This is just a rough draft of our help-wanted ad. There might be changes. Like, if we get more desperate or something.

Josh King is leaving Volume Volume and we will be looking for a keyboard player or multi-instrumentalist. If you want to check us out and know if you would fit, we will be playing Friday February 15th at Launchpad with a fill-in keyboard player and Friday March 14th at Atomic for Josh’s last show. You can also hear some recorded stuff on our myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/volumevolumeband or our website http://www.volumevolume.com . We don’t have a deadline or rush on anything so we’ll keep doing fill-ins or three piece stuff until we get the right fit.

You will need:
-Your own reliable equipment, and ability to maintain it. It doesn’t need to be top-of-the-line; it just needs to be able to keep up.
-Your own reliable transportation (for yourself and equipment).
-Reliable way to communicate (phone, email, etc).
-Able to play. The songs are easy but would be a lot better if you are better. If you just downright suck, or have never played before, you should be hot or rich.
-Able to write songs. At least your own parts; we usually write together and write frequently. You are encouraged to bring things to the table.
-To like our music/direction. It’s fairly broad, and we like input, but if you want some other band, join some other band.
-To learn some old songs. 10 to 20 eventually. You can play older songs as-is or write new parts.
-To be able to practice together Thursdays at 6pm and Sundays at 1pm for 1 to 3 hours. (Times and days semi-negotiable).
-Be able to play out 1 to 4 times a month locally, usually Friday or Saturday evenings, usually downtown (usually you will have two week or more notice for shows)
-Ability/interest in going on the road sometime. To be determined when we ever figure that out.
-Ability to take a couple of days to record at least once a year.
-Be able to get along with us: Levi, Noelan and Rachel. We are nicer in person. Except Rachel. And Noelan. You don’t have to get along with Levi as much as tolerate him.

We would prefer it if:
-You can also sing. If you can backup, harmonize, match or better us in leads then you can do as much as you want.
-You are down to do some extra-curricular busywork sometimes, like flyering, mailing press kits, etc
-You do not have so many prior obligations or such a fucked up life that you just don’t realistically have the time. If you have another band, a day job, kids, school, etc that’s cool. We all have other things going on too. So if you can’t put in any time please don’t waste ours.
-NOT to have a second full-time guitar player. Multi-instrumentalist is great, another guitar sometimes is fine, or if you play some crazy thing that isn’t keyboards we’ll check it out.
-Your drug habit/alcoholism is discreet and you are respectful of ours.
-You are at least 21 and not yet 75.
-That you are cool, and have decent social skills, taste and hygiene. Within reason.
-We hope you can accept hazing and heckling from previous members’ legions of fans.

Other things we have going for us:
-Local venues and bands are good to us.
-We make our own merch and websites and everything so overhead is low, and we put most of the money we make back into the band, which pays for pretty much all band stuff. You probably won’t get rich, but at least it won’t cost you.

That being said, we are open to offers, suggestions and insults.
Contact Levi at iheartmachine@hotmail.com

Woo!

i guess they're gonna need to know how to read too

Ha! Yeah, I knew the length might put people off, that's why this is a rough draft. I just threw everything I thought of up there: everything we've run into in the past. I don't mean to imply we are really this uptight.

Bottom line: Everything is negotiable if someone is interested in being in our band.

It's just that most offers we've gotten so far are people who have never been in a band, or are already in 6 other bands, and we are looking for something more in the middle. Having had two lineup changes, joining an established band and starting a new band in the last year-ish, I know this kind of thing can really slow a band's momentum. I don't want to take off 6 months to teach someone to play or spend six months doing half-assed practices and going nowhere because someone is too busy to show up. That's the gist of it.

Better to put it all on the table at the front and negotiate those things now than get someone in and spend a bunch of time only to have it not work out? Maybe?

Honestly I expect us to ask someone we know or be asked by someone, and someone on here would be more prepared for my bullshit? (I'm loud but harmless) I don't want to discount the chance of finding someone new randomly though. The rest of my band is going to rewite this in a more professional manner for Craigslist and such.

Also I want to make this double clear: you will have input in the creative process without having to do the bullshit of getting bars to give you decent shows/slots if you join our band. I think that's a pretty sweet deal.

bum...p?

That brings up a good point.
If you were adding people to your band, but not allowing them equal footing in the band decisions area, would you not feel obligated to pay them?

What I mean is, should anyone expect to keep musicians around an inequitable situation just so they could be in a band with you/whomever?

it is very good to layout the expectations up front.

having clearly defined roles/expectations does not (necessarily) mean inequitable. being part of a functional team/band is of value in itself.

i also think that bands with clear leadership work the best. go go go!

(too bad for me i dont play keys....)

quote:

Originally posted by terryb:
That brings up a good point.
If you were adding people to your band, but not allowing them equal footing in the band decisions area, would you not feel obligated to pay them?

What I mean is, should anyone expect to keep musicians around an inequitable situation just so they could be in a band with you/whomever?

I'm still not sure what you mean?

Volume Volume * Panic * Lousy Robot * Scenester * D Numbers * Grand Canyon @ launchpad fri 15. We'll be having a guest keyboard player, and anyone interested in filling that slot full-time is encouraged to show up and see what you are in for.

quote:

Originally posted by Screaming Skull:
...-You are at least 21 and not yet 75...

Well the Hell with you then.
I'm taking my KeyTar and going back home.

(the old folks home that is...)

quote:

-Your drug habit/alcoholism is discreet and you are respectful of ours.

Comedy gold!

Ok. We'll be doing a couple of tryouts soon. We're still accepting applicants though. And we've loosened up a bit- now accepting washboards or accordions.

Theramin?

hello?

anyone?

Come see us and then join our band.