Joining a Band 101
If playing guitar online in your basement or jam sessions with your friends still leave you longing to see your name in lights, it may be time to consider joining a band. Playing in a band allows you to play music with others who share your love of performing, and making music you believe in can be immensely satisfying. Starting a band can be overwhelming, though, so if your skills are up to the challenge, your best bet may be to see about finding a band you can join and you'll be ready to get started.
To look for a band that's seeking one or more new members, you may have to do a little scavenging. Start by going to the local independent music stores and looking at the bulletin boards. You should be able to find a few flyers from bands seeking to add to their band or to replace a former member. Check the classifieds section of the newspaper and the local music publications, too. You may even find a band you like is seeking a new member when you read their JukeboxAlive profile's blog or via a message they sent to their friends. When you find a band that interests you, contact them. They may be ready to schedule an audition or they may request you to send them a demo first.
To prepare for an audition, research as much as you can about the band beforehand, visiting their website and their JukeboxAlive profile. When you scheduled your audition they should have given you some kind of idea of what they'd like you to perform in your audition, so prepare accordingly. In the hours before the audition do something that relaxes you so you'll arrive to the audition prepared but confident, not uptight, jittery, and nervous. Your audition will probably include a combination of talking with band members and then performing your audition piece. Talking with the band will gauge whether you and your potential band mates get along; you will, after all, be spending a lot of time together if you join up.
Finally, be prepared for the time commitment of joining a band. Bands require time for rehearsal sessions and gigs, and sometimes even travel, so before you rock your audition know ahead of time what you're signing up for. In much the same way that you're probably not friends with every person you meet, it may take meeting and auditioning with a few bands before you find the perfect fit.