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Bad experiences in looking for a band on Craigslist

#21
Two words: Extreme Vetting. Ask more questions before you commit to an audition.

I've been thinking about starting a side project, but frankly I'm afraid to put an ad on CL. Judging by the number of hacks who re-post ads on there EVERY SINGLE DAY, I suspect I would be inundated with phone calls and emails from these bozos.
 
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#22
I have had good success using Craig's List or the other option in Canada Kijji. It has been said a few times before I will say it again - screen the people. I have found the best thing to do is to make an actual phone call - no texting - and have a conversation with the potential band members. Do your personalities work? Do you want the same thing musically? A simple 10 minute conversation can clear up any problems down the road. If you don't have the same goals and you have differing opinions on what you want from a band - does it really matter at that point if they can even play? That project would be doomed from the start. My two cents
 
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#23
southpaw723 said:
when people say they are a band looking to gig you'd think they wouldn't struggle with keeping time and playing simple chords on the guitar. Why is it so hard to find a band where I can just play live!?
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There's a huge number of bands that are totally unrealistic in their abilities. That's all it is. Why those musicians are in self-denial is a topic someone should do a PhD thesis on :laugh:

To be perfectly honest, most people will go through what you are going through, I certainly did. My first few bands actually played gigs despite ineptitude, overly long periods in the basement and revolving membership. All but two fell apart after maybe a half dozen gigs, none gigged for more than a year.

I was lucky enough to play in a few pickup situations where I met some other players who then asked me to join their band, since then all but one band I have been in was through word of mouth.

Looking back, the want ads were mostly a bust but you have to start somewhere. The best you can do is a good phone screen. Ask enough questions and you will at least save the time of the auditions from hell. Typical red flags are noone has ever played a gig, everyone is 40-something but they plan to do rock originals, they want to put out a CD before they gig, they have no vocalist and so on. What you do want to hear is a decent past history in local bands that you might have actually heard of and playing at venues that you know.

Good luck.
 
#24
Can't find a good band? Start your own. Find musicians that you LIKE and that have their act together. Even if it's you and one other musician to start, if they're competent and drama-free, that's a good foundation. Ask lots of questions; red flags will probably be revealed if there. Also, people will come and go, networking and jamming with others are key to find timely and suitable replacements when the drummer gets a new job and has to move or the keyboard player get pregnant.

If you're looking to answer an ad, start rehearsing and gigging in a few weeks, these are rare. Lots of ads say this. Don't believe them. Successfully gigging bands will have lots of musicians waiting to join, and likely won't be filling their ranks through Craigslist, even if they have an ad.
 
#25
If you're in Pittsburgh proper, you need to go to hambones open mic night. I think they have acoustic night and electric night but I'm sure a bass amp would be welcome either time.
I've been there maybe three times over the past few years when I travel there for work, and theres a lot of talent. Introduce yourself and tell them what you're looking for!
 
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#26
Ran my ad. Got a response from a great drummer. Looked up a bandmate from 30 years ago. Soon as we find a guitar man who can zig as well as he zags ( I think we have our sights on him already), we'll be off and rolling. Start by only dealing with grownups, or you'll end up jamming in Jimmie's garage again.
 
#28
I'm going to add another vote for open mics. Especially electric open mics with drums and amps. I started going to an open mic and eventually became the bassist for the house band, who also hosted another open mic on a different day at a different venue. The best part was that jamming with such a wide variety of people made me a much better player.
 
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#29
CL is roulette. I've had rotten and short-lived relationships and I've had long relationships that paid off. Somebody said, maybe here, it's always about three things (1) the music, (2) the hang (3) the money. You need two out of three to make it stick. Sometimes you know right away that it doesn't work. I remember one CL audition I went on, the BL gave me about 15 obscure pop tunes to learn. When I got there, he handed me loose-leaf binder of songs and proceeded to ignore the 15 songs he had me learn. After about half an hour I knew that we weren't going to gel and I thanked them and cut out. Or the self-described "vampire rock band" that had "gigs booked" and "representation". So many stupid auditions. I am glad I am with a group of sane, fun, talented people that play regularly.
 
#30
brianrost said:
There's a huge number of bands that are totally unrealistic in their abilities. That's all it is. Why those musicians are in self-denial is a topic someone should do a PhD thesis on :laugh:
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Perfect. :)

I've been playing in bands since 1974, and have lost count of the times I've had to be the one to say, "We are in no way ready to play 'out'." I'm always at odds with the guy who says, "We have to have a gig scheduled to give us incentive." No, really, you need to learn how to play the songs and sing them properly before you inflict yourself on an audience. The band is entertainment for the crowd; you're expected to be good. The crowd is not there for the band's ego. I don't understand why so many "musicians" don't get this. Well, actually, I do, and said it above: ego.

In fact, I'm going through it again. One of the bands I'm in right now is pushing to play out, and they simply do not have the vocal talent to pull it off. A discussion will be forthcoming at some point. I provide enough opportunity to embarrass myself onstage, I don't need the whole band helping me do it. ;)
 
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#32
Gravedigger Dav said:
@lfmn16 mentioned your screening process. Perhaps you are not asking the right questions before you drive to an audition.
These are a few that are helpful:
  1. What is your instrumentation
  2. What happened to your previous drummer
  3. How long has your band been together
  4. How often are you gigging
  5. Were have you played recently
  6. How often do you rehearse
  7. Tell me a little about your practice space
  8. How is the money split
If you don't get good answers to these questions, don't go.
If they seem offended that you are asking these questions, don't go.
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Think you are giving wise advice that makes this look like how you would ask questions at a job interview. Get as much info as you can before committing time and energy
 
#34
Here's a tip. When you screen ask the person (by phone) their past musical experiences and the band member's experience. Ask them who they are connected to locally and what places they have played thru the years.
If they have any experience as musicians in your area they will know of the local players, bands and places in your scene. If they draw blanks and don't know of the best local clubs, bands, players or scene..be leary of them.
I'm in the country scene here. Anyone whos anybody knows somebody in it and the places we all play. Its simple to ask and might save you allot of trouble.
 
#35
southpaw723 said:
yeah I know another Craigslist thread... But I've been playing bass for six years and I've been dying to get out there and gig. Everyone I've encountered falls into a certain category: "we have a couple songs and we are looking to hit the studio soon, don't worry we know a guy who can mix our stuff for only $1000 per song"..... "hey do you wanna pitch in so we can buy some recording gear..", "I can't wait to start writing songs and gigging man!" but then nothing ever happens, and then there's the people who just aren't good musicians. I'm no snob and I definitely don't claim to be some amazing bassist, but when people say they are a band looking to gig you'd think they wouldn't struggle with keeping time and playing simple chords on the guitar. Why is it so hard to find a band where I can just play live!? Today I met up with some people about 40 minutes away from my home and their "practice space" was a messy garage with no heat and barely enough space to fit all the amps. It was 25 degrees in there and all they did was struggle to play jump by Van Halen for two hours. They told me beforehand that they had gigs lined up, but they don't even have a drummer! Rant over, kill me now
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Get out there and mingle!
 
#36
I would definitely go to see some bands in your area and talk to them during breaks. Musicians know other musicians...my current band happened that way. Met my singer and guitarist when they were playing with someone else. we kept in touch and put a project together that ended up being all of our main gigging band.
 
#39
wilsonn said:
CL is roulette
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i agree with this. and i think other 'venues' for finding musicians can also be a cra* shoot. best for me is referrals and word of mouth. however: i've used CL and the others when seeking musicians, and any of them can work better by vetting (great advice in the thread!) and by adjusting expectations. i think the biggest mistake the OP can make is to quit making an effort...to give up.

sometimes you have to hang in to hang out. good luck! hope you find something worthwhile. :thumbsup:
 
#40
I had a CRAZY experience last year at an audition. The band was good, and they sent me links to their album and I learned all 10 songs. They were cool about answering my emails, since I was learning the songs by ear I naturally had some questions. The last bass player had a very similar style to my own (John Paul Jones, Entwistle), so it was cool picking out all these nice melodic licks. Anyway, I go to the audition knowing I just was going to NAIL it. We go through the songs, and the BL says, "wow, man, you did a great job learning these songs. Trouble is, we never liked that other bass player. Do you think you could play these songs with more of a Cajun style?" After a few more songs, none of which were on the album, he said,"Ok, now can you play a little more Motown-y?" Now I've been playing for 35 years, so like a lot of you I can play in a lot of different styles, so I did. After a few more songs he said,"That's cool but can you..." I never heard the end of his question since I was already walking out the door. Jerks....
 

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