How to Write a Musician Advert That Gets Noticed
Looking for a band, searching for a drummer or just fancy a jam? A good advert could be the first step towards finding your next musical adventure.
You’ve decided it’s time to get out of the spare room, dust off your instrument and start making music with other people.
Excellent!
But before you can start rocking out with your new bandmates, there’s one small hurdle to overcome. You need to let people know you’re out there.
That’s where a good musician advert comes in.
The good news is you don’t need to be a brilliant writer, a professional musician or a marketing expert. You just need to give people a clear idea of who you are, what you enjoy playing and what you’re looking for.
Here are a few simple tips to help your advert stand out on Up For A Jam.
1. Start With a Headline That Says Something
Your advert title is the first thing other musicians will see, so make it count.
Something like “Guitarist Wanted” or “Looking for Band” gets the message across, but it doesn’t tell people very much.
Try being a little more specific.
For example:
- Blues Guitarist Looking for Weekend Jams
- Drummer Wanted for Classic Rock Covers Band
- Bass Player Available for Rockabilly Band
- Mature Keyboard Player Looking for Local Musicians
- Singer Wanted for 60s and 70s Rock Band
See the difference?
Straight away, people know what you’re looking for and what sort of music you’re interested in.
You don’t need a clever slogan or anything complicated. Just a headline that makes the right musician want to read more.
2. Tell People What Music You Love
This is where you can start showing a little personality.
What sort of music gets you reaching for your instrument?
Maybe you’re into The Rolling Stones, Dr Feelgood and classic rhythm and blues. Perhaps you’re more interested in indie, soul, jazz, country or rockabilly.
Whatever your tastes, tell people about them.
Mentioning a few favourite artists or bands can be more useful than simply saying you play rock or pop.
For example:
“I’m a bass player who loves 50s rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and early rhythm and blues. Think Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and The Stray Cats.”
That gives potential bandmates a much better idea of the sound you’re after.
On Up For A Jam, you can also select your Music Genre when creating an advert, helping other musicians discover you through the search filters.
3. Be Honest About Your Experience
One thing that puts people off posting an advert is worrying that they aren’t good enough.
But here’s the thing: not everybody is looking for a professional musician.
Some people want experienced players for an established gigging band. Others are beginners looking for somebody to learn with. Plenty simply want to get together and enjoy playing music.
There’s room for everyone.
If you’ve been playing for thirty years and have plenty of gigging experience, say so.
If you’ve only been learning guitar for six months, that’s fine too.
And if you’re returning to music after a twenty-year break, don’t be afraid to mention it.
You might find somebody in exactly the same position.
The important thing isn’t how good you claim to be. It’s finding musicians who are a good match for you.
4. Let People Know Where You Are
Location matters, especially when you’re hoping to meet up regularly.
A fantastic drummer who lives 200 miles away might not be much use if you’re looking for somebody to rehearse with every Thursday evening.
When creating your advert on Up For A Jam, enter your town or general location so other musicians can find you through local searches.
It’s also worth mentioning how far you’re prepared to travel.
For example:
“Based near Bristol and happy to travel around 20 miles for rehearsals.”
Or:
“Looking for musicians around Exeter, ideally within half an hour’s drive.”
You don’t need to publish your home address. Your town or general area is enough.
5. Be Clear About Your Availability
This is one of the most important things to get right.
Are you looking for a serious gigging band? A weekly rehearsal? The occasional weekend jam? Or just a few people to play with when everybody’s free?
There’s no right or wrong answer.
But being clear from the beginning can save a lot of frustration later.
You could say:
“Looking for a relaxed jam once or twice a month. Happy to play the occasional local gig if things go well.”
Or:
“Experienced guitarist looking for an established band with regular rehearsals and live gigs.”
Both are perfectly reasonable.
The problems usually start when one musician wants to rehearse five nights a week and another can barely manage one Sunday afternoon a month.
A little honesty goes a long way.
6. Give Your Advert Some Personality
Remember, you’re not applying for a job at the bank.
You’re looking for people to make music with!
Your advert doesn’t need to sound overly formal or serious. A friendly, conversational approach often works much better.
Instead of:
“Competent guitarist seeks suitably qualified musicians for musical collaboration.”
Try:
“Easygoing guitarist looking for a few like-minded musicians to play some classic rock, have a laugh and maybe get a few gigs together.”
Much better!
A little humour is fine too, especially if it reflects your personality.
Just avoid filling your advert with jokes at the expense of explaining what you’re actually looking for.
After all, people need to know whether they should bring a guitar, a drum kit or a sense of humour. Preferably all three.
7. Keep It Short and Sweet
You don’t need to write your entire musical life story.
Most people want to know a few basic things: what you play, what music you like, where you’re based, your experience and what you’re hoping to do.
A few short paragraphs are usually plenty.
Avoid one enormous block of text. Breaking your advert into smaller paragraphs makes it much easier to read, particularly on a mobile phone.
And before posting, give it a quick read-through.
A couple of spelling mistakes won’t stop you finding a band, but making your advert clear and easy to understand certainly helps.
8. Add a Little Something Extra
If you’ve got a recording or video of yourself playing, it can be useful to share a link in your advert.
It doesn’t need to be a professionally produced recording.
A simple rehearsal clip, a live performance or even a short recording made at home can give other musicians a feel for your playing.
Don’t worry if you haven’t got anything recorded, though.
Plenty of successful musical partnerships begin with nothing more than a conversation and a few songs in a rehearsal room.
9. Make It Easy for People to Reply
Once you’ve told people about yourself, finish with a friendly invitation.
Something like:
“If this sounds like your kind of thing, drop me a message. It would be great to hear from you!”
Or:
“Fancy getting together for a jam and seeing what happens? Get in touch!”
There’s no need to put your personal phone number or email address in a public advert.
Up For A Jam has a messaging system, so interested musicians can contact you through the website.
And when somebody does get in touch, try to reply, even if it turns out you’re not quite the right musical match.
10. Here’s What a Good Advert Might Look Like
Let’s put it all together.
Advert Title: Bass Player Looking for Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rockabilly Band
Hi! I’m an experienced bass player based near Plymouth, looking to meet some like-minded musicians who enjoy 50s rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and rhythm and blues.
Big fan of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins and The Stray Cats, but happy to explore anything with a good beat.
I’ve played in bands before and have some gigging experience. I’m not looking to conquer the world, just hoping to find a friendly group of musicians who enjoy playing together.
Ideally looking for rehearsals once a week or fortnight, with the possibility of a few local gigs if things work out.
Happy to travel around 20 miles for the right people.
If you’re into the same sort of music and fancy getting together for a jam, drop me a message!
Nothing complicated. Just a friendly, informative advert that gives other musicians a clear picture of the person behind it.
11. Don’t Forget to Keep Your Advert Updated
Things change.
You might find a band, decide to try a different style of music or discover that you’ve suddenly got more time for rehearsals.
If your circumstances change, update your advert so the information stays relevant.
And if you’ve found exactly what you were looking for, you can remove an advert you no longer need.
Keeping your information current helps everyone using Up For A Jam.
Ready to Make Some Noise?
Writing a good musician advert isn’t about making yourself sound like the greatest player who ever picked up an instrument.
It’s about being yourself.
Tell people what you love, what you play and what you’re hoping to find. Be honest, be friendly and don’t be afraid to show a little personality.
You never know who’s reading.
That drummer you’ve been looking for might live just down the road. Your next guitarist could be practising in the spare bedroom around the corner. Or perhaps there’s a whole band waiting for somebody just like you.
So why not give it a go?
Post your free advert on Up For A Jam and start making connections.
Find people. Start a band. Play some gigs.
How to Write a Musician Advert That Gets Noticed
Looking for a band, searching for a drummer or just fancy a jam? A good advert could be the first step towards finding your next musical adventure.
You’ve decided it’s time to get out of the spare room, dust off your instrument and start making music with other people.
Excellent!
But before you can start rocking out with your new bandmates, there’s one small hurdle to overcome. You need to let people know you’re out there.
That’s where a good musician advert comes in.
The good news is you don’t need to be a brilliant writer, a professional musician or a marketing expert. You just need to give people a clear idea of who you are, what you enjoy playing and what you’re looking for.
Here are a few simple tips to help your advert stand out on Up For A Jam.
1. Start With a Headline That Says Something
Your advert title is the first thing other musicians will see, so make it count.
Something like “Guitarist Wanted” or “Looking for Band” gets the message across, but it doesn’t tell people very much.
Try being a little more specific.
For example:
- Blues Guitarist Looking for Weekend Jams
- Drummer Wanted for Classic Rock Covers Band
- Bass Player Available for Rockabilly Band
- Mature Keyboard Player Looking for Local Musicians
- Singer Wanted for 60s and 70s Rock Band
See the difference?
Straight away, people know what you’re looking for and what sort of music you’re interested in.
You don’t need a clever slogan or anything complicated. Just a headline that makes the right musician want to read more.
2. Tell People What Music You Love
This is where you can start showing a little personality.
What sort of music gets you reaching for your instrument?
Maybe you’re into The Rolling Stones, Dr Feelgood and classic rhythm and blues. Perhaps you’re more interested in indie, soul, jazz, country or rockabilly.
Whatever your tastes, tell people about them.
Mentioning a few favourite artists or bands can be more useful than simply saying you play rock or pop.
For example:
“I’m a bass player who loves 50s rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and early rhythm and blues. Think Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and The Stray Cats.”
That gives potential bandmates a much better idea of the sound you’re after.
On Up For A Jam, you can also select your Music Genre when creating an advert, helping other musicians discover you through the search filters.
3. Be Honest About Your Experience
One thing that puts people off posting an advert is worrying that they aren’t good enough.
But here’s the thing: not everybody is looking for a professional musician.
Some people want experienced players for an established gigging band. Others are beginners looking for somebody to learn with. Plenty simply want to get together and enjoy playing music.
There’s room for everyone.
If you’ve been playing for thirty years and have plenty of gigging experience, say so.
If you’ve only been learning guitar for six months, that’s fine too.
And if you’re returning to music after a twenty-year break, don’t be afraid to mention it.
You might find somebody in exactly the same position.
The important thing isn’t how good you claim to be. It’s finding musicians who are a good match for you.
4. Let People Know Where You Are
Location matters, especially when you’re hoping to meet up regularly.
A fantastic drummer who lives 200 miles away might not be much use if you’re looking for somebody to rehearse with every Thursday evening.
When creating your advert on Up For A Jam, enter your town or general location so other musicians can find you through local searches.
It’s also worth mentioning how far you’re prepared to travel.
For example:
“Based near Bristol and happy to travel around 20 miles for rehearsals.”
Or:
“Looking for musicians around Exeter, ideally within half an hour’s drive.”
You don’t need to publish your home address. Your town or general area is enough.
5. Be Clear About Your Availability
This is one of the most important things to get right.
Are you looking for a serious gigging band? A weekly rehearsal? The occasional weekend jam? Or just a few people to play with when everybody’s free?
There’s no right or wrong answer.
But being clear from the beginning can save a lot of frustration later.
You could say:
“Looking for a relaxed jam once or twice a month. Happy to play the occasional local gig if things go well.”
Or:
“Experienced guitarist looking for an established band with regular rehearsals and live gigs.”
Both are perfectly reasonable.
The problems usually start when one musician wants to rehearse five nights a week and another can barely manage one Sunday afternoon a month.
A little honesty goes a long way.
6. Give Your Advert Some Personality
Remember, you’re not applying for a job at the bank.
You’re looking for people to make music with!
Your advert doesn’t need to sound overly formal or serious. A friendly, conversational approach often works much better.
Instead of:
“Competent guitarist seeks suitably qualified musicians for musical collaboration.”
Try:
“Easygoing guitarist looking for a few like-minded musicians to play some classic rock, have a laugh and maybe get a few gigs together.”
Much better!
A little humour is fine too, especially if it reflects your personality.
Just avoid filling your advert with jokes at the expense of explaining what you’re actually looking for.
After all, people need to know whether they should bring a guitar, a drum kit or a sense of humour. Preferably all three.
7. Keep It Short and Sweet
You don’t need to write your entire musical life story.
Most people want to know a few basic things: what you play, what music you like, where you’re based, your experience and what you’re hoping to do.
A few short paragraphs are usually plenty.
Avoid one enormous block of text. Breaking your advert into smaller paragraphs makes it much easier to read, particularly on a mobile phone.
And before posting, give it a quick read-through.
A couple of spelling mistakes won’t stop you finding a band, but making your advert clear and easy to understand certainly helps.
8. Add a Little Something Extra
If you’ve got a recording or video of yourself playing, it can be useful to share a link in your advert.
It doesn’t need to be a professionally produced recording.
A simple rehearsal clip, a live performance or even a short recording made at home can give other musicians a feel for your playing.
Don’t worry if you haven’t got anything recorded, though.
Plenty of successful musical partnerships begin with nothing more than a conversation and a few songs in a rehearsal room.
9. Make It Easy for People to Reply
Once you’ve told people about yourself, finish with a friendly invitation.
Something like:
“If this sounds like your kind of thing, drop me a message. It would be great to hear from you!”
Or:
“Fancy getting together for a jam and seeing what happens? Get in touch!”
There’s no need to put your personal phone number or email address in a public advert.
Up For A Jam has a messaging system, so interested musicians can contact you through the website.
And when somebody does get in touch, try to reply, even if it turns out you’re not quite the right musical match.
10. Here’s What a Good Advert Might Look Like
Let’s put it all together.
Advert Title: Bass Player Looking for Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rockabilly Band
Hi! I’m an experienced bass player based near Plymouth, looking to meet some like-minded musicians who enjoy 50s rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and rhythm and blues.
Big fan of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins and The Stray Cats, but happy to explore anything with a good beat.
I’ve played in bands before and have some gigging experience. I’m not looking to conquer the world, just hoping to find a friendly group of musicians who enjoy playing together.
Ideally looking for rehearsals once a week or fortnight, with the possibility of a few local gigs if things work out.
Happy to travel around 20 miles for the right people.
If you’re into the same sort of music and fancy getting together for a jam, drop me a message!
Nothing complicated. Just a friendly, informative advert that gives other musicians a clear picture of the person behind it.
11. Don’t Forget to Keep Your Advert Updated
Things change.
You might find a band, decide to try a different style of music or discover that you’ve suddenly got more time for rehearsals.
If your circumstances change, update your advert so the information stays relevant.
And if you’ve found exactly what you were looking for, you can remove an advert you no longer need.
Keeping your information current helps everyone using Up For A Jam.
Ready to Make Some Noise?
Writing a good musician advert isn’t about making yourself sound like the greatest player who ever picked up an instrument.
It’s about being yourself.
Tell people what you love, what you play and what you’re hoping to find. Be honest, be friendly and don’t be afraid to show a little personality.
You never know who’s reading.
That drummer you’ve been looking for might live just down the road. Your next guitarist could be practising in the spare bedroom around the corner. Or perhaps there’s a whole band waiting for somebody just like you.
So why not give it a go?
Post your free advert on Up For A Jam and start making connections.
Find people. Start a band. Play some gigs.