Craigslist Audition

pgolliher · #1 08-01-2011, 05:33 PM

My wife and I had twins in December, so I left a band that I was playing with due to their heavy gig schedule. 7 months later, I am now itching to play again. A friend of mine mentioned an ad he saw on Craigslist, a cover bad looking to play Foo Fighters, Audioslave, RHCP, etc. I had spent the last few years playing in an original Americana Band, which was great-but the songs really called for simple bass lines. I was excited about the prospect of playing some fun covers of bands that I like. I sent an email explaining my situation (job, family, looking for a couple gigs a month) and I got an email back stating that they totally understood the family thing, sent me a set list, “Let’s try it out, “BTW I am a chick and the drummer is a chick, I hope you are ok with it.” I replied, no problem with playing with women- my last band leader is a woman and my favorite drummer in town is a woman. We talked on the phone briefly, and she talked Huge game. “We all have lots of experience….we all have studied theory..we all have lots of studio experience…. She then grilled me about my experience, "We need to hear samples online”, etc. We agreed to get together on the weekend. Since it was already Wed, and since they had a pretty long set, I asked the guitar player/singer to send me 5 or 6 songs that they would really like to have nailed down. I ended up having a crazy week and the only time that I had to listen/ learn the 5 songs was Wed night, but they weren’t that difficult. In fact, I even thought to myself that compared to most of the material the bands that she had sent me, these songs were pretty easy and repetitive. While I was driving over, I called and asked if they would like me to pick up some beer. The reply was that the two girls don’t drink and the lead guitar player guy wasn’t going to make it until 5:30, so I said no problem-just wanted to offer. I got there at 3pm and met the drummer, very cool and laid back, had a huge Geddy Lee style set up-I was surprised that there wasn’t rototoms. The guitar player/singer was also there,this is harsh- but beers would have helped on the looks (yes, this is a jerk comment..but I was secretly hoping that the girls would have been cute- it helps in the gig dept, again- jerk comment but I can't help that lots of us men are shallow) So… we begin by playing the 5 songs they sent me to have nailed:
Blind Melon-No Rain
Audioslave-Be Yourself
4 Non Blones- Spaceman
Foo Fighters- Everlong
Police- Message in a Bottle.
The singer/guitar player could not play any of them through. She had to continuously stop in the middle. She had a million excuses and assured me that she really did have them down. She then got really nervous. She excused herself to go to the bathroom and left the practice room/garage and came back in a bit totally smelling like alcohol (she said she didn’t drink!). We tried playing some more songs on the set list and it just got worse. She started getting really down and hard on herself, it reminded me of that Chris Farley sketch on SNL when he interviews celebrities and starts banging his head saying “Stupid, stupid, stupid..” except it was sad. I truly think that she probably cried that night. At one point she gave up and the drummer and I jammed a bit. She was technically good and did some cool odd time stuff, but not great feel-especially for rock. I could only hold on until 4:50. The guitar player asked me to stay for the lead guitar player, but I wrapped up my cord and as politely as I could told her that it wasn’t for me. I have been playing for 25 years and I try not to judge anyone on their playing level, we all were starting out once and there is always monster players out there- art is not a competitive sport. But shame on me for forgetting that the people that have to talk big game are most likely the ones that can’t back it up. I am sure that this is a pretty regular type of craigslist experience, but I have had really good luck in the past. Yesterday, my luck ran out. Thanks for giving me a place to vent!

RustyAxe · #2 08-01-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgolliher

I could only hold on until 4:50.

I would have been all done at 4:20 ...

anderbass · #3 08-01-2011, 06:45 PM

I'm guessing their lead guitarist actually plays most of the rhythm, and she just kinda follows him.

pgolliher · #4 08-01-2011, 07:06 PM

Yes, I am sure the other guitar player must pick up the slack, but we played message in a bottle and she put the guitar down and couldn't even manage the singing alone- I had to tell her when to come in. It was harsh.

charlie monroe · #5 08-01-2011, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgolliher

...I got there at 3pm and met the drummer, very cool and laid back, had a huge Geddy Lee style set up-I was surprised that there wasn’t rototoms.

electracoyote · #6 08-01-2011, 09:35 PM

Oh man, I know I shouldn't be laughing at that story, but I am. Especially the Chris Farley reference. Classic.

Craig's List is an amazing thing, a real slice of American pie. I have met my share of losers, wannabes, and douchebags, but I have also met some incredible musicians on CL. I'm currently playing with one of the most authentic and respected vintage country artists in town and one of the hands-down best sax players in town, both through a Craig's List ad.

pgolliher · #7 08-01-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Oh man, I know I shouldn't be laughing at that story, but I am. Especially the Chris Farley reference. Classic.

Craig's List is an amazing thing, a real slice of American pie. I have met my share of losers, wannabes, and douchebags, but I have also met some incredible musicians on CL. I'm currently playing with one of the most authentic and respected vintage country artists in town and one of the hands-down best sax players in town, both through a Craig's List ad.

Yes, craigslist has been great in the past. A guitar player that a producer found to cover a hard rock studio thing turned out to be an amazing fit in an Americana band I was playing in, he also plays lap steel when the pedal steel player couldn't make it and aside from being a great musician, he is also a great guy who I feel lucky to count as a friend. Recently we found a young sax player/MC who can blow and free style. His dad is a jazz player that raised him on Monk and Mingus. Like I said, my luck ran out this time, but I am sooo grateful to have many great musician/friends.

@Charlie. Wow, my bad... my first "band" was a group of us air jamming to "Bytor and the Snowdog" off of Fly by Night, I really should have known better/paid more attention. No disrespect-trying to be funny. Please excuse and substitute "Neil Peart" for "Geddy Lee"and "Octobans" for "Rototoms".

drooldud · #8 08-01-2011, 11:48 PM

strike two @pgolliher...

I thought this was a bass players board? lol

pgolliher · #9 08-02-2011, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drooldud

strike two @pgolliher...

I thought this was a bass players board? lol

Yes, I should shut up now...

pgolliher · #10 08-02-2011, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awakefie

I recently replied to a CL ad (I'm new to town lookin). The band was looking for a bass player that wasn't afraid to "rock with chicks" - their words, not mine. Anyway they seemed nice enough, my age group, good music selection, fairly tight and accomplished.

Asked them about future gigs. "We have one coming up next week. Denver Pride Day. We are lesbians." Not meaning to be too coloquial I politely ended it there. "Not that there's anything wrong with that." - Jerry Seinfeld but at some point I would think that a straight guy being the only male in an all female lesbian band might confuse the draw at the door.

Anyway, good luck to them. They do rock!

The last band I played in was fronted by a lesbian and the my favorite drummer in town that I mentioned before is also a lesbian. Good musicians are good musicians and good people are good people.

**pacojas** · #11 08-02-2011, 12:35 AM

@pgolliher..

do you know any reggae musician's in SC?

pgolliher · #12 08-02-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

@pgolliher..

do you know any reggae musician's in SC?

I don't know many...but a drummer from SLO just moved up here, (played with Reggae players down there) I know he is into world beat stuff, but I am sure he would be great for reggae with the right situation. PM with details and I can pass along his info.

TolerancEJ · #13 08-02-2011, 10:03 AM

Sorry to hear about your experience. Better luck next time...

I've only really played with one band seriously. It was a local band that was starting to create buzz in the neighborhood. The members were as cool as they were musicianwise. No wise crack here, they have been and still are pretty good musicians and all around cool people to hang around.

Anyway, I auditioned for that band & they seemed alright with me. I didn't really have an initiation. If anything, my initiation was to learn their existing originals, come up with 7 original basslines for a new demo, and oh, learn a 32 song setlist for an upcoming show in 2 weeks. LOL! I saw it as a challenge, managed it, and felt pretty good afterward.

hrodbert696 · #14 08-02-2011, 10:36 AM

With all this experience, did they have any videos or recordings of themselves in the past? With this bad of an audition, I'd say you're totally right for turning them down, but I wonder if the singer was just having a really bad day. I'm just wondering if there was any evidence that they are normally better than this. What you're describing sounds like someone trying to hold it together when they just found out their mom died or their boyfriend is breaking up with them or something.

Muttleybass · #15 08-02-2011, 10:49 AM

Lol... I feel your pain.

It's not limited to CL. In the days before CL I've met flakes on music store bulliten boards and the local Buy & Sell.

bassbrad · #16 08-02-2011, 10:55 AM

I think one of the reason I keep playing with the same revolving cast of players is to avoid the freak show that is local auditions.
Out of close to 25 meet ups 1 was almost worthwhile.