Picking band members is a lot like picking a mate. It is a good idea to see what is out there before you commit to playing with just one band as the first band you choose may not be the right one for you. A bad jam session can be even worse than a bad date. It is much easier to leave a date than to up and take your instrument. There are many ways to find musicians for your band. You can strike up conversations, look for band members online, or have your contacts set you up for blind jams. Before finding quality musicians it is imperative that you need to know what you are looking for.

Qualities to seek in band members

The important first step when looking for quality band members is to picture what you would expect of an employee if you were CEO of a major company. You would probably want to hire someone who was a go getter, punctual, talented, energetic, and someone who stands out from the rest of the crowd. You want quality bandmates that you think you can play with for years not months. One question you should ask yourself is could you tour with these people for a long period of time? If the answer is no then you need to keep looking. Remember how finding quality band members is like dating? Don’t settle for the first person that you kind of like but aren’t sure about long term. If you can’t be sure you need to continue looking. To continue the dating metaphor it’s important to have an open mind and jam with a lot of different people to see what kind of band would be the best band for you. Sometimes jamming with one person can lead to other contacts. They may have a friend who they refer to you who is the bass player you have been looking for.

Red Flags

When looking for quality band members it’s important to trust your instincts. If you are jamming with someone and your styles are too different or you are getting a negative vibe from them it just isn’t going to work. If the person you are jamming with is a little weird or eccentric it is likely that they hang with a weird or eccentric social circle. Since being in a band is very social experience this is a scenario you are going to want to avoid even if the eccentric musician is extremely talented. In a band it may be wise to pick the slightly less talented musician to tour with if you get along with them much better than the more talented person. Remember you will be spending lots of time out on the road if you are successful.

How to meet Quality Band Members

One way to find some quality Band Members is to place an ad on Craigslist. Be sure to leave your phone number and not your email so you can gauge the vibe and personality of a potential band member. When writing your ad make sure to add a link to all your social media profiles such as ReverbNation, MySpace, Facebook or your personal web page so people can see what kind of music you play and get a bit of info about you. Putting more out there looks very unprofessional and can attract musicians who are not of high quality.

When out in public you may want to slip what you play or what kind of band you are looking for in conversations when you can. Don’t try to brag but throwing out what you are looking for can’t hurt. You may meet some people who have connections to quality band members. It’s important to put yourself out there to give yourselves the best possible chance to find the right band. By going to local shows you are likely to meet fans or musicians who can be of service in hooking you up with some people to jam with. The more you go out into the music scene and be social the better your chances are of finding the perfect band.