Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Nothing new in what you are saying. Getting a band together is tough, for the reasons you state.

I can relate! Sometimes I think I'll just give up trying to find the right bandmate(s), keep recording at home, and doing open mics.

When I had a group we had discussions about everyone's goals. This exposed (and sometimes resolved) all the musical issues, right up front.
We had to work with the things we liked.
I was right up front about saying that if someone hates a song, then we wouldn't do it.
What was left was what we did - still plenty of material.
But for those who didn't like enough of what the others liked, well, we looked for replacements.
When you run out of replacements, the band is dead.
And maybe it's time to change what we like (!!!!), or, more realistically, find the place where folks who love YOUR style of music hang out.
Make new contacts, and try to start fresh there.

And maybe it's time to change what we like (!!!!), or, more realistically, find the place where folks who love YOUR style of music hang out.
Make new contacts, and try to start fresh there.

It's a tough one. I live on an island in the middle of the pacific and don't play classic rock covers or island music, so finding the right fit is seriously looking for a needle in a haystack.

I live in Phoenix,Phoenix is not an artist friendly town.You'll find a lot of Country music,and monster trucks.
The artists that do other than the status quo,are hard pressed to find an outlet. The best thing you can do is to
go where you're appreciated,that's what Jimmi Hendrix did,when he went to England.

Music is a human endeavor,Sometimes the music industry forgets that.Musicians should always remember.

I'm in PHX, too. Wassup?

I live in a small town in central Ohio and finding musicians to sing with is quite hard unless i am willing to travel to major cities which tends to be a good 45 min to an hour drive at least. Its also hard because everyone i do find local wants to play heavy metal or something else that my vocal style is not suited for. I'm hoping to find some great guys and gals with similar music preferences to mine.

I still have hope in getting a band together to sing mostly any style. The only way for things to improve is for a person to be positive and never give up on achieving their dream. Eventually said dream will become a reality.

Unless you are willing to travel 45 minutes?

Do you carry your own PA system and set it up for gigs? Do you spend a lot of time loading and unloading and setting up and tearing down your gear for the gig? If so you are not the norm. Most singers that I have worked with just show up (Sometimes not even on time)

Yet the musicians take on the job of roadies for every gig. They also have to travel 30 min or more most of the time for gigs. Want to be a singer? Would you rather whine or sing? If you really want to sing go where you can work like every other musician out there. No one is going to pay you to play in your living room.

What would you ever do as a professional? Sometimes they have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to a gigs. Our agent booked us gigs states apart and we had to travel Sat after the gig to Monday morning sometimes just to open on Monday night.

But I do think that going from your house to the car, opening the door, getting into the car, starting the car, steering the car in the right direction, getting out of the car, closing the door of the car and walking into the club, walking up to the bandstand, and adjusting the mike stand minutes before it is time for you to sing could really be a deal breaker at times.

However I believe that is the is the type of hardship most of the musicians in the band might be willing to bear. Maybe the first three choices might fit some singers.

*he means well.

These days a 45 minute drive to a gig or practice is not unusual at all. Ask the guys in Texas what their usual commute is!

GuitarMikeB wrote:These days a 45 minute drive to a gig or practice is not unusual at all. Ask the guys in Texas what their usual commute is!

At least in Texas you can just take your boat downstream in the flood waters to your gig. Might have to hitch a ride home, tho!

GuitarMikeB wrote:These days a 45 minute drive to a gig or practice is not unusual at all. Ask the guys in Texas what their usual commute is!

Anything within 3 hours is a local gig to me.

Going to jam with some friends tonight at a local club. Google says it 58 minutes to go 54 miles, but I think it's a little longer