Entirely normal for much of CL. Whether band shopping or selling old chairs CL is a seemingly endless black hole of emotional need. Keep looking, I wouldn't drive 50 miles to jam with this guy. Good luck.
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Is this normal? [CL Musicians content]
- Thread starter comatosedragon
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I’ve heard about CL nightmare due to selling/buying on CL. In the last 20 years I have not had a problem with CL customers. Maybe I have been blessed. All the people (I have met some famous People) have been Stellar. Even back in the Days of the Recycler. 700 instrument
Sales. Over 35 years. (doesn’t count amps.)
Well, I'm booking $3,000.00 weddings with at least a couple of musicians whose use of written language is pretty rough, to say the least. But they are excellent communicators in person, I can understand them, they understand me, and they are making the effort where it really counts in my book, contributing toward a successful band.
If I had a high expectation of proficiency and command of written language, I fail to see where it would have helped the success of my music project.
If you feel some level of language expertise from the musicians you play music with is going to help your music project, more power to you.
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Spend your time on lessons.
Go sit in at Jam sessions.
Meet real players.
CL is very risky.
Go sit in at Jam sessions.
Meet real players.
CL is very risky.
My last experience with someone off CL WAS positive. The young man had to drive Over 2 hours to get to me. When I texted him my address, he used words like F:;k and Ass. I imagined this strung out rocker. I wasn’t afraid to meet with him Because it’s more difficult to get a person to drive here. When he arrived I found him to be a soft spoken intelligent
Person. He was driving a new car and was very polite. He had told the truth about his offer (2012/13 Geddy Lee). Both of us walked away Happy? If someone harms you after talking with you on your device they may as well throw their Drivers License on your living room floor.
I will agree however, some Musicians on CL CAN BE very unreliable.
Person. He was driving a new car and was very polite. He had told the truth about his offer (2012/13 Geddy Lee). Both of us walked away Happy? If someone harms you after talking with you on your device they may as well throw their Drivers License on your living room floor.
I will agree however, some Musicians on CL CAN BE very unreliable.
He is setting you up to be part of a scam.So I got a wild hair and decided to check out my local CL for musicians. It has been more than a year since I have played in a 'band' environment, and I really feel I am ready to get back on the horse.
So I emailed first a drummer who is looking for jam partners, and then I saw a notice for someone who said they are looking to start an originals hard/rock metal band.
I provided all the pertinent details (My age, My skill level, Music favorites and influences, What gear I have); making doubly sure to emphasize the fact that I am an intermediate bassist (at best); with little to no real world (band) experience.
I get an emphatic reply, like 60 seconds later. The title of the email is "the crazies the crazies".
In the email, he tells me he lives about 50 miles away. He is 32 years old (7 years my junior). He doesn't say what instrument he plays (I extrapolate that he is a guitar player); has no other people in his 'band'. He says:
"I am still looking and if you interested we could jam sometime or of u want u can just be in the band it will just be me n u for the time being" This type of grammar is consistent throughout, and in fact his entire email is one long sentence. (I am not being a grammar nazi. I am just providing information.)
So, having never met me, seen or heard me play, he offers me a place in his band? And then, just a bit after that, he tells me we can go into the studio Monday or Thursday, whichever works better for me, to record some songs he was written.
So, like I say, I have almost no experience in these situations. On top of that, I am highly Introverted, and slightly anti-social to boot. So I ask again:
Is the response I received 'Normal'? Is this how some people (bands) get together?
So I got a wild hair and decided to check out my local CL for musicians. It has been more than a year since I have played in a 'band' environment, and I really feel I am ready to get back on the horse.
So I emailed first a drummer who is looking for jam partners, and then I saw a notice for someone who said they are looking to start an originals hard/rock metal band.
I provided all the pertinent details (My age, My skill level, Music favorites and influences, What gear I have); making doubly sure to emphasize the fact that I am an intermediate bassist (at best); with little to no real world (band) experience.
I get an emphatic reply, like 60 seconds later. The title of the email is "the crazies the crazies".
In the email, he tells me he lives about 50 miles away. He is 32 years old (7 years my junior). He doesn't say what instrument he plays (I extrapolate that he is a guitar player); has no other people in his 'band'. He says:
"I am still looking and if you interested we could jam sometime or of u want u can just be in the band it will just be me n u for the time being" This type of grammar is consistent throughout, and in fact his entire email is one long sentence. (I am not being a grammar nazi. I am just providing information.)
So, having never met me, seen or heard me play, he offers me a place in his band? And then, just a bit after that, he tells me we can go into the studio Monday or Thursday, whichever works better for me, to record some songs he was written.
So, like I say, I have almost no experience in these situations. On top of that, I am highly Introverted, and slightly anti-social to boot. So I ask again:
Is the response I received 'Normal'? Is this how some people (bands) get together?
FLEE!!! You don’t want no parts with this. BTW, if you are going to search for a gig, limit your search to established working bands. Don’t call yourself an Intermediate player. Make sure you have either a recording of their band playing an audition piece (s), that is a big plus. 2nd best is a you tube recording. make sure you know the key of the songs you are going to play and be prepared to do the bast job you can. nd don’t worry about making mistakes. Look, if you can find the root of a chord, play 8th notes at 130bpm, you are not an intermediate player. If you can do that much, you can find work.
I understand what you are saying, but I don't want to be one of those guys who says he can play, and then the other guys in the band are expecting some halfway proficient player, and I show up and waste everyone's time.
I thought it would be better to let any other potential musicians know what they are getting with me. I don't want to claim to be something I am not. I think "Intermediate Player" is a true and honest way to describe me, without selling myself short.
Everyone's idea of an "intermediate player" is different. Better to have a link to an example of your best playing and let them be the judge.
I subscribe in truth in advertising as well. What I am saying is you may be better than you think, and maybe who you are dealing with may not be as good as they think. Just a thought.
That’s why having a recording, online link, or being able to see them live is a much better approach than off the bat, saying you are an intermediate player.
Don’t disqualify yourself off hand. The question isn’t so much level of capability as much as it is can you do the job or grow into it in a reasonable period period of time. I have known players really turn the corner in a matter of weeks, and no reasonable entity is going to expect you to be 100% job ready day one.
Keep in mind, playing with players of a higher caliber may greatly accelerate your development. I think, if you get a song list, 5 songs that the band does well, go to you tubeand see if you can play along with it, you will get a pretty good idea of where you stack up.
As for wasting time, they put the ad up, and I’m sure they are not expecting everybody to show to be the second coming of Jaco Pastorious. As far as your are concerned, it’s not a waste of time, as any time you get to play with other players is essential in your development. Trust me, it’s better than playing in your bedroom or basement.
The solution seems simple:
EC should call the the CL guy and interview him. Then he can use his skills as an English teacher to interpret the responses for the OP.
EC should call the the CL guy and interview him. Then he can use his skills as an English teacher to interpret the responses for the OP.
So I got a wild hair and decided to check out my local CL for musicians. It has been more than a year since I have played in a 'band' environment, and I really feel I am ready to get back on the horse.
So I emailed first a drummer who is looking for jam partners, and then I saw a notice for someone who said they are looking to start an originals hard/rock metal band.
I provided all the pertinent details (My age, My skill level, Music favorites and influences, What gear I have); making doubly sure to emphasize the fact that I am an intermediate bassist (at best); with little to no real world (band) experience.
I get an emphatic reply, like 60 seconds later. The title of the email is "the crazies the crazies".
In the email, he tells me he lives about 50 miles away. He is 32 years old (7 years my junior). He doesn't say what instrument he plays (I extrapolate that he is a guitar player); has no other people in his 'band'. He says:
"I am still looking and if you interested we could jam sometime or of u want u can just be in the band it will just be me n u for the time being" This type of grammar is consistent throughout, and in fact his entire email is one long sentence. (I am not being a grammar nazi. I am just providing information.)
So, having never met me, seen or heard me play, he offers me a place in his band? And then, just a bit after that, he tells me we can go into the studio Monday or Thursday, whichever works better for me, to record some songs he was written.
So, like I say, I have almost no experience in these situations. On top of that, I am highly Introverted, and slightly anti-social to boot. So I ask again:
Is the response I received 'Normal'? Is this how some people (bands) get together?
Ignore him and I hope you did not give him all your life story, including your address.
CL proves the old saw about having to kiss a lot of frogs.
The bulk of CL musicians seeking or wanted around here are either seasoned pros for a *-metal project or churches looking to build a P&W team, with enough country thrown in to make it worth scanning occasionally.
We do get an occasional ad that is either legit or a very well put together scam. The last one like this was looking for a bass player for a pop/disco/dance band who could start immediately. They included a list of dates already booked and a link to a band website as well as laying out the travel requirements and pay.
the other end of the arc is typical of what gets posted here, but most of the ads fall in between
The bulk of CL musicians seeking or wanted around here are either seasoned pros for a *-metal project or churches looking to build a P&W team, with enough country thrown in to make it worth scanning occasionally.
We do get an occasional ad that is either legit or a very well put together scam. The last one like this was looking for a bass player for a pop/disco/dance band who could start immediately. They included a list of dates already booked and a link to a band website as well as laying out the travel requirements and pay.
the other end of the arc is typical of what gets posted here, but most of the ads fall in between
I had to relearn the importance of asking for sound clips before agreeing to a jam.
I had a guy reach out to me on CL. He wrote well, was the CEO for his own company, and he spoke well on the phone.
Long story short, I get to the rehearsal studio and he and the guitarist were horrible. Neither one knew the songs, they had zero sense of timing, and they simply couldn't play their instruments.
I wanted to walk out after 5 minutes, but I grinned and marched through for the whole hour knowing the mistake I made and how to not make it again.
Lessons learned:
1. Just because someone communicates well doesn't mean they have their act together musically.
2. Always ask for sound samples. I don't care if they record a 50 second demo through their iPhone and the quality is horrible. I just need to know they can carry a tune and play to a certain level.
I had a guy reach out to me on CL. He wrote well, was the CEO for his own company, and he spoke well on the phone.
Long story short, I get to the rehearsal studio and he and the guitarist were horrible. Neither one knew the songs, they had zero sense of timing, and they simply couldn't play their instruments.
I wanted to walk out after 5 minutes, but I grinned and marched through for the whole hour knowing the mistake I made and how to not make it again.
Lessons learned:
1. Just because someone communicates well doesn't mean they have their act together musically.
2. Always ask for sound samples. I don't care if they record a 50 second demo through their iPhone and the quality is horrible. I just need to know they can carry a tune and play to a certain level.
Its a turn off to respond to an ad from a band needing a bass player, only to find out it's some dude, and not a band. I'd probably drop it for that alone.
Also, if the person I'm writing or texting is unable to garner the meaning because I forgot a period, or misspelled a word, or used u instead of you, I'm going to assume they are a robot. And despite what everyone keeps saying, robots have horrible innate musicality. There, I said it.
Also, if the person I'm writing or texting is unable to garner the meaning because I forgot a period, or misspelled a word, or used u instead of you, I'm going to assume they are a robot. And despite what everyone keeps saying, robots have horrible innate musicality. There, I said it.
Or the name for a band- Craigslist Desperado's
Seems like especially for most things related to 'personals' CL remains the Axis Mundi, that continues to draw an abundant amount of free agents from the lunatic fringe into it's orbit. And particularly from the horde of filthy musicians seeking same.
I've always enjoyed the best results through networking, and will continue to use and recommend going that route before all others.
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I've been perusing my local Craigslist for almost 2 years now. I've seen a couple (less than 5) ads in that time that i thought seemed legitimate. The only one that almost headed anywhere auditioned a guy before I even got a chance to go and they liked him enough to give him the gig. I have posted 3 ads in that time period and the responses I have gotten were so out of left field I just never even responded and pulled my ad. A whole bunch of responses like OP alluded to.
