… but I have no idea how. Here’s the deal: I sing, I write songs, and I play mediocre guitar. And I think my music would be a whole arseload better with an actual band behind it. Plus I would really love to have some other songwriting input, plus it’s so freaking hard to get gigs when you’re just a chick with an acoustic guitar.
So where do I start? I figure I need at minimum a drummer and a bassist and another guitarist would be fantastic. (I’m telling you, I am a weak guitarist.) I go to school for music, you would think this would not be hard, right? But I haven’t managed it yet. I tried putting up signs around campus (Hey Musicians! Female singer-songwrite/guitarist looking for bandmates, check out my stuff online and gimme a call or an email!) but… nothing, and I think somebody actually took some of them down off the bulletin boards in the music building.
So what’s the best way to go about this? Newspaper ads? Online? Word of mouth? Help! Every time I go to a show my brain goes “Dammit, Tara, you need a band!” And I really want it to shut up.
Any local music store should have a bulletin board. Post a notice with only your phone number or an email address asking for skilled musicians to respond. Your area should also have a craigslist.com, that is another fine way of reaching local musicians.
Newspapers are good. If your town has a “hip alternative weekly” entertainment type of paper, that’s especially good. Remember, though, that people are lazy and many will not go check out your website full of songs. Throw alot of “influences” into your ad to try and weed out people who want to start a completely different kind of band than you.
I can play some bass, and I have a place to practice- a nice big basement that I own. In a house separate from the rest of town, with the closest neighbors likely to come over to listen.
My nephew is a good guitarist, but he isn’t dedicated. Finding other musicians is fairly easy here, though- my son’s friends have a band, and there is a nearby college as well for more talent.
I also know a few pro musicians- I used to be a roadie for a wedding-and-bar band, and I can get information.
