So few play anything anymore. Even fewer of quality. CL has turned into a place to meet flakes. Why is it so hard?
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Why is starting a band so hard these days?
- Thread starter Joeplanet
- Start date
Any one any good is in a band, and everyone else is too busy playing playstation 360.
I find a lot of who say their musicians hardly know how to play and just crank the distortion and call themselves a band. Not taking away from death Metal(not my thing, but listen to the music and it makes sense) However these garageband idiots that want to start a Screamo Death Band should actually learn how to play first.
I am no great bass player but it is sad when I have to teach a drummer how to keep a steady beat and I don't even know how to play drums, and he wants to gig
I find a lot of who say their musicians hardly know how to play and just crank the distortion and call themselves a band. Not taking away from death Metal(not my thing, but listen to the music and it makes sense) However these garageband idiots that want to start a Screamo Death Band should actually learn how to play first.
I am no great bass player but it is sad when I have to teach a drummer how to keep a steady beat and I don't even know how to play drums, and he wants to gig
+1
Besides the newspaper want ads, the Internet and social media outlets do make it a lot easier these days, however true, a flake is going to be a flake no matter what. It happens all the time. Just got to weed them out until you find some good ones.
Because too many people know how to play their individual instruments (or sing) but not enough know how to play (or sing) well in a band. You can thank Guitar Hero and American Idol for that.
I've known plenty of talented guys who are excellent at gigging, until they fall off the wagon and/or fall off the face of the earth right before a nice gig.
No one wants to pay the dues anymore. PRACTICING together, learning the material, commitment and dedication. Without these also, it won't work.
There are plenty of people willing to put the time in. You just have to find them.
Easier said than done. (And oh how I wish that were not the case!)
And I respectfully disagree with the word "plenty". IMO/IME, they are few and far between.
I agree with the OP regarding CL. Wow! I have never known that it was possible for such a cesspool of worthless wannabes to exist in one place. Here is just one of many examples:
I posted an ad on CL looking for musicians who would be interested, and have the skills, to perform in a Zeppelin tribute band. This underevolved neanderthal dweebus maximus erectus shows up with his guitar, and after listening to his poor attempts at playing Zep guitar lines (translation: he sucked wangus), he then starts talking about a song he wrote about whales and he pulls out a sheet of paper with his lyrics and chord changes and he wanted me to learn it.
D-DDD-D-DDDD-DRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
What the fu**???
Plus, it was the typical juvenile overly-simplistic chord progression that a junior high school kid would come up with.
I managed to send that over-achiever on his way within 10 minutes.
I agree that there are valuable people out there, but finding them is not easy (at least IMO).
Oh sure, there are "plenty" of people out there who play music, but only a small percentage of them are of any value. Most seem to fall in one of the following categories:
Can't play the music correctly
Wants to just crank it up and jam, regardless of how it sounds
Overplays (the classic sign of inexperience)
Boozer or druggie (i.e., a loser)
Egotistical know-it-all (who really doesn't know much of anything of value)
But, having said all of that, you have to weed through the piles and piles of worthlessness to find the few who have what it takes. And once that happens, things really get fun and the band takes off!
It's so hard to find good players because it's so easy to find bad ones.
I would be completely content being in a good local band and rarely venturing out into other states. But everytime you get someone 'serious', 'committed' 'dedicated', or what other nonsense that seems like something that would be good enough for local status, you get the guys that want to 'make it'. The one's that already have 'contacts' but can't play their songs right.
I turn down more people that want to make it than people that just do it for fun.
I would be completely content being in a good local band and rarely venturing out into other states. But everytime you get someone 'serious', 'committed' 'dedicated', or what other nonsense that seems like something that would be good enough for local status, you get the guys that want to 'make it'. The one's that already have 'contacts' but can't play their songs right.
I turn down more people that want to make it than people that just do it for fun.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
CL is a bust. Aside from person-to-person networking, which remains the best way to find gigs, there are other time-tested ways of finding musicians.
If you're a member of the musicians' union, you can check the union directory for folks who play the instruments you want in your band.
If you're part of the recording scene in your town, you can ask at recording studios.
If you're tied into the music program at a local college, you'll likely find musicians in their music program, and perhaps obtain recommendations from professors.
There are doubtless other options I have overlooked; perhaps fellow TBers can offer additional recommendations.
If you're a member of the musicians' union, you can check the union directory for folks who play the instruments you want in your band.
If you're part of the recording scene in your town, you can ask at recording studios.
If you're tied into the music program at a local college, you'll likely find musicians in their music program, and perhaps obtain recommendations from professors.
There are doubtless other options I have overlooked; perhaps fellow TBers can offer additional recommendations.
Understood, I guess I take it for granted that I live in an area that is saturated with talent. For me, networking = going to see other bands.
CL is next to useless as far as finding decent talent.
Bandmix seems to be a close second.
The old standard still applies, check out the gig scene, get to know
the real players. Pass out a business card and GOOOOD LUCK!!!
Bandmix seems to be a close second.
The old standard still applies, check out the gig scene, get to know
the real players. Pass out a business card and GOOOOD LUCK!!!
You have to work hard to find a crispy flake as opposed to a limp noodle. Although the industry is filled with nuts.
Like the other guys said, there were plenty of flakes around before craigslist and the internet! I have never met more flakey people than the musicians I have played with before CL. Actually I am doing much much better with the people I have met online than I did the old way. Its just easier to connect than it used to be.
I'd rate my experiences as about the same. The real beauty of all the technology is that you can ask for music clips.
