For those who are ready to start playing gigs, getting a band together is the first, most important step towards your success. It’s not just finding people with the right abilities, but temperament, and dedication to the goal of becoming successful. Understanding how to find band members is just as much art as it is science.
What follows are a few tips to help you locate the right band members for your group. Keep in mind that your selections may not be perfect, but at least you will get off to a good start.
Know What You Want
You’ll need to know exactly the type of musicians you want for your band. Keep in mind that someone who can play multiple instruments makes a good choice, but if they are not as good as others in the primary instrument that you want to play, then go with the best talent. Drummers and bass players are often the hardest to get since many band leaders are lead guitarists or singers, so know exactly what you want and do not make compromises towards putting your band together.
Place Ads in Trade Papers
You’ll find most of the trade papers online these days and even websites like Craigslist offers places for those placing ads for band members. Those looking for work will read these every day, so you should post every couple of days to stay at the top of the listings and you’ll get some responses. Be sure to put the instrument they need to play, the type of music you are doing, and the basic requirements for being in the band.
Remember, do not compromise what you want because they can’t play gigs or be present for band rehearsals. They need to be there if they are going to be part of the band.
Audition the Right Candidates
Some will send videos of their performances which is great since you can separate some candidates from others, but nothing beats a live audition to see if they have the right stuff for your band. An easy way to audition them is to pick out a well-known song that you can play as well, send it to them, and have them ready to play with your band on the day of the auditions. That way, you’ll know what chemistry they will have with you and the other band members that you have already accepted. To be efficient, line up several auditions on the same day, hopefully on a Saturday or Sunday since most people have these days off.
Ask About their Goals
You need to know why they want to be in the band, so start by asking them their goals. Many just want to play and that is okay, but if they have greater ambitions such as being a songwriter or even releasing their own material, that is not necessarily a bad thing for your group. Many great bands have had ambitious members that helped to create a better experience for everyone.
The ability to know how to find band members will not only help you in the beginning when forming your band, but also when you need to find replacements. By following these steps, you can get the best musicians possible for your group which will help maximize your success while minimizing any difficulties that might arise. Learn how to find band members at Music Launch Pad, sign up for a free account today, just follow this link: How To Find Band Members