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Sometimes Craigslist actually works....

Joebarnes

Joebarnes

Oct 4, 2011
504
608
Surrey, BC
www.whiskeykarma.com
#1
OK, everyone says "Craigslist is the worst way to find bandmates" and while I agree it can be the home of many flakes and can't do's, you can still find some gold if you're willing to take the time to separate the "Wheat from the chaff".

I had taken a bit of a hiatus from being in a band due to Wife and Kids. Last fall, I decided to start getting back into a band situation and put out an ad.

Found a killer female drummer through Craigslist (excellent timing and dynamics, great attitude, slim and nice to look at), but we ended up getting eventually derailed due to lack of suitable guitars. I told her I was going to just join an existing band and if the right situation came up, I would love to work with her again.

Posted another ad on Craigslist just offering my services as a bassist, got an email right back from a guy stating he needed a bass player; turns out it was an old buddy from elementary school, so I jumped at the opportunity. Played with his band for about 4 months until the drummer's wife in the rehearsal room started causing friction. Guitarist quit the band and I went with him. He said he needed to think about our next steps and we'd talk in a week.

Week later, tells me he's found a killer lead singer (22, female, gorgeous, fantastic voice, and a great lyricist to boot).

I quickly contacted the drummer to come play with us and she readily agreed. So now, band consists of female drummer, female lead singer, guitarist from my last band, and myself.

We had our first full band practice on Friday, unbelievable. We pretty much wrote 6 originals based upon the singer's lyrics and some scratch tracks the guitarist put together. It sounded like we had been playing the songs for WEEKS. Best first rehearsal with a band I've EVER had. Everyone was grooving as a unit and flowing seamlessly. As I put it, "I think we just put lightning in a bottle". We figure 4 or 5 more weeks to tighten all the screws and we're hitting open mic's to test the material. The singer has about 10 or 12 more songs she's written lyrics too, and that doesn't count all of the songs and ideas that I have back logged.

So after all that wall of text, moral of the story is Craigslist is a tool, if leveraged properly, can help you find your missing piece. Don't think its the be all and end all, but then no one way of finding band mates is ideal. Use all of them.

Oh, and I know the rules are no pics no female singer or drummer. Soon as we get some gig pics, I'll make sure to post them :)
 
#3
Since I moved to California (2000) EVERY musical experience I've had can somehow be traced back to CL. I've gotten gigs ranging from teaching at a store (from a dude I played in a band with who I answered an ad for) to touring gigs to local bedroom stars. Most of my best friends I met through CL ads, either ones I've posted or ones I've answered. CL is an AMAZING tool, but like you said you have to be willing to sift thru the garbage to find what you want. In general, I find that the good players don't often post since they tend to have all the good word-of-mouth gigs and work off recommendations more than answering ads. However, if you're patient and know what you want you can find it!
 
#4
Smallmouth_Bass said:
Good to hear. I occasionally browse Craigslist and there only seems to be a very small amount of ads that look like people I'd ever like to work with. And that's without even talking to anyone or having any communication. I try to network before going the Craigslist route.
Click to expand...

I found responding to ads generally had a lower success rate. Often, I would respond to an ad and get no response. Posting an ad consistently garnered 20-30 responses of people interested in what I had to say, so we were already part of the way to an understanding.

I'm pretty sure the fact that bass players are harder to find had something to do with the number of responses I had... seems there are lots of "Craigslist lurkers" out there that don't post, but do reply.
 
#5
Great story, Joe. Very encouraging. :)

Agreed that there is a definite technique and approach to making Craig's List work, which includes both specificity and patience. Finding the right combination of players doesn't happen overnight. But it can and does happen.

Congratulations to you. Hope you and your new bandmates are soon tearing the roof off your favorite local concert venue... :cool:

MM
 
#7
I hooked up with a drummer and guitarist on Craigslist, and we've been playing as a trio for going on 2 years now. We're guys with wives and lives and not trying to make a living at it, but we do rehearse regularly and play out. We all get along, there's no drama, we are on the same page musically and are growing into something that we enjoy and of whoch we can be proud.

On the other hand.....I have answered some ads where people are expecting a top notch, drama free bassist with pro gear, killer chops and a good attitude, only to show up and see that they are all guys trying to live out some Beavis and Butt-Head-esque Metallica mid-life crisis. Try as you might, you can't wipe out suck with volume.
 
#8
After weeding through responses, the ratio I've found with booked auditions on Craigslist:

50% no-shows/flakes
30% weirdos
20% actual musicians who might be worth a shot

Of that 20%, maybe 25% of those are people I'd actually consider asking to join a band.

So, about 5% of the Craigslist folks who actually make it to audition. Sounds about right. They ARE there, you just need to screen heavily and learn to end auditions as soon as you know what's up.
 
#10
Craigslist is a great tol but should be used along with getting out to local jams/open mics and networking. I live between SF Bay and Sacramento so Craigslist is really popular here. That said out of responding to hundreds of ads over the past 5-6 years I have found probably a dozen legitimate bands/players (in genres i'm interested in). Two bands I've found I joined and was quite happy but yes there is a serious amount of garbage to sift through. I try not to be but in the end I am being picky because I just don't like wasting my time. I've also not responded to a couple ads where later I did regret that decision.
 
#11
This is my experience recently with craigslist in Atlanta. 80% of people posting on it are out and out crap. (Either people who jsut can't get there act together or messing around)
out of the remaining 25% - 20% are ego trips--- it usually goes like this- "since you are responding to my ad, I make all the rules, you have zero input on what we play, which songs, etc.." I have now learned to spot this fairly quickly, and bail the second I get this vibe.
5% may be legitimate but out of that- 10% might be close eough to your style and what you want to do/location.
Its' funny with the shortage of good bass players that more bands don't understand, if I play bass very well and you want me in your band, then I have a say over what we play and the direction of the band. Period! Auditioned for a band recently- who were like after the first audition "You are really good, if you want in your in." my reply "Fine, but out of 40 songs, I want to add 4-5 that I want to play. Pretty reasonable as I am 1/4 of the 4-piece band. So the "leader" sends out the revised setlist for next weeks practice. Surprise, not one! of the songs I suggested is on there. Been there done that before, reply email, "thanks for your time, thsi isn't a fit for me." Seems he thought, to add a song I have to sing it myself!! Which isn't good for anybody as I can't sing.
I post my ads, and am very, very specific now, but you must have a lot of patience if you want something that could be a long-term fit.
 
#12
I've had pretty good luck in the last few years. All three of us in our current trio met through CL.
Screening is the key. Do some jamming and socializing before making any decsions. I really think easy-going and respectful is as much importance as actual musical chops. It takes a year or more to get any new group to start being tight and if you have flakes and people who don't have their **** together, the group never lasts long enough to get good.
Also, people who use CL obviously have and use email, which is also really important for band members these days. People don't have time to play phone tag over every little issue, gig offer or rehearsal.
 

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