15 replies to this topic

[The_Soul_Man]

For those of you who are in bands, how did your band get started? Like how did you get people for your band?

I'm attempting to get a band together so I can play a few of my blues and hopefully get them on the HOB Radio Hour so they'll be heard.

[Syd-Blues]

I put ads out for a drummer. Got a drummer, we got decent, put an ad out a singer, we mediocre and then we got gigs!

[The_Soul_Man]

*nods* I need like the whole score...horns, strings, piano, drum, possibly another vocalist...I'm doing lead harp and vocals.

[ChAnOoD_bLuEs]

Good luck with the project! I think it would help if you´re a people who likes to know new people... I´m not very social and I´m very shy, so I think that´s why I don´t have a band yet!

[Blueblood]

The_Soul_Man said:

...I need like the whole score...horns, strings, piano, drum, possibly another vocalist...

Well, for the time being all you really need is a good keyboardist and guitar. A synthesizer is your horns, strings, piano and a pre-programmed drum machine is your drummer.
That'll get you started - cheap.
When you hit the road then I'd expand. You need to be heard first....
- crawl before you run.

*IMHO*

[Bismo]

I both agree strongly and disagree passionately with Blue! When Shotgun & I tried to put a band together (yeah, everyone say it with me...) back in the 80s, we were like The Soul Man... we wanted the whole deal right away. (Well, we decided we could settle on only two horns and one lead guitar to start.) We actually got a pretty good group together piece by piece (mostly advertising in the Boston Phoenix, a local "hip" newspaper that I'm sure Blue remembers!).

But getting that many people together took time, and as we'd finally get a group together one of them would find another paying gig with an existing band and we'd be looking again... the timing never came together enough to get ready to play out before we'd lose someone. Such a shame.

But, we did have a few great rehearsals!

So yeah, your heart says get The Sound right now, but practically speaking Blue's approach.. start small and then build after you can get at least a little established, is doubtless much better.

[Syd-Blues]

You'll never get any money with 18 band members.

[The_Soul_Man]

Syd: Figured. XD

My mind is still rocky upon being a musician considering I have to learn how to play the harp yet and I'm getting my guitar for Christmas. I know it's something in me saying that I want to do this and I have to do this cause I have alot of great blues but it's a matter of going to college and finding the people I need to get the Sound.

I'm saying college cause there's no way in H*ll I'm going to find people now on the dot (1- people think I'm a complete dolt to music when I'm not; 2 - people are real biatchy to me here for the reason of bringing back The Blues Brothers (they think a girl crossdressing is illegal but when a guy does it, it's okay- wtft much?)) . It's a matter of getting them to learn what I need them to and a matter of hearing my songs played to notes so that it sounds how I want it to.

[Cropper Classic]

Start small and build - that is very smart advice.

[The_Soul_Man]

*nods* I plan upon doing so.

[Syd-Blues]

Good for you.

It's important to LEARN to play your instrument before you start a band, unless, of course you're going into Punk.

Or Noise...

[Cropper Classic]

Check out your competition too

[The_Soul_Man]

We have no blues bands here and people who try to play it, make it sound country. Nothing wrong with country but just saying. Only blues man around here is a guy I know who has a good sound but needs a bit of work.

[Vinnie Blues]

Just learnt tonight that our musical director/conductor/arranger is seriously ill and we have stopped rehearsals temporarily.

He assured us that everything should be okay but he needs to undergo surgery and heavy treatment and he will be tired therefore no longer able to do the rehearsals with us. He is confident he will make it and urged us to keep working on our numbers.

Gotta find a way to keep the band together... *sigh - praying he will be okay soon, he is real talented a musician and a heart of gold too*

[TWANG]

Sorry to hear it.
Keep us updated!

TWANG

[meatpacker]

"Start small and build - that is very smart advice." Good Tip!

Duck told me that he used to see The Colonel all the time around school...then he sort of went missing, when Duck asked him where he had been, The Colonel told him he had a garage band, and he also asked Duck if he could play...

When Duck showed up Cropper said good, you're the bass. He showed him a few cords and Duck became the beat to it all and one of the finest bass players ever.

Duck even showed me a few cords of Green Onions..unfortunately I never played again...lol