Best way to find serious musicians for band?

  • Thread starter Thread starter WhiteShadow
  • Start date Start date
WhiteShadow

WhiteShadow

Active member
Looking for helpful tips/advice on the best to find serious musicians for band, or finding a serious band to join. I live more out in the sticks, so it can be tough for me, but I don't mind commuting wherever I need to for practice and gigs. I just can't ever find serious people. It's like for every serious person there's a billion flakes. So for those of you who have managed to get bands together and make them stick together long enough to get a set together and get out and play, what are some tips you think would help me?

As far as the internet goes, are there some sites I should check out where serious musicians post? Craigslist I've never had much success with. Bandmix I can't seem to find active people on either.

Is there a method of going about it that makes it easier? Like maybe just finding the drummer first, then adding other members as you go? Kind of sick of just playing guitar by myself here in my room. I need some help! lol

Thanks!
 
I like to keep my ads as brief as possible while getting the main points in there, because I find that I don't read other guy's ads when its paragraph after paragraph. I sift through it for the important points. I just want to make it easy on them - "Guitarist, seeking band, classic rock/metal"
 
  • Like
Reactions: rsm
WhiteShadow said:
This is how I worded my current ad:

"Guitarist. 32 years old.
Seeking band to join, or players to form band with. Original/covers
Classic Hard rock/heavy metal (Influences: Van Halen/GN'R/Motley Crue/Def Leppard/RATT etc...)
Pro gear/mindset. Looking for same
Check out my YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcPNTI2D1WaVKvsrETzESxQ

Serious replies ONLY!"
Click to expand...
Don’t pigeon hole yourself to the above.. You never know what might occur with “open to anything new“… re; music that is. If you can’t stand country, or whatever; say it up front.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rsm
? Good freaking luck! Just had to hire a bass player and Holy Smokes some of the WaCkOs out there.

I prefer to play with people that I like and know (one of the boys) however at my age lots of players that I know and have played with at one time or another seem to be hanging it up. So having to dip into the pool of players out there. And most of the time I can figure it out rather quickly why they are not already in a band. And a lot of times its NOT their ability to play.
 
alund said:
Don’t pigeon hole yourself to the above.. You never know what might occur with “open to anything new“… re; music that is. If you can’t stand country, or whatever; say it up front.
Click to expand...
It makes logical sense to do that, you're right, but the truth is..... I'm NOT open to anything new. If it weren't for the existence of this genre, I would have ZERO interest in music

Plus, I mean, that genre is still one of the most popular in the world. Van Halen/GN'R etc. are still some of the most recognizable names in music, so even though I'm limiting myself to one thing, I mean, that "one thing" is pretty damn common, broad, and relatable. It's not like my ad says "TeCh DeAtH iNuStRiAl SyNtHwAvE dUbStEp PoSt MeTaL dEaTh GrInD mUmBlE rAp CoRe" lmaooooo
 
Look at Facebook groups or musician and booking sites. FB has regional, non-gearrelated groups to find other musicians or bands etc. At least in my country. Search for "musicians + your district"
 
Good on you for showing examples of your playing. Now its just a matter of finding the personality "fit" with guys on the same playing level
 
Giblesoqul2001 said:
? Good freaking luck! Just had to hire a bass player and Holy Smokes some of the WaCkOs out there.

I prefer to play with people that I like and know (one of the boys) however at my age lots of players that I know and have played with at one time or another seem to be hanging it up. So having to dip into the pool of players out there. And most of the time I can figure it out rather quickly why they are not already in a band. And a lot of times its NOT their ability to play.
Click to expand...
You're totally correct! This is what I run into as well. Most people are just weirdos. I can't decide which route I want to go. For the longest time I figured I should just focus on writing original material. Build the brand first (or whatever I could of it on my own), then look for pros. But then I realized how difficult it was to wear every hat (i.e. guitarist, drummer, bassist, lead vocals, producer, PR manager, agent, etc...), and I was also just missing out of the "band experience" while I watch other people I know playing in bands and playing shows year after year, while I was not.

I find the process of getting a band together very much like trying to find a good woman. lol... Very difficult these days.
 
As mentioned by @rsm frequent local jams.
You'll see the same people week after week.
Eventually you should find yourselves
Book a studio and give it a few months
Very rarely will anything click the first few sessions

Be open to any songs and keep it a democracy

No one person calling all the shots. Everyone should have an equal voice
 
Running barefoot through a big ass pit of fiery burning coals sounds like more fun to me than going through everything that goes with being in a band, especially a cover band playing 80s jams but I wish you luck dude
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top