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Emailing prospective bands--What should be required?

K

KPRott

Oct 29, 2009
58
0
#1
I've put out a few ads over the past couple of months on Craigslist, putting myself out there as an available bassist.
My ads include my details--
--Age, location, experience, gear, transportation, etc.

The biggest thing I ask for in an ad is a sample or two of their original tunes, so I can get an idea of what I'd be getting into. I prefer not to waste anyone's time with music I'm not feeling.

I got an email from a local start-up project looking for a bassist. In his initial message to me, he stated he wouldn't send samples because "people don't have the foresight to see where we're going with this."

I decided to let it slip this time because they were very close by, about 5 minutes from my place, and that's a very big thing to me, considering gas prices and my meager paycheck.

After I had to decline an offer to meet up because of car trouble, I asked if he could just send a sample so I didn't have to borrow a car and lug my gear around just to find I'm not interested. His response?

"Are you for real kid? How bout you send us samples of YOU so we can be judgmental and tell you you're not worth our time? Shoulda known, you're not really a pro."

Is it that offensive to ask to hear what you sound like? Was I "wrong"?

Sorry for the rant, my friends. I'm simply fed up with trying to get a group going when these kinds of people are all there is to work with, and this was really bothering me haha.

Also, this may be in the wrong section. I apologize if it is.
 
#2
If you are not up to having your material put up there for evaluation, you are in the wrong business.

One thing I like about this day and age is that recordings are easy to come by and distribute. I usually ask and send recordings so that no-one's time is wasted. If it's not your thing, then why bother going through the rest?

It doesn't have to be the best recording, it just have to give me an idea. I've done this long enough to know that the best evaluations will be done in person. But, if you can get a preliminary to determine if you even want to move on it, you should. Nothing wrong with that, at all.
 
#4
You did nothing wrong by asking for a recording of the bands music. But by the reply and attitude you were saved from what sounds like a jerk of a person to deal with..walk away from that band no matter how close they are.
You need to screen anyone who contacts you and I would not setup a meet or tryout unless i heard the band or musician first. Like Jive said its too easy to record today and everyone needs at least a demo. Why mess with any band who doesnt at least have a simple demo?
If you are like me time and money is short. SCREEN! dont be afraid to ask the person responding questions. If they wont answer or get funny answering them don't respond to a audition or you will most likely wish you had not.

Ask them for.

Music samples
song keys/tunings
setlists
gig experience
practice schedules
how offen/gig/practice
drug/drinking issues
Equipment
transportation,work, some info on band members
committment..where and what does this band want to go or be?

This is a start and some might say its too much but I disagree. There are allot of time wasters and wanna-bees out there looking for bass players, by screening you can at least have a decent shot of finding a band that might work for you.
 
#5
KPRott said:
I got an email from a local start-up project looking for a bassist. In his initial message to me, he stated he wouldn't send samples because "people don't have the foresight to see where we're going with this."
Click to expand...

Translation: We suck and we're hoping you're good enough to fix us. :rollno:

Also, if you have anything you can send them, why not? When you're trying out for a band, both sides should know what they're getting into.
 
#6
I'm with everyone else, nothing you requested was unreasonable. In fact your line of thinking is dead on. I wouldn't want to waste time auditioning someone who just wasn't in to where the band was going. I would forget about this guy, sounds it'd be worth a few tanks of gas to avoid him.
 
#7
Dude, you were not wrong in any part of what you asked for. Even if you do have sound clips or whatever of you playing, this guy sounds as mature as a 12 year old who just got his first guitar and wants to play Kurt Cobain. I bet his lyrics are all deep and stuff. Oh, and the keys they play in? "You've probably never heard of it. Our music is really progressive." Or some BS like that. Turn and run, but keep looking the same way you have, some good will come of it eventually.
 
#8
KPRott said:
...
I got an email from a local start-up project looking for a bassist. In his initial message to me, he stated he wouldn't send samples because "people don't have the foresight to see where we're going with this."
...
Click to expand...

That's ridiculous! How is anybody supposed to gain the "foresight to see where they're going" without hearing where they are, or where they've been?

If I hear something, I might "get it". I also might not. I guarantee I won't "get it" if I don't hear it.

Then again, maybe what he didn't want to say was that they don't have anything recorded that he can provide to you!
 

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