Distance is the biggest stumbling stone when it comes to finding band members. Therefore searching in the right places is the basis of the success of your band. We all want dedicated, loyal and cooperative people to work with. Many artists are talented and have the needed skills, but finding people with these personality traits are scarce.
Dedicated and reliable musicians are found at music schools, music workshops, instrument shops and at your local church. Searching at these spots guarantees you the distance. Networking and building bridges stay crucial in the music scene, therefore the modern method of meeting band members is to meet potential artists online.
Today we will look at a few places to meet band members online and how to apply for an open position, and then we see if we answered your questions along the way.
Is There an App to Find Band Members?
Yes, I know about two really good and user-friendly apps that make your search easy and clear.
The first one is called FUZZ, and it’s as easy as creating your profile in a few seconds, and then adding your location, your instrument, your goals etc. Add a short bio with some interesting pictures and music, and you’re set!
You will then be able to discover the musicians that fit your criteria. You will be able to connect instantly with like-minded individuals or mark potential candidates as a favourite to come back to them later. Once you’re connected you can chat, exchange media and files, and make plans to get together. There’s also an option to make or create music remotely, so a great opportunity there.
The second app to meet musicians close to you is called Vampr. This is the famous “Tinder for Musicians” App, where you can skip and make matches. You can also write to musicians who you have not made a match with if you feel that there’s potential for a connection.
This app has grown so much in the last few years and it’s as if there is no limit to the success you can reach. Let’s name a few of the features:
- You can skip and make matches with potential musicians.
- You are able to create music on the app.
- They specialise in promoting your music on Pitchfork, Billboard, Rolling Stone and other publications.
- They offer training for artists so that you can learn to make a living off of your passion.
- They promote and place your music on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok and many other platforms while you keep ownership of your tracks.
I would say that’s a massive opportunity not to be missed right there if you are open to the digital scene and networking online first before you meet in person.
How Do I Meet Musicians in a New City?
Leaving behind an established band and moving to a new city is a challenging period. The only medicine is to move on and join or start a new musical project. You are born to perform and you will crave it after taking a short sabbatical.
The first place is to check any listings or advertisements in shops or the local newspapers, at the instrument- or music stores, at your work or school, and on local Facebook groups. Successful online options are apps Vampr and FUZZ, with websites Bandmix.com, join-a-band.com and reverbnation.com.
I wrote an in-depth article about finding committed band members if you are starting from scratch again. It explains each of the above in-person methods in more detail.
How do you Ask to Join a Band?
So, you have found a band looking for someone that fits your credentials and you’d like to apply to become a part of them? There are a few crucial things to point out to get noticed and stand out above other candidates.
Bands usually looked for musicians that have excellent skills and some experience, but in the modern age, we also look for flexibility, long-term commitment and personality traits that fit in with the rest of the band members. If you can present these features, you will set yourself up to have a great chance to stand out.
This is how you will ask and approach:
- Write a short motivation letter about your interest and a bit of your background to the application.
- In this letter, write about your job and how long you have been working there. This comes back to you being able to commit for extended periods.
- Add info about your experience in the music industry, your influences and your future dreams.
- Think of three types of value that you can add to the band other than just your instrument. This could be having transportation for gear, a big following, skills in graphic designing or music production etc.
- Place your contact details, and a reference in the industry if you have one.
- Wait for an invitation to a personal meeting.
Once you get the invitation, 80% of the work is already done. That means that they are satisfied with your background and they would want to get to know you better personally. Very important to know is that this process goes both for you and for the band. If you feel uncomfortable or you are not convinced, you are also able to pull the plug and move on to the next option on your list.
If you are a total beginner and you are still unsure about when the right time is to join a band, don’t miss the article I wrote about At Which Ability Level Should I Be Joining a Band? This should give you direction and motivation to get your musical career underway.
The take out from this article is that there are plenty of options to find like-minded people to connect and network with. The old-school methods are still great to meet people face-to-face, but the modern options are well-developed and offer fantastic opportunities to meet the right people in your area.
Keep working hard, and go the extra mile. Till next time…