General Music Chat

I want to create a band. I currently work at a studio and have been searching for band members.
If anyone has any ideas that they can help me with. I have tried the basics. Craigslist, bandmix.com, houstonbands.net, and plenty more... I just need a little help.
I want all of my profits to go to charity in the end. I just want to give back!
If any one can help me thank you
Jessica

Let's get these details correct:
1) You want to CREATE a band - so you will be the 'producer', 'manager', not actually a player in the band?
2) You want to give 'all profits' to charity? Nice idea, but what profits are you planning on? Who's going to pay for the equipment, other expenses? You want the players to play for free? If so, then this is not a full-time thing. Or are you going to pay them? Where is the income going to come from? CD sales won't pay for lunch once a week. Live gigs? Where/when will these gigs come from?

To end up with a million bucks in the music industry, start with 2 million!

I want to create a band. I currently work at a studio and have been searching for band members.
If anyone has any ideas that they can help me with. I have tried the basics. Craigslist, bandmix.com, houstonbands.net, and plenty more... I just need a little help.
I want all of my profits to go to charity in the end. I just want to give back!
If any one can help me thank you
Jessica

There's a very active live music scene in Houston. Try going to venues and talking to people playing there. Lots of musicians play in several outfits. Any contacts through your studio work? That might be a good place to start.

Hang in there. And don't take advice on the 'music industry' from people who have never been in it.

Let's get these details correct:
1) You want to CREATE a band - so you will be the 'producer', 'manager', not actually a player in the band?
2) You want to give 'all profits' to charity? Nice idea, but what profits are you planning on? Who's going to pay for the equipment, other expenses? You want the players to play for free? If so, then this is not a full-time thing. Or are you going to pay them? Where is the income going to come from? CD sales won't pay for lunch once a week. Live gigs? Where/when will these gigs come from?

Easy there Debbie Downer. Many of us do charity gigs that serve the community including children's music programs, hospital cancer wards, jazz ensembles to play standards for the elderly. Some pretty incredible players are involved in this and it has been my pleasure to play alongside them periodically. Yes we bring all our own gear and donate our time to a good cause.

Here is one such organization but there are many more in LA:
http://www.fendermusicfoundation.org/wh ... directors/

Could be an issue - the better players are usually busy keeping the wolf away from the door so playing in a band to 'give back' isn't too appealing.

What might be, more realistically, is putting some players together for a one off project for some specific charity that is worth their time.

Talbot

Easy there Debbie Downer. Many of us do charity gigs that serve the community including children's music programs, hospital cancer wards, jazz ensembles to play standards for the elderly. Some pretty incredible players are involved in this and it has been my pleasure to play alongside them periodically. Yes we bring all our own gear and donate our time to a good cause.

Here is one such organization but there are many more in LA:
http://www.fendermusicfoundation.org/wh ... directors/

There's a big difference in doing occasional charity shows and doing NO-PROFIT work full time. Re-read what I said: no full-time musicians are going to commit to doing a no-profit band. That's why I asked the OP, Jessica, for more details on what she's trying to do. The people I've heard of doing ONLY charity-type shows only play them 5-6 times a year, and most don't even rehears on a regular (weekly) basis.

"...no full-time musicians are going to commit to doing a no-profit band."


Know a lot of 'full-time musicians', do you?

I read your post Mike and I also read hers. I missed the part where she said she wanted musicians to "commit full time for charity work for NO-PROFIT". Did you just ASSUME that part or did she actually write it somewhere? She didn't and of course no one does that that still needs to earn a living. Full time pro musicians definitely do form bands to do charity shows when they are not gigging or touring and being a part of that fosters excellent contacts and relationships for future projects that do pay well. Just one other avenue to meet interesting players with talent and a shared desire to give something back to the community. I think this is exactly what she has in mind.

Perhaps you have heard of U2, Bob Geldof, Emmylou Harris, Paul McCartney, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, Neil Young. They all believe in giving through music whether it is forming bands and benefit concerts, or applying the profits from their tours to a worthy cause.

There are ways to do this at the local, regional, and national level that don't compromise a musicians need to still make a living. All that is required is talent, an open mind, and an open heart.
http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/08/t ... sing-ways/

I read your post Mike and I also read hers. I missed the part where she said she wanted musicians to "commit full time for charity work for NO-PROFIT". Did you just ASSUME that part or did she actually write it somewhere? She didn't and of course no one does that that still needs to earn a living. Full time pro musicians definitely do form bands to do charity shows when they are not gigging or touring and being a part of that fosters excellent contacts and relationships for future projects that do pay well. Just one other avenue to meet interesting players with talent and a shared desire to give something back to the community. I think this is exactly what she has in mind.

Perhaps you have heard of U2, Bob Geldof, Emmylou Harris, Paul McCartney, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, Neil Young. They all believe in giving through music whether it is forming bands and benefit concerts, or applying the profits from their tours to a worthy cause.

There are ways to do this at the local, regional, and national level that don't compromise a musicians need to still make a living. All that is required is talent, an open mind, and an open heart.
http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/08/t ... sing-ways/

Well you might want to read again. I asked the OP to clarify what she was trying to do with a caution about trying to do it full time. You read more into it than was there.
The artists you mention all do charitable work because they make enough money with regular touring and CD sales to be able to do so.

Talbot's idea of 'one off' shows makes much more sense - along the lines of Neil Young's annual Bridge School shows, or the WIllie Nelson/John Melloncamp FarmAid shows.

Don B - I commend you for what you are doing, and imagine that in some locales its tough to find the players who can play the older types of music, but as the years continue to go, the nursing homes will have people whose primary music was the original rock and roll of the 60s, making it easier to find players.

I hope all the petty bickering hasn't driven off this new forum member - she asked for help in finding people and so far the only advice she got (other than Talbot's good suggestion) was 'talk to people in venues'.

Nope, sorry Mike but you still don't get it. Charity and giving back to the community have nothing to do with how much money you make.

Carry on.

"I hope all the petty bickering hasn't driven off this new forum member - she asked for help in finding people and so far the only advice she got (other than Talbot's good suggestion) was 'talk to people in venues'."


"Petty bickering"?

She got encouragement from everyone but you. From you, she got this:


Let's get these details correct:
1) You want to CREATE a band - so you will be the 'producer', 'manager', not actually a player in the band?
2) You want to give 'all profits' to charity? Nice idea, but what profits are you planning on? Who's going to pay for the equipment, other expenses? You want the players to play for free? If so, then this is not a full-time thing. Or are you going to pay them? Where is the income going to come from? CD sales won't pay for lunch once a week. Live gigs? Where/when will these gigs come from?

To end up with a million bucks in the music industry, start with 2 million!


And this "advice" from your vast experience in the music business.

Maybe your CD sales won't pay for lunch (God knows why ), but there are some talented people who are actually in the music business who are making good money.

Getting around in her local music scene and making connections is good advice. It's a damn site better than asking the advice of some poser open mic wanabee.

In all due respect, of course.

90db

Everyone of this thread is or was a full time musician with lot's of experience. Why be so nasty?

Note - the Lord asks to give of what we have, not of what we don't have. How would you suggest paying the mortgage if you work for free all year? Won't you then end up needing charity?

Talbot

90db

Everyone of this thread is or was a full time musician with lot's of experience. Why be so nasty?

Note - the Lord asks to give of what we have, not of what we don't have. How would you suggest paying the mortgage if you work for free all year? Won't you then end up needing charity?

Talbot

So you think Mike was a full time musician? Where? In a garage band in high school? Lots of experience? From what?

I know you guys are buds, but it's a little hard to listen to this person constantly calling other people "wanabees" when he himself is a talent-less hack with delusions of grandeur. Read his responses to Dave. He is the nasty one here pal. He has single-handedly driven off all of the old members with his BS, and someone should say it.

As for the OP - if she wants to find like-minded people to form a band for charity, who is this guy to discourage her? For that matter who is this guy to be giving anyone advice on the business?

With all due respect.