With the help of Charlotte venues and the Carolina Live Music Society my band, Actual Proof, has gotten some steam and has been regularly playing shows in the Southeast. This has us tickled because we’re able to write and perform music for music lovers who celebrate live music.
But it turns out that our keyboard player is leaving the group. He has several reasons for leaving but it boils down to the fact that he’s not feeling it and is getting tired of traveling. It’s a bit like one of those relationships where you’re still in love but the other person doesn’t feel that way anymore and you come to a point where you accept the fact that you can’t force love. Nothing we can do can make him dig performing our music.
So, how to go about finding a replacement for him?
It’s damned difficult to find musicians other than by relying on word of mouth and friends of friends. Someone in the band or someone who’s familiar with the band’s sound might know of someone that would fit. This is difficult for us since we play original music and have distinct sound. We don’t play well-known covers and need to be sure that the new guy’s or girl’s sound meshes well with what we do. So, it will take some shopping around to find the right match.
Another problem is that the perfect musician might be out there in Charlotte somewhere — sitting in a practice room playing licks and writing songs that would be perfect for our group — but they aren’t currently on the music scene and consequently we won’t be able to find them via word of mouth. So, how do we find him or her?
If you’ve gone through this before, let me, and other musicians reading this, know what solution you found…
This article appears in Dec 15-21, 2009.
Been there done that in a cover band, played in a cover band and played oldies we didnt travel but your right its hard to find dedicated people who will stick it out, I played drums and know you get someone new and they just dont cut it ,its hard to find the right people to play together thats why I decided to get a full time job. I feel for you but all I can say is maybe its for the better maybe the right person is out there and maybe you will get together and make it, good luck to you I wish you well Al
Open mics, want ads @ music stores, talk to local music teachers about students, facebook notices, and there are a few sites that supposedly help network musicians looking for work, thought most are bunk.
Great subject. Been a musician most of my life, 25 years here in Charlotte and I know lots of other musicians, yet they aren’t the ones who ring my phone. They seem to overlook or overthink who to call when they’re looking for someone. It also goes to say that you’re never popular in your hometown, so you’re often over looked. Most of my calls are from folks who aren’t familiar with the locals but have heard about me through other professional musicians. Pros refer pros and the bottom feeders kind of stay there. The sad thing is there aren’t that many real pros here in Charlotte.