To paraphrase J – “How do you join/start a band?”
The answer is – “find your weirdos”.
I got super lucky. My weirdos found me via the instagrams. “Hey, this dude has a bunch of CRAZY guitars! And he’s got a sense of humor!” I was local and we dug the same things They had ZERO idea if I could play, but sometimes that doesn’t matter. Find your friends, you’ll figure it out.
I triangulated with friends and friends of friends and that’s how it happened.
SO – networking!
These days, if you want to start a band, you have to want to do it. Sure you SAY you want to do it, but do you REALLY want to do it?
If you are wanting to start a band – go to local shows and start talking to the people gigging. Seriously, there’s nothing better. Even if you don’t have a band yet – those folks may know people who know people who ALSO want to start a band.
NETWORK.
Even if you have your plan, and such, and internet releases, GO SEE LOCAL BANDS. They are your best contacts into what’s going on in the local scene.
If your band is ready to gig – tell them you want to team up on a bill (you’ll open, of course) Or a multi-band bill.
HERE’S THE START!!
If you are solo, and you need to start finding members of your future hit band – SAME RECOMMENDATION! Those folks gigging know folks who want to find gigs.
Be specific:
“I’m doing a kind of Thrill Kill Kult thing”
or
” We’re a White Stripes cover band”
or
” I’m so OUT THERE that I don’t know WHAT we are up to yet, but here’s my thoughts….”
Talk to people. Make sure they know you need a (guitar, bass or drums, bassoon, sampler, cello, you get the idea) and you are on step 1.
