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Who else can't find a band?

-=DanAtkinson=-

-=DanAtkinson=-

Feb 26, 2008
2,457
125
50
Atlanta, GA
#1
I can't find a good band. In the 90's, I did lots of gigs in the Atlanta area with a pop rock original act. I didn't like the music, but I was young and they had active gigs (my first gig ever was playing for a few thousand people opening for Natalie Merchant, who was opening for Sting).

Then in the early 2000's, I did a couple of different cover bands. It was somewhat lucrative. We made $500-$1000 a gig. But over time I got bored with the music. Yeah, the people at bars and parties loved it, but I got tired of playing the same old predictable cover tunes. Not only was I tired of the songs, I was tired of the simplicity of what we were playing. A few predictable chords with a simple bassline that I could play in my sleep. Yawn.

So I left those bands in 2007 and haven't gigged since. I've met up with a few guys, here and there, to feel things out. But it's always the same story. Nobody wants to play the type of music I want to play. I want to play some jazz, some funk, some motown...but it seems like only wedding bands do that type of thing. And all the good wedding bands with pro musicians already have a bassist, and 1 or 2 backup bassists in their pocket.

So lately I've just been playing by myself, writing my own stuff, recording it, trying to expand my horizons musically. But I believe bass is best done within a group context. Eventually I'm gonna get sick of playing to drum loops in my basement.

Anyone else experience this?
 
#4
-=DanAtkinson=- said:
I can't find a good band. In the 90's, I did lots of gigs in the Atlanta area with a pop rock original act. I didn't like the music, but I was young and they had active gigs (my first gig ever was playing for a few thousand people opening for Natalie Merchant, who was opening for Sting).

Then in the early 2000's, I did a couple of different cover bands. It was somewhat lucrative. We made $500-$1000 a gig. But over time I got bored with the music. Yeah, the people at bars and parties loved it, but I got tired of playing the same old predictable cover tunes. Not only was I tired of the songs, I was tired of the simplicity of what we were playing. A few predictable chords with a simple bassline that I could play in my sleep. Yawn.

So I left those bands in 2007 and haven't gigged since. I've met up with a few guys, here and there, to feel things out. But it's always the same story. Nobody wants to play the type of music I want to play. I want to play some jazz, some funk, some motown...but it seems like only wedding bands do that type of thing. And all the good wedding bands with pro musicians already have a bassist, and 1 or 2 backup bassists in their pocket.

So lately I've just been playing by myself, writing my own stuff, recording it, trying to expand my horizons musically. But I believe bass is best done within a group context. Eventually I'm gonna get sick of playing to drum loops in my basement.

Anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...

This is almost the same posistion i'm in.
I can relate.:(
 
#5
Ran into a similar situation. After I left the band I spent 3-4 months searching to no avail. Hooked up with a friend that we play well together. After a year it was still little more then talk, no set lineup, no full band rehearsals etc. Kept looking in CL most of that time. Finally found a band that was a good fit to what I wanted to do and allowed me to be an equal member. I probably could have found a classic rock band in that time, but I wanted to play blues with a good dose of swing in a band that could and wanted to do that. The more restrictive your search is the less you're going to find, but IMHO is well worth the wait.
 
#7
My suggestion is to get out and play, and become reacquainted with the scene. If the wedding bands are 3 deep in bass players, it going to be hard to be break into one of those slots unless you're out there. If one of those slots open up, chances are it'll be taken by someone who is already out there gigging. Improve your chances by being one of those guys gigging.

I also find that lots of cover band guys also have their pet projects as well. Just because you are in a Metal band doesn't mean that everyone is only into Metal. You may find there may be 1-2 guys who are into what you want to do.

Whether it's looking for a gig, looking for a job, or looking for a date, you increases your chances for success by getting out there. Sure, you'll run into some stinker situations, but you won't find your ideal until you spend some time in the woods.
 
#8
I'm in a band, it's my third one and the most successful of the three, and it's with my good friends too. Although there are some discrepencies, we need to make compromises, such as vocal duties (I'm tempted just to take them on myself, but with Ska it may be difficult).

I agree with Jive that playing in bands is beneficial even if it isn't what you want, as I think every gig would give you more experience, and if player X has played 2 gigs, but you've played 102, chances are you'll be more desirable although I haven't done this personally, so I can't back up my words with actions, but that's what I'd want to do.

Also, I only found my band mates because we are good pals and we all attend a local music project. So "getting out there" really does help in my opinion.
 
#9
I am from North-East CT. There are limited good musicians here. I left my former band(together since 05') in April 09' as I wanted to do more of the Motown and R&B scene and not the 90's music. We were known for Classic-Southern Rock, but our singer wanted to add in some music that I really did not want to play anymore. Not only that but a couple of guys only wanted to play out the most 2x a month...I have a good day job too, but I like playing out and have a supportive wife and family.

I here ya'. I work near Boston, MA so I was trying out for bands in MA, RI and CT, no lies I really lost count and it was audition 29 or 30+ until I recently found a good project. It is in Southern-CT, but it is a good project with good R&B music and a strong female singer...Oh yeah many auditions and lot's of answered adds only to show up to people that were not serious enough or really could not play. Or other ones were good musicians and I show up but they only want to practice on weekends,or have drug issues. You will find something. Bandmix, Craigslist, ect. But be careful as there are a lot of dreamers out there.
 
#10
I am in the same situation. For 18 months, my funk/dance band gigged and picked up fans, like the proverbial 'rolling stone'. Anyway, nothing lasts forever and I had a great time while it lasted.
First person to resign was the sax player, after an altercation regarding his foldback/monitor level. Next was the singer........ He owns two supermarkets and became so busy, the band had to go. Blah blah.... I recently joined a 60s' pop band, just so I can keep playing. I am constantly looking out for 'like minded players', but, to be honest, there aren't too many 'funksters' out here in the country/boon docks.
Lots of luck to you, and remember, not a high percentage of musicians are either successful financially or fame wise. So what I'm trying to say is just make sure you enjoy what and when you play. All the best and good luck from a kindred spirit in Australia......FenderFunker..
 
#11
Same here, kind of . . .

I worked cover bands from the 70s through the early 90s and loved it, but left the business with the advent of DJs :scowl: and moved to attend grad school. Trying to get back into it after settling into a new area is difficult. I've been keeping busy with "original music" bands, which seem to be a dime a dozen. But breaking into the cover band scene? Difficult. There seems to be little to no crossover between the cover and original bands, and making contacts for auditions through craiglist/bandmix can be hit or miss. I've done a dozen or so auditions in the past two years (you can kind of tell from the responses whether you want to get involved or not), and existing bands seem to be looking for the same look/gender/age/etc. as they had, and start-ups seem to lack the committment necessary to make some sort of priority to the project. And yes, I've tried putting together things on my own, and still find people who just seem to want to drift in and out. But hope springs eternal.
 
#12
Awesome input from everyone. Glad to know I'm not alone, and glad to know there is hope. I just need to get out there and be patient I guess.

Another frustrating factor is a lack of skilled musicians. Not that I'm tooting my own horn. I don't think I'm a master by any means. I could be so much better if I just practiced regularly. But most of the "musicians" I meet are pure hacks. They hardly even know what chords they're playing, how harmonies should work, when drum fills are appropriate, have no understanding of keys, etc. And they've been playing for 15+ years.
 
#14
I can't find a decent band either...

I did audition for a band a few months ago but it went horrible, no I took a dent in my self esteem and I can't get myself to auditioning to a other band (and can't find any that play my style of music)
 
#15
I have been looking for months. I don`t want to join a gigging band; I just want a group of musicians who like to get together and make music for the love of it. Jam, do some recording, etc. I can`t find ANYONE who thinks like this. Everyone, it seems, thinks music is strictly a way to make a few bucks playing in bars. I, however, burned out on the bar scene years ago and do not plan on returning. So since I am not willing to hang out in bars and endure drunks shouting "Freebird!" anymore, potential bandmates think I`m a dork. I have a lucrative career that requires working some weekends; I`m not gonna try to juggle that and my family to hang out in bars on a regular basis for $80 a night. But every musician I talk to just scratches their head, like they don`t understand why I even play an instrument if picking up chicks and getting hammered is not on my agenda. Grrrr...
 
#16
Many musicians, even highly talented and knowledgable ones, want to put bread on the table by playing music. This isn't too difficult to do. What's really difficult is making bread playing the music you want to play. Unfortunately, music has become so disposable and dumbed down that there is little demand for anything musically challenging, so finding others willing to forego a paycheck for the sake of music is one of the hardest things to do.

My only advice is network and sift out who can really play and stay in contact with the top players in your area. Keep perfecting your musical knowlege with reading and lessons with a solid academic foundation, so that when that dream gig comes along, you will be prepared.
 
#17
pnut166 said:
I have been looking for months. I don`t want to join a gigging band; I just want a group of musicians who like to get together and make music for the love of it. Jam, do some recording, etc. I can`t find ANYONE who thinks like this. Everyone, it seems, thinks music is strictly a way to make a few bucks playing in bars. I, however, burned out on the bar scene years ago and do not plan on returning. So since I am not willing to hang out in bars and endure drunks shouting "Freebird!" anymore, potential bandmates think I`m a dork. I have a lucrative career that requires working some weekends; I`m not gonna try to juggle that and my family to hang out in bars on a regular basis for $80 a night. But every musician I talk to just scratches their head, like they don`t understand why I even play an instrument if picking up chicks and getting hammered is not on my agenda. Grrrr...
Click to expand...

Funny thing is that there's tons of bands out there that say they want to get gigging, but never leave the garage. If all you want to do is jam, you can join a band and there's a good chance they won't ever gig.
 
#18
I find bands I love, genres are perfect. Then I tell em I'm 17.. And I never hear back. That's sad because I have some decent chops, have played live countless time, worked in the studio for hours. Yes Dan, you aren't alone. Live music seems to be a dying breed unless you're touring the world with a record contract.

Best of luck to you, and all you cats. I know we all need some.
 
#19
jive1 said:
Funny thing is that there's tons of bands out there that say they want to get gigging, but never leave the garage. If all you want to do is jam, you can join a band and there's a good chance they won't ever gig.
Click to expand...

True dat. But if you tell `em up front that you aren`t doing bar gigs, you`re out. And that is goal #1 for most bands : We have to practice twice a week so we can get that awesomely crappy gig at the dive bar. They make being in a band a job and suck all the fun out of it. Music itself is secondary, it seems. P.S. - Love your work, Dan. I saw that `burst P you had listed several months ago and it was quite impressive. If I`d had the cash, I would have been taking a ride to Atl for sure !
 
#20
yeah Im putting together a new band now, we are going to play crusty punk, I make plenty of money on my day job, dont expect to make any money with this band, I just want to have fun, play some shows, maybe record a demo...if I was back where I grew up I could have a gig lined up before I had a final band lineup, but being new to Ga I have to start from the ground up.
 

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