Was this complete BS or was I being too sensitive?

[guy n. cognito]

I don't think anything I suggested would really take that much effort when you are literally standing in the room. Maybe the guitar player has anxiety about trying to please everyone, or he's nervous around new people. Who knows? I have plenty of experience of dealing with morons at work. Guess what? I didn't just get to quit until I found the perfect group of people. I had to make it work. Going to my boss and saying, "they are dumb. It's not worth the effort to make it work" doesn't get the job done.

If the guys can play, and can get gigs, it's not a stretch to think that once the audition process is over that things smooth out. Not being able to run an audition doesn't make someone a moron. It makes them bad at running an audition. I have plenty of experience, and am lucky enough and have enough of a rep that people call me when they have an opportunity. So, I haven't had to deal with Craigslist for gigs. But, I still fail to see how simply saying, "Well, unless you want two bass players, it makes more sense to play separately" really requires multiple songs of trainwreck or staring at your phone in frustration.

I can understand never bothering to go to an audition if it seems like a cluster****, but once you are in the room? C'mon....This isn't reinventing the wheel. It's spending 2 minutes adding some organization to the process. If they balk--fine, they are fools and you walk. But, if it works out after that? Then, you might actually like playing with them. You might get something out of it. You might make other contacts.

I'm not saying you go to couples therapy with them. I'm saying you make a couple of suggestions to make it worth your while to have driven to the space for a process that is temporary.

Of course you're right. After :

• Being lied to about the location of the practice space.
• Being expected to prepare 40 songs in a few days.
• Being mislead about an open audition.
• Being expected to play....at the exact same time with another bassist.

....since you're in the room...why not try to make lemonade from all those lemons!!!!

To me, being assertive means walking out when you realize you've entered a worthless situation.

 

[bassmonkeee]

You're not really worth any more time since you cant seem to grasp even the basic concepts of what I am writing and seem to think I'm excusing bad behavior.

I'll really miss your insightful bla bla blas and courageous smiley usage.

 

[B-line]

You're not really worth any more time since you cant seem to grasp even the basic concepts of what I am writing and seem to think I'm excusing bad behavior.

I'll really miss your insightful bla bla blas and courageous smiley usage.

(Whisper......)

...This guy doesn't know when he's been beaten down!

 

[B-line]

Of course you're right. After :

• Being lied to about the location of the practice space.
• Being expected to prepare 40 songs in a few days.
• Being mislead about an open audition.
• Being expected to play....at the exact same time with another bassist.

....since you're in the room...why not try to make lemonade from all those lemons!!!!

To me, being assertive means walking out when you realize you've entered a worthless situation.

See above.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Of course you're right. After :

• Being lied to about the location of the practice space.

Still set up the gear after the drive. He also could have asked for the address of the practice space. I would have since that's where if be driving to if I joined the band and not a restaurant on the way.

• Being expected to prepare 40 songs in a few days.

Didn't see where he was expected to learn all 40. Just that he was sent the list. Did he respond asking for clarification?

• Being mislead about an open audition.

I just see where he made an assumption about who the additional musician was and not inquiring further. Maybe the guitar player pays for the rehearsal space by the hour and needed to maximize the cost. Maybe players have flaked and not shown up so he had multiple guys on deck. OP didn't bother to ask. He just made a list of red flags and didn't act on a single one.

• Being expected to play....at the exact same time with another bassist.

This is a dumb idea. Maybe he should have mentioned it at the time.

....since you're in the room...why not try to make lemonade from all those lemons!!!!

Yep. This was a Craigslist ad. Not something from the musicians union. Lots of mistakes by guitar player. Lots of assumptions by OP. But he still set up his gear and played with another bassist knowing full well it was ridiculous without saying anything.

To me, being assertive means walking out when you realize you've entered a worthless situation.

And yet he set up and wasted his time playing multiple songs with a second bass player when he'd already had multiple red flags. Which has been my point the entire time. I wouldn't have played a single note while another bass player was playing. I would have assumed the guitar player didn't know how to run an audition and asked some questions or made suggestions. And I would have left without playing a note if the situation didn't change. What I wouldn't have done is play trainwreck after trainwreck and looked at my phone while someone else played. I respect my time top much for that.

Replies to your points in the quote.

But I've invested more thought in this audition than the op did while he was actually in the audition. You guys have fun talking about all the clever things you'd have done that wouldn't have changed anything. I've got a full weekend of gigs to get ready for with a band that called me up because of my ability to get up to speed quickly because I know how to open my mouth and ask questions.

 

[bassmonkeee]

(Whisper......)

...This guy doesn't know when he's been beaten down!

Coming from you that means absolutely nothing. You have an overinflated sense of your importance. Besides, I thought you were done?

 

[Herrick]

In hindsight I probably could have communicated to him from the beginning that I was not willing to learn their entire set list for an audition.

It sounds like the audition would've been a train wreck either way. That guitarist doesn't seem like the kind of dude that has his stuff together.

 

[B-line]

Coming from you that means absolutely nothing. You have an overinflated sense of your importance. Besides, I thought you were done?

You're not really worth any more time

Yet here you are again, spending time..
IN VAIN!

I've got a full weekend of gigs to get ready for with a band that called me up

My over-inflated bla bla bla??
Pray tell, where are you working, oh mighty monkee?
Joes Bar, or "private party?"

My advice:

STAY DOWN!

 

[funkymonk13]

Maybe you should test your reading comprehension by looking at I would say 90% or more of the replies-
By TB Bassists who understand that this "ordeal" was utter, total, nonsense, which you seem to want to argue for your sake of argument, that it is NOT!

Knock yourself out!

I've posted before- I run auditions on a very professional and high-level basis; they are for good jobs with good pay,for my project here in Las Vegas.

I expect that those interested will respect me- They will be on time, they will learn the material (We use charts) they will have the appropriate equipment, and they will not show up to my gig dressed like Iggy Stooge.

In return- I will respect their time, their efforts, and when appropriate, their talents and skills, along with respecting their interest in our Project.
I don't waste their time, they better not waste mine.

The OP situation was a trainwreck. You don't/can't see that. sorry for ya.
Also through replying to you, so knock yourself out, monkee, tag you are IT!

To be fair 90% of the replies here are by grumpy old men too tired to put up with any BS at this point in their lives.

The reason this wouldn't have bothered me is I woulda seen it as an easy fix with simple communication. I also have lower(read:realistic) expectations when answering Craigslist ads. Also my generation is less about "the right way to do things", and more "go with the flow". Also, I haven't yet been jaded by years of bad experiences.

So in other words I'm not a grumpy old man.....hopefully one day I'll get there

I do understand why most people would be bothered by this. I would have been too. Just not that much.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Replies to your points in the quote.

But I've invested more thought in this audition than the op did while he was actually in the audition. You guys have fun talking about all the clever things you'd have done that wouldn't have changed anything. I've got a full weekend of gigs to get ready for with a band that called me up because of my ability to get up to speed quickly because I know how to open my mouth and ask questions.

You seem to be inferring that since the OP didn't ask all the right questions (that you determined with the benefit of hindsight), that he should have stuck it out and tried to fix it. To me, and everyone else here, that is a worthless effort.

 

[B-line]

To be fair 90% of the replies here are by grumpy old men too tired to put up with any BS at this point in their lives.

The reason this wouldn't have bothered me is I woulda seen it as an easy fix with simple communication. I also have lower(read:realistic) expectations when answering Craigslist ads. Also my generation is less about "the right way to do things", and more "go with the flow". Also, I haven't yet been jaded by years of bad experiences.

So in other words I'm not a grumpy old man.....hopefully one day I'll get there

I do understand why most people would be bothered by this. I would have been too. Just not that much.

Well, I'm 29, so maybe that makes me old by some standards..Totally grumpy, where it concerns nonsense like this.

See, the OP seems like a very cool guy. I personally have a problem with knuckleheads like that BL who plays at being pro, but is nothing but a poser amateur.
I've been through similar nonsense, (not nearly as stupid tho), every bassist who wants to work has (except Lee Sklar-ask me about our talk)

How anyone could go through that crap w/out getting riled- Zen for them!

 

[jaymelewis]

I think you and the other bass player should've gone out for drinks afterwards

 

[sawzalot]

Complete BS. I wouldn't have followed them 30 min to the gig--coulda been a setup. Personal safety is more important than a potential audition.

Tom

 

[bassmonkeee]

You seem to be inferring that since the OP didn't ask all the right questions (that you determined with the benefit of hindsight), that he should have stuck it out and tried to fix it. To me, and everyone else here, that is a worthless effort.

No, I am just suggesting that asking questions when things are putting up red flags is a way of preventing further red flags. I would never have gotten a list of 40 songs without clarifying which ones we would be working on at the audition. No response, no audition. I would never have agreed to meet at a restaurant without at least having the address of the rehearsal studio. No address, no audition--"meet me here and follow me to an undisclosed location" is a good way to get robbed. I would never have played while another bass player was actively playing. These are things that don't require hindsight. Yes, he should have been told there were more bass players playing. But, he wasn't. That's not a deal breaker IMO. It's a poorly run Craigslist audition. If it was a deal breaker, he should have turned around at the restaurant before even driving to the practice space, 10 minutes away or not and he never would have gotten to all of the other ridiculous stuff.

Would the OP do anything differently knowing what he knows now? Hopefully. I hope he responds to more ads and finds the band of his dreams. And, hopefully, now that he's gone through this experience, maybe he'll be more prepared in the future to put the brakes on a weird situation to save himself time and energy.

But, I fail to see how suggesting making the best of a bad situation by asking a couple of questions is really an absurd proposal here. Don't forget--we got the story with a beginning, middle and end. Had he piped up at one of many points in his story, the outcome might have been vastly different than the one presented here. Had he gotten clarification before meeting, no surprises about distance to practice space. Had he asked a couple of questions at the diner, half of the red flags go away. Had he simply said, "Two bass players playing at once doesn't make any sense," half of the red flags go away. At the very least, I hope people will ASK QUESTIONS IF THINGS SEEM WEIRD. That's a good lesson in life, really.

 

[B-line]

Complete BS. I wouldn't have followed them 30 min to the gig--coulda been a setup. Personal safety is more important than a potential audition.

Tom

Oh, but no! There is so much to gain from going thru this type of experience.. It could have been handled so well, and....jk

yeh right,

 

[bassmonkeee]

Reported.

Awww...did I hurt your feelings? Weren't getting the reaction you wanted talking about beatdowns, or posting pictures of Ali?

So, I guess that answers the question...

bla bla bla

 

[B-line]

No, I am just suggesting that asking questions when things are putting up red flags is a way of preventing further red flags. I would never have gotten a list of 40 songs without clarifying which ones we would be working on at the audition. No response, no audition. I would never have agreed to meet at a restaurant without at least having the address of the rehearsal studio. No address, no audition--"meet me here and follow me to an undisclosed location" is a good way to get robbed. I would never have played while another bass player was actively playing. These are things that don't require hindsight. Yes, he should have been told there were more bass players playing. But, he wasn't. That's not a deal breaker IMO. It's a poorly run Craigslist audition. If it was a deal breaker, he should have turned around at the restaurant before even driving to the practice space, 10 minutes away or not and he never would have gotten to all of the other ridiculous stuff.

Would the OP do anything differently knowing what he knows now? Hopefully. I hope he responds to more ads and finds the band of his dreams. And, hopefully, now that he's gone through this experience, maybe he'll be more prepared in the future to put the brakes on a weird situation to save himself time and energy.

But, I fail to see how suggesting making the best of a bad situation by asking a couple of questions is really an absurd proposal here. Don't forget--we got the story with a beginning, middle and end. Had he piped up at one of many points in his story, the outcome might have been vastly different than the one presented here. Had he gotten clarification before meeting, no surprises about distance to practice space. Had he asked a couple of questions at the diner, half of the red flags go away. Had he simply said, "Two bass players playing at once doesn't make any sense," half of the red flags go away. At the very least, I hope people will ASK QUESTIONS IF THINGS SEEM WEIRD. That's a good lesson in life, really.

 

[B-line]

Awww...did I hurt your feelings? Weren't getting the reaction you wanted talking about beatdowns, or posting pictures of Ali?

So, I guess that answers the question...

bla bla bla

You amaze me really.
(and not in a good way!)

ASK QUESTIONS IF THINGS SEEM WEIRD

Words to the wise! Sage advice from the monkee!

Here, things seem weird, here's a question:

Where you playing this weekend?

Maybe I can come and hear you!

 

[Joe Ty]

Sorry bro but your story made me tired. At least we got a good bricklayer joke out of it!
You need to develop some better radar, my fellow bass player. After a couple early oddities, you should have packed up by the time you heard a second bass player playing along with you. If you don't have those kinds of instincts, bring your girlfriend/wife with you the next time. They have much better instincts than we do and while you're still thinking about it they will have you out of there with your head spinning and bass in hand.

That is so true. My wife picks up on that way before I do. When we get home I get the "what were you thinking back there" as I realize she was right.

 

[Bass Viking]

No, I am just suggesting that asking questions when things are putting up red flags is a way of preventing further red flags. I would never have gotten a list of 40 songs without clarifying which ones we would be working on at the audition. No response, no audition. I would never have agreed to meet at a restaurant without at least having the address of the rehearsal studio. No address, no audition--"meet me here and follow me to an undisclosed location" is a good way to get robbed. I would never have played while another bass player was actively playing. These are things that don't require hindsight. Yes, he should have been told there were more bass players playing. But, he wasn't. That's not a deal breaker IMO. It's a poorly run Craigslist audition. If it was a deal breaker, he should have turned around at the restaurant before even driving to the practice space, 10 minutes away or not and he never would have gotten to all of the other ridiculous stuff.

Would the OP do anything differently knowing what he knows now? Hopefully. I hope he responds to more ads and finds the band of his dreams. And, hopefully, now that he's gone through this experience, maybe he'll be more prepared in the future to put the brakes on a weird situation to save himself time and energy.

But, I fail to see how suggesting making the best of a bad situation by asking a couple of questions is really an absurd proposal here. Don't forget--we got the story with a beginning, middle and end. Had he piped up at one of many points in his story, the outcome might have been vastly different than the one presented here. Had he gotten clarification before meeting, no surprises about distance to practice space. Had he asked a couple of questions at the diner, half of the red flags go away. Had he simply said, "Two bass players playing at once doesn't make any sense," half of the red flags go away. At the very least, I hope people will ASK QUESTIONS IF THINGS SEEM WEIRD. That's a good lesson in life, really.

Before I go on my next audition I'll make sure to run everything by you first.