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Is Bandmix as useless as it seems?

#21
I found it to be mostly dead for a number of years, but the leads that have panned out have been great. Ironically, I had 8 bands reach out to me in the last three months when I wasn't looking that hard. As others have stated, the action seemed to get better when I uploaded some live audio. I'm going to put in some effort to uploading a selection of live uncut varied genres to see if the leads continue to get better. It could also be that covid took its toll on a number of bands and venues, and that others are trying to get something going again. Either way, one good free lead is worth your patience.
 
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#22
I still play a couple gigs a year with a band that found me on Bandmix over ten years ago.

On two occasions I was contacted by Ritchie Blackmore's management. The first time they requested two additional audition recordings and I came close to getting the gig. The second time sent one recording and had no response.
 
#23
Funny this should come up today. I got my weekly email with "new" musicians in the area, and one of the postings was a band looking for a bass player. They are very close by, and the ad said they did a lot of R&B and soul. Plus, they listed the name of the band, so I could reach out to them directly through their Facebook page. So far, so good.

I got an immediate response stating that were no longer looking. Fair enough. The person who answered was friendly enough and agreed to hang onto my contact info. Great. Then...he said they put that posting on the site two years ago. So much for "new" musicians in the area.
 
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#25
My current band found me on Bandmix. I have also connected to a few other musicians thru Bandmix over the past few years. When I am in search mode, I'll pay for a couple of months to have access to the email function. I've learned my lesson the hard way...online profiles, no matter how detailed they appear to be, are no substitute for seeing an actual video of the person performing. I've connected with several people online who looked great on paper and sounded like a good fit over the phone, only to be completely wrong in person. If you want somebody to notice you, put together a thorough profile with good audio and video – and insist on the same on return.
 
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#26
MJ_Sotti said:
Get Zero from it.

Anybody have any luck?
Click to expand...
I've actually had two auditions in the past year because of bandmix. And going to another this weekend. Now the quality of musicians and bands I've run across has widely varied. And they all contacted me. I have a free account and not paying 12 bucks a month or whatever it is just to have a profile sitting there.
 
#28
lot of riff-raff, which have posted as a band, when it's really just a guy in his bedroom that wants to be in a band, listing that he's looking for every instrument known to mankind.

But having said that, I've found a couple of bands and been hired for a few bands via Bandmix.

Used to think it was a bit better than Craigslist, but now realizing that they are both a crapshoot.

Networking still the best method (sure, that means you need to be in the scene to have a network that matters).
 
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#29
One of the event bands I play in used it for a while.
We got a few good people off of it, but most of the talent tended to be overstated and unable to deliver.
At one point we even got contacted by a known beginner who was basically cat-fishing for a paid gig - essentially lying about her experience. We knew her vocal teacher and knew that she had no experience and no real repertoire.
 
#30
Holdsg said:
Used to think it was a bit better than Craigslist, but now realizing that they are both a crapshoot.
Click to expand...
It's the same people. Basically, if you are not yet networked well in your town, these are your options. Some folks network on Facebook too but CL and Bandmix are used by the people who aren't on there for whatever reason.
 
#31
I found a really good band via BandMix (they needed a bass player), and been contacted by a variety of folks looking to do the basement thing or rehearse weekly with a goal of gigging.

I agree with the posting of photos, audio, video so people can get an idea of what you are capable of. One current issue is that BandMix is not allowing Soundcloud links to work anymore (some dispute between the 2 about fees), which really cramps the ability to check quality of players. My YT videos also don't link there, so I need to redo. I just moved to a completely different area, so I'm a little peeved about that aspect.
 
#35
MultiScaleMale said:
I’m going to try the paid thing for a few months to see if it yields anything. My expectations are low.
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I'd have to revisit the membership TOS, but I recall the biggest things you get with the paid service is the ability to contact members directly and participate in their "virtual audition" process. I don't think it does anything to improve your visibility to anyone looking, nor change what profiles you can see.
 
#36
I would like it if they let everyone connect without paying and then, IF you made a good connection, you send some small/token dollar donation in appreciation. I have a profile, get occasional “someone has been looking at your profile” messages but because I am not a paying member, I cannot connect. At my age I don’t care but younger players might want to get hooked up. People are looking at the profiles so there is some merit there.
 
#37
ArtechnikA said:
I'd have to revisit the membership TOS, but I recall the biggest things you get with the paid service is the ability to contact members directly and participate in their "virtual audition" process. I don't think it does anything to improve your visibility to anyone looking, nor change what profiles you can see.
Click to expand...

It mentioned preferred positioning in search results. Dunno. Will report back.
 
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#38
Mannyinnewyork said:
... “someone has been looking at your profile” messages but because I am not a paying member, I cannot connect....
Click to expand...
I get those too. Sometimes, I'll look back. I figure if they like what they see, they can pay the $100 to contact me, and anyone else they want to recruit. Helps separate the working bands from the basement jammers. Of the people who've checked out my profile, pretty much zero warranted further investigation.
 
#39
I've gone the free route for a few years. It seems if the people reading my profile are paid members they can contact me and open up discussion. As a non-payer, I can't initiate the contact. People have gotten clever and hidden their contact info into the body of their profile. Having said all that, I've gotten a few decent opportunities. LBS is right though. It's mostly the same people I find on CL.
 

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