www.themode.com

For many people, networking is the most difficult part of being a musician. It's not just schmoozing with club owners and other industry types, either; that's difficult, but at least you know where to find them. I'm talking about simply locating other like-minded musicians to play with, especially if you live outside a major metropolitan area.

An avocational bassist named Bruce Schiller addressed the problem by creating the Musician's Online Database Exchange — the MODE — a Web site dedicated to connecting musicians with one another by region. In 1995, fresh off the breakup of his band, Schiller (or Brew as he's known on the MODE) was looking for a new group of players to jam with. He tried hooking up with musicians on various Usenet forums, only to find that the best situations were always on the other end of the country. A computer programmer by day, Brew put his skills to work setting up a database in which musicians could post connection information sorted by area code. The MODE was born.

The MODE is a database of free classified and personal-type ads. Musicians can use them to get gigs, buy and sell gear, and, most important, network with other musicians in their areas. The listings are sorted by area code (or country code for musicians living outside the United States or Canada). Listings of fewer than 75 words are free (equipment classifieds can be as long as 200 words). Brew's intention is to have every musician on the Internet listed, and although he has a long way to go in that regard, the MODE is a great resource. The area code Table of Contents lists every area code in North America; next to the code is the number of postings for that region. Click on your choice, and you're on your way. The major cities have the most listings, but there's something on the MODE for musicians living everywhere. The best way to make it even better is to submit your own information. Who knows? The MODE might connect you with your musical soul mate.