Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

But I'm not really sure how to go about it. I'm 20. And all my responses have been from people under 16, which I'm uncomfortable working with. I'm in Columbus, OH. I guess what I'm asking is how did you get into your own band? Thanks.

Lots of ways of going about it. And all represent expensive, frustrating, long, difficult processes.

Sure you would not rather build a hot rod or something?

CraigsList - respond to ads, place your own. Go to music stores and hang out and talk to others, put an ad on thier bulletin board. Go to the places you'd like to play at and talk to the bands. Whenever I'm some place where there are bands or soloists playing and I have the opportunity, I talk to them during a break or when they are setting up or breaking down their stuff. It's called 'networking'.
Practice your ass off, get more and better equipment.

JommyJr wrote:But I'm not really sure how to go about it. I'm 20. And all my responses have been from people under 16, which I'm uncomfortable working with. I'm in Columbus, OH. I guess what I'm asking is how did you get into your own band? Thanks.

It's easier than you think.

1. Get off the internet.

2. Take you axe to the local community college and do some jamming at lunchtime under a shade tree on a nice day. People will come around if you don't suck.

3. Hit the local coffeehouse scene and play open mics or get permission to just jam acoustically in there when there is no scheduled live music.

4. Do a little busking in public places like parks.

5. Hang out regularly and play respectfully in the local music store until they throw you out or hire you.

If you play out enough, you won't have to find a band. They will find you.

Go see enough another players to gauge your place on the skill set scale. Then look for guys who are just a bit better than you and get some mileage.

Talbot

JommyJr wrote:But I'm not really sure how to go about it. I'm 20. And all my responses have been from people under 16, which I'm uncomfortable working with. I'm in Columbus, OH. I guess what I'm asking is how did you get into your own band? Thanks.

Find the local open-mics... Let the journey begin.

I appreciate the help. I'll try to hang with more of a musical crowd. And yeah my equipment is trash. Not very tempting to add me when there are a million guitar players with better equipment. Thanks all!

Hey if you can play like this guy you don't need no fancy guitars... maybe not even a band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lbvSBNLLoo

I meet 20-30 musicians every week, all skill levels, all genres.
I go to 2 open mikes.
One is a coffee house, with folks of common talent . . . very relaxing, like a living room.
The other is a performing rights organization, with folks whose talents range from beginner to "Holy cow!"
.
Totally opposite kinds of open mikes . . . I love 'em both.
.
You need to know that all open mikes are different from each other . . . some will only do one or 2 kinds of music, some lots of styles.
Some will have people who don't pay much attention, some will have an audience of real avid listeners.
Some will be a crowd in their 20's and 30's, some will be mostly older musicians.
Some will be at a good volume, so you can talk amongst yourselves in the audience, some will be so loud that it hurts, and covers up all their mistakes.
But most of them which I've been to have all been very supportive . . .
You must attend 3 -4 open mikes, to find the one most suited to you.
And you WILL find your musicians.

Echoing what the others have said - open mic nights, open jams/anything goes jams, ads on craigslist, musicmates, local papers.. and a LOT of patience! Took me 8 months to find a set of people to gel with! Putting a band together is a lot like sifting through granola - a lot of nuts and flakes!

JommyJr wrote:I appreciate the help. I'll try to hang with more of a musical crowd. And yeah my equipment is trash. Not very tempting to add me when there are a million guitar players with better equipment. Thanks all!

Music is not (nor should it ever be) a Big-Dick-QUIPMENT WAVING Contest. You go to an open mic, with your equipment and show them just how much you dont need their fancy equipment...

I have listened to guys with nothing more than a cheap walmart guitar..and musically they blow some of the more 'seasoned" high end equipment owners outta the water. Don't worry about your equipment...You;ll catch up People who are worth a crap will definately understand.

PaperDog wrote:

JommyJr wrote:I appreciate the help. I'll try to hang with more of a musical crowd. And yeah my equipment is trash. Not very tempting to add me when there are a million guitar players with better equipment. Thanks all!

Music is not (nor should it ever be) a Big-Dick-QUIPMENT WAVING Contest. You go to an open mic, with your equipment and show them just how much you dont need their fancy equipment...

I have listened to guys with nothing more than a cheap walmart guitar..and musically they blow some of the more 'seasoned" high end equipment owners outta the water. Don't worry about your equipment...You;ll catch up People who are worth a crap will definately understand.

Certainly agree in that equipment cannot make you a better player.
I for one believe in having the best I can possibly afford.
I would not go into battle with an inferior weapon unless I simply had no choice in the matter.

PaperDog wrote:

JommyJr wrote:I appreciate the help. I'll try to hang with more of a musical crowd. And yeah my equipment is trash. Not very tempting to add me when there are a million guitar players with better equipment. Thanks all!

Music is not (nor should it ever be) a Big-Dick-QUIPMENT WAVING Contest. You go to an open mic, with your equipment and show them just how much you dont need their fancy equipment...

Yep, some players manage to take a beat up, hacked up, pile o' bones or a crazy homemade whatchamacallit and cut a hit record or two. If it sounds decent, stays in tune, and holds up through a gig it's plenty good enough. It's in the fingers, not the gear.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstrat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F1h6_2r0xA


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... EwBQ&dur=1

I remember interviewing a drummer - we'd started interviewing first, before auditions. That way the real squirrels didn't know where our gear was.

We talked to one guy in a diner. It didn't look promising to me but we gave him our spelel - told him how we valued discipline and commitment etc.

Any questions?

"Yes," quoth he. "what is the band's position on smoking grass?"

Jeeze...You can't get back that hour of your life and it's unkind to just take a swing at the guy. So you lose. You keep losing until you win, or you give up; or you die.

Talbot