To people who play in local bands...

[SarahC]

So, I am tried of playing folk-esque music by myself.

 

Answered a flyer looking for a rhythm guitarist and the guy called me last night. He was mostly interested because I am a girl and apparently girls don't call about being in rock bands very much... doubt anything will come of it now though, because I know they are going to say I can't play worth a shit.

 

So, my question for you guys is: how did you get your bands started? Is there any good way to try to get one going?

 

Thanks!

[deepseacatfish]

Being at a small college makes it real easy to find people to play with

 

That being said, are there any places that do open-mic things with decent musicians? That might be a good place to start, find some people who are doing their own thing and ask them if they're interested. I don't know how often the newspaper ads/craigslist/etc. things work, but it's certainly a possibility to try as well.

[jimmyjimmy]

Meeting people through shows and hanging out at guitar shops and record stores got me involved w/ others playing out.

 

If you've got a solid idea of the direction you want to go with your music I'd suggest hanging a flyer out yourself.

[HighFives]

get together with some friends and jam, chances are your friends will be like "Oh i know this one person that would love to get in on this shit"

[a.miller]

I'll cast a vote for craigslist.

[M. (hristine]

So, I am tried of playing folk-esque music by myself.

 

Answered a flyer looking for a rhythm guitarist and the guy called me last night. He was mostly interested because I am a girl and apparently girls don't call about being in rock bands very much... doubt anything will come of it now though, because I know they are going to say I can't play worth a shit.

 

So, my question for you guys is: how did you get your bands started? Is there any good way to try to get one going?

 

Thanks!

Iris Dement, who back in the day slung pizza and beer along side yours truely, now a semi famous singer song writer, married to same, started out doing open mic nights in KC.

 

Are you legal to get into joints? Seems like you're still a teenager.

[dannygutters]

Move to chicago and hang out in the old town school lobby.

[explodo]

Start sleeping around. It worked for me. I'm in Wilco now.

[JerseyMike]

Go to open mics, and even better, open jams (jazz, blues jams, etc.) so you can actually see the way people play thier instruments. Have a good idea of what you want to do before you do it, and make sure that you actually like the people you are going to play with, or you'll put yourself through hell. Good luck!

[EL the Famous]

Start sleeping around. It worked for me. I'm in Wilco now.

 

'laptop guy'

[jhh4321]

When i started playing in my first band I had been playing guitar for about 2 or 3 months. I find it best to play with people on your level (not jump in with some experts). Together we grew as a band, this also helped me learn to play guitar a lot quicker than i would otherwise. More recently, I got together with one of the bands im in right now through craigslist...this can be a mixed blessing...we've been trying to find one more member for about 6 months now and have just had whack job after whack job come in after replying to craigslist ads.

[explodo]

'laptop guy'

 

[EL the Famous]

 

 

you share the same skeletal structure and hair as pat...but that sounded funnier. zwan.

[SarahC]

Iris Dement, who back in the day slung pizza and beer along side yours truely, now a semi famous singer song writer, married to same, started out doing open mic nights in KC.

 

Are you legal to get into joints? Seems like you're still a teenager.

I will be 21 in May. Right now there's a city wide rule that persons under 21 are not allowed in establishments that sell beer and all that... but, rules are made to be broken... So yeah, I can get into some places to do open mics...

[radiokills]

there is a great abundance of guitar players, basically everywhere you go, and a huge lack of drums and bass players.

 

fortunately, i play drums and bass, so it was relatively easy finding a few other kids that we're decent musicians to play with.

[anodyne]

i did my best to look cool as fuck and smoke a lot of cigarettes. everyone wanted me in their band.

 

 

but for real - craigslist.

[oceanman]

Iris Dement, who back in the day slung pizza and beer along side yours truely, now a semi famous singer song writer, married to same, started out doing open mic nights in KC.

You still amaze me!

 

And Sarah,never get serious with musicans who's first priority is to get drunk.A big mistake I made!Keep playing open mics,something will happen.

[mountain bed]

make sure that you actually like the people you are going to play with, or you'll put yourself through hell. Good luck!

That's a very good point. IMO it's way more important to have folks you get along with than someone that's a killer player but you can't stand to be around.

 

Plus, people's musical tastes are important too. You really don't want to get stuck playing stuff you don't love or else it's just like going to work at a job you despise...not good.

 

Best of luck Sarah!

[FaintingGoat]

I'll give the third vote for Craigslist. Answer a few ads and go on some auditons. The audition alone will give you good experience and help you build a network of other musicians. I'd suggest you post a "band forming" ad. Be straightforward with your level of musicianship but also emphasize that you're wanting to grow and learn more about your chosen instrument. If you're dedicated and committed to learning there's a good chance you'll hook up with musicians that may be more talented than you. This is a bonus because you'll have mentors you can learn from and you'll have a stronger band.

 

My sense is that most musicians would rather take a chance on playing with someone who is still learning but committed to getting better than waste time with more "skilled" musicians who don't take their craft seriously, have substance abuse problems, aren't dependable, etc.

[rockinrob]

ive been playing guitar since I was 8 (i'm 21 now), and have been in many bands through the years. I've played with people better than me, mostly when I was younger, and that has been huge for my growth. I was also in a blues band for a year with some guys in their 50's and 60's, and that has helped me out alot due to their extensive live music experience. My favorite band so far has been my high school band. I moved to Florida when I was a junior in HS, and I asked every person I met "Who is the best drummer/bass player that you know?" I ended up with the drummer and bass player of the band that way. The thing about that band was that the bass player was into almost exclusively hardcore punk, and the drummer was into alternative rock and Loud classic rock, but they were both awesome. I played alot of electric and acoustic folk, chicago blues, Hendrixy and zeppelin type things. We were an original band, and I wrote all the songs, so we ended up with a cool mix of styles that actually was really cool. The only problem was when I got into country, and tried to make them play that, so we fell apart.

 

I think going to jams is a great idea for any musician(think of it as practice in front of people), but the best way is to just start asking around. Ask other bands that you dig. Ask clerks in music stores and record stores (ma and pa type are better than gc). If you put up flyers you are going to get alot of random crazy people that didnt read what you wrote. I put up an ad for an electric folk/country/jam band and got replys from a guy in a doors tribute band, a LZ cover band, some kid in a slayer shirt that couldnt play a bar chord, and it goes on and on.

So go out there, ask around, eventually you will find some people to play with. When you get them, accept tham as they are, and dont be afraid to go out of your comfort zone when you have good players.

 

Good luck.