Other places to meet musicians?

Sandvich

While I appreciate this forum and the effort the mods have gone to to help people structure their posts, etc.(and understand their frustration when people don't follow some basic common sense like putting the locale in the thread title), I still haven't had a ton of luck and a lot of people are in the same boat. I'm seeing fewer threads here happily resolved. I've noticed the same on PROC - the musicians in general that are interested in during things, contrary to the reasoning of people being unemployed in a recession and wanting to do things, seem to be not very active.

This is a little sad, and it makes it harder to network with "musicians" in general and thus eventually end up with a suitable bandmate, or just to hang out with musicians in general.

It started out where I was being maybe a bit more specific with what I wanted to do - and it was pretty hard to find something. But now I find even some of my more mainstream influences rarely ever turn up, I rarely ever see the words "Smashing Pumpkins", "The Cure" come up anymore whereas you would before even as early as last September when I joined up(and I notice this same trend in general on Gumtree, PROC, everywhere over the last couple of years) - as per a recent thread I've noticed it's a lot more about cover bands, and a lot of general rock/blues which wouldn't interest me as much.

I'm wondering if there's any other way to find people besides posting here, on gumtree or putting up adverts etc.? Like maybe some indie music forums, something like that.

I think it'd be nice to use this forum not just for placing adverts, but general advice and tricks and tips like this. Such as informing people about local music clubs, scenes and hang outs where you can connect with new people.

I have awful difficulty with this and I feel I've missed out on an awful lot by not being part of anything like that. I'm especially pissed Myspace removed the "networking" feature as that would be quite useful to me at the moment, but they'd rather make it into a crappy Facebook rival than have it useful for something.

raindog.promo

I would imagine going to gigs of local bands and open mic nights regularly and chatting with the bands afterwards would start to show you who everyone is, who can play and jam and what not. It would take a bit of time but that's what networking is.

I reckon nothing beats real world meet and greets as opposed to sticking an ad up on the net. You may even enjoy it and are far less likely to become as complacent (though perhaps more alcoholic) going out regularly as opposed to sitting in front of the monitor in your underpants waiting for PM replies, threatening to eventually clean out all the dirty dishes and half eaten takeaways piling up beside your smelly laundry while picking at that yellow food stain on your vest.

I should take my own advice sometimes.

Sandvich

The problem is that meeting people in the "Real world" is never as practical as it sounds. Online you can post ads, people interact without the fear of their Absolute Terror Fields being penetrated.

While the Internet can be pretty poor for sustaining interactions, it's one of the best places to find them, and in the past nothing has beat the internet for me in finding people I them end up knowing in real life.

It is extremely difficult to start that "Spark" in real life. This is of course likely an artifact of the Irish culture more than something true of people in general, but obviously that doesn't help if you're stuck here. You can't really just go up to people at random gigs and say HEY DO YOU WANT TO BE IN A BAND LOL.

I know this is how it worked for a lot of people in the UK in the 60s to 80s, but I just can't picture how it'd work here and usually it seems people band up with people from school, college or from adverts/general online.

Going to gigs - if there's no bands locally that are like the kind of thing I want to do, then it's going to be hard to look at what on and strategically try and get in with people with common taste. Some people including myself just lack the sheer outgoing nature to chat to guys you've just been watching on stage. It's not something everyone can do.

It's just such a complex thing, there's no easy answer. The Irish culture just isn't conductive to this kind of thing, which is probably why we've had **** all useful musical output for quite some time.

raindog.promo

Sandvich wrote: »

The problem is that meeting people in the "Real world" is never as practical as it sounds. Online you can post ads, people interact without the fear of their Absolute Terror Fields being penetrated.[\quote]

While the Internet can be pretty poor for sustaining interactions, it's one of the best places to find them, and in the past nothing has beat the internet for me in finding people I them end up knowing in real life.

You can't really just go up to people at random gigs and say HEY DO YOU WANT TO BE IN A BAND LOL.

But you can have a chat, get to know local musicians around the area, then be in the right place at the right time when opportunities arise.

I just can't picture how it'd work here

if there's no bands locally that are like the kind of thing I want to do, then it's going to be hard to look at what on and strategically try and get in with people with common taste. Some people including myself just lack the sheer outgoing nature to chat to guys you've just been watching on stage.

You're telling yourself nothing is going to work before you've set a foot outside the door.

The Irish culture just isn't conductive to this kind of thing, which is probably why we've had **** all useful musical output for quite some time.

You're writing off a whole culture from your experiences. There's plenty of good music out there. There's been a few releases this month i'm looking forward to checking out. I've seen some great bands playing locally that I never caught the name of and others that have dropped off the radar, but there's plenty out there.

I don't think there's any other sites better than boards as regards musician meet up (in my experience)

I think there's more a possibility of something happening if you're out in the real world taking a chance on gigs, maybe discovering the support band was great, unexpectedly get chatting to someone who knows someone looking to start a band and even if these things don't happen then maybe just having an enjoyable night, possibly a **** night, nothing is definite. Or sit in front of the computer

Maybe listen to some more local (or internet) radio.

Gigsmart do podcasts (I think) sweet oblivion, nialler 9 and a ton of others.

Sandvich

You're telling yourself nothing is going to work before you've set a foot outside the door.

I don't understand why Irish people always have this mentality. If you have any kind of problem, it's because you're not trying. At all. It's not possible that someone has tried, and found it hasn't worked out for them. I already said the solution to the problem wasn't going to be easy, so just because you offer the possible solution of getting off the computer once in a while, doesn't mean it's going to be the solution to this thread. Someone else might have a solution, but it's a bit more complex than that.

raindog.promo

Sandvich wrote: »

just because you offer the "a" possible solution of getting off the computer once in a while, doesn't mean it's going to be the solution to this thread.

Personally, in general, the Irish mentalitity that gets to me is people shooting down ideas without trying them or brainstorming an idea to see if it throws up other suggestions that had not been thought of before.

Perhaps "You're telling yourself nothing is going to work before you've set a foot outside the door." was a bit too much of a glib comment.

"Focus on the positive rather than negative." May have been better.

TKT

I understand both sides of the argument here, in alot of circles even if you're attending gigs you'd get a wierd look if you tried to talk to the band after the gig.

I think all he was asking was whether there is a site that's better at finding musicians in ireland...I think we all would love that, from my experiences boards is the best online.

Recent experiences everyone i've even had contact from was through adverts in college etc.

Sandvich

raindog.promo wrote: »

Personally, in general, the Irish mentalitity that gets to me is people shooting down ideas without trying them or brainstorming an idea to see if it throws up other suggestions that had not been thought of before.

Perhaps "You're telling yourself nothing is going to work before you've set a foot outside the door." was a bit too much of a glib comment.

"Focus on the positive rather than negative." May have been better.

Honestly if I wanted to listen to Oprah I would have downloaded some. You didn't particularly have any "Ideas" to begin with, just "get out more". I don't understand why some people are so defensive of "advice".

nyarlothothep

Its to do with numbers and perseverance. From my own experience you've just got to keep trying. Didn't work out for my band though but I think we could have been more aggressive in finding musicians, we spent 2 years on and off putting up ads, went through about 17 musicians, even more who called up then weren't interested, then I spent another year but gave up because I just wasn't finding people on the same musical wavelength. Its really hard, but I'll be going back to trying to find musicians in the next year because the music bug, well at least for me, I love recording but I want to take it further, so I can understand your frustration.

Its even harder to get people to join if you're doing something different to the mainstream. But just keep putting up ads on the net and in music shops. If your not in you cant win so they say. That said going to gigs and talking to random strangers in bands, it takes a particular type of personality to be comfortable with it, I guess it could work though.

But yeah the music scene in ireland isn't really good for doing something different to the regular indie/singer songwriter/overly serious rock band stuff. Its very small, thats really the problem, if there were a wider pool of musicians it would be easier. But keep plugging away.

Sandvich

nyarlothothep wrote: »

Its to do with numbers and perseverance. From my own experience you've just got to keep trying. Didn't work out for my band though but I think we could have been more aggressive in finding musicians, we spent 2 years on and off putting up ads, went through about 17 musicians, even more who called up then weren't interested, then I spent another year but gave up because I just wasn't finding people on the same musical wavelength. Its really hard, but I'll be going back to trying to find musicians in the next year because the music bug, well at least for me, I love recording but I want to take it further, so I can understand your frustration.

Its even harder to get people to join if you're doing something different to the mainstream. But just keep putting up ads on the net and in music shops. If your not in you cant win so they say. That said going to gigs and talking to random strangers in bands, it takes a particular type of personality to be comfortable with it, I guess it could work though.

But yeah the music scene in ireland isn't really good for doing something different to the regular indie/singer songwriter/overly serious rock band stuff. Its very small, thats really the problem, if there were a wider pool of musicians it would be easier. But keep plugging away.

I looked as far back as over a year ago on the search here and I didn't see anyone much that matched up with what I want to do. It's very difficult.

What would be nice would be to get more of a music thing going in the first place to make this kind of thing easier.

Aridstarling

This is probably the best place I've come across, as a strict "Musician's Wanted" board. Honestly, I do agree with Raindog on this. Its all about knowing people, thats where the fun is really. I've tried to find musicians on here but, to be honest, I'd rather play with a friend of a friend over some randomer on the internet. I don't know what you're looking for, but in this day and age, you'd want to be into something very odd altogether for no one to be interested in doing the same thing. This is the internet for christsakes, everything is cool, all of the time!

If its particular bands you're looking to build on then find fansites/messageboards/e-zines/blogs and work from there. Any band/genre worth its salt has something along those lines, that way you're sure of similar interests.

Sandvich

Sandvich wrote: »

Honestly if I wanted to listen to Oprah I would have downloaded some. You didn't particularly have any "Ideas" to begin with, just "get out more". I don't understand why some people are so defensive of "advice".

Irony anyone?

But seriously, I know raindog.promo in real life. We met through boards and played in a band together for a year or so.

\end disclosure

He is absolutely right. Getting out there is the first step. If you like a band, get chatting to them. You will very rarely find a musician who doesn't want to talk music, especially their own music

Quick story: When I was 17 or so, I was walking down Grafton St. I heard the most beautiful voice coming from a busker. I waited for her to finish her set, walked up, told her I loved her voice, I play bass, fancy being in a band with me? She says, " I have a friend who plays drums". I say, "I have a mate who plays guitar". We end up gigging for about a year. One of my favourite musical experiences happened because I went up to a stranger and asked them pretty much straight out. We're still friends 12 years later (awwww)

I'm glad people see this forum as a good starting place to find bands, but I really think scenes, singer songwriter nights, gigs etc are other places to find people who might be on the same wavelength after all.

odonopenmic

Maybe there's a halfway point, before you show up to a gig and start wearing the ear off a band that's already established about playing together.

There are a number of (usually afternoons) in different venues around Dublin, hopefully you are based locally, where it's an open jam. Turn up with your instrument, plug in with a load of people you don't know and jam. I've found this quite a good way of making connections, especially with individual or smaller groups of musicians.

What I'm missing is the when and where - I'm a bit out of touch about these type of jams but if anyone knew and thought it would be a useful way to meet others, maybe ye could pass them on?

Sandvich

odonopenmic wrote: »

Maybe there's a halfway point, before you show up to a gig and start wearing the ear off a band that's already established about playing together.

There are a number of (usually afternoons) in different venues around Dublin, hopefully you are based locally, where it's an open jam. Turn up with your instrument, plug in with a load of people you don't know and jam. I've found this quite a good way of making connections, especially with individual or smaller groups of musicians.

What I'm missing is the when and where - I'm a bit out of touch about these type of jams but if anyone knew and thought it would be a useful way to meet others, maybe ye could pass them on?

I'm in Cork, not Dublin though - that's probably half the problem. We don't have anything much like that here that I'm aware of.

odonopenmic

Sandvich wrote: »

I'm in Cork, not Dublin though - that's probably half the problem. We don't have anything much like that here that I'm aware of.

Hmmm, maybe no time like the present to start one up?

The venues should go for it - it's a load of people drinking in their pub!

Sandvich

I'll post up a new advert soon enough.

drumboogie

Take a look at thumped.com if you have'nt already. Irish music scene site speciallising in the contemory, left field spectrum of musical tastes.

Sandvich

drumboogie wrote: »

Take a look at thumped.com if you have'nt already. Irish music scene site speciallising in the contemory, left field spectrum of musical tastes.

Yeah, the musicians section is incredibly slow though.

I'm still having trouble finding anyone.

Zombienosh

i hear ya, ive been searching for years, but in the meantime ive just resorted to writing and recording my own stuff. replacing people with computers and loop pedals.

Sandvich

AlcoholicA wrote: »

i hear ya, ive been searching for years, but in the meantime ive just resorted to writing and recording my own stuff. replacing people with computers and loop pedals.

sad

I'm not really good enough at keeping it all together to make music on my own. I do make a lot of music by myself but it's not the kind of music I'd play if I was in a band, and little of it is serious.

GenuineRocker

Sandvich....i do get your point very well and i agree with you that its very hard to find the right musician for you, but unfortunately we live in Ireland that is a beautiful contry but like someone said very small too with limited possibilities especially if you dont live in Dublin!
But did you ever think to maybe be a little more open minded instead to stick so tight with what you want to do and maybe try something else (you might end up liking it) even a little different from your favourite genre just to get you in contact with other musicians and stick with it for a while until the right opportunity arise instead ,as raidog said, to be stuck in front of a monitor for i dont know how long trying to find the perfect match that will never come out?
A quick story for you that might make you think about:
When i started playing guitar i obviously started with classical cos thats what you learn in accademys or schools...couple of years later i embraced my 1st electric guitar and started playing rock/blues because thats what i wanted to do, i tried to get into a rock band but couldnt find any, tried to look for musicians with the same musical tastes as me but no many suited so i ended up in a jazzy band as rhythm guitar....i kinda hated jazz at the time...but i was so desperate to play that i didnt give a flying f**k what i was playing, i stuck with it for a couple of months, gigging around, until 1 nite on a festival there were few bands of every genre, i ended up chatting with the sister of a rockband member........guess what.....the week after i was playing rhythm guitar with this band......my luck the 1st guitarist left after bout 13/14 months and i ended up as a lead guitar in a rockband....just what i wanted to do so.....my point is open your mind at various genres and it will open a lot of doors for you!!