How do you look for a new band?

Keefy · January 2025

I have had some success with JoinMyBand too, but here (in no particular order) are some of the categories of wasters, losers, and problems that I have encountered:

(1) No response to a DM. Complete radio silence. At least I know I have dodged a bullet with someone having zero communication skills.

(2) ‘Lead’ guitarists looking for people to make them sound good.

(3) Nutters. I once got into a phone conversation with a woman who thought she could sing but whose YouTube posts told a starkly different story. Once I got off the phone I saved her number, with the description NUTTER in the business name field.

(4) Serial failed band-starters. I answered an ad from a guy looking to start a Steely Dan tribute. I learned some of the song parts he specified but as soon as I tried to fix a time to meet up he was suddenly too busy. A while later he was starting a Fleetwod Mac tribute. Then a tribute for another band. And so on and so forth.

(5) Still no response to that DM.

(6) People who refuse to send you a song list of any kind, as though it were some secret to guaranteed success that they dare not share with the uninitiated.

(7) YouTube view miners. They post in every area, stating an appropriate location, but there is no band, they just want to get views on their monetised YT channel.

(8) No answer yet to that DM.

There are also some personal ‘red flags’ that make me scroll past:
- Teenagers
- Old boys
- Pub bands with too many members to make the wedge worthwhile
- Originals bands
- Bands who claim to be signed or have management
- Bands playing metal, blues, or blues-rock

ElectricXII · January 2025

@AndyJP if you’re really keen to get gigging, maybe consider other genres from the ones you normally play. It’s what I did.

I’m in a classic rock covers band that also plays private parties, for which we’re expected to throw in “party tunes”. A lot of the material I would never listen to for pleasure, but I love gigging and get a buzz from an appreciative audience.

I used JoinMyBand in the past. Been with my current band for 4 years.

AndyJP · January 2025

@ElectricXII i do like classic rock. But there’s so many naff classic rock bands in Edinburgh tho…

But do take your point

AndyJP · January 2025

@Keefy wise words Sir. Thx.

Love the NUTTER contact story ha!

Caffeine_Vampire · January 2025

You could just buy a van and you'll have band members of all denominations queuing at the rear door...

Revolutions · January 2025

Do you have a drummer?

digitalkettle · January 2025

Revolutions said:

Do you have a drummer?

No-one owns a whole drummer!

AndyJP · January 2025

Yeah they all dep for 10 bands!

Grangousier · January 2025

I wonder if that's why people are so keen on drummer jokes - we all resent them because they're the only ones who can always get a gig.

AndyJP · January 2025

The dep bands to me always sound put together for the night.

Roland · January 2025

You could try calling everyone you’ve ever played with to ask whether they know someone who needs a guitarist.

After that it’s down to reading Joinmyband once a week, and being prepared for to deal with the inevitable host of wannabes.

CaseOfAce · January 2025

Diversify.

Improve your vocals. Learn bass. Have 3 tongs in the fire instead of betting everything on red.
And you'll find a band. It may arise that you're suddenly needed on guitar. Then again you might discover you're having too much fun doing something else.

Become a team player (or what's known as a musician).

Caffeine_Vampire · January 2025

CaseOfAce said:

Diversify.

Improve your vocals. Learn bass. Have 3 tongs in the fire instead of betting everything on red.
And you'll find a band. It may arise that you're suddenly needed on guitar. Then again you might discover you're having too much fun doing something else.

Become a team player (or what's known as a musician).

Nah. Double down. A musician has no need to be a multi-instrumentalist. Why abandon your primary instrument and dilute what you've put time and effort into mastering just to try and second guess and hit the ever moving target of other peoples needs? You know what they say? 'Jack of all trades...'. If you're good and patient you'll get your gig.

AndyJP · January 2025

Roland said:

You could try calling everyone you’ve ever played with to ask whether they know someone who needs a guitarist.

After that it’s down to reading Joinmyband once a week, and being prepared for to deal with the inevitable host of wannabes.

I guess there’s always people that you want to avoid tho. A few prev bandleaders have got in touch but I left those bands for good reasons.

For example. I left my last band because the band leader was a disaster zone. At our first gig she got so drunk before we started playing she couldn’t standup or remember the words. At the end of the gig she physically collapsed. And I didn’t get paid for the gig. See ya!

But take your point about prev contacts.

mudslide73 · January 2025

Aside from the other suggestions (JMB and contacts) I'd suggest telling everyone you know that you're looking for a gig. We found our current singer by randomly asking people if they knew anyone who could sing. A bloke none of us knew came in the pub and I jokingly asked him if he was a singer. He said "no, but my mate is" and his mate is still with us today after 16 years and is one of my best mates.

AndyJP · January 2025

@mudslide73 love that story!

deejayen · January 2025

I play mainly country stuff, and have struggled finding anything (Inverness way).

A few years ago I had a first look on BandMix and immediately found something which was ideal - a really good singer who played acoustic, and a style which matched what I play. I thought our first practice session sounded really good. However, it all went a bit downhill from there. Trying to add additional band members wasn't very successful, then there was an issue with different lifestyles and trying to tie-in practice times (the singer was just getting warmed up in the early hours of the morning) and travelling distances etc., so it all fell apart.

I've kept my eyes open since, but haven't found anything suitable.

Display boards in local music shops used to be a common way to find bands, but these seem to be less of a thing now.

Since then I've bought an acoustic guitar and am feebly trying to sing, so perhaps I'll eventually get going as a solo artist!

EricTheWeary · January 2025

mudslide73 said:

Aside from the other suggestions (JMB and contacts) I'd suggest telling everyone you know that you're looking for a gig. We found our current singer by randomly asking people if they knew anyone who could sing. A bloke none of us knew came in the pub and I jokingly asked him if he was a singer. He said "no, but my mate is" and his mate is still with us today after 16 years and is one of my best mates.

I like the story that the keyboard player in Johnny Marr got the gig after a recommendation from Johnny's carpet fitter.

Lestratcaster · January 2025

I'd avoid Joinmyband for the reasons above. Too many weirdos and timewasters. However I did have some success on Gumtree, I recruited a vocalist and bass player in one of the older bands I played in and that's how I got started in some bands in my earlier years. So not all bad.

I've kinda been lucky in who I know on the scene and many bands I have played with I know personally.

AndyJP · January 2025

I’ve had a look at join my band. Didn’t see much that was for me. Will keep an eye on it tho. So haven’t posted.

The scene here has got smaller. I think the result of too many venues closing. And some venues now are favouring duos.

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How do you look for a new band?

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