The life of an independent musician is not an easy one. There are long hours, late nights, heavy gear that forever needs schlepping, expensive equipment and practice spaces, and the shoddy-to-middling treatment from the world at large. For this, on an average night, you can expect to be compensated with about $10 worth of Labatt 50. Of course, it's always easier - and far more fun - when you've got good people to eat Burger King in a van at 3am with, but finding those kindred souls can be a tricky business, even if all you're after is a Sunday afternoon jam session.

A Toronto-based startup is looking to circumvent that, uniting the Micks and Keiths of tomorrow through a sort of dating site for musicians. DownToJam allows folks looking for their next musical match to create full profiles with videos, songs, and Q&As concerning their musical preferences and skills. The site will trawl through the results, giving you percentage-based matches for each musician on the site.

Let's say your last drummer spontaneously combusted. Those seeking to recruit musicians - or musicians actively seeking new projects - can post a listing in the site's Auditions section and screen the responses from there. It's like an improved version of the Craigslist want ads - only you'll be able to look at applicants' fleshed-out profiles, instead of three-line emails from 17-year-olds who are, like, really good at Rock Band.