Guitarist seeking advice

[Turtletwang]

I recently posted an ad on Craigslist for a bass player. My idea was to get a dozen or so originals tight, then bring in additional mates and form a band. So far, I haven't received any responses. Advice?

[TylerHier]

find a way to REALLY convince them into playing... and if you're dead serious on getting a band... start posting flyers up in local music shops! especially places like record stores, guitar centers (and others) and even colleges and highschools!

[Sleph]

Maybe go to some open mic nights and play your songs.

You not only get to rehearse them, you also get to show them off to others who might want to play your stuff.

[woodman]

Bass players are hard to find ... around here, a lot of guitarists pick one up just to get work. But bass is totally another discipline.

[Martin R]

The CL here usually has 3 or 4 "Need Bass and Drums" post every day. We don't tell anyone about ours but if we're forced to introduce her we make up a name and say she lives in Las Cruces.

[fendrguitplayr]

All good suggestions...also, check with local music teachers and see if they can recommend anyone.

Good luck!

[Turtletwang]

Thanks to all for the advice. Have a Happy Memorial Day!

[String Tree]

Originally Posted by woodman

Bass players are hard to find ... around here, a lot of guitarists pick one up just to get work. But bass is totally another discipline.

Most Bass players are indeed from other planets. :)

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by Turtletwang

I recently posted an ad on Craigslist for a bass player. My idea was to get a dozen or so originals tight, then bring in additional mates and form a band. So far, I haven't received any responses. Advice?

Hit the music stores and ask. You're in NYC? Just walk out on the street and start throwing rocks at derelict looking cars parked there.....wait, that's when you need a dummer.

Ask in the music stores, look at postings in the music stores. Get to know the people there. If you have work, they will come. If you want to rehearse for years and go play for free, well, I don't know anything about that. If you have paying jobs make sure you say so and they will find you.

[D_Schief]

Maybe (or maybe not), it was simply the way your ad read?

"Now I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but..." I read CL ads every day out of habit. I've found three gigging bands that I joined over the course of about three years. Two were great bands, and one of those is still going. And I found a SINGING bass player, who was better than our last bass player on CL.

Not saying this applies to you, but I've seen way too many CL ads listing all of the qualities that the poster is looking for in a bass player (or other musicians): Must be such-and-such age. Must be "serious." Must have transportation, pro gear, no addiction problems, etc. Must look good on stage. Must be able to totally shred, and rock the house, and bring it, and melt faces, and ready to take over the town/city/state/world, etc.

But the poster never seems to get around to explaining why such a great bass player should respond to THIS particular ad. What's the businesss plan, beyond "let's jam and see what happens"? What does the poster bring to the table -- prior experience? equipment? rehersal space? contacts? WHAT KIND OF MUSIC WILL THE BAND PLAY? (Sometimes, it's unclear whether its a polka band or a Stooges Tribute band.) I've even seen ads where the poster doesn't even explain what instrument he or she plays.

Sorry for the rant, but may be a better written CL ad will snag a response? Or not. Good luck!

[Old Cane]

The world now speaks in very few characters. I love to type, ramble, start arguements, talk, talk about talking and so on. My ads have to be edited becasue there actually is a limit. You'd think, ok the guy wants $6 for X. No big deal. But I see high end items:

House for sale - $325k - in town

Description: white

That's salemanship.

[Joe-Bob]

Most of the good bass players already have work if they want it. If you want to "get your dozen or so original songs tight", then you might even need to pay him for rehearsal time.

No offense, but not very many people are going to want to help you build an originals band when there's no money in it, or even in the near future. It's too much work and takes too much time, when a pro level bass player can just walk on and play a gig.

[Old Cane]

Yeah, I must have missed that from the OP.

When someone says "get a dozen or so originals tight" what I actually hear is no money now nor at any time in the future. Also not sure how you get tight with yourself. I mean, I know how I would do it......

I replied to an ad once that funny as could be. Basically saying we get no work and when we do it's not enough to cover gas and basically covered every horrible situation we've all been in. In other words you knew it was someone who had been there and done that and knows better. If you didn't get the sarcasm then you really weren't cut out ot be a player in the first place. The guys that are going to set the world on fire aren't on CL. I never see ads that state their bus is paid for, they offer dental, etc. like a the type of band they think they are would do.

My (real) advice would be something like:

Songwriter wants to play with other like minded folks (ya'll don't say folks up there though, do you?).

I am currently writing songs in the style of X. I play Y and I'm looking for A, B and C players that like the same and just want to play. If we do play out it will be for free and we may have to rent a PA. Mostly I just want to have fun.


There's nothing at all wrong with that. When I see "next big thing" in an ad and it's not for Pam Anderson (or whoever you young 'uns like these days) then I just move on. My favorite though is "one hit song away from the big time". Man, aren't we all?

[Gaolee]

As a bass player who occasionally looks at Craigslist to laugh at the hair farmer wannabes, I will second what Old Cane says. If I ever heard of anybody offering anything except a sore back from hauling equipment back to the van and finding a parking ticket on it, I would probably assume he's lying.

[String Tree]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

...My favorite though is "one hit song away from the big time". Man, aren't we all?

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!