Bandmix ad question

[lfmn16]

Putting this in Miscellaneous because I'm just curious what other people think. In one of the bands I play in the guitarist left so I'm moving to guitar and we're going to find a bass player. We're looking in all the usual places and one of them is bandmix. Lots of people claim to play multiple instruments, now here's my question:

If someone lists a bass as one of instruments they play, but has pics of themselves playing guitar, does that make you think that they aren't really a bass player? Maybe it's just me, but if you claim to be a bass player, I want to see a picture of you playing bass. It definitely makes me think twice before calling someone.

Just my opinion, wondering what others think.

 

[bholder]

As something of a (hack) multi-instrumentalist myself, I kind of understand the dilemma - they need to somehow make clear what their "primary" is or at least their skill level on the instrument in question. I agree that the discrepancy implied by the picture makes it worth asking. They may be equally adept at both instruments, or they may be a guitarist just claiming they can play bass just "because it's easy". Only way to find out is to ask.

 

[Bodeanly]

I can be a jerk, so take this with a grain of salt: You either play bass or you don't. One of my bands auditioned many rhythm guitarists who would brag to me about their bass rigs and the majority of them could barely play guitar. If you can't keep time while playing the power chords of most modern rock songs, something tells me that your bass playing is severely lacking. "Fewer strings" does not mean "easier" and it certainly doesn't mean you can suck and not worry about it because "no one ever pays attention to the bass line." So, my advice is to find a bassist before trying to find someone who is comfortably mediocre at several instruments. Sorry. I'm a bit jaded. But I'm sick of people failing at guitar and calling themselves bassists. Good luck in your search!

 

[bholder]

I can be a jerk, so take this with a grain of salt: You either play bass or you don't. One of my bands auditioned many rhythm guitarists who would brag to me about their bass rigs and the majority of them could barely play guitar. If you can't keep time while playing the power chords of most modern rock songs, something tells me that your bass playing is severely lacking. "Fewer strings" does not mean "easier" and it certainly doesn't mean you can suck and not worry about it because "no one ever pays attention to the bass line." So, my advice is to find a bassist before trying to find someone who is comfortably mediocre at several instruments. Sorry. I'm a bit jaded. But I'm sick of people failing at guitar and calling themselves bassists. Good luck in your search!

I said it much nicer. But yeah.

 

[Bodeanly]

I said it much nicer. But yeah.

For obvious reasons, I'm generally not the one doing the talking.

 

[lfmn16]

I can be a jerk, so take this with a grain of salt: You either play bass or you don't. One of my bands auditioned many rhythm guitarists who would brag to me about their bass rigs and the majority of them could barely play guitar. If you can't keep time while playing the power chords of most modern rock songs, something tells me that your bass playing is severely lacking. "Fewer strings" does not mean "easier" and it certainly doesn't mean you can suck and not worry about it because "no one ever pays attention to the bass line." So, my advice is to find a bassist before trying to find someone who is comfortably mediocre at several instruments. Sorry. I'm a bit jaded. But I'm sick of people failing at guitar and calling themselves bassists. Good luck in your search!

You always put a positive spin on things.

I hear you. Last time I was looking for a bass player, I auditioned a guy that had a Fender Custom Shop Precision, but couldn't follow a simple Chuck Berry progression.

 

[Bodeanly]

You always put a positive spin on things.

I hear you. Last time I was looking for a bass player, I auditioned a guy that had a Fender Custom Shop Precision, but couldn't follow a simple Chuck Berry progression.

My favorite moments in life usually involve me taking the guitar from a "guitarist" and showing him how to play the song that everyone else spent a week learning. Holy crap. How do people put up with me?

The kicker is that I'm a failed guitarist. Why are there five extra strings?!

 

[Double E]

Depending on the quantity of available prospects, I would prioritize the cats that appear to be dedicated bassists and just hit on the multi-instrumentalists that really seem like they'd jive with your situation.

The pictures are really a tough gauge to use to qualify your potential bandmates.

 

[lfmn16]

My favorite moments in life usually involve me taking the guitar from a "guitarist" and showing him how to play the song that everyone else spent a week learning. Holy crap. How do people put up with me?

The kicker is that I'm a failed guitarist. Why are there five extra strings?!

Isn't that on the list of 5 Things You Never Do to a Band Mate?

 

[lfmn16]

Depending on the quantity of available prospects, I would prioritize the cats that appear to be dedicated bassists and just hit on the multi-instrumentalists that really seem like they'd jive with your situation.

The pictures are really a tough gauge to use to qualify your potential bandmates.

Don't they help weed out anyone that wears shorts, sunglasses, hats, sandals, plays in bare feet, goes shirtless, uses a music stand or breaks one of the other 100 TB rules???

 

[Bodeanly]

Isn't that on the list of 5 Things You Never Do to a Band Mate?

If it comes down to this or sucking because we played it wrong...

What are the other four things? I'm sure all five were written by one of my former band mates.

 

[Double E]

Don't they help weed out anyone that wears shorts, sunglasses, hats, sandals, plays in bare feet, goes shirtless, uses a music stand or breaks one of the other 100 TB rules???

Good point, you can definitely eliminate a few that have made some of these questionable fashion faux pas in their profile pics... I guess I thought that was obvious.

 

[Double E]

If it comes down to this or sucking because we played it wrong...

What are the other four things? I'm sure all five were written by one of my former band mates.

You probably cover at least three of five in your scenario...

5 Things You Should Never Say to Your Bandmates

 

[Bodeanly]

You probably cover at least three of five in your scenario...

5 Things You Should Never Say to Your Bandmates

Man, I kinda feel bad now. Perhaps I should send them flowers and a Mel Bay book or two?

 

[dennis james]

Don't they help weed out anyone that wears shorts, sunglasses, hats, sandals, plays in bare feet, goes shirtless, uses a music stand or breaks one of the other 100 TB rules???

Above all else avoid guys that wear berets.

 

[lfmn16]

If it comes down to this or sucking because we played it wrong...

What are the other four things? I'm sure all five were written by one of my former band mates.

I can tell you from personal experience, in my misspent youth, that one of them is, "I ran into that girl you've been dating last night and one thing led to another." I think "I drank the last beer" "I smoked the last of the weed" are in there too.

 

[Bodeanly]

All bitterness aside, there are people out there that have mastered multiple instruments. There are people that can sing circles around anything I will ever do musically, then rip out a set on a piano or share a masterpiece of a YouTube video of themselves using one of those fancy looper-ma-jigs. I just don't think those unicorns are waiting around on Band Mix, hoping someone puts up an ad. What's cool is that you can weed through them through auditions and presumably meet some cool folks in the process.

 

[JRA]

wondering what others think.

i have no experience with bandmix, but i agree with you. i've played with guitar cats who couldn't play bass, but i haven't played with any who didn't think they could! musicians should represent what they think they can actually do --- well.

How do people put up with me?

that's a great question...we should have a poll...i vote "black."

 

[lfmn16]

All bitterness aside, there are people out there that have mastered multiple instruments. There are people that can sing circles around anything I will ever do musically, then rip out a set on a piano or share a masterpiece of a YouTube video of themselves using on of those fancy looper-ma-jigs. I just don't think those unicorns are waiting around on Band Mix, hoping someone puts up an ad. What's cool is that you can weed through them through auditions and presumably meet some cool folks in the process.

Yes. I've got a bass amp in the basement. The auditions may be painful, but they are quick! Like a bandaid, rip it off.

 

[redwingxix]

I've looked through bandmix during annual drummer searching season and it seems that everyone on that site lists a dozen different instruments. I've never filled out a profile on it so I'm thinking that it must have something to so with how you set up your profile page to have so many like that. Either that or everybody that signs up for it just lists every kind of instrument that they've ever picked up for more than 90 seconds, maybe just to get more exposure?

If I was looking for a bass player I'd expect to see a picture of one, not one of a guitar player, but if your band had a bandmix ad with a picture that explained that the guitar player left and now you need a bass player, that would be a similar deal.

After getting way too excited way too many times about a prospect before having a tryout, I've accepted the fact that you have no idea until they actually show up and play.