Trying to form prog band - it's a struggle

I've been trying for the past few months to put together a prog band. It's tough to find people where we have a mutual interest in playing with each other. Either I'm not impressed with them or I scare them off.

Frustratingly, even though I post ads listing many of my influencing bands and post song samples, I meet up with people whose interest in prog extends little further than Radiohead and Pink Floyd. I love those bands don't get me wrong, but they're just the tip of the iceberg.

For what it's worth I'm 28 years old. I'm not sure what that means but I'm just throwing it out there.

I've become afraid to tell people that I want to play 20+ minute songs, or that I like synthesizers, or that violins and flutes sound cool. Even though I'm upfront about all that in my ads it still seems to turn people off.

Any tips, advice? Is there somewhere else I should be posting besides Craigslist?

I'm kinda wondering if I should widen my search net and try to trap non-prog-playing musicians into playing prog. Maybe indoctrination is the way to go...

I think Mono is largely right.

But I would ask you is it important to you that you play in a band, or that you create music that fits your own personal vision?

This is important because if it is more important to you to create music that fits your personal vision, then a band may not be the best idea. Or if you are to form a band don't expect that goal to be satisfied through the band. Likewise, if playing in a band is more important, than just take Mono's advice and find people that you click with regardless of influences. Also, if you know that your influences and vision differ greatly from your band, just look for other musicians who are not dead set on playing music that you do not like, but rather are open to experimentation.

Personally, I have had a great time playing with musicians who have very different tastes than I. In a band context musical chemistry between the members seems to be the most important thing.




Edited by QuestionableScum - June 27 2011 at 10:35

One word...chemistry.

Cinnamon tastes really good, but not in spaghetti.

Hey, I've played in a few bands over the last ten years and I agree with everyone about chemistry. if you don't get along with the poeple you play with, you won't have fun.

Believe me, you can make it happen as long as somebody is a good musician.  I've turned so many of my friends into psychedelic musicians that like craziness and odd time signatures (synths, organs, horns, bass, drums, and guitars).  It really helped that they liked jazz, but some of them not even so much.  People play a lot different than what they listen to, and if you don't put vocals in (or generic vocals) nobody you play with can make it too poppy.  As long as you find good musicians it should work out

Forming a band out of nothing is really hard. We have struggled for six continuous years as the core part of the band (drummer, bass and keys). Sometimes because of other members problem of contribution sometimes as written above lacking chemisty betwen members, situation don't allow you to get a step forward. It's really annoying when you are creating lots of stuff non had finished properly when years are passing.

I thing succes of a band lie behind staying as a band with right people as well.

Concerning the struggle between "your own personnal vision" and forming a band.

Simple solution: start your solo project and see how far you can go alone. If you find yourself quickly overwhelmed, it means you need to work with others. In that case, you have to be a bit humble and force yourself to leave some of your ego at home (depending on your fellow band members).

If you're satisfied with your solo project, it becomes even easier to form a band, as you will have an "espace" (exutoire in French) for your ego/ideals/personnal vision, and you can concentrate on the collective side of the band.