when forming a band
This is another area of the music business that needs special handeling.
Anyone have any pointers (tips or tricks) for finding the right players or avoiding the wrong ones with out hurting feelings.
The first initial steps.
I don’t mean out spending money at clubs searching for someone but from networking and adds.
Say your new to an area or haven’t been playing out in a while. ALL COMMENTS WELCOME!
Hey Pops, you must have some advice. Or maybe you have some interesting (good or bad) experiences that you could share in this area that could shed some light? Pops? Anyone?
Ask them how many flats are in the key of C. If they miss it. Pass… 
Seriously, I’ve always just had to jam with folks. There are great players and there are great players I can’t stand to be around. I’ll take a mediocre to average player with a great attitude, shared beliefs and ethics over an awesomely talented dick-head any day.
D
Quote:
I'll take a mediocre to average player with a great attitude, shared beliefs and ethics over an awesomely talented dick-head any day.
So that's why you won't do anything with me!
I saw the post title and ignored it Levi - thought it was media interview related.
I always use personal references - word of mouth starting from someone I trust. "Hey who do I call for a bass player fill in?" That sort of thing. If it's a new area - I dunno. Might go clubbing or to wherever the type of prefered picker you're looking for hangs out. (insert gay bar and instrument joke here)
Dunno, talented dickheads walk the earth in droves. Just ask em.
Poppa is talented but no dickhead, very easy to work with. If he lived close to me our yards would never get mowed, just music production 24/7.
Well, maybe taking time out to taste his homemade wine. 
Thx pops.. I've got some guys that have responded that I don't feel could handle it because of one reason or another.. Are you just going to ignore them?
Thx D, great point!
At this particular moment I’m feeling like I need to take some benadryl and scotch taping some to my forehead. Geeezzz maybe stuffing some up my nose and in my ears would help
We’re talking musicians here right. What musician have you ever worked with that DIDN’T have reasons in a given area that they couldn’t cut it? That’s the pain of bands 101 ain’t it. Another reason for the popularity of software musicians and laptops on stage. On demand responsible, do what I say pickers.
Pickers will be pickers. I personally lean toward ‘teachable’ less talented, but adequate players myself. they’re more eager and face it - I’m the best picker in the band that way!
Quote: (Yaz @ Apr. 04 2009, 2:45 PM)
Dunno, talented dickheads walk the earth in droves. Just ask em.
Right!
I don't want to go through a bunch of jams or sessions to find out someone is a DH.
Whats the first tell tale sign?
Come on Yazer your deep into this stuff.
Me?
I'm like a pup.. I'm way to friendly to everyone and don't always see the signs.
Need your wisdom to learn fast.
Also if you took a lesser talented bass player or kicker and because of that you couldn’t reproduce live, the sound you’ve worked hard to get recorded.
Do ya think an audience of say peers would accept that?
Because you know a band is only as good as their last performance.
First tale tale sign is the DH in question starts telling everyone else how to play his/her instrument.
Actually getting loose jams together with no pressure is the best. You can tell who would be easy to get along with, that’s the main problem with bands. He don’t gel with that one and that one don’t gel with this one and so on. Plus ego’s are to be left at home. Doing a cover band and someone says “I ain’t playing that crap” kick em out. First up if you’re a cover band you get payed to play what the customer wants, I know it sucks but it comes with the territory.
Trial and error I guess…
Be honest. “You’re not quite what we’re looking for”…or the cowards way…"financial commitments mean I can’t carry on with this band…sorry…"
Good luck…
.
Quote: (Poppa Willis @ Apr. 04 2009, 2:53 PM)
Pickers will be pickers. I personally lean toward 'teachable' less talented, but adequate players myself. they're more eager and face it - I'm the best picker in the band that way!
Odd - I used to try to associate with the most talented people I could find, and be as flexible and humble as possible, so that my middling talent wouldn't hold things back too much.
Nowadays there ain't no one to play with around here - unless you're 22 - just too old I guess...
Quote: (TomS @ Apr. 04 2009, 6:17 PM)
I used to try to associate with the most talented people I could find, and be as flexible and humble as possible.
Thx TommyS, I think I'll probably shoot for something like that and focusing on Flexible and horny, I mean humble. I'm to old to be focusing on being horny! Lets keep the record strait! Good advice!
Yea Craig one needs to expect trial and error and exude honesty! Telling my self to focus on this stuff!
Thx Yaz, it's great to get everyones thoughts and perceptions. Especially from y'all.
I'll be trying to find the best humble players that can put up with me ;)
Keep um commin! Good or bad experiences are always interesting.
IT helps to know what type of band you are trying to form.
Eg: Democracy. Hierarchy. Hippy commune.
In a democracy all the members of the band have equal say in decisions effecting the music arrangement, gigs and expected pay, and future plans, the shared band equipment (PA, mics, cords, lights) is jointly owned and maintained.
In a hierarchy a single person reserves the right in arrangement, gigs and expected pay and how that is divide up, and future plans, along with being the sole proprietor of shared equipment.(generally “Joe and the Pipsqueaks” kinda group) much like a dictator ship although longer standing members tend to gain rank.
In a hippy commune band members come and go as they please, no ties, no commitments, no future plans, often no set arrangements jam band kinda thing, gig by gig, practice by practice, no ownership (think Grateful Dead) just one big party until the lead singer dies (and sometimes long after that)…
When recruiting members for a band it is best to put it out there in the beginning what type of band it is going to be, that is which one of these structures is going to govern.
This saves a lot of time later when a member finds out 6 mo. down the line and decides the particular structure is not going to work for them, they may want more say, less say, more responsibility or less, more of a vested interest or less, etc etc.
The best thing is to weed out those who already know the type of structure is not suitable for them and save the months of practice.
Also it help to ask people “why” they want to be in a band.
If they say “because I want to be famous and make lots of money and get chicks” you will know at that point if they are right for your group! 
They may say “because my wife is annoying me at home and I need a hobby to get out of there for a bit” and that may be exactly what your looking for as well, no delusions of grandeur, just an honest person looking to join a musicians country club.
I am with others who have said they prefer less skilled but open minded and talented folk with good attitudes.
You can always teach and encourage a skill, you can’t put talent where it is not, neither can you work with a clashing attitude.
keep shinin
jerm 
Really, I require that all the people I play with have at least a college education from a top 20 school, grad school of any sort except MBA is a plus, share my odd and perhaps incoherent politics, never play Les Pauls, and have large enough trust funds to pay for equipment and a nice van in which to carry it.
If you gave them 3 songs to learn for the audition…did they? Can they tell time? Late for rehearsal is usually late for a gig.
I walk away from, “Lets just throw something together and get out there.” “How about we become a (enter any 80’s hair band name here) tribute band.” “I dont care what we play, I just need the
money.” Lamest excuse I have heard over and over from complete F-Ups , “What do you expect, I’m a musician.”
wow tom, i’m all yours on the requirements except the trust fund. i blame the economy. stupid alan greenspan and michael milkin.
interview technique #1: offer the new plebe some meth. analyze reaction. make judgement call based on comparison of plebe’s reaction and your own attitude towards meth. proceed or not from there.
Quote: (jeremysdemo @ Apr. 05 2009, 9:28 AM)
When recruiting members for a band it is best to put it out there in the beginning what type of band it is going to be, that is which one of these structures is going to govern.
This saves a lot of time later when a member finds out 6 mo. down the line and decides the particular structure is not going to work for them, they may want more say, less say, more responsibility or less, more of a vested interest or less, etc etc.
The best thing is to weed out those who already know the type of structure is not suitable for them and save the months of practice.
Also it help to ask people "why" they want to be in a band.
If they say "because I want to be famous and make lots of money and get chicks" you will know at that point if they are right for your group!
They may say "because my wife is annoying me at home and I need a hobby to get out of there for a bit" and that may be exactly what your looking for as well, no delusions of grandeur, just an honest person looking to join a musicians country club.
I am with others who have said they prefer less skilled but open minded and talented folk with good attitudes.
You can always teach and encourage a skill, you can't put talent where it is not, neither can you work with a clashing attitude.
keep shinin
jerm
Jerm,
When I first started reading your post I thought wow this guys off the deep end lol But your right about expressing what I wan't up frunt!
The rest of your post was also excellent advice, Thx!