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Do You Trust Craigslist Musicians?
- Thread starter Icarus26
- Start date
like said it's hit or miss. What I find funny is the lack of reading people do when replying to ads.
for instance I put out an ad for myself stating I was a bass player looking for a jazz fusion or contemporary folk band and I got around 10 responses all asking if I play metal/hardcore/or my personal favorite (this is verbatem what the guy said) "electro thrash trash metal".
for instance I put out an ad for myself stating I was a bass player looking for a jazz fusion or contemporary folk band and I got around 10 responses all asking if I play metal/hardcore/or my personal favorite (this is verbatem what the guy said) "electro thrash trash metal".
Like the others said, it's hit or miss. I've found some great sub gigs (as a drummer) on CL. Some timewasters too. Drove wayyyyyyyyyyyyy out of town for a tavern gig only to find that the $50 plus tips meant they "expected" to get $50 from their share of the bar.
Luckily, I found that out before we set up. They admitted their mistake, and forked over $50 before I even loaded in. Made another $20 for tips. The band was horrible, but enjoyed my drummer. I didn't return for seconds though...
Like any other form of internet forum ad or LA weekly type ad, there are lots of flakes. Like someone said, the easier and cheaper it is (craigslist has both of those down), the more likely you'll meet flakes.
Screen them and maybe you'll find something. It's better than not playing.
Luckily, I found that out before we set up. They admitted their mistake, and forked over $50 before I even loaded in. Made another $20 for tips. The band was horrible, but enjoyed my drummer. I didn't return for seconds though...
Like any other form of internet forum ad or LA weekly type ad, there are lots of flakes. Like someone said, the easier and cheaper it is (craigslist has both of those down), the more likely you'll meet flakes.
Screen them and maybe you'll find something. It's better than not playing.
Thats how my current band formed. A drummer and I were booked to play my friends party, being that my previous band was a bass & drum duo. The day of the show we called up 2 friends, and pulled another friend out of the crowd and came together to make some awesome improv. Been playing shows ever since, and that was just over 2 months ago.
I've had little success with Craiglist posts. One of the people who responded gave me the address to his trailer (yep said:
I think I have also responded, 6 times with 6 different bands, to this same situation.. just quit a band like this..
I think this question is so loaded.. it's like asking Rush, "How can I be a successful musician that gets rich and famous..." Craigslist has panned out for me several times.. it's like the lottery.. the more you play the more chance you might win.
The one thing I do hate about CL are people who put up an ad, you answer meet them and then they never call or anything. Like, "sorry, I don't think you're a good fit" is too hard to even email? Whatev, I found some decent people on CL so it worked out in the end.
I have met and have many students from craigslist, but very few musicians looking to put together a band. I have met posers tho' guys that say they have years of expereince, play lead guitar and sing and drop some names of who they have played with. But they never show when you try a get together and they rarely check out if you can find or happen to know the people they say they have played with or know there playing. I think all in all, its a hit or miss thing.
I have a second audition on Sat with band I located on CL. The first band was ok and had a decent lead vocalist but the drummer was not skilled at modern rock. There seems to be many established bands looking for talented musicians on CL - at least in my local.
+1, it's a real diamond in the rough situation. Preferably craigslist should be a secondary method for finding musicians.
I found my current band through Craigslist, and I am very happy. Also found a good singer once. It has worked for me on both occassions, you just have to be careful. Meet the people first if you can, get an idea of if they are lying about ability or what not. I met a guitarist in person who pulled the wool over my eyes pretty good saying he could play and what not. So, BS happens everywhere.
Got this one sample from this guy (vocals) and had him out for a go. He shows up 40 minutes late. Done in my books, but the band reminded me of the fantastic sample, so once more into the breech go I.
We're doing covers, so he picks one from the list and off we go. We play, he totally wiffs his cue, we stop and he says
"Sorry I just wasn"t feelin' it"
That's cool says us, first time and all and all lets try again. Well like the instructions on your shampoo bottle, lather rinse repeat, and even with both a guitarist and the drummer helping out vocally with cues this guy was flat out delusional. He simply couldn't do it. That's sing, hit cues, say words, anything.....
Our backup vocalist was sitting on the couch with her mouth wide open in such disbelief that someone would actually think they had even a 1/2 gram of talent, and when I caught wind of her look I couldn't stop laughing. Three tries in and those that had insisted he stay for a try couldn't get him out the door fast enough.
So,Um, yea, tried that, had more than a few send samples that left myself, and the band in awe. It's su-prizing what a few thousand dollars of investment make you sound like in a pro studio.
I think its a great tool if you know how to use it, screen and ask questions. If you go in blind like most things it can burn you. Our drummer is moving and going to an area with allot more of a music scene than where he lives now.
He will remain playing with us but is picking up side projects and groups to make a few bucks here and there. He has found a few people on CL in the last few weeks and they were all good.
He brought a keys/guitar player to our practice this week who is going to start paying live with us..great player and great guy..found on CL.
He will remain playing with us but is picking up side projects and groups to make a few bucks here and there. He has found a few people on CL in the last few weeks and they were all good.
He brought a keys/guitar player to our practice this week who is going to start paying live with us..great player and great guy..found on CL.
Caveat Emptor. Read the ads carefully and stay anonymous until you get a feel for the legitimacy. If you are looking fora gigging band or musician, get references and audio/video samples. Just as if recruiting for any job opening.
I put up an add stating that I was looking for a church to play bass at. Within a week, I had a guy e-mailing me a set list for a Friday night ministry event.
Just gotta be cautious. Don't put any contact info besides the Craigslist e-mail.
Just gotta be cautious. Don't put any contact info besides the Craigslist e-mail.
there are a lot of good players out there who don't necessarily have a vast musical network so this provides a way to actually get out there for a lot of people where it would otherwise be impossible. it's been great for me (but there are some terrible, terrible players on there).
music is pretty much in my blood, i've been playing since i was very young, but I pretty much spent the first 8 years of bass playing in my bedroom because quite frankly i have very poor social skills so never had a 'network'. i could play the **** out of my bass but no good if no one knows it! then I found online classifieds and i've met good people, made good friends and played good music.
music is pretty much in my blood, i've been playing since i was very young, but I pretty much spent the first 8 years of bass playing in my bedroom because quite frankly i have very poor social skills so never had a 'network'. i could play the **** out of my bass but no good if no one knows it! then I found online classifieds and i've met good people, made good friends and played good music.
I think nothumb hit the nail on the head. "Sifting through the rubbish" is a perfect description (and be prepared to do lots and lots of sifting because there is lots and lots of totally pure, high level rubbish). Yes, there are diamonds in the rough, but there is SO MUCH ROUGH!!
I am a craigslist musician. I've found great players and alot of gigs. I've also wasted alot of time and probably wasted others time as well. Its a tool. One of many, but just a tool as three pages of posts to this thread prove. People use it. Experience with it (or anything else) strains the drivel. Its interesting,... so is this forum. I've learned alot here, but also wasted a whole lot of time. its interesting.
