 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ozlock
Date: 2009-06-05 04:29
Does anyone have suggestions on how to recruit volunteer players for a community band?
What about teachers? Want your students to play in an adult band?
All instruments needed, especially clarinet and low brass. No dues, fees or auditions required for a northwestern suburb of Chicago. Percussion too.
Hank
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-06-05 05:48
The community band I used to belong to in Austin put out an announcement on the local classical music radio station. That's how I found out about them and joined.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-06-05 07:13
Good question, tough topic, hard work.
First and foremost, wherever and whenever you have a gig, liberally distribute "Wanted" flyers; if you have a speaker announcing pieces or welcoming the guests, be sure to continue only "after these messages".
Else use the usual places like billboards in schools, shopping malls, music stores. Create a facebook group, place articles in the A&E section in the local paper, create a web page, ...
Good luck.
--
Ben
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Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2009-06-05 13:23
I was recruited by a friend from church who is a middle school band director. We have several high school band directors, some church musicians, some retired music professionals, etc. We also have a good number of exceptional high school students (those who make regional and state bands), and we recognize them at concerts as "rising stars." We also played a concert with one of the largest high school bands in the area, and drew a big crowd. We welcome college kids who come home for the summer, and we have college kids who are aspiring music majors who are in town year-round. Challenge your current members to invite someone directly. It's harder to say "no" when you are flattered by the request, and when you know the person doing the asking.
While websites and music stores are okay, these methods are probably not very likely to reach the amateur musician, who may not be in search of a group with whom to play, or who may not be actively playing (and therefore in a music store). Newspaper ads are expensive and, in my opinion, not effective. Having a small website where people can go for information is good. It may help pass along information to people who have heard you want musicians, but it probably isn't a place to start recruitment.
In the high school band programs, most of the kids probably have parents who played at one time, so that would be a good place to start. Sending out flyers/newsletter articles to area church music directors also might drum up some interest (ask them to run it in their church newsletter and bulletin). Flyers to local community colleges and universities (with the tear-off phone number tab), and a reference to the website may be good.
Write a 30 second PSA (public service announcement) and send it in to your local public radio station. When you are performing, make sure you announce that you are seeking players (right after you play a crowd-pleaser). Have business cards made up that all the current members can hand out.
Don't limit yourself to the places where the active musicians go. They are most likely already playing, and need to do so for money. Put your message in front of the music lovers who may not already be part of a group.
Post Edited (2009-06-05 13:25)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-06-05 13:54
Different countries, different environments, different prices, I guess.
A radio message is *extremely* expensive here (public (=state) radio is 100% ad free here, and the commercial stations charge an arm and a leg), and I wasn't talking about newspaper ads.
Many rags are happy if you contribute interesting articles about this and that performance. We do so regularly and it doesn't cost us a red penny; we even get the usual freelancer's compensation.
I guess the key issue here is "networking" - be present, be known, have friends and supporters.
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Ben
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-06-05 14:35
Put together a flier that includes all of your contact information: postal address, phone number, e-mail, and website. Hand them out at every concert, and announce that they are available. Distribute your membership flier and concert notices at high schools, music stores, nearby community colleges, and performing arts schools.
City Guides are good places. They are published here by local newspapers, but sometimes realty boards and chambers of commerce publish them as well.
Make sure your concerts are listed on all print and web events listings.
Commercial stations may blow you off, but public radio stations regularly publicize auditions and concerts (especially the free ones).
Set up a simple website, and do what is needed so that search engines know about it. The site does not have to be that involved - even if a single static page hosted by a free web provider can be effective.
And last, try your Musicians Union local office - their members will also be teachers who may have students that are interested.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-06-05 14:42
I don't know how successful a method it is overall, but I discovered an audition announcement for a local community orchestra on Craig's List -- you might try posting there every week in the Communities/Musicians section.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-06-05 14:48
we tend to have the opposite problem - a few sections are overfull
most new folks in my community band find us via our website
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: William
Date: 2009-06-05 15:33
When putting up posters, don't forget to include your local music stores, super markets, senior centers, shopping malls and churchs (and church bulletins). Set up informational tables in public places (where allowed) for passerbyes to stop and inquire about joining your band. Ask all of your current members to make announcements at work, social gathering, church or where ever--personal word of mouth invitations are best.
We recently formed a new wind ensemble and the "nucleus" was made up of local performing band directors and other "good" players that they all knew. We rehearse at various local middle schools to give everyone a break with the commute. The "draw" was the chance to perform quality music at the levels they enjoyed playing during their college days. We are fortunate to be able to attract players like this from a large metropolitan area (300,000+) and have a full instrumentation limited to one or two players per part, as repretoire requires. But this was all started with local band directors and the people they all knew. Word of mouth is your best recruiting tool.
(avoid placing flyers on windshields in parking lots--annoying)
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2009-06-05 15:47
just curious if there is any place on this bulleton board to advertise for musicians?
for community bands, choirs, ensembles, lessons???
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-06-05 15:51
Not on the BBoard - the calendar holds non-expiring requests for that purpose, and there's a section of the website for finding/listing teachers.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2009-06-05 15:54
ohhhh i thought the calander was just for events and performances.
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Author: Cindyr
Date: 2009-06-05 20:17
How about the local community newspaper in your area? I've had some success with this, in particular we were able to recruit a much needed percussion player recently.
My band also welcomes high school and returning college students. I sent a letter to a college student who played in the band last summer, and fortunately he came back this year.
We often get payers, either temporarily or permanently, from other groups that some of our members play in. These tend to be very good to excellent players that want a band to play in.
I've also tried to recruit through my church, with one bite, but no placements so far. Persistence pays off, over the long run.
We've tried posters with no know success. The band does have a website, and people have found us this way.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-05 20:31
I know that both my daughter and I found our local concert band and became members after my wife read an article in the local paper, and that it needed players of specific instruments, including clarinets. We have been with the group for four years, and it's been a blast.
Jeff
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-06-05 20:49
"T'was Many Years Ago" [Pinafore?], I was recruited from out-of-town for the Tulsa C B, via a friend at Jay Degeer's [fine] Repair Shop, a good meeting place for musicians ! Its getting close to 30 years now, but I suggest you inquire via T C B's website as to present recruitment methods. Cheers, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-06 00:48
Mark was kind enough to transfer a recruiting note I put up and moved it over to the Announcement section. I'm hoping someone in my area will respond soon and add a few new clarinets to our small section.
Jeff
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2009-06-06 00:56
I handle the recruiting for a community orchestra on the North Side of Chicago, the Ravenswood Community Orchestra. We have more than tripled in size over the past 3 years from 15-20 players to 50 plus. We don't have money for an official webpage but set up pages on Myspace and facebook as well as a dedicated email address. Upload audio tracks, videos and photos so recruits can get an idea of what the group is like. Post ads on Craigslist and in the Chicago Reader (I think there is a suburban edition). Bulletin board posting in neighborhood locations and local music schools are helpful. Definitely put in the ad that you do not require an audition as that really does encourage people to join who may have taken a hiatus from playing.
Start saving the email addresses and designate the instrument so you can quickly look for substitutes.
Of course, none of this works unless someone checks the pages and the email on a regular basis and answers back. I have created a FAQ sheet to send out to applicants which has cut down some on that burden.
Please post the name of your group. When I have to turn down a wind player because we are full, I try to send along names of other area groups which might have openings.
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2009-06-06 15:26
I found my first band 30 years ago (before the internet) when I saw them performing. If your band could perform at a local shopping center you would expose it to a lot of people. Even if most of them are not listening, any musicians in the crowd would learn that you exist.
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Author: ozlock
Date: 2009-06-08 12:21
Lots of good suggestions here.
The group is The Des Plaines Park District Concert Band.
We have a great indoor venue where we play. We also do outdoor concerts in the summer in a park next to a lake.
Even in rush hour it takes less than 30 minutes to reach Des Plaines from downtown Chicago.
Anyone interested should contact me at ozlock@erols.com. Leave a phone number and we can talk.
Hank.
Hank
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-06-08 12:44
I found my first band 30 years ago (before the internet) when I saw them performing. If your band could perform at a local shopping center you would expose it to a lot of people. Even if most of them are not listening, any musicians in the crowd would learn that you exist.
This is a good point - When I moved to a new area 14 years ago I was just taking a gentle browse through one of the local town centres one Saturday and there happened to be a band performing. I was keen (?pushy) enough that I went up and asked if they could use another clarinet and they said that they could. This particular band is relatively modest in its standard and aspirations but it in turn got me involved in various rather higher level events including solo opportunities and two trips abroad not to speak of numerous friendships and social opportunities.
How different my life in the new town would have been if I hadn't happened to go that way on that particular day!
Just a thought - if you get to the point of performing anywhere, have some sort of printed information or a notice saying that you are looking for new members and how people can contact you about this handy - not every one would have the confidence to come up to you without this even if they are perfectly useful players.
Vanessa.
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