I can't find a Band, What am I doing Wrong?

[BassAdder60]

My experience of start up bands ran by myself is only one never resulted in gigs due to line up changes and re-starts 

 

The great thing is if you start a band you can influence more the evolving setlist and choose who you want in the band.

The biggest hurdle is singers and the lack of a PA the rest is easier. 
Im no fan of rehearsal rooms and prefer the band to be rehearsing in a room or hall as if they were gigging with their own PA ( pub band world ) 

[diskwave]

21 hours ago, thebrig said:

Age has finally caught up with me and I now look old and tired, which is probably putting people off

It comes to us all. Hit me about eight yrs ago.. Still got tons of hair/slim etc but the old face has gotten thin and ragged, so yes it does matter, especially under pub/stage,lighting. The entertainment game has always been a harsh flippin mistress when image is concerned, wherever/whatever you play.

 

 

[nilorius]

With this beast You will be able to get any sound and tone like -

 

[thebrig]

1 hour ago, nilorius said:

With this beast You will be able to get any sound and tone like -

 

Not sure what this has to do me my struggles in finding a band, but I suppose if I owned it, I would be very much in demand.👍😉

[ezbass]

5 minutes ago, thebrig said:

Not sure what this has to do me my struggles in finding a band, but I suppose if I owned it, I would be very much in demand.👍😉

There is a certain randomness to that poster’s additions to many threads. Don’t worry about it.

[thebrig]

15 minutes ago, ezbass said:

There is a certain randomness to that poster’s additions to many threads. Don’t worry about it.

I'm not worried about it, just a bit surprised by it, lol

[Stub Mandrel]

4 hours ago, diskwave said:

It comes to us all. Hit me about eight yrs ago.. Still got tons of hair/slim etc but the old face has gotten thin and ragged, so yes it does matter, especially under pub/stage,lighting. The entertainment game has always been a harsh flippin mistress when image is concerned, wherever/whatever you play.

 

 

 

Nah. Old guys rule

 

 

[Al Krow]

8 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Nah. Old guys rule

 

 

 

They certainly do in Moscow and the USA 😅

[ezbass]

2 hours ago, thebrig said:

I'm not worried about it, just a bit surprised by it, lol

You get used to it (although often accompanied by a sigh and a shaking of the head).

[Boodang]

I’m convinced that the older you get the harder it is to find a band. But when you do I’m convinced it’s worth it. Keep at it and don’t lose faith! 

[Stub Mandrel]

5 hours ago, ezbass said:

There is a certain randomness to that poster’s additions to many threads. Don’t worry about it.

 

Non-sequiteurs'r'us

[BigRedX]

12 minutes ago, Boodang said:

I’m convinced that the older you get the harder it is to find a band. But when you do I’m convinced it’s worth it. Keep at it and don’t lose faith! 

 

I've had no problem finding bands, and the three originals bands that I've played with since I turned 50 have been far more popular and successful than anything I did in my 20s or 30s.

[Al Krow]

18 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

I've had no problem finding bands, and the three originals bands that I've played with since I turned 50 have been far more popular and successful than anything I did in my 20s or 30s.

 

So in terms of tips for the OP (and, indeed, the rest of us!), what would you say were the key ingredients for your success since turning 50?

[Lozz196]

24 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

I've had no problem finding bands, and the three originals bands that I've played with since I turned 50 have been far more popular and successful than anything I did in my 20s or 30s.

 

4 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

 

So in terms of tips for the OP (and, indeed, the rest of us!), what would you say were the key ingredients for your success since turning 50?

It’s pretty similar for me, we started my last band when I was 48 thinking a few Tues/Weds gigs, turned out to be so much more. I think being a bit more advanced in years and no longer interested in the free beer in the dressing rooms we just had a much more professional approach to it which enabled us to proceed quite well. Helped of course by writing some pretty decent songs too.
 

But imo the main thing is to have someone driven steering things. With the same songs but me at the helm rather than our instigator we’d probably have done 10 gigs in 6 years and never recorded a thing, rather than the 200 plus gigs all over the country and Europe, plus the four albums and a few EPs. Drive and focus essential.

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, Al Krow said:

 

So in terms of tips for the OP (and, indeed, the rest of us!), what would you say were the key ingredients for your success since turning 50?

 

As someone who has had no trouble finding bands at ~60: Find your local music scene and speak to people, and jam when you can. Don't be afraid to use social media. Don't be too precious about what you will or won't play, especially at first, a band needs to get a couple of sets together to get gigging and start building a reputation, once that's done you can refine your offering.

[steantval]

It’s hard to stay positive after you have been looking for a band for such a long time, keep looking, something will come along when you’re probably not expecting it.

I have checked out a lot of your Youtube couch videos, your playing is definitely competent and you should have no problem joining a classic rock and blues band, I recon I have played 90% of those songs in your videos over time and are still playing some of them in my current band.

Unfortunately age creeps up on all of us, I listen to some band recordings I was on from twenty years ago and I know I definitely cannot play to that level now, I have lost a certain amount of dexterity, I started off bass being a 100% pick player, over time I have transformed into a 100% fingers player, I would now struggle to hold a pick due to a medical condition that’s now with me for the rest of my life.

[Stub Mandrel]

Just a thought... I think your demo videos have the bass too low in the mix, you want to be a bit more prominent in a video that aims to showcase your playing.

I also agree with the suggestion of taking five or six varied songs and editing together 15-20 seconds of each for a short, snappy showreel.

[lozkerr]

2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Don't be too precious about what you will or won't play, especially at first, a band needs to get a couple of sets together to get gigging and start building a reputation, once that's done you can refine your offering.

Exactly this 👆👆 When I joined my punk band, we had a lot of covers in the set, even though we wanted to be an originals band. We kept them going for a wee while while we added originals to lengthen our set to a minimum of 45 minutes, but now that we're there, most of the covers are on death row. We're keeping two that really chime with our vibe but the rest will go as we get new originals gig-ready.

 

We might add two or three I - IV - V three-chord bangers to rotate as encores, but they won't be part of the main set. As we lengthen our set to 60 and then 90 minutes, they'll all be originals unless a cover really gels with us.

 

Get out there, get started and then shape things in the direction you want to go.

[martthebass]

4 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

As someone who has had no trouble finding bands at ~60: Find your local music scene and speak to people, and jam when you can. Don't be afraid to use social media. Don't be too precious about what you will or won't play, especially at first, a band needs to get a couple of sets together to get gigging and start building a reputation, once that's done you can refine your offering.

Plus one on the material precious-ness. I’d always been post-punk/rock oriented and found myself in a 70s Glam Band.

[BigRedX]

13 hours ago, Al Krow said:

So in terms of tips for the OP (and, indeed, the rest of us!), what would you say were the key ingredients for your success since turning 50?

 

12 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Don't be too precious about what you will or won't play, especially at first, a band needs to get a couple of sets together to get gigging and start building a reputation, once that's done you can refine your offering.

 

Make sure that you are in the right place at the right time, although that could be applicable to any age. Be prepared to wait for the right opportunity to come along. I had a year without a band from the point where it was obvious that The Terrortones were over until I found a band that I wanted to be part of. When you're 50 something or older a year isn't that long. I certainly couldn't have gone for a year without being in a band when I was in my 20s. Go to gigs and get to know the other bands and musicians in your area. The one time I have tried something different for me (classic rock covers) I ended up hating it. Over the past 7-8 years I have worked hard at getting myself known on the post-punk and goth scenes, so if both the bands I am currently playing were to end tomorrow, I'd probably be able to find another one fairly quickly.

 

Also if you can bring something other than your ability to play the bass to the band that always helps. I don't own a car or drive, but because of the other things I can do that will benefit any band I am in it's not been a hinderance. I'm a graphic designer, I do all the drum programming and much of the sound design for one band that I play with. In the past I have been able to offer a place for the band to rehearse and recording facilities, the vast majority of the band I was in during the 90s' album was recorded in my living room.

 

 

 

[tauzero]

23 hours ago, thebrig said:

Not sure what this has to do me my struggles in finding a band, but I suppose if I owned it, I would be very much in demand.👍😉

 

Nilo can also supply you with unicorns if you happen to be in need.

 

As well as open mics and music shops, rehearsal studios generally have a noticeboard with personnel wanted ads on it.

 

Bandmix and JMB are both horrible to use. Bandmix is a good concept spoilt by the morons that simply tick every box for musicians wanted, so 90% of the bass player wanteds are also accordion wanted, triangle wanted, percussionist wanted. JMB's search facility is about as good as Amazon's and AliExpress's. That's not to say you can't find bands that way (I have), but it's a very time-consuming and frustrating quest.

[TimR]

19 hours ago, Al Krow said:

 

So in terms of tips for the OP (and, indeed, the rest of us!), what would you say were the key ingredients for your success since turning 50?

Don't pigeonhole yourself.

Don't be picky about song choices or styles. 

Move on quickly if the band turns out to be a bunch of guys who just want to practice and say they're in a band. 

 

I'm busy, I want someone to tell me what songs to learn and when the next gig is. I'll turn up to rehearsals ready to rehearse with the intention to gig as soon as possible. 

[Al Krow]

2 minutes ago, TimR said:

I'm busy, I want someone to tell me what songs to learn and when the next gig is. I'll turn up to rehearsals ready to rehearse with the intention to gig as soon as possible. 

 

Once you've got your foot in the door, though, be great if you can also put something into the gig pot as well as just taking out from it? And I suspect that sort of contribution won't go unnoticed as well as being really positive for the band you're part of?

[steantval]

With the demise of retail music instrument shops, a vital source has disappeared with them, the notice board in store, this was a great way of finding local bands looking for musicians or musicians advertising they were available, a sad loss. ☹️

[thebrig]

Just to be clear, when I've been in a band, I've always been very proactive in finding gigs, arranging rehearsals, etc, and I even rehearsed on our anniversary because I didn't want to let the guys down, luckily for me, I have a very understanding wife.😉

 

As far as my adverts go, this is a typical example of what I've been posting over the past five years:

 

Experienced, Reliable, 'Mature' Bass Player Available.

 

I've played mainly Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Blues Rock, and Pub Rock in recent years, but I've also spent some time in a function band covering all styles from Motown, Soul, Soft Rock, and Pop, so I'm open to all genres.

 

I have top quality gear and transport, I'm prepared to travel for the right band, and I am happy to put the work in at home learning the songs properly, so that I'm fully prepared for rehearsal and gigs.

 

I have no other band commitments.

 

I have links to my playing if required.

 

Please contact me if you think I might be what you're looking for.

Edited October 31 by thebrig
Added: I have no other band commitments.