Auditioning a new bass player tonight

[ryjan]

Once again, some random stranger from the local craigslist is going to come over to try out for my little band. I hate craigslist musicians. It seems to be filled with all the rejects from good bands. Or noob's. I actually had one guy call me up wanting an audition with one catch. I had to provide a bass guitar and amp as he couldn't afford one. NEXT!

Is a bass player really, really necessary?
Why is it that I know 15 guitar players but not a single bassist? Is it that un-cool nowadays to slapa 'da bassss?
Anyone in BoogieBoard land know of any bass players available in the Colorado area?

 

[RR]

kind of hi-jacking your post but ...

I read on-line that Romeo Rose was audition for a bass player and he demanded that the bassist must have a pre-CBS Fender Bass and that the capacitor on the tone control should NOT be Mylar but vintage type. He will demand that the bass electronic will be opened up.

What's up with that? :shock:

 

[Jackie]

I read on-line that Romeo Rose was audition for a bass player and he demanded that the bassist must have a pre-CBS Fender Bass and that the capacitor on the tone control should NOT be Mylar but vintage type. He will demand that the bass electronic will be opened up.

That's kinda like Marilyn Manson who want's a toothless bald hooker backstage :?

ryjan, as sad as it may seem, bass is NECESSARY, I think any kind of music sounds weak and thin without it. It's the semi-melodic semi-rhythmic glue between the non-melodic drums and melodic guitars. The rock-solid foundation. The BALLZ. I'm sorry if this sounds like rubbing it in but I'm so happy our bass player is a downright crazyperson (cross Cliff Burton and Steve Harris and you get him), it helps our music sound as powerful as it does.
I don't know why the bass doesn't get as much love as the guitar... John Entwistle said it's the greatest solo instrument ever, I can't imagine the Maidens without Harris or old Metallica without Cliff, Slayer without Araya, RHCP without Flea... You'd think it would get as much or even more damn attention than the guitar. My guess is that it's physically harder to practice it (blisters if you don't use a pick etc., fatter strings...), and I think it's maybe a shade less fun if you don't have a band to practice with.

 

[topcat0399]

I don't know how many times in my life I have seen really excellent bass players drop the bass to become mediocre guitar players.

 

[ryjan]

I don't know how many times in my life I have seen really excellent bass players drop the bass to become mediocre guitar players.

Haha! Thats exactly what our first bass player did.
I don't know. I play a Splawn Nitro. All I have to do is turn the resonance up and no one will notice the bass is missing. :lol:
Anyway, he sends me a frikin email 15 minutes after he was supposed to be here saying he's "tired and will catch us next time".
NEXT!!!!!
This is the 3rd guy in the last 2 weeks that's flaked before they even got to the practice.

 

[mrodr008]

I feel ya man. I hate looking for and auditioning players. Lots of flakes out there.

 

[JCDenton6]

That's like my luck with drummers for the second band that I'm in (I play drums as well for another)

 

[Sixstringpsycho]

Every band I have ever been in has had those same issues with bass players.

 

[YellowJacket]

See, this is why I picked up bass and started taking lessons. I thought for sure I'd get in a band on bass and I ended up on electric guitar! =-/

 

[ryjan]

So I had another guy come in and play bass with us. Not even kidding, he IS the fat comic book store guy from the Simpsons cartoons. Complete with smug, hipster ********* attitude and everything. He hasn't played one note yet and he's already telling me what musical direction MY band will go if he decides to join.
He couldn't keep up durring Master of Puppets with his chubby little fingers. Then he blamed it on "old strings"
NEXT!

 

[YellowJacket]

I thought fat bassists were supposed to be AWESOME! WHAT HAPPENED!!????

 

[ryjan]

I thought fat bassists were supposed to be AWESOME! WHAT HAPPENED!!????

Right? :lol:

 

[Sixstringpsycho]

I thought fat bassists were supposed to be AWESOME! WHAT HAPPENED!!????

Right? :lol:

I agree lol

 

[ryjan]

We have another guy comming over Wednesday night for an audition. He actually sounds like his head is screwed on right but I don't want to get my hopes up yet.
Why is it so hard to find normal people? All I ask is that you maintain some semblance of communication, show up when you say you are going too, and have a good attitude.

 

[Jackie]

All I ask is that you maintain some semblance of communication, show up when you say you are going too, and have a good attitude.

And play decent, I hope :lol:

Well, where I'm from you can't find **** except guitarists, and even those are mostly crud, at least you had some guys come over for audition, we had looked for a singer for months before the others decided I should do the singing.

 

[ryjan]

I don't really care about their playing ability (within reason). Attitude and personality are tops. You can always work hard and be a better player. If you're an adult acting like some of these ******** then there's no help for you.

 

[eltrain858]

My last band auditioned craigslist drummers for several months before we found someone decent, definitely feel your pain. Just keep at it and project the kind of energy you want to receive, hopefully the craigslist gods will have mercy upon you.

I got really lucky with CL in the last two weeks.. I moved to a new city two months ago - left my band, sold my Mark IV. Two weeks ago I decided I definitely want to play in a band here, so I started looking for an amp and musicians on craigslist. Last week I picked up a mint TA-30 head and open-back compact 1x12" cab for $1200. Then I found a band on craigslist looking for a guitarist (already have guitar/vox, bass, drums). Went and played with them today and found out they're actually cool people, good musicians, have an in-home rehearsal/recording studio set up with protools, and some songs already written with space for a new member to grow into.

It's really luck of the draw with CL. Do you have anything recorded that potential bass players can listen to? I know that's a must-have for me when I'm looking, even a crappy jam session, just to know what I'm walking into. Likewise, it helps to get a clip of their playing before you invite them over, if they can't come up with something to send you they're probably either a crappy player, technically retarded, too busy, or not willing to put forth any effort.

I'm sure you've already tried it but good old-fashioned word of mouth can save a lot of time wading through craigsgarbage, especially talking to people in other bands in your area and asking if they have any friends who play bass. Good luck dude!!

 

[ryjan]

Do you have anything recorded that potential bass players can listen to? I know that's a must-have for me when I'm looking, even a crappy jam session, just to know what I'm walking into. Likewise, it helps to get a clip of their playing before you invite them over

I'm not that formal. To me it's kinda like asking someone out on a date. You don't need to provide her with a review of the movie or resturant you plan on taking them to or character references beforehand. (maybe some of you do :lol: )
Just come over, jam a bit, shoot the ****, and just see how everyone clicks. Also, we are just doing the band thing for fun and not for a source of income. I suppose if I were trying to pay my car payment with gig money I'd be a little more professional.
As of last night I have guys scheduled to come over Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Reviews to follow. :wink:

 

[Jackie]

Just come over, jam a bit, shoot the sh!t, and just see how everyone clicks. Also, we are just doing the band thing for fun and not for a source of income. I suppose if I were trying to pay my car payment with gig money I'd be a little more professional.
As of last night I have guys scheduled to come over Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Reviews to follow. :wink:

That's how I imagine an audition for a band should be like. When we were looking for new band members (bassist left at some point but came back) we threw in a couple of well known songs and asked the guy who came "Do you know <insert song>?" and we tried playing that.

ryjan, good luck man.

 

[ryjan]

Thanks Jackie! I got another on the hook for tonight.
[prayer font\] please don't be a douchenozzel,please don't be a douchenozzel,please don't be a douchenozzel,please don't be a douchenozzel,[/prayer font]