Behind The Mic: Band Members Wanted

posted in: Features

Chances are, the band you’re in now doesn’t still have its original lineup. If the lineup is intact, chances are that someone will eventually leave or, unfortunately, be kicked out.

When you lose a band member, you want to spend the least amount of time possible finding a replacement. Until you find one, you’ll be unable to play shows, go on tour, or record. But at the same time, you don’t want to let just anyone into your band. After all, a band is like a family, and it’s important for members to have both personal and musical chemistry.

To start your search, spread the word to your friends and other bands you know. It’s always better to invite someone in for an audition if you know in advance that they are recommended from people you trust. Put out the word through your social networking sites, blog and/or Web site, and talk to other bands at shows and ask for recommendations. Even if you don’t find any prospects through people you already know, you still have options. You can post flyers, ask local radio stations to announce your search on the air and, of course, hit the web.

The go-to online resource these days is Craiglist, but there are other search platforms as well. FormingBands.com and BandMix.com are two sites that offer musician-to-musician networking and classified ads.  Using these sites, you can search for available musicians by geographical location, instrument or genre.

And don’t forget that OurStage has got you covered. Under the Marketplace menu, you’ll find OurStage Classifieds with an entire section dedicated to the band member search. In Musicians Wanted, you can create a new listing for your own band or search available listings to find the right match.

When you create an ad in Musicians Wanted, be sure to include your genre, location, practice schedule, song and/or video clips, similar well-known artists and, most importantly, what you’re looking for in a replacement or additional member. If you have certain requirements, you will need to list them right off the bat. Some requirements to consider include: access to a vehicle, a steady source of income for band expenses, being drug-free (or friendly), a willingness to promote/book shows, etc. Don’t worry about being detailed in your expectations, because you don’t want to waste your time or any potential band member’s if they’re not a good fit.

As the prospects line up, schedule a few auditions at your practice space. Leave at least a week before the auditions to send songs to the people auditioning so they can play your songs with you when they audition. It is also helpful to record the auditions so you can compare them side-by-side with each other after the auditions are over!

Check out some examples of listings below: