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NO JOBBERS!!!
- Thread starter bassfran
- Start date
Yes.
More often than not, people can come off as being completely ridiculous in writing. When you meet them in person, they are generally tolerable. And hey, if not, at least you know for sure.
As for "no jobbers," I always assume that the ad is calling for people willing to dedicate themselves to a project and are not simply doing it for a paycheck.
Actually, I do. Sure makes things a lot easier!You've been hanging out with musicians longer than I - you expect real-world skills?
Ouch, flashback. You just took me back 25 years to the "musicians seeking" personals in the Chicago Reader when it bothered me then and I wasn't even a jobber (and am not one now, but I am a sub if that makes any sense). I agree with your post whole-heartedly. The ad is basically saying "seeking a girl for marriage next week." Rare is the professional caliber musician sitting around doing nothing, right? And he needs three of them. Good lucks! On the other hand, over time, he might find guys who have been woodshedding for years and the kids just moved out and the woodshedder is free to start a new thing- but then he's not a "professional player," is he? Well, I tried to make him not a nut. You should cut and paste this thread to him.
I think that guitarists and vocalists forget that it's much more difficult to get *and keep* one's chops *and repertoire* as an adequate, let alone good or great, bassist. I'm wondering if this "no jobbers" is a Chicago thing. Chicago is so weird. Did you reply to him? I haven't looked at your info- are you a working pro or good/great/bad amateur?
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MDBass
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There's a reason these kinds of ads keep getting posted for months without ever filling the positions
So Nathan East couldn't get that gig. Oh, he's got the degree, but he's the ultimate jobber.
Jim Carr
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I don't know why people get so snarky when someone posts an ad specifying what they are looking for.
- Must play with a pick - JERK
- Must play with fingers - JERK
- Must play a Fender - JERK
- Must play a 5 string - JERK
- Must play a Ric - JERK
Why not just say:
Looking for experienced players with no other band committments for a new classic rock cover band to gig (give hoped for frequency: regularly/weekends/etc) in the _____ area.
Must be familiar with - and able to cover with minimal rehearsal time - music by: (insert list). What we're looking for are players with sufficient experience to hit the ground running in order for us to be gig ready in short order.
Our current members are lead and backup vocals and guitar(s). We're looking for: a drummer, bassist, and possibly a keyboard keyboard player to complete the lineup.
(Contact information here.)
------------------------------
This skips all the window dressing and trying to sound all professional. And IMO there's nothing more cringeworthy than seeing some obvious amateur (who wants to make the transition) trying to sound like a seasoned pro by misusing trade terminology and buzzwords; to say nothing of having contradictory requirements and superfluous disqualifiers in their ad.
The rewording above spells out who you're looking for, what you expect from them, what they can expect from joining the band, and says how to get in touch.
I might be tempted to respond to an ad that read like the above. I'd not even think once about responding to the original.
Looking for experienced players with no other band committments for a new classic rock cover band to gig (give hoped for frequency: regularly/weekends/etc) in the _____ area.
Must be familiar with - and able to cover with minimal rehearsal time - music by: (insert list). What we're looking for are players with sufficient experience to hit the ground running in order for us to be gig ready in short order.
Our current members are lead and backup vocals and guitar(s). We're looking for: a drummer, bassist, and possibly a keyboard keyboard player to complete the lineup.
(Contact information here.)
------------------------------
This skips all the window dressing and trying to sound all professional. And IMO there's nothing more cringeworthy than seeing some obvious amateur (who wants to make the transition) trying to sound like a seasoned pro by misusing trade terminology and buzzwords; to say nothing of having contradictory requirements and superfluous disqualifiers in their ad.
The rewording above spells out who you're looking for, what you expect from them, what they can expect from joining the band, and says how to get in touch.
I might be tempted to respond to an ad that read like the above. I'd not even think once about responding to the original.
I love CL ads just for the complete detachment from reality. I would reply that I graduated top of my class at Berklee or Juliard, I can't read music though (tab, yes), and would love to cover the Gin Blossoms.
LOL, it's threads like this that always make me think that the Band Management forum should just be rolled into the Humor forum, most threads in Band Management are funnier than the Humor threads!!!
You've been hanging out with musicians longer than I - you expect real-world skills?
Hey man, I have plenty of real skills
Like getting baked off my gourd and watching cartoons all day and eating obscene amounts of food. Or listening to music at unreasonable volumes.Spot on the sugar.
Even worse than somebody being overly detailed in their ad about what they're looking for is somebody who is overly picky not saying up front what they're looking for. That wastes a lot of phone calls and audition time for everybody - the auditioning musician and the band itself.
I'm somebody who actually appreciates a band or gig that specifies things like "play bass with a pick" like The Blue Man Group audition information and openings page does. I was sent on one gig where I was summarily dismissed by the headliner at show start because I brought the wrong instrument with me. It wasn't my fault. The agent that got me the gig got it wrong. And it turned out the headliner simply assumed everybody would "just know" what he was looking for. That left a really bad taste in my mouth (despite me getting paid just the same) because of the way it was handled.
So by all means spell out if you insist on something like a Ric. I don't currently own one. But if I want the gig badly enough and I don't, I'll beg, borrow or rent one to audition and then get my own if I get the gig.
Otherwise, as suggested above, I'll walk. Plenty of other bands looking for players out there. And tomorrow is always another day.
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That's the typical CL Atlanta ad right there. They also want someone FULLY committed to their poorly planned project where they play metal, or obscure songs or guitar solos, or an REM tribute, or fill-in the blank tribute that has no audience or gigs. Oh yeah, they want professionals as well, but they don't want to pay ANYTHING.
Wasted my time with a couple of them, they NEVER go anywhere.
Wasted my time with a couple of them, they NEVER go anywhere.
