best way to go about starting a band

Subject: best way to go about starting a band
From: Froodo
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:21 PM

Just got to NYC. How does one start a little folk group in a punk rock town when you don't know anyone?

Anyone have good stories to share about how you did it...

Froodo

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:24 PM

Start a Folk Punk band.

Jon

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: sophocleese
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:54 PM

Or a Punk Folk Band. Even if you don't sing or play Punk you might want to try going to any open mike stages in your area. If they don't say "Punk Only" you might find some people with different music styles, and if you get up and perform they might find you.

Advertise.

Ask at places where you think like-minded people might perform. If you think they could show up in a library, old folk's home or school then you may be able to get the names of people at these places.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: guinnesschik
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:57 PM

Start a thread on Mudcat!

Good luck, Froodo. Hope ya' find some bandmates, soon.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: guinnesschik
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 07:03 PM

By the way: I met our band's banjo player through the Mudcat. I just posted a thread looking for banjo players in our area, and VIOLA! It clicked, and we've been working together for the better part of a year now.

He's also a fine, fine guitarist and singer/songwriter, so we scored BIG!

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: GUEST,Fergus
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 08:25 PM

I have always liked 'Viola!' as an exclamation. I think people should use it more often. 'Banjo!' is pretty good too.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: Alice
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 08:52 PM

VIOLA! That's funny. Grinning ear to ear. Also like the punk folk band idea.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: death by whisky
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 08:59 PM

Punk!!!!mmmm....interesting that it's still around. I was the only folk/trad musician with a background in those "genres" in the last "Band "that I was a part of.IT made for some interesting mixes.

Our practice sessions were more important than actually gigging.GREAT FUN.

tOLKA pOLKA was quite a challenge.

Good luck Froodo,(little bit envious)D.B.W.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 09:17 PM

Many music stores keep a book of players looking for bands,and bands looking for players.This might be worth pursuing.Be exact about the kind of music you play,though,or I can almost guarantee you'll get calls from 17 year olds asking if you know any Marilyn Manson.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: guinnesschik
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 10:15 PM

Hey, the folk punk thing can be done. We do it all the time!

;-) Fonk? Pulk?

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 08:17 AM

Ask around about coffeehouses/venues which feature folk musicians. Show up and introduce yourself to the musicians during a break. Buy them a drink. The times I've done this it takes no longer than a few seconds before they ask the question, "You play?" and BANJO! you're off and running. Musicians are no different than anybody else that way. They like to talk shop.

If you sing and/or play, ask about "Open Mic" nights, show up and perform. Then people will be coming up to you and offering to buy you drinks. Then you can ask them the same question. Before long, ACCORDION! you're in a band.

(No intentional insults to the VIOLA! person. Just having a little fun)

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: GUEST,celticblues5
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 10:55 AM

For a somewhat less direct route - storytelling groups usually have a number of folkies as members - the two performance arts being related.
You could also post at local universities - in the paper or on the BB in the music depts. Not EVERYone in school is academically/classically oriented :-) and I'd be surprised if you didn't find at least a few folk/blues types.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: Wesley S
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 11:10 AM

Instead of starting a band maybe you could join one. I saw a group that I liked and I got them a job playing at a charity event I was a board member of. I dropped enough hints that I played the same kind of music { "Gee - you do that song in C - I've always done it in D" } and pretty soon - VIOLA - they gave me an audition. And before you can say MANDOLIN, it's two years later and we're opening for Livingston Taylor this Friday night { shameless plug inserted here }. Good Luck.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: Bert
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 12:09 PM

VIOLA is good as an exclamation, but I think DOUBLE BASS makes more of a statement.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:12 PM

How about "MANDOLA!!"?

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: sophocleese
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:18 PM

Fiddlesticks!

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:25 PM

Peter Schickele once said under his breath "Bassoon!" when he tripped coming on stage. Now my teenagers use it as an expletive.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: GospelPicker (inactive)
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 04:20 PM

Good idea, finding a band... or like the other person... post on the 'Cat... Oh, jawharp! I'm just fresh out of ideas... maybe it's because I'm about to post a "looking for" thread myself... HMMM

GospelPicker

@:0[+]

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: Grab
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 08:55 AM

Before you can say "glokenspile"..."glockinspell"..."glick"....

"xylophone"

Grab.

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: guinnesschik
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 09:03 AM

Oboe!

Subject: RE: best way to go about starting a band
From: GUEST,emily b
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 05:23 PM

Depending on the type of music:

Hang at the sessions, song sessions and tune sessions.

Try the Folklore Society.

Go to Contra dances, or English Country that have live bands.

Look for Morris dancing teams.

If you are a singer and have time, join a choir to find other good singers.

Most important, do whatever it takes to have people hear you. Open mics are a good spot. Let them come to you.

Good luck.

emily