College --> chicken soup for musicians, anyone?

[the_dreamer]

Hail musicians & dreamers alike;

I'm going to college in less than 1 month now...and looking for advice. Any help in the following areas could be of *great* use to me:

- Where to look for *committed* band members in a college that's not too music-oriented.
- Where to practice (Dorms are out of the question! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/tongue.gif)
- How to find time in between classes and such.
- How to start getting into the music scene in a new area.
- How to schedule my time for music, and how to raise $ to keep expanding.

Thanks everyone!
Cheers,
Mike

[Bossaking]

Where to look for *committed* band members in a college that's not too music-oriented.

I've always had success finding musicians at clubs. Start attending shows of bands that are close to the style of music that you're interested in playing. Talk to the folks in the band and folks there to see the band. Ask about musicians looking to join a decent band that is just starting up but has intentions of playing out, not just being a jam band.

Where to practice (Dorms are out of the question!)

Well, this depends on budget and on the other members of your new band. Check out the music dept of the college your going to be attending. They might have practice rooms you can reserve, even if you're not in the music program. They might also be able to point you in the direction of rental space in the area. Other members might not be living in dorm and might be able to offer up a musty basement for practice.

How to find time in between classes and such.

Well, this will, of course, measure your determination of being in a band that is actually going to try and play out eventually. Practice will have to become what you do when you're not attending classes and doing course work. You'll have to be that guy that is always hanging with his mates and practicing rather than going out and partying. Not that there's no place for that, but every hour you're away from practicing is another hour that the other band that is more serious is practicing.

How to start getting into the music scene in a new area.

Again, start attending shows while you are building your band. Also, once you have your band together, make a point of going to shows together and networking. Start by finding a band that will let your new band open for them. You're going to be doing this for free, at best! Get a tape or cd recorded of your band once you have a set list together and are happy with your sound. Once you start asking about playing, people in the position of helping you get gigs are going to want to know what you sound like.

How to schedule my time for music, and how to raise $ to keep expanding.

The first part, that's all about time management. Just make the music as high of a priority as you can. If you're serious, make it a very high priority. College bands start up all the time, some actually end up being pretty decent. It can be done!

As far as the second part of your question, I'll let you know when I've figured out something other than trying to win the lottery!

Good Luck!
BK

[theozzwomancometh]

I'm going to college on the 21st of this month, and I'm hoping to make some friends who play. Hopefully we'll both have some good luck. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

[BrettV]

Possibly implied but I thought deemed further discussion .. a fanTAStic place to find musicians are open mic bars ... man .. I've met a WHOLE lotta people who are really serious about music ...

That could have been considered shows .. but sometimes they are overlooked.

-tk

[Vinnie]

Odds are if you are just starting college, then you are not 21, which means you can't hit the bar scene. What I did when I was in school (way back when) was jam outside the dorms with my acoustic. Fellow players would step up and we'd meet and start jamming. Next thing you know, everyone is pitching in to rent a storage unit to jam, then you're doing gigs to pay for it. It all works out.

As far as time is concerned. I don't remember sleeping a whole lot in college...http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/dazed.gif

Vinnie

[This message has been edited by Vinnie (edited August 12, 2002).]

[BlaZinChoPs]

I thought I'd throw this in cause it worked great for me. I live in Gainesville, FL about 1 mile from the UF campus. I spent $6.00 at kinkos and made up a ream of flyers, posted them near the student union and on university ave. near all the bars. Got a hell of a responce. Worked for me.

Chaiyz

[MrSamson]

I wish I had starting as an undergrad...even with football, there was massive amounts of time on your hands....(football could in your case be a steady job or something).

Assuming you do not have a girlfriend (that seems to change everything time-wise, college or not) you will have a lot of time on your hands. At least I did, and I was pre-med, and passing, so there should be time.

Anyway, excellent posts about this topic.

The Kinkos idea is EXCELLENT, every college has an advertisement/readerboard somewhere, usually in the student commons section.

Well, no advice really, just wanted to voice encouragement, like i said, I wish I was playing then, there were tons of people to jam with at the time when I think back about it.

I was too busy tending to an Old Crow and Wild Turkey I was raising. Captain Morgan was one of my BEST instructors, and my roomate Jim Bean was a real slob.

I guess I was not ready then.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!

MrSamson

[BrettV]

Actually, you only have to be 18 to enter and play in many bars. You simply cannot drink if you are under 21. "He who enters 21, wears a band on his wrist, son."

It's quite a common occurance these days .. especially around Colleges and Universites.

-tk


[This message has been edited by tk00022 (edited August 12, 2002).]

[the_dreamer]

Great suggestions all, thanks for all your advice!

A question: how good were you guys (and girls, of course!) at your instruments when you began hitting bars and clubs?


Cheers,
Mike

[dmt]

Besides the other good advice (open mics, jam nights at local bars, hitting the bars as an audience member and talking to people there), I just want to confirm Vinnie's experience. First off, don't sweat it. There's going to be lots of people who play, at various levels of commitment. ** You'll find each other.**

Just hang out outside with an acoustic and play every now and then. If you see another guy doing the same, listen, start up a conversation, then ask if you can join in. Or just join without asking, a smile will do.

You'll meet musicians the same basic way you'll meet girls, find out about parties, score weed (if that's what you want), find jobs, and find mentors to guide your career. Constantly let people know what kind of person you are and what you want. Both overtly and subtly - like simply have a copy of Guitar Player magazine or something in your backpack.

Have a guitar in your dorm room. Have at least a p.o.s. electric and practice amp so people know you're into more than acoustic jamming. Word will get around. Don't just play alone in your room into a POD, make it a social event. People will approach you, just give it time. Also, remember your first priority is to pass your classes. My first favorite jamming partner in college had to drop out!
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Warning: The dorms is generally the way to go, at least for freshman year. This is where you'll meet people, and form life long friendships. However, generally 2/3rds of the people you meet at freshman orientation won't graduate (chances are, then, that this will include YOU!). There's a lot of people freshman year who don't "get it". A number of low lifes will be in the mix. What I'm trying to say is : Don't bring expensive musical equipment or other precious stuff to the dorms. If you're living in the dorms, someone you know *WILL* have something important stolen that first year. Maybe you.

After you've got friends and a scene, if it's financially possible, you and some of your buds are probably going to want to get a place of your own Sophmore year (you'll be able to play at home then, too). This is the time to bring some of your more expensive stuff over to college, not while you're living in the dorms.
_______________________________
If you take up drums or bass, you'll be able to play in a band for the rest of your life! If you can sing, and/or write, you'll be able to at least have strong input (and possibly control of) a band's direction. If you find a drummer or bass player hold on to them! There's gonna be a million guitarists! You'll have no problem meeting them, lol. (but don't turn your nose up at other guitarists! - Join 'em!)

[This message has been edited by dmt (edited August 13, 2002).]

[Vinnie]

First of all, I must be getting old! 18 to get into bars but not drink?! Where is this world going? Half the fun of college was trying to score a fake ID every year. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

How do you sound at college bars? My first gig in college...was terrible. My first year of gigs in college were terrible. PA sucked, I had a crappy guitar, terrible amp and 1 stomp pedal. I couldn't afford good equip back then. Without crushing your hopes here, let me continue. Even though we sounded terrible, people loved us! The good thing about college is kids don't want good music all the time, they want a release, and we were that. By my senior year, we had a good band together, sounded good, got paid for gigs and even put out a local CD and made a couple of appearances on the college radio station. All in all, those musical experiences made me the musician I am today.

Remember, you never know until you try it. That's the attitude I had in college and I came out pretty good, musically and as a person, and a father now..heh.

Good Luck!

--Vinnie--