When I was a kid I was quite sought after, had many offers and could pick and choose who I played with. When I was 17 I was playing in a band with great people, and great musicians. The music was cheesy but it was so much fun. Unfortunately things went very wrong for me in my home life and I moved to another town without telling anyone where I went, including the band. Biggest mistake I ever made. I got into a new band in the new place but it wasn't doing anything. Things went boobies up again and I moved on again but I wasn't so bothered about the band I left that time. But then I never got the opportunity to get into any local music scenes and it's been that way for the last 17 years. I moved again a couple of years ago and I know no-one here at all. I popped into the local music shops to see how things were but they're no very promising. What I'd really like to play is something Black/Goth Metally, or Country Rock, but there is nothing at all and I don't see how I'm ever going to play in a band again. Very sad.
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Who else can't find a band?
- Thread starter -=DanAtkinson=-
- Start date
This is almost the same posistion i'm in.
I can relate.
+1
I've been struggling too, seems like everyone I find is either super flakey or just wants play metal... which very much isn't me. I post influences like Marcus Miller, Doug Johns, Tower of Power, Jamiroquai, etc etc and get replies like "Hey, wanna be in a thrash metal band?" or "How about metal opera?" :scowl: *facepalm*
I recently auditioned for a local instrumental (+ occasional vocals) funk band and aced it. Played awesome, had fun, related well with the band members, did everything right. I could *see* on their faces/reactions that they were impressed with my playing even before they told me so. Lots of tasty fills (like their previous player), nailed the changes, even learned two more of their songs by ear on the spot. KILLED the audition.
Two days later, got a call from the guitarist who couldn't say enough positive things about me for all the above reasons... right before saying they thought someone else was a better fit. I took it like a man and asked if he had any tips/ideas/pointers for ways I could improve. Which apparently caught him off guard because he starting flubbering a bit, and I'm 100% convinced it was something political, like a friend of a friend decided he wanted to play for them.
Stupid musicians.
lol5sg.
My short story:
Humber College performance grad in 1989
Stopped playing in 1991
Started playing again in 2004
Went to open mics and blues jams. Replied to bassist wanted ads
Met people. Asked to play with them. Booked a few gigs
Met a few key people including a busy drummer, a Festival music director, local Musician union head.
These people I met because I was out there self promoting me. I met the drummer when I went to see a show which another friend was playing in and the bassist didn't show. Went home and got my stuff and did the gig. Met the drummer, chased him by email a few times and we end up doing lots of gigs together from jazz to country.
Festival director saw me play at an open mic and asked if I would play on her CD release. That never happened but through her I've met many other people and we've done a bunch of gigs together.
Bottomline is I have no problem, after meeting someone, following up with an email or Facebook message to say hello of offer my services as a bassist and amazingly many people say yes. Worst that can happen is they say no but my name is still out there.
My schedule, relative to to other local musicians is very busy.
Humber College performance grad in 1989
Stopped playing in 1991
Started playing again in 2004
Went to open mics and blues jams. Replied to bassist wanted ads
Met people. Asked to play with them. Booked a few gigs
Met a few key people including a busy drummer, a Festival music director, local Musician union head.
These people I met because I was out there self promoting me. I met the drummer when I went to see a show which another friend was playing in and the bassist didn't show. Went home and got my stuff and did the gig. Met the drummer, chased him by email a few times and we end up doing lots of gigs together from jazz to country.
Festival director saw me play at an open mic and asked if I would play on her CD release. That never happened but through her I've met many other people and we've done a bunch of gigs together.
Bottomline is I have no problem, after meeting someone, following up with an email or Facebook message to say hello of offer my services as a bassist and amazingly many people say yes. Worst that can happen is they say no but my name is still out there.
My schedule, relative to to other local musicians is very busy.
+1
I've been struggling too, seems like everyone I find is either super flakey or just wants play metal... which very much isn't me. I post influences like Marcus Miller, Doug Johns, Tower of Power, Jamiroquai, etc etc and get replies like "Hey, wanna be in a thrash metal band?" or "How about metal opera?" :scowl: *facepalm*
I recently auditioned for a local instrumental (+ occasional vocals) funk band and aced it. Played awesome, had fun, related well with the band members, did everything right. I could *see* on their faces/reactions that they were impressed with my playing even before they told me so. Lots of tasty fills (like their previous player), nailed the changes, even learned two more of their songs by ear on the spot. KILLED the audition.
Two days later, got a call from the guitarist who couldn't say enough positive things about me for all the above reasons... right before saying they thought someone else was a better fit. I took it like a man and asked if he had any tips/ideas/pointers for ways I could improve. Which apparently caught him off guard because he starting flubbering a bit, and I'm 100% convinced it was something political, like a friend of a friend decided he wanted to play for them.
Stupid musicians.
5sg.
That sucks man.
I would love to find a group into doing some stuff with an african vibe to it but I don't think i'm gonna find it in southern ohio.
Just like you,everyone I meet or encounter through the web seems to want to do modern hard rock or metal. I have nothing against that type of music and love to listen to a lot of it but I don't like to play a lot if it.
My two cents worth: Join a local band you don't particularly like, get out and play. Try to take it seriously. Meet other musicians. Go to jam sessions/open mics. Promote yourself. Once you've established some credibility, move on to other bands that are a better fit, or start your own band.
When you criticize weekend warriors like me as "hacks," remember that most of us are in working bands, making money and friends, and building a following, while you're practicing at home with your drum loops.
When you criticize weekend warriors like me as "hacks," remember that most of us are in working bands, making money and friends, and building a following, while you're practicing at home with your drum loops.
- Jul 30, 2006
- 2,315
- 453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
Dan, come to Austin. There's so many players here you can pick & choose. There are more bands forming here than anywhere I ever saw. No matter what or where, there's no substitute for playing gigs. It's what we were put here to do. I've been working since I was 13 & intend to do so until it's not possible. Good Luck.
Same problem here, Dan. Just nothing out there WRT the music I want to play. It's not killing me, it's just that I'd like to be playing with a band --even a non-working one -- rather than MP3s with the bass rolled off.
But the other thing is that I was born with the Arrangement And Production Gene Curse. You all know exactly what I mean. I like tight and sparse and held-back, both in how I play and in how a band should sound. Little Feat's Rock 'n' Roll Doctor is a prime example. Problem is, you can say, "How 'bout we try it this other way" only so many times before you wear out your welcome.
But the other thing is that I was born with the Arrangement And Production Gene Curse. You all know exactly what I mean. I like tight and sparse and held-back, both in how I play and in how a band should sound. Little Feat's Rock 'n' Roll Doctor is a prime example. Problem is, you can say, "How 'bout we try it this other way" only so many times before you wear out your welcome.
Even if it isn't bass you are currently playing in the group you never know where it might lead. Since moving to MN 5 years ago I've been working mostly as a reed player - mostly sax and clarinet. I joined the local concert band and played a bit of whatever, wherever trying not to tick off the locals who are very defensive about their position within their respective sections but just keep my chops up between gigs.
The director programs Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed and gives the Bass solo to the Tuba. No big deal, I don't need or want to lug out my bass along as I'm already playing bass clarinet which is its own special breed of logistical hell. Anyhow, 3 weeks before the concert he is not happy with how the bass solo sounds on the tuba so he gives it to me on bass clarinet in the middle of rehearsal. I do my best to mimic a string bass while transposing at sight. He seemed pleased. After rehearsal I ask if he would rather have it on bass - he assumed I meant bass clarinet and said he would prefer it. The next week I bring in my bass and set it off the side of the stage behind the shells and out of sight. We come to the Reed and I get up and go get the bass. I'll just say he was pleased to have the real deal. Concert goes great and everybody is all surprised smiles and "I didn't know you played Bass too...)
Rest of the story
The Tuesday after the concert I get a call and was offered the gig which is now my regular Thursday evening gig.
Moral of the story - get out there and get known to players and audiences. You don't know who is in the audience and looking for you. Heck I started up 2 bands from players met in the concert band who also played other instruments. We also gig semi regularly. Could do more but we don't care to travel too far.
The director programs Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed and gives the Bass solo to the Tuba. No big deal, I don't need or want to lug out my bass along as I'm already playing bass clarinet which is its own special breed of logistical hell. Anyhow, 3 weeks before the concert he is not happy with how the bass solo sounds on the tuba so he gives it to me on bass clarinet in the middle of rehearsal. I do my best to mimic a string bass while transposing at sight. He seemed pleased. After rehearsal I ask if he would rather have it on bass - he assumed I meant bass clarinet and said he would prefer it. The next week I bring in my bass and set it off the side of the stage behind the shells and out of sight. We come to the Reed and I get up and go get the bass. I'll just say he was pleased to have the real deal. Concert goes great and everybody is all surprised smiles and "I didn't know you played Bass too...)
Rest of the story
The Tuesday after the concert I get a call and was offered the gig which is now my regular Thursday evening gig.
Moral of the story - get out there and get known to players and audiences. You don't know who is in the audience and looking for you. Heck I started up 2 bands from players met in the concert band who also played other instruments. We also gig semi regularly. Could do more but we don't care to travel too far.
I haven't played with a band in several years. I would love to find some musicians that could play, write, didn't expect me to "just hold the bottom", aren't into "partying", don't expect me to play a Fender, etc, etc... I'm a recovering drug addict and refuse to play with folks that REALLY ENJOY consumption. It's just for my own safety and sanity. With all of my requirements, it's difficult for me to find people to play with.
J
jhan
Guest
I think one of the reasons why it's hard to find a good band is because there are very few GOOD musicians out there, and the GOOD musicians are usually involved in several things and don't have much spare time. For example; in the metro NYC area, there is no shortage of metal musicians, but the majority of them suck and/or are total knuckleheads. In NJ, there are some metal musicians who are really good - but they're all curretly in Symphony X.
I find that it helps to make a list of what it is that you want exactly. For instance, it sounds like $500-1000 for a gig is a good night's pay for you. That being the case, and given your musical interests, and desire to play with musicians who are actual musicians (actual quote from a good friend of mine who is the guitarist in a band I am in: "I am a guitarist, not a musician." Love it!) then it sounds to me like it would make great sense to form your own wedding/corporate band. If you find good players, then you can keep your set list fresh.
No matter what large city, if there is a band that is good, is responsive to the customer, and is willing to do gigs in the $1,000 range, you will find work! Use Gigmasters, go to Dynamod and build a website for cheap, make some videos of the band (homemade video is better than none at all). None of this is all that hard, it just takes time and persistence, ambition and vision. You're a bassist, which means by nature you are a perfect band leader. Let it out! It is true what the others are saying here: if you market yourself and your band, you will get work if you keep at it. Make business cards and take them wherever you go. Tell people about your band.
My short story is that 3 years ago I was ready to start playing more lucrative gigs and lucked into a great band that had converted itself from a bar band into a wedding band, so they were still fun to play with and could rock, swing, and even play some jazz. They had some connections since they had been together for 8 years, but they needed help on the website, which I remodeled, and they needed to connect with Gigmasters, which I facilitated. Now we play for $2,500 a gig, which is on the low end for wedding bands. So that is our niche: cheaper weddings and corporate gigs. We make more than we used to, better hours, better food and we still get to play fun music. Earth, Wind and Fire, etc. We are not top shelf, but we have fun and its worth our while.
You can see our website in my signature if you are curious. After Hours Band.
Good luck!
No matter what large city, if there is a band that is good, is responsive to the customer, and is willing to do gigs in the $1,000 range, you will find work! Use Gigmasters, go to Dynamod and build a website for cheap, make some videos of the band (homemade video is better than none at all). None of this is all that hard, it just takes time and persistence, ambition and vision. You're a bassist, which means by nature you are a perfect band leader. Let it out! It is true what the others are saying here: if you market yourself and your band, you will get work if you keep at it. Make business cards and take them wherever you go. Tell people about your band.
My short story is that 3 years ago I was ready to start playing more lucrative gigs and lucked into a great band that had converted itself from a bar band into a wedding band, so they were still fun to play with and could rock, swing, and even play some jazz. They had some connections since they had been together for 8 years, but they needed help on the website, which I remodeled, and they needed to connect with Gigmasters, which I facilitated. Now we play for $2,500 a gig, which is on the low end for wedding bands. So that is our niche: cheaper weddings and corporate gigs. We make more than we used to, better hours, better food and we still get to play fun music. Earth, Wind and Fire, etc. We are not top shelf, but we have fun and its worth our while.
You can see our website in my signature if you are curious. After Hours Band.
Good luck!
One last note: I have discovered that a key part of the filtering process when auditioning is to ask for a sample of video or audio and a website. The bands that don't have any of that typically are not the right band for me. Unless its a start-up, and in that case I would ask for samples from past bands. Even young people can usually cough up some sort of demo that they have made in order to make sure that you are a good fit for them and vice versa. No demo at all = no audition. Sounds kind of harsh, but I find that it saves me a lot of time and aggravation.
Replace your 90's band with my 90's Ska/Punk band, take out the part about 2000's cover band and replace with hardcore punk band, change the pert about wanting to play jazz, funk, and motown to punk, hardcore, and ska and that is the story of where I am at too.
I consider myself a pretty competent bass player. I have been complimented on my playing ability the two times I actually did find a guitar player to play with since moving here in 05'. The main problem is I live in a military town. The people are always in and out not to mention, no one in the military wants to write/play punk songs about social issues. You are kind of taught to ignore that stuff when you are in the military. I want to play what I enjoy playing. I don't care about the money part of it as I have a job that pays the bills, I just want to play and have fun making the music I enjoy. In the mean time, my buddy back home switched from guitar to bass and has the opposite problem. He has to figure out how to not hurt people's feelings when he tells them he can't play bass for them. He's in three bands right now and is always getting asked to play. I am happy for him of course but it makes this town way more depressing.
/Whining off
First step, find a drummer. That is always the hardest part. Guitarists are a dime a dozen (though the good ones that can actually solo...) and vocalists we all know are worth less than the paper they are printed on!
But seriously, I find that having a space to jam, a PA and a guy that can play drums are the catalysts needed to seed a band. After that its a matter of time.
But seriously, I find that having a space to jam, a PA and a guy that can play drums are the catalysts needed to seed a band. After that its a matter of time.
When I started playng bass friends tell me that bass is the easiest way to find a band but is almost 2 years that I can't find guitarists and singer (drummer is and "old" friend)
J
jhan
Guest
+ 1 on a good drummer. A good drummer will make you a better player, and attract talent.
Good luck finding one. Most drummers suck a&^$, and good drummers are always involved in several projects or are fielding multiple offers. That's why a lot of good drummers are mercenaries; the Law of Scarcity.
As far as guitarists; lots of guitarists can shred, but not as many guitarists are good MUSICIANS. Whenever I enter a jam situation and the first thing the guitarist does when he plugs in is start to shred, I'm like, 'Oh crap.'
Good luck finding one. Most drummers suck a&^$, and good drummers are always involved in several projects or are fielding multiple offers. That's why a lot of good drummers are mercenaries; the Law of Scarcity.
As far as guitarists; lots of guitarists can shred, but not as many guitarists are good MUSICIANS. Whenever I enter a jam situation and the first thing the guitarist does when he plugs in is start to shred, I'm like, 'Oh crap.'
Finding a band wasn't a problem for me. I'd only been back on the instrument three or four months before I thought I'd learn more and do better playing with people; posted a CL ad and got about four or five responses. A couple fell through, one clicked well, and when that looked good I told the remainder "thanks, but can't do it."
How much of this is inability to find a "good" band? It may be that I had no problem finding a group because I (and they) are pretty casual about just playing to have fun.
From what we've observed, it's easy to find guitarists, there seem to be a number of bassists and drummers available around. What's been really hard is finding keyboards and a female singer (in my ideal world, the same person, but so far no luck with either).
How much of this is inability to find a "good" band? It may be that I had no problem finding a group because I (and they) are pretty casual about just playing to have fun.
From what we've observed, it's easy to find guitarists, there seem to be a number of bassists and drummers available around. What's been really hard is finding keyboards and a female singer (in my ideal world, the same person, but so far no luck with either).
Dan, i love playing the same stuff, but my main gig is an experimental rock/prog thing...i just enjoy playing too much to not be playing i guess
i'd love to get a neo-soul gig going, doing originals
Dan..
You discussed what you didn't want.. but not really what you wanted.
Unfortunately unless you're a front man or starting a band... you may not have the most control over material choices.
The more you want to play (and get paid), the less they care about your personal preferences.
Do you have a PR kit like a band? I had this issue, spent the effort to get top notch pix, mp3s and print materials.. soon after the written plan was done, things started changing.
I now am trying to ditch acts.
You discussed what you didn't want.. but not really what you wanted.
Unfortunately unless you're a front man or starting a band... you may not have the most control over material choices.
The more you want to play (and get paid), the less they care about your personal preferences.
Do you have a PR kit like a band? I had this issue, spent the effort to get top notch pix, mp3s and print materials.. soon after the written plan was done, things started changing.
I now am trying to ditch acts.
