Timewasters need not apply

[themickster]

I'm a singing bassplayer in a band of two. We lost our lead guitarist a few weeks ago. By 'lead guitarist', I mean he's childish, irresponsible, self-absorbed drama queen. Yes, I got his pronoun right.

A friend put me onto another guitarist. We met him at our next gig. He agreed to learn a 12 bar as his first song, and we'd see how well he'd fit in. Three weeks on, and there's no sign of him learning it. He only says anything about it if I ask first. It took days for him to tell me he couldn't hear the chord changes on his phone. I sent him the song with dry guitar. I gave him a few days with it. This time he'd broken two strings and had given it to a friend to restring the locking tuners. I gave him from late week to Tuesday. He'd got the guitar back at the weekend, but he said nothing about learning the song. That was four days ago and still nothing. I'm not waiting for him any longer.

 

[pepj]

I'm assuming these gtrs are very young.

The problem with this sort of behaviour is that no one will pick them up and educate them because they aren't even on first bass. They are no use to anyone in a working situation.

The ideal is really that a young player shows promise, gets a break with an older experienced band and they learn how things work and get rid of any attitude in order to keep the gig.

First question with new players...what do they bring to the table. Massive fail not bringing anything and they then never get out of the bedroom.
You do not want to bother with people like that, tbh.

 

[el murdoque]

A 12 bar ... sounds like something you'd learn within a couple of minutes when you have a basic understanding of how guitars work and how music works.

Someone cannot learn that within a week?
Not worth bothering with.
If they really have an issue and really want to still make it, they will explain themselves.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I'm wary of anybody who says "...I'll have to work on it when I get home" and this falls along the same lines. It ain't gonna happen...cut your losses and bail. I'm a fan of those who'll dive into a new piece on-the-spot even if they screw it up royally.

Riis

 

[Egg250]

You might have some success if you placed an ad somewhere. It can take a bit of time but, in the long run, you are more likely to meet a professional minded musician.... meaning, someone willing to put in the work because they are looking for you as well. I've had success finding people using bandmix.com. I don't know if that's available in the UK. I didn't place an ad, but I searched through profiles and messaged musicians I felt would be a good fit. I've actually answered a facebook post looking for musicians for a short term project and wound up playing with some really great musicians.

The second part of that is you have to figure out a screening process. Once you get the applicants (yes applicants, because they are looking for this job), determine a suitable audition date. Get them to commit to a date then, if you haven't done so already, send them the song list for the audition. Keep it short and simple. In my mind, it isn't how quickly they can master complicated songs in a short period of time, it is how they play and respond to the band. You can easily see if they have any skills, regardless of mistakes they might make. What is their attitude and how do they get along? Are they easily frustrated? Can they roll with the changes? How big is their ego? Did they show up on time and prepared?

If they can't commit to a date, move on. If a life event happens and they need to reschedule, take that as it comes, but if they use a lame excuse, "I haven't had a chance to work on the songs", tell them to give you a call when they have, and move on to the next one. You know they aren't going to call and don't call them back. But if they do call, hopefully you have already filled the spot and not wasted your time waiting for someone to "get around to it". I work a day job, like most of us, but I commit time most every day to play, learn about sound/gear or work on band stuff.

Good luck.

 

[thewildest]

It could also be that these guys don't like the song and don't have the strength in their hearts to say it.

 

[Bass Viking]

I'm a fan of those who'll dive into a new piece on-the-spot even if they screw it up royally.

Riis

I agree.

Funny though, sometimes the people who expect you to attempt a new piece will veto a song they don't already know.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I agree.

Funny though, sometimes the people who expect you to attempt a new piece will veto a song they don't already know.

There are folks who embrace a core of ~15 tunes and any new material presented had better smack of the aforementioned 15 or it will never see the light of day.

Riis

 

[Bass Viking]

There are folks who embrace a core of ~15 tunes and any new material presented had better smack of the aforementioned 15 or it will never see the light of day.

Riis

"But it's what the audience wants to hear!"

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I'm a singing bassplayer in a band of two. We lost our lead guitarist a few weeks ago. By 'lead guitarist', I mean he's childish, irresponsible, self-absorbed drama queen. Yes, I got his pronoun right.

A friend put me onto another guitarist. We met him at our next gig. He agreed to learn a 12 bar as his first song, and we'd see how well he'd fit in. Three weeks on, and there's no sign of him learning it. He only says anything about it if I ask first. It took days for him to tell me he couldn't hear the chord changes on his phone. I sent him the song with dry guitar. I gave him a few days with it. This time he'd broken two strings and had given it to a friend to restring the locking tuners. I gave him from late week to Tuesday. He'd got the guitar back at the weekend, but he said nothing about learning the song. That was four days ago and still nothing. I'm not waiting for him any longer.

Time to send him on his way… In my experience is if somebody is not prepared, they aren't worth having around. Sorry you had to do with this this.

 

[BrassedOn]

Time to take the friend aside.

 

[mikewalker]

"This time he'd broken two strings and had given it to a friend to restring the locking tuners."

ok, mind is boggled IMHO there are no easier guitars to string than those with locking tuners - I put locking tuners on ALL my guitars (even those with locking nuts!), simply because I am that lazy...

 

[Matt O]

In sum:

1. It took him almost a month to admit he couldn't figure out 12 bars of what I'm assuming is I/IV/V.

2. He broke two strings in the process and had to give his guitar away to someone to change them.

How old is he?

 

[themickster]

In sum:

1. It took him almost a month to admit he couldn't figure out 12 bars of what I'm assuming is I/IV/V.

2. He broke two strings in the process and had to give his guitar away to someone to change them.

How old is he?

Yep, I IV V in E and he's in his 20s.

 

[gln1955]

This is a guy who owns a guitar, not a guitarist.

What was your friend thinking with the recommendation?

 

[FirewalZ]

Biggest pet peeve I have is chewing up valuable rehearsal or studio time fiddle farting around….or because folks are late, unprepared, etc. Time is one thing we can't get back.

 

[micguy]

The part where he had to give his guitar to someone else to change strings....how is that gonna work on a gig when the guitarist breaks a string? Is his friend going to be at all your gigs, with spare strings? This actually works if you're touring and have guitar techs backstage, but I'm guessing you're not playing at that level.

 

[themickster]

The part where he had to give his guitar to someone else to change strings....how is that gonna work on a gig when the guitarist breaks a string? Is his friend going to be at all your gigs, with spare strings? This actually works if you're touring and have guitar techs backstage, but I'm guessing you're not playing at that level.

I've thought that, and we're not big enough for staff.

This is a guy who owns a guitar, not a guitarist.

What was your friend thinking with the recommendation?

She was thinking he's not a waste of skin. It's his fault, not hers.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I'm a singing bassplayer in a band of two. We lost our lead guitarist a few weeks ago. By 'lead guitarist', I mean he's childish, irresponsible, self-absorbed drama queen. Yes, I got his pronoun right.

A friend put me onto another guitarist. We met him at our next gig. He agreed to learn a 12 bar as his first song, and we'd see how well he'd fit in. Three weeks on, and there's no sign of him learning it. He only says anything about it if I ask first. It took days for him to tell me he couldn't hear the chord changes on his phone. I sent him the song with dry guitar. I gave him a few days with it. This time he'd broken two strings and had given it to a friend to restring the locking tuners. I gave him from late week to Tuesday. He'd got the guitar back at the weekend, but he said nothing about learning the song. That was four days ago and still nothing. I'm not waiting for him any longer.

I believe the term of art here is "ghosting." Popular among those who fear anything that might be interpreted as confrontational.

 

[2112]

My favorite way to weed out problem musicians during auditions is to give them our catalog and let them to pick the songs they'll play.

• If they pick many songs, it may be that they don't care about details.
• If they pick just a few songs, they may care too much about details.
• If they pick lots of songs or only complex songs and care way too much about details, they may have a habit of over-promising, and this may lead to trouble meeting deadlines.
• If they pick just a few songs and don't play them well, they're probably slackers. Especially if they only pick easy songs.
• If they pick a ton of songs and play them all very well, they're probably a boss.

This method also tells me about the music they're interested and not interested in and some other things.