Ever get a gig via the internet?

[Frank D]

I know the best way to find gigs is to network and sit in, but after moving to FL recently, I tried posting to several internet based "musicians wanted" areas. I know putting ads in "New Times" and similar entertainment rags is a guarantee for getting calls from every wierdo in town, so I figured this would be about the same thing and didn't hold much hope for this tactic, but figured since they were free and I already get tons of spam, what do I have to lose?

I got one enthusiastic email response that sounded like a good match. I emailed my phone number back to the guy and asked him to call (it was a blind service, I only had his email address), and never heard back from him. No harm, no foul.

Just got another near miss on a New Year's gig, but the guy wrote back with a very professional and courteous reply including the possibility of a steady restaurant gig next year. We'll see what happens with this one.

So, I'm curious. Anybody ever gotten a gig by this route?

[kcp]

I have on many occasion responded to "musicians wanted" ads posted in a local internet Bboard. I've gotten plenty of enthousiastic replies but so far, no luck, as it almost always turns-out to be 18/20 yrs old "I wanna be a rockstar" type of pseudo-musicians, or something else that didn't match my skill level. I guess that it takes time be able to "filter" these ads.

[larry]

I hooked up with my current band via the now defunct "musicians.com" website. It was great - you input your axes, your intentions (gig seriously, fart around, etc.) and zip code and maximum travel distance and the database matched you up with bands which posted their openings.

It was a great service, but they got bought by musiciansfriend.com and now the service no longer exists. Bummer :( It'd be a great service to start up again - any takers?

I know a lot of groups and musicians also post on craigslist.com looking for jobs...

[Bill Mecca]

I hooked up with my current band using a similar database/ad system at www.harmony-central.com

Ironically our drummer lives a few streets from me and our kids go to the same elementary school, it took the internet for us to meet. ;-)

a suggestion for those going this route. get potentials on the phone, talk with them, feel them out, make sure (as much as you can) that all the nuts, bolts and screws are there a not loose. ) I hooked up with a keyboard player who brought his brother (guitar) and the drummer when we met at a rehearsal studio. I wound up gigging with the guitarist and drummer, and not the keyboard player, but he is now part of the band. (takin over is more like it.)

[Frank D]

It was craiglist.com that got me the leads I was talking about.

Kim, I know what you're talking about, sounds like my experience with print ads in those local rags: brings out every nut in town. I recall once I was trying to find a jazz keyboard player and kept getting calls from a guy who didn't have a clue what jazz was but wouldn't give up. Imagine somebody asking in a Cheech and Chong voice: "Jazz? Is that like.....Oldies?"

Bill, I've been to Harmony Central before, looking for MIDI files and chord changes. I just checked their musician listings, and looks like I'm out of luck unless Metal bands in my area start hiring sax players!

[Bill Mecca]

Bill, I've been to Harmony Central before, looking for MIDI files and chord changes. I just checked their musician listings, and looks like I'm out of luck unless Metal bands in my area start hiring sax players!

ROFLMAO!!! How true, How true. We wound up auditioning a bass player who had just transferred to Lakehurst from the Northwest. Nice guy, but younger than us and a metalhead, had never even heard of Runaround Sue... :roll:

One thing for sure though if you put up a listing as a sax player you will surely stand out. ;-)

[Tenorsaxer]

I have a standing offer to play with a death metal band... It would be easy enough, just growl into the sax and go nuts. <shrug>

[electricninja]

Anyone in need might want to try this new website:

http://www.musiciansearch.org

I wrote it from scratch in the past month while unemployed, and I'm hoping many can find it usable (as opposed to it merely keeping me occupied).