Hold me back!

[DCErik]

I've been watching the local Craigslist for about a year and a half, and met a handful of good cats. This poor guy has been posting this same ad, verbatim, weekly, and I really want to reach out to him in a helpful way to tell him that:
1. Everyone has seen his ad, and if nobody has responded it's time for a rewrite.
2. The copy, while demanding 'excellent communication', is extremely garbled.
3. The tone is a Red Flag waving a bunch of red flags.

Here's the body, which is followed by a 50+ song playlist which I guess he's already chosen. Yes, it begins with a period and has for 18+ months.

.lead vocalist/guitarist/veteran reforming band seeks bass player and drummer with backup vocals and is NOT involved in a current band..send photo/link of performances and partial list of songs included... in my 60's/FIT/clean cut and expect same type of musician.... bassist should be able to perform all songs in original keys as well... age range and have excellent communication skills,no smokers ie..texting/emails and in arlington/alexandria,falls church area and with rehearsal space for drummer is requested.​

So as near as I can tell I'd need to be in my 60s, FIT, clean cut, possibly a vocalist/guitarist/veteran who can play in original keys as well as something. Something about an age range and I must be an excellent communicator, which I guess includes not smoking, texting/emails and living in certain Northern Virginia suburbs.

My Inner Adult is screaming from the chair in the closet where he's tied up that no good can come of reaching out to this poor guy, who only needs everything, and advising him to revise. Please help him convince me!

 

[ardgedee]

Trying to be helpful is good... but sometimes leaving red flags standing is the most helpful thing you can do.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Ehhh...if he's a "FIT" clean-cut guy in his 60s then he should be old enough to figure this out himself.

Not to be ageist here, but in my experience, guys who articulate themselves in this manner AND are in his age range...don't often take friendly advice so well lol.

 

[MIMike]

Leave it alone…being the CL police is nearly as bad as those that need policing.

 

[Geepers]

Remember the robot in “Lost In Space” that would swing its arms around erratically and say “Warning!”? That.

 

[monsterthompson]

Put your oxygen mask on first, before helping others.

 

[Peteyboy]

He's pretty much announcing that he's not someone you'd want to work with. Why help this guy trick a potential bassist into believing he'd be a reasonable BL?

 

[aprod]

Stay out of it. Write it regret it say it forget it.

 

[rmayer]

My .02.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I've been watching the local Craigslist for about a year and a half, and met a handful of good cats. This poor guy has been posting this same ad, verbatim, weekly, and I really want to reach out to him in a helpful way to tell him that:
1. Everyone has seen his ad, and if nobody has responded it's time for a rewrite.
2. The copy, while demanding 'excellent communication', is extremely garbled.
3. The tone is a Red Flag waving a bunch of red flags.

Here's the body, which is followed by a 50+ song playlist which I guess he's already chosen. Yes, it begins with a period and has for 18+ months.

.lead vocalist/guitarist/veteran reforming band seeks bass player and drummer with backup vocals and is NOT involved in a current band..send photo/link of performances and partial list of songs included... in my 60's/FIT/clean cut and expect same type of musician.... bassist should be able to perform all songs in original keys as well... age range and have excellent communication skills,no smokers ie..texting/emails and in arlington/alexandria,falls church area and with rehearsal space for drummer is requested.​

So as near as I can tell I'd need to be in my 60s, FIT, clean cut, possibly a vocalist/guitarist/veteran who can play in original keys as well as something. Something about an age range and I must be an excellent communicator, which I guess includes not smoking, texting/emails and living in certain Northern Virginia suburbs.

My Inner Adult is screaming from the chair in the closet where he's tied up that no good can come of reaching out to this poor guy, who only needs everything, and advising him to revise. Please help him convince me!

Honestly don't read DC CL anymore. I've not been looking, and am busy musically and otherwise. Might want to hold back or if you absolutely MUST, do it from an anonymous email as diplomatically as humanly possible and LET IT BE because you've gotten it out of your system said your peace to the best of your ability in the kind, helpful spirit in which you've intended. Wait to see changes in future weekly posts. And did I mention, LET IT BE after that?

I get it. I've seen people just cluelessly guerilla post/constant post that kind of insanity (remember the definition of insanity...), and I've wanted to truly be helpful too. Of course, the assumption is A.) They're open to listening to reason or improvements, and B.) They'll act on it.

I've little hope for either.

But perhaps you and/or I know this person. Or maybe we don't. It's a big megopolis, but in ways the music community is much smaller than that.

 

[DCErik]

If he wouldn't repost every. single. week. it would be a lot easier to resist, but resist I will!

 

[Micha84]

Well, to be honest... I've seen worse. In my area there is a singer always posting the same three ads every couple of weeks: One for a Jazz trio, one for a blues rock band and one for a David Bowie Tribute, which is reforming and apparently has been for the last two years at least, but with lots of gig opportunities - again, apparently.
When I first saw one of his ads I replied for the blues rock thing, which I thought could be kind of cool. He sent me back a playlist of I don't know how many songs, none of which I have ever heard about (listened to a couple, I'd say even an AI wouldn't have created something that generic and uninventive) and raved on about how the other guys were total world class musicians, best of the best and so on.

I passed. I was looking to have fun in my spare time, not enter the most boring contest of all time.

 

[FretRiff]

If the guy had the necessary people and organizational skills, and knew to check how other successful (non-ad-nauseum-reposted) ads worked, he wouldn’t be reposting this. If he had greater humility (or less arrogance) he’d have asked for someone to look at his ad and make suggestions… or even just thrown it into chatgpt for a professional rewrite… which it is astonishingly good at.

Here’s a ChatGPT rewrite resulting from me just pasting in the original and asking for something “professional but cool”

Experienced Frontman Seeking Bassist & Drummer (With Backup Vocals)
Seasoned lead vocalist/guitarist (veteran, 60s, fit, clean-cut) is re-forming a tight, professional-level band and looking for a solid bassist and drummer who can provide backup vocals.

Requirements:

• Not currently active in another band
• Bassist must be able to play all material in original keys
• Strong communication skills (text/email)
• Non-smokers only
• Ideally located in Arlington, Alexandria, or Falls Church
• Drummer with available rehearsal space is a big plus

About Me:

Focused, reliable, and dedicated to putting together a sharp-sounding group with great chemistry. I’m looking for like-minded musicians—clean-cut, fit, drama-free, and serious about sounding great without taking ourselves too seriously.

To Apply:

Send a recent photo or video link of a live performance, along with a partial list of songs you’ve performed.

Let’s make some great music together.

But he’s not that type of guy, and you’re better off letting him do his thing and let his red flags warn potential band members

 

[iiipopes]

Hmmm. My main party band is retiring this year....

 

[Engle]

If the guy had the necessary people and organizational skills, and knew to check how other successful (non-ad-nauseum-reposted) ads worked, he wouldn’t be reposting this. If he had greater humility (or less arrogance) he’d have asked for someone to look at his ad and make suggestions… or even just thrown it into chatgpt for a professional rewrite… which it is astonishingly good at.

Here’s a ChatGPT rewrite resulting from me just pasting in the original and asking for something “professional but cool”


But he’s not that type of guy, and you’re better off letting him do his thing and let his red flags warn potential band members

That is pretty funny!

 

[sdjfoh]

Flag it?

 

[TheReceder]

Ehhh...if he's a "FIT" clean-cut guy in his 60s then he should be old enough to figure this out himself.

Not to be ageist here, but in my experience, guys who articulate themselves in this manner AND are in his age range...don't often take friendly advice so well lol.

I'm in my 60s.... and fortunately I don't have to take advice... since I'm always right. (Sarc)

 

[DCErik]

Flag it?

It's not breaking any rules; just a hella bad ad.

 

[g-dude]

Perhaps you should write a similar but equivalent ad and see if he responds.

 

[kia_forte]

It sounds like he wants to come to your practice space to audition you. All pros do that.