :)
 
#4
Network with other bands / musicians - it's a great thing if you can get a referral from someone who has played with / heard the person, so you know you're not wasting your time. You can also learn pretty quickly who you don't want in your band. Each city usually has it's own network with players who have "seen it all" and know everyone who's worth mentioning. There's usually someone who is back on the scene because of an event in their life (work, kids, re-location, band break, etc). Good luck!
 
#9
I can relate to all the frustration. I started playing bass because for years I wanted to be a musician in a band. I began playing about 18 months ago and just over a year ago joined a band.

Since then we've gone through two singers who were actually band members, over 20 others who tried out but just didn't cut it, and we cut loose with a guitarist.

We're down to a three piece and are once again looking for a singer. I feel like all the momentum we built is just gone and for the third time in just over a year we're starting over again.

We've done and are at this time doing the Craigslist thing, sucks. Frankly at this point I'm finding it harder and harder to stay motivated to keep this band alive.
 
#11
Yeah, it can be tough to find good bandmates. Here are things I've done.

1. Networking. Meet some reputable players in town, and ask if they know anybody who might be interested in your band. Keep these communication lines open even when you aren't looking.
2. MySpace/Facebook. I might be worth posting your need on these sites. I know a lot of local musicians around here are on Facebook these days.
3. Craigslist. There is a lot of crap on CL, but you do occasionally get some good replies as well. The more professional your ad sounds, the more likely you'll be to get some serious replies IMO.
4. Other local music sites. I know Columbus has a few local music sites, so posting ads on those sites can sometimes help.
 
#13
In my opinion, any vocalist who has decent pipes is gonna be the one calling the shots and will be the one looking for the players. You may want to either try to sing yourself or find a vocalist looking for a bassplayer. Of course there's always the exception. But if top talent (ie:Velvet Revolver) can't easily find a singer, us bottom feeders have a better shot at winning the lotto than finding a competent singer. No offense to my bass playing brothers, but it is much easier for a vocalist to find instrumentalists, than for a bass player to find a singer. Of course there are some talented singers who don't have the skills to pull together a band but usually their ego allows them to overlook this part of the equation. With that said, best of luck you never know when fate is just a phone call /email away.
 
#14
Have been working with the same drummer for a year now. We've worked with the same keyboard player but he got a gig scripting for a studio so we are putting together another configuration of guitar and chick singer this weekend.

The point is, that finding other players isn't easy. Networking, going to places where players hang out and talking to them and using the internet are all pretty much proven ways to make contact.
 
#15
Hammer99 said:
In my opinion, any vocalist who has decent pipes is gonna be the one calling the shots and will be the one looking for the players. You may want to either try to sing yourself or find a vocalist looking for a bassplayer. Of course there's always the exception. But if top talent (ie:Velvet Revolver) can't easily find a singer, us bottom feeders have a better shot at winning the lotto than finding a competent singer. No offense to my bass playing brothers, but it is much easier for a vocalist to find instrumentalists, than for a bass player to find a singer. Of course there are some talented singers who don't have the skills to pull together a band but usually their ego allows them to overlook this part of the equation. With that said, best of luck you never know when fate is just a phone call /email away.
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Damn, this is so true. We recently found a singer through an on-line local musicians classified web-site. We thought he might work out, but it turns out that he didn't. We have been trying to find a singer for quite awhile. We have went the "Sing it ourselves" route in the meantime and it's working out OK, except we are a 3 piece and it really limits what songs we can play to those that one of us can sing and play at the same time.

As it is I handpicked my drummer and guitarist from another band we had all been hired to play in and us 3 are a really good fit. I just hope we can find a singer who can sing and who fits in with us.

It's a pain in the ass.
 
#16
Looking for a singer too, so I feel your pain. Took forever to find a drummer, who left to work on their Masters Degree, then found another drummer. Now we just need someone to sing. I've wanted to throw in the towel so many times over the last year, but playing with my current drummer has been awesome.
 

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