Meeting musicians: where do you do that?

[D.o.S.]

Where did you/have you met your current bandmates or people you've collaborated with? I imagine shows could be a good place but I'm lazy and rarely go to shows anymore. Any online forums or dedicated musician to musician forums out there?

On here and at gigs in real life -- but I've always been friends with people who played instruments, which has helped immeasurably. The biggest thing has already been alluded to, which is that you have to have similar/the same set of expectations for the project, which is the potentially hardest thing to find (although I have been brutally lucky in that regard).

[retinal orbita]

I think “expectations about the project” is as important as any sort of musical compatibility.

Followed closely by “do you own your own gear” and “are you going to just drink my beer and not chip in for the space”

These are important questions.

[BitchPudding]

Met my current lead singer at an open mic out by where I live. Our bassist was a friend of hers.

Previous bandmates: Met the guitarist thrru an internship at Glide Memorial, met the drummer at the first rehearsal, second guitarist later on.

So a lot of random chance and getting out there I guess.

[Jwar]

I have met people on Instagram that are local to me a few times. Have yet to jam with them but that's my fault. Odd spot to do it, but that's a thought as well!

[coldbrightsunlight]

I think “expectations about the project” is as important as any sort of musical compatibility.

Followed closely by “do you own your own gear” and “are you going to just drink my beer and not chip in for the space”

These are important questions.

^^^

I've had decent luck with joinmyband.co.uk and bandmix.co.uk (there is a US version of this one as mentioned earlier). 99% of people aren't a good match but it's how I ended up finding my current IRL band and several other cool people, and that's gone great in the end.

Met some cool people through gigs and friends of friends that I've never actually managed to make music with but would like to Which is where expectations and availability come in.

[ummohyeah]

let's all just move to the same city. start our own scene.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Couldn't handle the drama

[dubkitty]

couldn't handle the moving expense. also hard to find a decent job at age 62.

[Jwar]

Then we will also just move to you Mr. Kitty Cat.

[dubkitty]

[ummohyeah]

packing my bags, charlottesville here i come.

[retinal orbita]

Got a message from a potential musician on Craigslist, looked kind of familiar. Don’t know if you “vet” candidates (I do) but I ran his name through Facebook, google, and no hits - ran it through my email and turned out it’s a guy who ghosted me for a jam four years ago after I dragged my bass and board across town to meet for a initial jam - fuckin’ DEALBREAKER.

Basically

[fldrvr]

HEre's something I did - I started a muscian's networking group in town. I was lucky enough to be able to partner with a guy who is well known in town, so that helped a lot, but i undoubtedly met lots of local folks running the gamut of styles there.

I've since let it fall by the wayside but am definitely going to start that up again. I promoted through CL, FB on local groups, you could do Meetup, Reddit, that kind of thing.

If you get people showing up and get them involved in the group, it could be self-sustaining.

You could also see if there is already something like that local to you?

I've also gone the CL route, and yeah, you're gonna get weirdos and just folks that don't work out, but you gotta wade through the bullshit to find the "right" folks. Just like life!

[Seedy]

weird double post

[Seedy]

This thread ended 3 weeks ago, and it was said, but BANDMIX.COM is really a great choice if you are 1) new in town and 2) older/over it/not wanting to go out alone. I moved from NJ to NC 10 years ago and played with at least 4 different people within 5 miles of my house before I met my current drummer on that site. Our band and friendship is seven years on now https://www.facebook.com/sundayboxingband/

I paid for the site for about six months until I found my crew but I still get contacted frequently by people in the same life situation. Don't want to play covers, but don't want to stop playing. I love and support Bandmix.com