Finding a new band? How much to say up front?

[jmattbassplaya]

@Jive

It's seems like you found yourself a nice diamond in the rough It's great finding a band that's just good, ol' fashion fun to be in.

Where I'm coming from is that you could be doing other stuff besides weeding through a bunch of no-good responses or trying out a bunch of people that probably won't fit if your original ad is succinct. True that it almost always takes longer but the wait is worth it to get the right people for the right situation, IMO.

I hear ya. But honestly though, how much time are you wasting by reading through responses? A minute? Two minutes, max? You don't even have to take the time to respond to those responses if you don't want to, and it's not like you have to tryout every guy you talk to either. But who knows. Maybe you'll end up getting lucky like Jive

 

[electracoyote]

Sometimes we're too busy looking for red flags that we miss out on a treasure.

Solid gold. BTW, Jive has one of the best business minds on TB IMHO.

You can take that rock n roll stance and give the world the middle finger, specifying all your pet peeves in your CL ad, or you can maybe list your attributes and the strengths you seek in band mates and be a bit more positive and optimistic. Then you can add a splash of reality into the mix, and I think you're more apt to find a rewarding band like the one Jive described.

 

[bluewine]

First of all, you misread what I wrote...the guy didn't want to WAIT to play out.

Secondly, why play at all? For the joy of it, that's why play at all.

While I can appreciate that for some people, the main drive behind playing is the desire to play in front of people, it seems unfortunate that so many of them look down their noses at people who don't have that same desire.

You say you'll never understand that. It's sad to me. I'd think that a real musician would be the first one to understand love of music for its own sake.

On the first issue, my "small Bad" I didn't read the comment corectly.

On the 2nd count, any guy thats into rock but doesn't want to play out.

For me, it makes no sense and that guy is missin the best part of the rock experience.

It doesn't happen in your bedroom or jammin with your buds in the basement.The magic happens when your good and your on stage around 12:30,in some dingy club with a cool crowd thats digging your act.

Sorry you guys that read my post know how touchy this subject is to me.

I am not backin off on this one.

 

[bluewine]

Also, the guys who would be put off by that type of ad would probably be put off by your needs anyway, so good riddance.

I am not that different than this cat and I have made my requirements clear to bands that are looking for a bass player.

If they are put off by it, cool, we are not a match and we would be wasting each oothers time.

I have been burnt every time I bend on my requrements.

My number 1 requirement now, is that you must have a good drummer. I bent on this one with the last band I sarted rehearsing with.

I wasn't sure at first, but after 3 rehearsals ,I realized the drummers time keeping and playing was all off.I couldn't lock with him, there was no packet to get into. I knew he was not going to get any better.

I ended up quitting. I hate quitting bands and I don't like the fact that I wasted their time.

 

[bluewine]

So what if every band is a start up at some point what time are you going to invest in that before you find out if it was time well spend ...or wasted? Me, I dont have 4 months to sit and find out if a start up is going to grow into a decent or even good band or be put on the shelf. You or others..maybe so?
IMO and experience most true start ups are a waste of time and I stay clear from them. A band of good experienced musicians putting together a band and and having it ready in a few weeks is ok but some guys in a basement plodding thru 80's covers and trying to figure out what they can and can't play to from a setlist for bar gigs....Nope!

Thanks for the support Bass.

It's clear alot of these cats are perfect and have not made mistakes and learned from them like we have.

Theres always the case that a start up has some redeeming qualities and it's cool.

I think what we are saying is, most of the time start ups are a wast of time for those of us looking for real work and don't want to wait forever to get it..

 

[bluewine]

It's funny...every working band was a start up at some point, so the idea that most start ups are wastes of time is in big part a logical fallacy. Someone long on ideas, knowledge and experience could put together a hot, made-to-order, stage-ready band in 4 months instead of completely discounting the building process and ending up a dissatisfied, frustrated square peg

At the end of the day, who's the wannabe? Who's the has-been?

My talent is understanding Pop Culture, Pop Music and the youth (the kids that make all of it happen).

I am not really long on ideas and knowledge, while I have ideas, I can't lead and I can't execute and deliver a band in a year no less 4 months.

At the end of the day;

I will agree with you here, lately I feel like the local has been.

 

[pnut166]

This is something that I will never understand. If a guy is in rock does not want to play out, why play at all?

Umm..how about for the love of the music, maybe ?

 

[jive1]

Risk is a part of any business, and it's definitely a part of the music business. IMO, if you aren't willing to put up with some level of risk and uncertainty, then it's not realistic to expect a great reward. If you bet a dollar and another bets 100 on the same odds, who do you think gets the bigger payout? In all the randomness and fickle nature of the music biz, there is one place where it's fair: the more you're willing to risk the greater the payout. It would be unfair for the dollar bet to get the same payout as the guy who's all-in, wouldn't it.

Would you want to be in a band with a funny looking male vocalist with a limited range, a guitarist who only knows 3 chords who has a terrible drug habit, a jazz snob drummer, and wants you to play basslines buried in the mix? Most of us wouldn't because most bands like this won't go anywhere. But most of us aren't in the Rolling Stones either. Big risk, big payoff.

 

[jive1]

Solid gold. BTW, Jive has one of the best business minds on TB IMHO.

You can take that rock n roll stance and give the world the middle finger, specifying all your pet peeves in your CL ad, or you can maybe list your attributes and the strengths you seek in band mates and be a bit more positive and optimistic. Then you can add a splash of reality into the mix, and I think you're more apt to find a rewarding band like the one Jive described.

You are much too kind. As they say, those who can't, teach.

There's enough in the music biz to cause pessimism as is. No need for someone to add to it. You need realistic optimism to make it work. Dreams and wishes are nothing by themselves. It's goals and actions that give them life.

 

[drpepper]

On the first issue, my "small Bad" I didn't read the comment corectly.

On the 2nd count, any guy thats into rock but doesn't want to play out.

For me, it makes no sense and that guy is missin the best part of the rock experience.

It doesn't happen in your bedroom or jammin with your buds in the basement.The magic happens when your good and your on stage around 12:30,in some dingy club with a cool crowd thats digging your act.

Sorry you guys that read my post know how touchy this subject is to me.

I am not backin off on this one.

Why do you feel the need to project and foist your point of view onto others

That's what doesn't make any sense

 

[drpepper]

Thanks for the support Bass.

It's clear alot of these cats are perfect and have not made mistakes and learned from them like we have.

Theres always the case that a start up has some redeeming qualities and it's cool.

I think what we are saying is, most of the time start ups are a wast of time for those of us looking for real work and don't want to wait forever to get it..

Start-up bands aren't wastes of time, necessarily. What they are, necessarily, are start-up bands.

The main problem I have is many seem to treat "start-up" as being synonymous with "cobbled together mess of unskilled, uncommitted, unlovable losers." They are not one and the same thing.

Yes, for someone who wants to hit the ground running, involvement with a start-up band consisting of uncommitted and unseasoned players would be a waste of time. It wouldn't be a waste of time because it's a start-up, it would be because of the commitment, disorganization and skill level of the players. For that same person, the shortest and best course toward their goal could be a start-up consisting of skilled, committed players who share a vision. That wouldn't be because it is or isn't a start-up, it would be because of the players' skill, commitment and vision.

Also, I notice when people talk about getting involved with start-up bands in this negative way, it's almost always in terms of them joining something that's already put together and they're the last piece. It never seems to be about being involved in the building process or leading that process.

Your claim below that you're incapable of taking a leadership roll is just weak, man. I see how it supplies you with a rationale for endlessly seeking and complaining about not finding that non-existent spot in an established band instead of doing something else to make it happen, but it's weak.

 

[Rudreax]

Why is it that every time bluewine posts in a topic he manages to make it about him? Is anyone else getting sick of this?

 

[bluewine]

Why is it that every time bluewine posts in a topic he manages to make it about him? Is anyone else getting sick of this?

I think other TBers make this about me.

The thread is about a guys requirements in a band.I happen to agree with him. Yeah I have mentioned some personal experiences, but so have others.

It's not really a big deal.
If you don't like my posts, ignore them. I am quite sure there are plenty of TBers that do.

 

[bluewine]

Start-up bands aren't wastes of time, necessarily. What they are, necessarily, are start-up bands.

The main problem I have is many seem to treat "start-up" as being synonymous with "cobbled together mess of unskilled, uncommitted, unlovable losers." They are not one and the same thing.

Yes, for someone who wants to hit the ground running, involvement with a start-up band consisting of uncommitted and unseasoned players would be a waste of time. It wouldn't be a waste of time because it's a start-up, it would be because of the commitment, disorganization and skill level of the players. to make it happen, but it's weak.

I see where your comin from.

I really do, it's not start ups I have a problem with. It's uncommitted and unseasoned players that think anyone can stat a band and they start advertising for it.

I'm cool with this.

 

[drpepper]

I see where your comin from.

I really do, it's not start ups I have a problem with. It's uncommitted and unseasoned players that think anyone can stat a band and they start advertising for it.

Umm....yeah, so I don't think we're quite seeing eye to eye yet.

I think anyone can advertise for and start a band, including the unseasoned and uncommitted.

It may not be for you, but they can do it without your blessing or mine.

 

[electracoyote]

I'm kind of on the fence regarding start-up projects.

However, this TB'er helped start this band 25 days prior to this performance on December 15. Regardless of whether you like this kind of music, and based solely on the quality of the performance, I'm glad they made the effort:

 

[bassbully]

Why is it that every time bluewine posts in a topic he manages to make it about him? Is anyone else getting sick of this?

No. While I don't always agree with Blue I do understand where he is coming from and know that he is busting his @ss to get back in the scene. He's trying man, maybe to hard and sometimes and his frustration shows. I'm not one to normally judge others but trust me, there are plenty of people on TB who are more Egotistical and mind numbing than Blue. Oh, and lets not forget all those lost in their minds caught up with themselves being a bass God on this board

If you don't like it skip the thread or reach down turn off this big old box and go nighty -night!

 

[bluewine]

Umm....yeah, so I don't think we're quite seeing eye to eye yet.

I think anyone can advertise for and start a band, including the unseasoned and uncommitted.

It may not be for you, but they can do it without your blessing or mine.

I don't have a problem with them advertising.

I have a problem with me not bein able to determine that it's not for me before wasting several weeks of each others time.

 

[klokker]

I understand where you're coming from here, but I have always found being too specific with a laundry list of "don't wants" can cheat you out of opportunities and even make you sound a little arrogant.

Rather than telling people what you don't want, get good at spotting it and passing on bands that display issues you don't want to be part of. Put your strengths and tastes in the ad, and express that you're lookng for like-minded players. It sends the same message as blatantly stating what you don't want.

It may take a little more time, but not that much. And you get to make the rounds and see for yourself rather than narrowing your opportunities right from the outset.

I totally agree with this. Just a general statement is all you need for Craigslist if you want the best results. Once you get someone on the phone you can get a much better feel for whats' going on.

I've learned the hard way that you can't tell by just lookin'. Some bands are way better than they look in the ad, some way worse. Same with bass players.

 

[bluewine]

I'm kind of on the fence regarding start-up projects.

However, this TB'er helped start this band 25 days prior to this performance on December 15. Regardless of whether you like this kind of music, and based solely on the quality of the performance, I'm glad they made the effort:

I watched the vid clip.They all looked like they were having fun, huge plus.

I was impressed with the lead guys voice and confidence.

Very nice, the drummer stopped where he started with the tempo, very cool.

I love seeing young guys do things right.I understand there were some extenuating circumstances.