Forming a band? Good place to start?
Discussion
Any ideas?
I've been playing drums for thirteen years and have bugger all to show for it bar a couple of sh*t certificates. I'd like to get a band (playing original material, not covers!) going whilst I'm still young enough to get away with it, and I'd like to be quite serious about it, so I need decent musicians who don't mess about...
Does anybody have any ideas on where to start? I'm looking at this as more of a serious investment of my time, and not just something to do for a laugh with a bunch of mates.
Oh, I realise this is a forum about cars, but there are all sorts on here so who knows...
>>> Edited by DanBoy on Monday 28th March 14:32
I've been playing drums for thirteen years and have bugger all to show for it bar a couple of sh*t certificates. I'd like to get a band (playing original material, not covers!) going whilst I'm still young enough to get away with it, and I'd like to be quite serious about it, so I need decent musicians who don't mess about...
Does anybody have any ideas on where to start? I'm looking at this as more of a serious investment of my time, and not just something to do for a laugh with a bunch of mates.
Oh, I realise this is a forum about cars, but there are all sorts on here so who knows...
>>> Edited by DanBoy on Monday 28th March 14:32
If you try googling 'forming a band' you come up with things like this.
www.formingbands.co.uk/index.php
Alternatively.....type out what you like, age, what you want to achieve(seriousness levels etc) what area you are in, maybe even a photo of you and your gear. Post in in a likely location - big music store, big studenty/arty second hand store or similar with a contact addy on little strips (tear the bottom of the page into 5cm strips) so that potential bandmates can take one and contact you later.
If you are keen to pick my brain (what's left of it!)mail me/get on msn messenger.
www.formingbands.co.uk/index.php
Alternatively.....type out what you like, age, what you want to achieve(seriousness levels etc) what area you are in, maybe even a photo of you and your gear. Post in in a likely location - big music store, big studenty/arty second hand store or similar with a contact addy on little strips (tear the bottom of the page into 5cm strips) so that potential bandmates can take one and contact you later.
If you are keen to pick my brain (what's left of it!)mail me/get on msn messenger.
DanBoy said:
so I need decent musicians who don't mess about...
..and therin lies the problem. I ran a large disco in the 80's (three luton vans or a 7.5 tonner), 20k or sound and 10k of lighting.
There were two dj's, myself and my partner
Hi Roger. We had also had four roadies, and a gopher. Most nights we were supporting bands but some nights bands booked our pa system so we were efectively part of the band. The arguments we witnessed were proper rock n roll, and most of the bands either arrived late or a member of a band arrived late so we played on while they got their sorry arses in gear
The band lifestyle is part and parcel, so I would spend less time worrying about how reliable the members are and more time finding good musicians. If you get the latter and can make a good musical noise, the word soon gets around in the music pubs and you will be booked. This is very exciting at first but when your out on the road for most of the working week it gets very very tiring.
Use an agency to start with, ok they fleece you about £15 to start with, but your costs will be covered as long as you don't consume too much beer. Ahem
Also make sure that the band is not so pissed they can't play or sing else you will not get another booking agin. I played keyboards all my life (classiscaly trained) and the one regret I have from my misspent youth is not joining/forming a band.
Go for it
Dan if you've got those certificates you must be a GOOD drummer. And as a good drummer you are like gold dust! I joined a band about six months ago and it's the first time I've had a drummer who could do it all and do it well-double bass work, the lot. It makes an amazing difference to the whole band. Afterwards it's just a question of meeting other musicans. You might start out with a mediocre group but once you start gigging and people see you play the offers will start rolling in and you'll get the chance to join a great band worthy of your abilities. I haven't checked where you are yet but being in a major city obviously helps. Check out the area in your cityu where all the music shops are and you'll find adverts for drummers everywhere! Also the main guitar and drum magazines are also a good place to look (loads of ads in classifieds at the back)
cheers and BTW I have a lot of respect for good drummers, it's hard, if that doesn't sound patronising!
Driller
cheers and BTW I have a lot of respect for good drummers, it's hard, if that doesn't sound patronising!
Driller
driller said:
cheers and BTW I have a lot of respect for good drummers, it's hard, if that doesn't sound patronising!
Driller
It's just nice to be appreciated for a change! Thanks.
Usually it's the same old jokes at the expense of the rhythm department...
One thing I can't do is double bass pedal work. Never tried... I'll get around to it though!
DanBoy said:Saw the thread and immediately thought of the ACM DanBoy. Seems you've already tried there!
Yeah, the local music academy is also an obvious place to start, but from experience most people there - whilst talented - aren't as disciplined as perhaps they should be! I really don't want to be farting about this time around!
>> Edited by DanBoy on Monday 28th March 14:41
Can't think of anyone shy of a drummer but I'll keep my ear to the ground when I'm back in Surrey. Good luck!
The local Ad Trader is a goodun. Also local music shops.
I reckon you should go to gigs and get yourself in the know, talk to people as musos generally know someone, a kind of mental directory of people who can.
I reckon your band should have someone with a Hammond organ, Deep Purple style. Hammonds rule.
I reckon you should go to gigs and get yourself in the know, talk to people as musos generally know someone, a kind of mental directory of people who can.
I reckon your band should have someone with a Hammond organ, Deep Purple style. Hammonds rule.
(Followed to this from your more recent thread).
Look up music rehearsal studios and music shops in your area, Yellow Pages/Thompson. They usually have notice boards for people looking for musicians (and drummers), or wanting to form bands/influences etc.
Otherwise local papers are good too.
If you are serious about a band, then tolerating other members of the band turning up late/pissed etc is a no-no - unless they are very very good and you really can't do without them.
I've been in several not-too-bad pub bands, and when we were indisciplined, we usually didn't get another gig, whether that was being late, sound checking too long, playing too loud, etc. You are there (from the venue's point of view) to bring in the punters, and if the band's behaviour doesn't assist that, you won't get back.
On the other hand, getting a good residency helps bring in the dough, and means you don't have to hire rehearsal rooms
Look up music rehearsal studios and music shops in your area, Yellow Pages/Thompson. They usually have notice boards for people looking for musicians (and drummers
), or wanting to form bands/influences etc. Otherwise local papers are good too.
If you are serious about a band, then tolerating other members of the band turning up late/pissed etc is a no-no - unless they are very very good and you really can't do without them.
I've been in several not-too-bad pub bands, and when we were indisciplined, we usually didn't get another gig, whether that was being late, sound checking too long, playing too loud, etc. You are there (from the venue's point of view) to bring in the punters, and if the band's behaviour doesn't assist that, you won't get back.
On the other hand, getting a good residency helps bring in the dough, and means you don't have to hire rehearsal rooms
DanBoy said:
Any ideas?
I've been playing drums for thirteen years and have bugger all to show for it bar a couple of sh*t certificates. I'd like to get a band (playing original material, not covers!) going whilst I'm still young enough to get away with it, and I'd like to be quite serious about it, so I need decent musicians who don't mess about...
Does anybody have any ideas on where to start? I'm looking at this as more of a serious investment of my time, and not just something to do for a laugh with a bunch of mates.
Oh, I realise this is a forum about cars, but there are all sorts on here so who knows...
>>> Edited by DanBoy on Monday 28th March 14:32
Hey Dan, my advice would be to check in the local press in your area, or in NME or whatever music press you like to read, for an established band in your locality who are looking for a serious drummer...It can be very hard to form a band around a single person. You can then try them out at the same time as they audition you without risk...
The band I play in 'came about' through a couple of the guys (both of which I had drummed with previously in seperate bands) starting to work on material and asking me to record some drum tracks for them. Luckily we were all after the same thing and it just worked - but we've all been through stacks of previous ventures to arrive here!!!
You are doing the right thing though. There is nothing like playing in a group/gigging/recording etc to push you on.
Good luck and let us have a listen to what you come up with!
Dom
DanBoy said:
Any ideas?
Hard work, lots of luck.
My friend is the drummer with an up and coming band called Saint Rose, they've just got a deal to make an album. Not a record deal, just money to make a professional sounding album. They've been going almost ten years (serious for about 5 years) and they are great (IMO) and it's just starting to kick off them.
www.saintrose.co.uk
driller said:
Dan if you've got those certificates you must be a GOOD drummer. And as a good drummer you are like gold dust! I joined a band about six months ago and it's the first time I've had a drummer who could do it all and do it well-double bass work, the lot. It makes an amazing difference to the whole band. Afterwards it's just a question of meeting other musicans. You might start out with a mediocre group but once you start gigging and people see you play the offers will start rolling in and you'll get the chance to join a great band worthy of your abilities. I haven't checked where you are yet but being in a major city obviously helps. Check out the area in your cityu where all the music shops are and you'll find adverts for drummers everywhere! Also the main guitar and drum magazines are also a good place to look (loads of ads in classifieds at the back)
cheers and BTW I have a lot of respect for good drummers, it's hard, if that doesn't sound patronising!
Driller
As Driller says... I used to hang around with Steve Barney down here (now playing drums for Annie Lennox on tour with Sting etc), he started off playing round here in half decent bands and then once he had a bit of experience under his belt he went off to liverpool to join an established band I believe. Since then he's featured on numerous big name albums (not ones you might immediately associate with topline drummers - Atomic Kitten, Gareth Gates etc etc). Now hes a regular in rhythm mag etc...Top bloke as well!
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