What To Include In Your Band Ad Listing

As someone who has been looking through musicians ads for over 6 years now, I will say, I’m quite disappointed. Ads usually contain little to no details besides who they are looking (Bassist, drummer), and the genre they want to play/artists they want to cover (Metal, The Beatles).

I’m sure this does work, especially for men who just want to join and be part of something, but for others who are looking for something more serious, they are just too vague! Considering how many bands fail due to constant lineup changes, differences in opinions and internal conflicts, it’s not bad to put more effort into finding the right people.

So here’s some things you may want to consider for your next ad so you can save time and automatically attract the right people to the band you want to create.

Instrument & Experience

While letting them know what instrument you need is very obvious, few let people know the experience they are looking for. I know that it can be hard to gauge how good someone is until you meet them, but many musicians are self-aware of their skill and can tell if they are up to the skill level you require.

If you’re an established band with very difficult songs and a huge fanbase, make it clear that you need someone with advance lead playing skills and who can learn these songs in a month or two as you have concerts coming up.

For my band, I’m a late beginner and I was looking for other individuals who were also learning as I wanted us to progress together and all gain experience through the band. I didn’t want advanced players to get frustrated with our slow pace, nor did I want to feel like we were a side project as they got many other things going on. I would rather save that spot for someone who would value most from it.

If you are just looking to jam and have fun and meet new people, a skill level may not be necessary in your ad, but you can say that too. Let them know you are open to fresh beginners or at least expect them to have the basics down.

Your Genre/style or groups you plan to cover

If you want to play Jazz, say you want to play Jazz. Don’t just say you need a guitarist and when people reply, you find out they can’t play the genre you want.

If you want to cover Metallica, let it be known to the masses. Make it clear and Don’t Back Down! If you know what you want to play, stick to it. It’s okay to be flexible in certain aspects, but don’t get into the habit of saying yes to everyone and everything.

I made it clear I was starting an Anime Theme/Japanese Rock band. Those who I’ve accepted to audition had to be anime fans, otherwise, they may not like the music we play and drop out later. As much as some musicians will say they’re open or they want to try, it is always a better option to wait for those who are already into it and who vibe with it.

I’ve also had my bandmates ask early on about Kpop and Latino music and Western hits, and while even I may love that music, we are a beginner band and it’s going to take a long time to learn each song, so it’s better to have 5 songs in the same category for branding and promotion than to have 5 totally different songs and people not knowing who we are are and what we play.

Your City/Area Of Rehearsals

You would be surprised how many people post ads to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) as if it doesn’t take 2-3 hours just to travel from one end to another.

I don’t think people should have to ask or dig for this information when you could just put it there in the first place. Could you imagine applying for job ads and then finding out it’s in the next city over?

The location is especially important if you want to have rehearsals more than once a week or during the evenings. I don’t think anyone would want to travel more than an hour, especially after work, to attend band rehearsals. People are either going to flake or they’ll always show up late

If you have a rehearsal studio near you that you intend to rehearse at, let them know the location. If you were planning to practice at your house, you don’t have to give the address, but at least let them know the area or major intersection so they can see if it works for them. Again, we are thinking long-term.

It’s okay if you’re flexible and want to discuss this later, but still put down your city or how far YOU are willing to go to meet up so you’re not getting individuals from various areas and distances.

Rehearsal Dates/Times

As flexible as you may think you are, if you have a job or prior commitments, it’s okay to be up front about that. If you’re only available on weekends or during evenings, make that clear.

The worst thing you want to do is gather 3-5 people for your band and THEN discuss when to meet, because everyone is going to have a different schedule and you won’t be able to accommodate everyone. It’s going to be quite difficult setting up dates and coordinating rehearsals that works for everyone, and you may have to make another ad in the end.

While I am more flexible since I work from home, one of my first bandmates works evenings throughout the week, so I established Sunday as the general rehearsal day, and made it known in my ad that general availability that day was expected. We are flexible enough to change which Sunday, and you can miss a day if you have to, but otherwise, you should be available that day.

It may suck to miss out on talented people, but it wouldn’t matter if those talented people can’t make it to rehearsals.

Goals For The Band

While this could be discussed later, you should at least let them know where you plan to take this band. Do you just want to jam? Do you want to create music? Do you want to be the next big local band? Perhaps go global!

A common issue that happens in a band is that everyone has different reasons to attend rehearsals and no one really knows what’s going on. Some will come in quite late because this is just something fun for them, while others will be frustrated because they see the potential in the band and want to make it big, but other’s aren’t motivated.

There’s no shame in whatever you want to do. If you’re creating a band just to gain experience, that’s fine. If you just want to create a group where everyone could learn from each other, that’s pretty cool! But don’t leave this discussion weeks into rehearsals, just to realize no one is on the same page. They won’t know what the goal is unless you tell them.

Committment Expectations

Another common issue with bands is that everyone has a different level of commitment. The leader spends every waking moment practicing and organizing things for the band. Some members come prepared but don’t think much of it. Some always show up late or ghost, and some are involved in 8 other projects so you’ll never be a priority to them.

While it can be harsh and risky to tell people what you expect and what you need from them, there is nothing wrong with that if you are serious about making a real successful band. Don’t your bosses tell you what they expect of you? Don’t school’s expect attendance and a certain grade to pass?

It’s always better for them to know what you expect from them from the getgo so you can start off on a high note, instead of being more casual and then trying to lay down rules. If someone is already uncommitted and unmotivated, it’s going to be hard to change that as that was the tone set initially.

What’s In It For Them?

So the above things may scare away some potential candidates, but for those who are still reading and may be serious, a little enticing may be the push they need to reply to you.

Could this lead to money for them in the future? Is it an opportunity to learn and have fun with other musicians? Perhaps your channel already has a lot of followers and this could give them exposure?

For my band, I’m a late beginner so I was seeking out other beginners or intermediate players. I thought it would be a bit more encouraging to those who were getting back into their instrument or are a little scared to join an established band. So my bribe was that they could play in a more casual, easy going environment and also get experience playing on stage, which could help them tremendously later on.

After we got together a few times, we discussed if we wanted to take this seriously and potentially make money, or if we are going down a more casual route. One requires a more serious business mindset, along with investments into a site and cards. I didn’t want someone to join with money in mind as I couldn’t guarantee that. But in this case, if it happens, it happens. If not, we’re cool with that.

Optional: Age Preference

There’s nothing wrong with having preferences. If you’re in your early 20s, it may be awkward to play around 50 year olds who you can’t connect with. If you’re in your 40s, you may preferred other middle aged individuals to jam with for the weekend to get away from your wives and play the music you all grew up with.

Also note that if you plan to play at venues, you may require all members to be 19+ (or whatever the drinking age is in your country. I have gotten replies from teens in the past, so don’t assume everyone is older).

I put age here, but it can really apply to anything, including genders and race if you have your reasons. Perhaps you want to create an inspirational all-girls band or you’re not very confident in English so you would prefer to rehearse with other latinos. Maybe you’re creating a gospel worship band so you would hope and expect your band members to be Christian and to love Jesus. It is what it is.

In the end, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with the people you let in, so don’t let anyone shame you for having your preferences or picking certain people over others. It’s like dating, you only get one choice, so you can’t pick or please everyone. You do what’s best for you and the group.

If anything, I believe it’s always better to be upfront and honest from the beginning instead of ghosting people or making excuses later on. You don’t owe anyone anything. Just some life advice there for the people pleasers out there.

Final Notes

All in all, searching for band members can be a long and tiring process, and that’s why I believe in being transparent about your needs and goals so those who still reply will be a better fit and you can save time from conversing with the wrong people.

Of course, you would still have to screen everyone. You’d be surprised that despite my detailed article, many still replied asking about other genres or who only cared to jam. But I always had a bit more hope for those who did take the time to read and asked questions in response to that. As I always say, if someone isn’t the right fit, there is always someone or something better out there. That advice goes for relationships, jobs and more.

If you’re interested in other band-related articles, check out Where To Find Local Band Members, How Much Does It Cost To Start Up A Band, What To Bring To A Rehearsal Studio, and Best Youtube Channels for Band Tips & Advice.

I hope my advice helps you in various ways. Feel free to mention your new band in the comments. I would love to hear about you and see your progress!