Advice on forming a band?

Jazzmasterdude

Joined: Jun 25, 2020
Posts: 1

Posted on Jun 25 2020 12:57 PM

hey i have lurked here for a couple years and found a ton of useful information. Im getting to the point where I would like to start a band, but dont know where to start. I know exactly 0 musicians in my area that are into surf music. Im 30, I've played bluegrass and metal most of my life. What steps did you take in order to get a band going?

Top

bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25700
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jun 25 2020 01:21 PM

First off, where are you?

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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martinblasick

Joined: Nov 27, 2019
Posts: 128
Los Angeles
United States

Posted on Jun 25 2020 02:33 PM

If your vision of the band is clear, record and release a single by yourself to start the brand. Hire a drummer from fiver if you can’t find a local. Live drums are a cornerstone of surf unless you are consciously doing a purposefully electronic vibe. Build it. Promote it by getting the website/IG/CDbaby/Bandcamp/YouTube/FBpage going. Rinse repeat. They will come. Each position will be filled magically in a circuitous fashion.

If you are seeking a true equal band of like minds from the start and want to develop a group sound over time based on the chemistry of playing together, you will need to spend time networking. This is an imprecise science. It can take years....or a day.

Having done it both ways, I’d say it all depends on how much you are willing to be and/or have the disposition to be the leader.

—

Squid From Madrid - New Single on Bandcamp
MB Website

Last edited: Jun 25, 2020 14:36:10

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ArabSpringReverb

Joined: Jul 13, 2012
Posts: 490
San Diego CA
United States

Posted on Jun 25 2020 07:11 PM

Do you know any musicians at all? that is a big plus ..the other guys in my band were players in various bands over the years that I knew and liked already ..they had never really thought about playing surf but were willing to give it a try .
It may be easier to convert the right person than to search for 'the perfect bandmate' . IMO the perfect bandmate is one with no drama , who is reliable and willing to give it a shot .
Be ready to lead because musicians need some clues and feedback ..some one to say 'OK we are gonna play song X and work on the middle 8 until we get it right then do the whole thing from the top ' .
If there are bands that appeal to you locally go see them and ask around to see if anyone else wants to form a band . Look on craigslist or whatever online method you want for musicians wanted /trying to form band listings .
When I was younger I moved cross country to find a bigger pool of musicians in hope of starting or joining a band ..didnt know anyone in CA but I figured it out and had a band going within a year and a half . you have to open and talk to people at shows or where ever .
It is good to record some demos if possible ..something you can play for someone to show them what you want to do .

Top

Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2291
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Jun 27 2020 04:04 AM

Jazzmasterdude wrote:

hey i have lurked here for a couple years and found a ton of useful information. Im getting to the point where I would like to start a band, but dont know where to start. I know exactly 0 musicians in my area that are into surf music. Im 30, I've played bluegrass and metal most of my life. What steps did you take in order to get a band going?

get them into surf) that how they got me playing surf after thrash metal)

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Top

Sonic_Blue

Joined: Feb 22, 2019
Posts: 190
2 Download Pins

Posted on Jun 27 2020 09:28 AM

I met my drummer at a hookah bar and we started playing together. Then we put an ad on craig’s list for a bass player. Boom three piece. We may out an ad our for a sax player once we get tight

Top

da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Jun 28 2020 04:59 PM

You know zero musicians, so go and meet some musicians. Go to some shows, talk to people, find a Facebook page for musicians in your area (or start a Facebook page for musicians in your area). Ads in music shops are traditional, ads in coffee shops, bars, street corners.

You really have to put yourself out there to find people.

A tip is to avoid people who want to jam. Stay focussed, and tell prospective musicians you're playing this type of music and this kind of sound. It's save a whole bunch of wasted time with people that just want to show off their gear and noodle over blues chords.

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

Top

SamDBL

Joined: Sep 19, 2016
Posts: 246
Tampa
United States

Posted on Jul 01 2020 07:29 AM

Be prepared to get with players that are ‘up for anything’. That will make your pool much larger than Solely searching for Surf guys. If you have a plan, motivation, and some leadership skills, that will help a ton, also. A lot of musicians are kind along for the ride. If they see someone is capable of pushing a project past the practice space, they will be more inclined to join.

—

Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law

Top

Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2291
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Jul 02 2020 01:26 AM

My current drums player is from punk band and bass player from folk rock)

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Top

da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Jul 02 2020 03:57 AM

I've found that organising a band (any band, not just a surf band) is a delicate blend of the best and worst of the relationships of friends, family and work colleagues.

Like work colleagues you have to co-operate to make it work, and put differences aside. Like family these are the people you have and you have to get along somehow, and friends? Well you have to be friends on some kind of level. So its the best and the worst of that.

Reading it, it seems a bit negative - so celebrating with work colleagues about a good gig well done, the closeness of family and knowing someone very well indeed(!), and the best of time that comes with good friends.

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

Top

ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1406
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Jul 03 2020 01:57 PM

1) Connect with someone who shares your vision, or at least buys in. Two people starting a band is much easier than one.
2) Get a drummer!!! Marry one, steal one, whatever it takes. Reverb Galaxy (my old band) went through four in five years...

—

Surf.The most dangerous of genres...

Surfcat

MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)

BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy

Last edited: Jul 03, 2020 13:58:07

Top

Jazzmasterdude Joined: Jun 25, 2020 Posts: 1	Posted on Jun 25 2020 12:57 PM hey i have lurked here for a couple years and found a ton of useful information. Im getting to the point where I would like to start a band, but dont know where to start. I know exactly 0 musicians in my area that are into surf music. Im 30, I've played bluegrass and metal most of my life. What steps did you take in order to get a band going? Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25700 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jun 25 2020 01:21 PM First off, where are you? — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
martinblasick Joined: Nov 27, 2019 Posts: 128 Los Angeles	Posted on Jun 25 2020 02:33 PM If your vision of the band is clear, record and release a single by yourself to start the brand. Hire a drummer from fiver if you can’t find a local. Live drums are a cornerstone of surf unless you are consciously doing a purposefully electronic vibe. Build it. Promote it by getting the website/IG/CDbaby/Bandcamp/YouTube/FBpage going. Rinse repeat. They will come. Each position will be filled magically in a circuitous fashion. If you are seeking a true equal band of like minds from the start and want to develop a group sound over time based on the chemistry of playing together, you will need to spend time networking. This is an imprecise science. It can take years....or a day. Having done it both ways, I’d say it all depends on how much you are willing to be and/or have the disposition to be the leader. — Squid From Madrid - New Single on Bandcamp MB Website Last edited: Jun 25, 2020 14:36:10 Top
ArabSpringReverb Joined: Jul 13, 2012 Posts: 490 San Diego CA	Posted on Jun 25 2020 07:11 PM Do you know any musicians at all? that is a big plus ..the other guys in my band were players in various bands over the years that I knew and liked already ..they had never really thought about playing surf but were willing to give it a try . It may be easier to convert the right person than to search for 'the perfect bandmate' . IMO the perfect bandmate is one with no drama , who is reliable and willing to give it a shot . Be ready to lead because musicians need some clues and feedback ..some one to say 'OK we are gonna play song X and work on the middle 8 until we get it right then do the whole thing from the top ' . If there are bands that appeal to you locally go see them and ask around to see if anyone else wants to form a band . Look on craigslist or whatever online method you want for musicians wanted /trying to form band listings . When I was younger I moved cross country to find a bigger pool of musicians in hope of starting or joining a band ..didnt know anyone in CA but I figured it out and had a band going within a year and a half . you have to open and talk to people at shows or where ever . It is good to record some demos if possible ..something you can play for someone to show them what you want to do . Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2291 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Jun 27 2020 04:04 AM Jazzmasterdude wrote: hey i have lurked here for a couple years and found a ton of useful information. Im getting to the point where I would like to start a band, but dont know where to start. I know exactly 0 musicians in my area that are into surf music. Im 30, I've played bluegrass and metal most of my life. What steps did you take in order to get a band going? get them into surf) that how they got me playing surf after thrash metal) — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
Sonic_Blue Joined: Feb 22, 2019 Posts: 190	Posted on Jun 27 2020 09:28 AM I met my drummer at a hookah bar and we started playing together. Then we put an ad on craig’s list for a bass player. Boom three piece. We may out an ad our for a sax player once we get tight Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Jun 28 2020 04:59 PM You know zero musicians, so go and meet some musicians. Go to some shows, talk to people, find a Facebook page for musicians in your area (or start a Facebook page for musicians in your area). Ads in music shops are traditional, ads in coffee shops, bars, street corners. You really have to put yourself out there to find people. A tip is to avoid people who want to jam. Stay focussed, and tell prospective musicians you're playing this type of music and this kind of sound. It's save a whole bunch of wasted time with people that just want to show off their gear and noodle over blues chords. — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
SamDBL Joined: Sep 19, 2016 Posts: 246 Tampa	Posted on Jul 01 2020 07:29 AM Be prepared to get with players that are ‘up for anything’. That will make your pool much larger than Solely searching for Surf guys. If you have a plan, motivation, and some leadership skills, that will help a ton, also. A lot of musicians are kind along for the ride. If they see someone is capable of pushing a project past the practice space, they will be more inclined to join. — Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2291 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Jul 02 2020 01:26 AM My current drums player is from punk band and bass player from folk rock) — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Jul 02 2020 03:57 AM I've found that organising a band (any band, not just a surf band) is a delicate blend of the best and worst of the relationships of friends, family and work colleagues. Like work colleagues you have to co-operate to make it work, and put differences aside. Like family these are the people you have and you have to get along somehow, and friends? Well you have to be friends on some kind of level. So its the best and the worst of that. Reading it, it seems a bit negative - so celebrating with work colleagues about a good gig well done, the closeness of family and knowing someone very well indeed(!), and the best of time that comes with good friends. — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1406 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jul 03 2020 01:57 PM 1) Connect with someone who shares your vision, or at least buys in. Two people starting a band is much easier than one. 2) Get a drummer!!! Marry one, steal one, whatever it takes. Reverb Galaxy (my old band) went through four in five years... — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Last edited: Jul 03, 2020 13:58:07 Top

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Advice on forming a band?