Finding other musicians to join you in your endeavor isn't always easy, and finding the
right musicians can be an even greater challenge. If you've already sat down and conceptualized what you really want to achieve, you have made this next step a bit easier on yourself by narrowing down the field a bit. Here's some tips to help ease the pain of what can be an arduous task:
Where to find band members
Websites & Newspapers
You can take a look at my
5 Great Spots to Find Band Mates Online, or you can take a look at a number of more localized sites that cater specifically to your area. If you're somewhat near a major city, chances are there's a local rag that covers the music scene in the surrounding areas. You can usually find one or two in your local coffee shops, music stores and sometimes, even in convenience stores and gas stations. You can also take a look at the classifieds in your local newspaper for some leads, although in the age of the internet, the method is a bit antiquated.
Music Stores, Coffee Shops & Open Mic Nights
What better way to find the people you're looking for than to go somewhere where musicians gather? It may be a bit old school, but music shops (i.e. Sam Ash, Guitar Center, or other local shops) are great places to inquire about local musicians; and maybe it's just me, but when was the last time you walked into a coffee shop and didn't see someone playing a guitar, bongos, djembe, or something else?
In my experience, smaller shops tend to be more useful for this purpose, as they usually have a better connection to the local community. That's not to say that you won't find what you're looking for at a big, national chain. Ask the folks behind the counter if they know anyone that you could use or if you can put up a flyer in the store.
Open mic nights are another great way to find other musicians, as it allows you to come in contact with a lot of them in one concentrated spot, speak with them face-to-face, and essentially audition them before you even approach them!
Things To Consider
Experience
Depending on your desired end-result, it may be important to you that the musicians you bring in have experience playing with bands in the past. Also, how long they've been playing their instrument can be a matter of concern, although it may not necessarily be an excellent gauge of how good they play said instrument. I've seen people who have played the same instrument for 10 years, and they're still awful. Less often, on the flip side, I've also seen people pick up an instrument and have it practically mastered in a matter of months. All in all, if experience is important to you, then by all means, look for it!
Personality
It may sound like a huge "duh" issue, but sometimes, certain people just don't mesh well. Finding someone who you can actually stand to be around is going to be pretty important in both the immediate sense, as well as down the road. Remember, if your band takes off, you're going to have to spend many days and nights with these people -- usually in limited space. People are always going to have disagreements, but it's important to make sure you're not bringing in people who are going to annoy the hell out of you on a regular basis.
Level of Commitment
This harkens back to the previous post in this series asking
how serious you are. If you are looking to dominate the tri-state area, it's good to know that your bassist is up to the challenge. Likewise, if you're simply looking to get together every few weeks and jam out in your garage, it wouldn't be very smart to bring in someone who has dreams of going on national tours, etc.
Special Skills & Connections
If you plan on going the DIY route, this is particularly important. Having a member who has connections with the venues you want to play, members of the press, graphic/web designers, etc. can be extremely beneficial when it comes time to book and promote shows.
Equipment & Transportation
This one's pretty obvious, but sometimes people tend to overlook things. If you don't have amps, a PA, a car capable of transporting your equipment and your band to practices and shows, you'll want to find someone that does. This may not necessarily be a band member -- maybe a friend or your girlfriend/boyfriend would be willing to lend a hand in one way or another. Either way, you'll need to have this base covered.
Drugs & Drinking Habits
This can be a biggie. At some point in your music career, you're going to come across people who do drugs and/or drink too much. If you have a problem with these things, it's important to consider them at the very beginning, as opposed to down the road. If you spend the majority of your time in a haze, you'll need to know that your band mates are okay with that before bringing them in.
Image
If you're looking to portray a specific image on stage, you should make sure that your band mates fit the bill. make sure that if you're looking to wear chicken costumes on stage, you'll need to be sure your band mates don't have problems with looking a little silly on stage. Also, if you're starting the next incarnation of The Donnas, your guitarist probably shouldn't be a guy. Just saying.
I know it's a lot to digest, but trust me, when you put all of these things into consideration before you start bringing people into your project, you can eliminate a lot of headaches down the road. Starting a band is rarely easy, but if you do things the right way, you can put yourself at a great advantage.
Military photo by: "mzacha"
"Pick One" photo by: Leandro Cavinatto
One of the most important, yet most often forgotten steps in the process of forming a band is the initial brainstorming and conceptualization process. There's a lot to consider, so I'll jump right in: Questions to Ask Yourself How Serious Are You?
Tracked: Jun 07, 01:44