Craigslist naccissist

[Ant Illington]

Literal Post in my local CL. Sounds like a real treat to be a part of this guy's band.


Bass Needed- for working band. Country with chops


We are looking for a dedicated bass player. Not interested if you have 3 other bands. It would be amazing if you actually knew country music, and had a respect for it....and not just Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline.....but everything from George Strait to Johnny Paycheck to The Grateful Dead, and everything in between. We are all 32. We can have as many gigs as we want. We have access to all the clubs in the area, and festivals, but we just can't line up a dedicated bass player. We have opened for Grammy winners. We have our own recording studio. We have paying gigs. We are not looking for a beginner, or someone who has never played the style. We are looking for someone who knows tons of American music and has the right chops, but enough taste to play pocket. You would absolutely be expected to learn a damn large amount of songs. You would absolutely need to know the number system, and you must definitely be able to handle dirty jokes. Not looking for a little snowflake who has his head up Rachel Maddows ass. AKA, we are looking for a pro. Upright slap would be great, and definitely no electric slap. And not looking for a commuter to drive in from 45 minutes away. It just won't work. Thanks and hope to hear from you.

I get it.

I don't play country, I don't particularly like country that isn't old school and I barely even listen to that, I don't lead a band, I'm not in a band other than as a sub. I'm totally unbiased. See how I had to explain all of that even though my first sentence should be enough for reasonable people? I "had to" explain otherwise anybody could assume anything and then reply on false assumptions of my bias.

Being straight from the get-go saves a lot of time. Magnify that time savings by a lot in regards to even finding good playing candidates, let alone candidates on the same page for the medium and long run. If he just says "great bassist needed for dedicated band with lots of gigs," though that should/could be enough to get the point across there would be many multiples of inappropriate guys responding to the ad. I bet he's posting from bad experience in being less specific. He added a little humor, too, and made it clear to me that this is a band of brothers, agree or disagree with their views, and every member should be like-minded on some critical things.

See, he can't win. Be less precise and get too many innapropriate candidates or be clear and get trolled by internet people with mental issues, or maybe you guys just have the hate in your hearts but won't troll. How does not fully buying into the extreme views of a person like Rachel Maddow make one categorically a jerkweasel? Or Racist or whatever other nonsense a bunch of you have concluded from that statement?

 

[cchorney]

Years ago, before I got married, I tried online dating sites as a way of finding someone to share my life. What I found is the island of broken toys. Everyone, it seemed, was overly specific as to what they wanted, which usually turned out to be everything their previous person wasn't. As well, they tended to ... um ... lie regarding their own circumstances and specifics. I did a couple dates where the picture ended up being 10 years out of date and their fondness of working out limited to watching commercials on TV for home gym equipment.

The same is true for Craigslist ads for bands, I imagine. It sounds like this band self destructed over politics, with the band's only liberal rage quitting. As to whether the band has as many gigs as they say (and whether they pay well) is a question to be answered. But the ad is useful for knowing what you are walking into.

Oh, and the woman I married was an old friend I reconnected with. That online dating thing didn't reward me with anything except perspective on human nature.

 

[Altitude]

That's pretty much how I felt reading it.

If they're telling the truth, then to me it just sounds like they're tired of wasting their time with people who come to audition without having a clue what they're doing. I've auditioned lots of drummers in my time and I know how frustrating it can get. You can be crystal clear that you're playing aggressive pop punk, looking for a hard hitting adrenaline pumped, hard hitting drummer... and still have Karen Carpenter show up expecting to land the gig.

I'm showing my age now, aren't I?

Yeah, but I agree with the OP, who suggested that guys at this self-described level usually know their scene cold and have a call list. That's the case around here anyway.

 

[Marial]

Years ago, before I got married, I tried online dating sites as a way of finding someone to share my life. What I found is the island of broken toys. Everyone, it seemed, was overly specific as to what they wanted, which usually turned out to be everything their previous person wasn't. As well, they tended to ... um ... lie regarding their own circumstances and specifics. I did a couple dates where the picture ended up being 10 years out of date and their fondness of working out limited to watching commercials on TV for home gym equipment.

The same is true for Craigslist ads for bands, I imagine. It sounds like this band self destructed over politics, with the band's only liberal rage quitting. As to whether the band has as many gigs as they say (and whether they pay well) is a question to be answered. But the ad is useful for knowing what you are walking into.

Oh, and the woman I married was an old friend I reconnected with. That online dating thing didn't reward me with anything except perspective on human nature.

Met my wife via an online dating service. The most successful bands I've been in I found via craigslist.

Mileages certainly do vary!

 

[morgan138]

Aside from the obnoxious dogwhistling, this guy is trying way too hard to come off like an elite country connoisseur. "Not just Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline but also Johnny Paycheck and the Grateful Dead" = good luck finding a music fan discerning enough to be familiar with the guy who was mega-famous for "Take This Job And Shove It," and who's also heard of one of the most popular touring bands in music history! Yikes!

 

[bolophonic]

Anyone who uses the "snowflake" thing is an automatic dick in my book.

 

[bucephylus]

The only thing I have a problem with in the ad is the political reference, since it has no relevance. The text of the ad is pretty straightforward, and I don't see anything narcissistic about it. OK, it's a working band that has a specific kind of player in mind. No big deal. That's their prerogative. You would have to actually go do a few gigs with them to know if they were good folks to work with or not.

I have often found that public profile/perception and working realities are not the same things.

 

[BassAndReeds]

And another thought, cause every time I read that ad, I find another thing that annoys me.

I usually hate when people name drop. But I hate it more when people allude to a name drop. "We've opened for a Grammy winning artist". OK, who? Name them. If you're going to be that d****, and apparently not afraid of calling people out, well then grow a pair an name the artist/band you opened for. Since it's such a highlight of your well-established career.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

It happened on November 9th, 2016.

 

[mp40smg]

That's pretty much how I felt reading it.

If they're telling the truth, then to me it just sounds like they're tired of wasting their time with people who come to audition without having a clue what they're doing. I've auditioned lots of drummers in my time and I know how frustrating it can get. You can be crystal clear that you're playing aggressive pop punk, looking for a hard hitting adrenaline pumped, hard hitting drummer... and still have Karen Carpenter show up expecting to land the gig.

I'm showing my age now, aren't I?

THIS!

Having gone through trying to find a guitar player to the point where the band fell apart trying to find someone. I completely empathize with where this guy is coming from. Arranging schedules of members to travel to audition somebody that can't play, does not understand aspects of music, does not get it, or is just a complete idiot takes a major toll. Go through this 15-20 times and you WILL reach the point that the CL poster is at.

And the politics/ dirty jokes aspect.. To me it makes complete sense. At some point, the people in the band are going to have to interact on things other than the form/bridge/solo section. If you have massive friction due some aspect of whatever (insert relevant/controversial subject here) where all the members except one is on the same page. Or if you have a person that continuously harps on their view of X all the time. That can easily make for an environment leading to all of the band members giving it up.

 

[Spidey2112]

Not looking for a little snowflake who has his head up Rachel Maddows ass.

 

[pcake]

So they need a 32 year old expert in country music who plays upright bass, lives within 30 minutes of Philly, is politically conservative, has great technical playing but pays modestly and likes dirty jokes... yeah, should be easy.

and don't forget that this wonder must be available.

+1. The use of the term "snowflake" is a red flag. It shows that these guys have a certain tribal point of view and anyone who doesn't share it will not be accepted. Sort of anathema to what a guy would look for in an artistic situation, in my opinion.

to me, the use of the word snowflake is a way to let most people know these are guys who don't mind being insulting in public.

Met my wife via an online dating service. The most successful bands I've been in I found via craigslist.

Mileages certainly do vary!

they certainly do. i met my husband in 1998 when he responded to my online recycler ad for musicians wanted. my son met a woman he was in a great ltr with on a dating site. i suspect that with dating sites AND CL ads, what your ad says dictates who responds to it.

 

[40Hz]

Yea, I believe AKA is mainly used to refer to someone's aliases.

Yup. AKA means "also known as."

The unbelievably clever interslang way to say "in other words" is IOW.

 

[Korladis]

Another thing. Why do they care about their new bass player not living 45 minutes away. Around here it's not unusual at all for band members to drive that far and we're not talking big city traffic either. Just sounds pretty controlling or just clueless.

My drummer drives from 45 minutes to an hour away for rehearsal. Three times a week, as he's in three bands that rehearse in our studio.

Despite there being a clear self separation between this poster and a large part of the country, I'm almost more insulted that he thinks there's a bass player out there that:

1. Knows the whole Nashville songbook
2. Understands theory at an advanced level
3. Is under 45 mins away from him
4. And somehow doesn't have a current gig

That person does not exist. If you know how to play, and you know all the tunes, and you're not a d***, you are working. Straight up. You aren't waiting for this waffle to save you from your misery of sitting at home sulking by the phone. And the fact that he is going to hire a bassist with the clear mindset that he is the best thing since sliced bread, the savior of someone's gigless woes, and the king of all things country is insulting to say the least. Be thankful for the good band mates you get, and maybe he won't be stuck trying to find replacements for members who refuse to put up with his s***.

Exactly. Do they think some incredible bassist who doesn't mind their political opinions, is extremely technically skilled yet also extremely restrained in the use of that skill, can play basically all songs from the entire history of the genre, and lives less than 45 minutes away (what the hell, with this requirement, anyway? who cares how far away the member lives if they're willing to make the drive for rehearsals?) is just sitting around cruising craigslist looking for a band to join?

People that good tend to already be in bands. Often several at once. While I don't play country, I know people that good in other genres, and they tend to have very busy schedules, and are usually aware that they're "first call" musicians, so someone demanding that they give up all other musical endeavors would have to be promising a lot to get them on board. One of the people I went to high school with now has a Master's in violin performance. She teaches and is in several bands and constantly gigging/recording with people. Because she's that good. She's not browsing craigslist for band ads. She has plenty of gig offers already.

I like it. Not only do you get a feel for what you need as a musician, but the character and atmosphere of the band. If it intimidates or offends you, move along. That was the whole point, and you'd be doing everyone a favor.



I read it twice, it's definitely macho testosterone driven, but I can't find the racism. Can you point it out for me?

Usually the kind of person who rants about "snowflakes" also tends to be low-key (or sometimes explicitly) bigoted.

This. All of this.

I have read some really interesting stuff on the phenomenon of older generations deriding "Millennials" as "special snowflakes who need their safe spaces and safety pins to hold up their diapers" as basically akin to gaslighting an entire generation. By that, I mean it was actually the older generation who raised these "special snowflakes", told them they could be anything and to follow their dreams and succeed, then when they believed it and acted like it told them they were being selfish, lazy, dreamers who can't handle reality. So now it's the kids problem for listening to the adults who raised them. Silly kids, believing adults.

I work on a university campus that is considered one of the most liberal in my state. While there is some small amount of "head in sand syndrome" most of these kids work hard to pass their classes and do all the same stuff college kids have been doing forever.

People have also been misappropriating and misunderstanding what the term "safe space" actually referred to originally, but that's an entire other discussion.

You are correct though, political correctness and aversion to listening to other points of view isn't limited to one ideology. There are sacred cows and forbidden questions in every in-group. People are people, and they'll find ways to get offended.

As you probably already know, older generations have been complaining about younger generations for thousands of years (at least since the time of Socrates, and most likely earlier).

Best to find out the type of ignorant trash you are dealing with BEFORE you waste time on an audition.

Indeed. Let alone before you actually join. Imagine not knowing, and then at a gig this guy goes on a rant on the mic?

Anyone who uses the "snowflake" thing is an automatic dick in my book.

Pretty much.

I'd love to talk to their previous bassists, honestly. I bet they'd have some interesting stories to tell.

 

[ZAR14]

This. All of this.

I have read some really interesting stuff on the phenomenon of older generations deriding "Millennials" as "special snowflakes who need their safe spaces and safety pins to hold up their diapers" as basically akin to gaslighting an entire generation. By that, I mean it was actually the older generation who raised these "special snowflakes", told them they could be anything and to follow their dreams and succeed, then when they believed it and acted like it told them they were being selfish, lazy, dreamers who can't handle reality. So now it's the kids problem for listening to the adults who raised them. Silly kids, believing adults.

I work on a university campus that is considered one of the most liberal in my state. While there is some small amount of "head in sand syndrome" most of these kids work hard to pass their classes and do all the same stuff college kids have been doing forever.

People have also been misappropriating and misunderstanding what the term "safe space" actually referred to originally, but that's an entire other discussion.

You are correct though, political correctness and aversion to listening to other points of view isn't limited to one ideology. There are sacred cows and forbidden questions in every in-group. People are people, and they'll find ways to get offended.

And how that response reads to me sounds like textbook Millenial reasoning 101: "Not my fault. It's someone elses' fault" ....
Regardless of how I was raised, I had enough Brains and common sense to know that if I didn't agree with something or it didnt feel right, then I wasnt doing it. I wasnt going to act in a particular way just because as a child someone told me how to act and think. I didn't use the, "What do you expect, that's How I was raised" excuse

 

[jamro217]

Generation Snowflake - Wikipedia

You learn something new every day. Never heard of this before. I did, however, end up with about 14" of snowflakes on my property the other day. Had to shovel the driveway. The rest of the week it'll be in the 50's.

 

[Joe Nerve]

to me, the use of the word snowflake is a way to let most people know these are guys who don't mind being insulting in public.

I agree. I think they're very clear about who they are and who they're looking for. If someone is offended by the use of the word snowflake, they won't answer the ad. Great way to weed people out.

 

[electracoyote]

Usually the kind of person who rants about "snowflakes" also tends to be low-key (or sometimes explicitly) bigoted.

Not in my experience. A person using the term "snowflake" is referring to something that has nothing to do with bigotry or racism whatsoever, and overgeneralizing and speculating (i.e. profiling) is neither fair nor accurate.

It's really a shame how the term "racism" got so maligned and loosely and inaccurately re-defined over the years. It used to mean something profound to people across many boundaries. Nowadays, it's almost like "the sky is falling" or "Wolf!" And that makes me very sad, because there is real racism out there, but people are becoming immune, hardened, and wary due to the common knee-jerk misuse and misapplication of the word.

I hope someday we'll resist calling everything and everyone a racist so we can really identify and tackle the problem.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

My bass is older than these guys......

 

[MultiScaleMale]

At least they know what they want. If you're offended or put off by the ad, you're not it.