The bulletin boards at local record stores are littered with them.

"Looking for experienced musicians . . . career oriented rock band."

"I'd prefer passion and dedication over gee-whiz technical wizardry."

"I'll try to play anything but I'd prefer LOUD, CHAOTIC rock 'n' roll."

"NO Depeche Mode or Pet Shop Boys . . . Thanks for reading this."

Some fliers read like the want-ads in a newspaper while others border on classified personals material. But it's obvious that many students are tired of strumming alone in dorm rooms and apartments and are looking for other lonely musicians to make it big . . . or at least to jam with.

"A lot of people are looking for someone to play with, but they don't realize how much work goes into being in a band," said Eric Gross, rhythm guitarist for Crazy Daze.

In addition to Crazy Daze, Gross is also currently putting together a funk and soul band, and his fliers have brought varied responses.

"I'm looking for motivated people who really want to do this," he said. "A lot of people are just up there to flail around and take a lot of solos."

But while some musicians strive for a regular bar night, others would rather stay in the confines of their apartment.

"This is the wrong place to be a serious band," said Marc, who has had a flier up for a month and a half and is looking for other musicians to jam with. He refused to give his last name because he's keeping a low profile. "I'm not real excited about giving into the town band scene."

Besides degrees of seriousness, musical tastes and personal traits also factor into forming local groups.

"Our personal and musical tastes have to be similar," said Andrew Laird (senior-English), a guitarist who has had a few responses to his flier so far. "It's hard to find people with the same musical tastes."

Gross, who cites James Brown and old Motown as influences for his second band, said he can tell within the first 10 minutes of hearing a musician play if the person is right for the band.

"If someone says 'James who?' well, then maybe he isn't what we're looking for."

Guitarist Chris Spence (junior-chemical engineering), who said he is willing to "get together and play with anyone," also cited rehearsal time and space as a problem with forming bands.

"You can't really have a drum kit in a dorm room," he said. "But you don't want to get up in front of a crowd and sound like hell."

Gaining exposure at open mike night at Champs Sports Bar & Grill, 1611 N. Atherton St., Spence hopes to eventually make a demo tape for bars and fraternities.

"It seems like everybody gets a fair shake as far as getting a chance to play," he said. "It would be in (bar owners and fraternities) best interest to get fresh stuff in."

But other aspiring musicians are wary of breaking into the local music scene.

"The band scene is very heavy now," said drummer Adam Brigham (sophomore-professional golf management).

Brigham, who played in an Augusta, Ga. band while in high school, believes that connections are important in the local band scene.

"I don't think people here respect bands as much as in Georgia," he said.