Responding To Bass Player Wanted Ads

[blue]

Thought I'd bring back this topic, haven't seen it in a while

IMO, the want ads are the worse resource for finding a band to play with.

The problem starts with guys not knowing what they are looking for before they start looking.

When you see these ads learn the art of "reading between the lines". Many times you can save yourself a lot of trouble if you truely understand the offering.

Please, share your own perspective on "Bass Player Wanted" ads.

Blue

Edited May 31, 2017 by blue

[SICbass]

"Wanted, bass-player who knows how to hump the invisible bear."...? 😉

Edited May 31, 2017 by SICbass

[ahpook]

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1496257908' post='3310043']
"Wanted, bass-player who knows how to hump the invisible bear."...?
[/quote]

Thanks, there are now bits of biscuit on my laptop screen...

[blue]

How old is the ad?

How long has the band been looking?

Can you research the band, YouTube, Facebook, web-site.

What was in their ad that resonates with you.

Blue

[blue]

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1496257908' post='3310043']
"Wanted, bass-player who knows how to hump the invisible bear."...? 😉
[/quote]

First if all there's no "the invisible bear" There are many invisible bears, there all over and I'm sure there's a few in London.

Secondly you'd have to define the position of the hump, there are several.

1.The Vertical Candle Light.

2.The Reverse Incline

3.The Old Smokey

4.The Exxon Drill Expedition

5.The " Let's Go Fishing"

6.The Route 66

7.The Lower East Side Fandango

8. The "Saturday Night Fever"

And last but not least;

9.The Bus Stop (don't ask)

If your going to post a perspective, we need more detail.

Blue

Edited May 31, 2017 by blue

[FinnDave]

I think my next band will be 'The Invisible Bears'!

[blue]

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1496263782' post='3310101']
I think my next band will be 'The Invisible Bears'!
[/quote]

Nice one Dave!

Blue

[Cato]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1496262895' post='3310089']


First if all there's no "the invisible bear" There are many invisible bears, there all over and I'm sure there's a few in London.

Secondly you'd have to define the position of the hump, there are several.

1.The Vertical Candle Light.

2.The Reverse Incline

3.The Old Smokey

4.The Exxon Drill Expedition

5.The " Let's Go Fishing"

6.The Route 66

7.The Lower East Side Fandango

8. The "Saturday Night Fever"

And last but not least;

9.The Bus Stop (don't ask)

If your going to post a perspective, we need more detail.

Blue
[/quote]

That made me grin.

[FinnDave]

Come to think of it, there's a whole list of band names in that lot!

[yorks5stringer]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1496262895' post='3310089']
First if all there's no "the invisible bear" [b]There are many invisible bears, there all over and I'm sure there's a few in London.[/b]

Secondly you'd have to define the position of the hump, there are several.

1.The Vertical Candle Light.

2.The Reverse Incline

3.The Old Smokey

4.The Exxon Drill Expedition

5.The " Let's Go Fishing"

6.The Route 66

7.The Lower East Side Fandango

8. The "Saturday Night Fever"

And last but not least;

9.The Bus Stop (don't ask)

If your going to post a perspective, we need more detail.

Blue
[/quote]
I thought it was Werewolves in London, not Bears?

[Number6]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1496272973' post='3310194']

I thought it was Werewolves in London, not Bears?
[/quote]

Should i send Lawyers, Guns and Money?

[blue]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1496272973' post='3310194']

I thought it was Werewolves in London, not Bears?
[/quote]

Nobody is going to want to hump an invisible Werewolf.

Blue

[bazzbass]

firstly, ignore all the ads wanting a base player.....

and those that say "Fenders only" not that I mind, I love my Fenders, but yeah no

also avoid any like this :we are an original band, we've been together for 5 years, we have three originals ready to go.......

I hate the ones saying "no timewasters", I LIKE time wasting, watching TV, reading BassChat etc

[blue]

When a band says their established ask them exactly what they mean by established.

They might be established as a band with nothing to offer.

Blue

[blue]

If they ask how old you are and your north of 60, end the discussion and your interest.

Blue

[blue]

If you're​ impressed with their web presence ask if the personal line up is still in tact.

There's a lot of sinking ships out there.

Blue

Edited June 1, 2017 by blue

[blue]

"Start Upband seeking bass player to complete the lineup. practice usually tuesdays in new berlin. Shows booked in August."

Cool, how many shows, what type of shows and what's the pay.

The questions I would ask, a lot of guys won't ask anything.

Blue

[blue]

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1496288462' post='3310204']
firstly, ignore all the ads wanting a bass player.....[/quote]

Probably not a bad idea. Real opportunity is rarely found in the wanted ads.

Blue

[SICbass]

First up, I'd want to know how many dates are in the calendar. I'm 50 so chart success is no longer on the menu.

Forgive a brief derailment - Blue, I loved your list of bear moves. I'm layed up after an appendectomy on Tuesday and the laughing hurt which proves I'm alive. However, you forgot one, it's that slow, sultry classic the "You're Not Here For the Hunting, Are You?"

[blue]

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1496292702' post='3310220']
First up, I'd want to know how many dates are in the calendar. I'm 50 so chart success is no longer on the menu.

Forgive a brief derailment - Blue, I loved your list of bear moves. I'm layed up after an appendectomy on Tuesday and the laughing hurt which proves I'm alive. However, you forgot one, it's that slow, sultry classic the "You're Not Here For the Hunting, Are You?"
[/quote]

Get well soon Sicbass

Blue

[SICbass]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1496305012' post='3310286']


Get well soon Sicbass

Blue
[/quote]

Thanks bud I'm already well on the mend

[BigRedX]

The only thing I need when I'm answering a bass player wanted is to like their music on their Bandcamp and/or iTunes pages. Everything else can be sorted out after I've joined the band.

[Happy Jack]

Given they they're all either flakes or fantasists (or both) it's hardly worth the bother of replying.

I like to spread the love around, so I routinely gig ... erm, play ... erm, am involved with ... erm, have a vague connection with several bands outside my 'core' stuff.

I check the Gumtree ads every day just in case something interesting pops up, and I usually do at least a handful of auditions each year, leading to at least a couple of "please join us" offers.

Without exception, all these projects crash and burn. It's actually quite amusing trying to predict what the problem will be each time.

FLAKES:[list]
[*]Can't be arsed to learn the songs
[*]Cancel rehearsals at the last minute
[*]Think rehearsals are purely social occasions
[*]Own unreliable or completely unsuitable kit
[*]Don't have their own transport
[*]Constantly borrow 'small stuff' like clip-on tuners and leads
[*]Drop out of sight at load-in and/or load-out and then offer to help as you carry the last box
[*]Don't know how to coil cables
[*]Are easily led by fantasists
[/list]
FANTASISTS[list]
[*]Think there's a market for their self-penned autobiographical dirges
[*]Believe that gigs grow on trees and will just happen
[*]Claim that being dreadful on several different instruments makes them multi-talented
[*]Always reckon that the next band is the one that's going to make it big
[*]Believe they will succeed because they "want it so badly"
[*]Tend to fill their bands with flakes
[/list]

[blue]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1496306709' post='3310315']
Given they they're all either flakes or fantasists (or both) it's hardly worth the bother of replying.

I like to spread the love around, so I routinely gig ... erm, play ... erm, am involved with ... erm, have a vague connection with several bands outside my 'core' stuff.

I check the Gumtree ads every day just in case something interesting pops up, and I usually do at least a handful of auditions each year, leading to at least a couple of "please join us" offers.

Without exception, all these projects crash and burn. It's actually quite amusing trying to predict what the problem will be each time.

FLAKES:[list]
[*]Can't be arsed to learn the songs
[*]Cancel rehearsals at the last minute
[*]Think rehearsals are purely social occasions
[*]Own unreliable or completely unsuitable kit
[*]Don't have their own transport
[*]Constantly borrow 'small stuff' like clip-on tuners and leads
[*]Drop out of sight at load-in and/or load-out and then offer to help as you carry the last box
[*]Don't know how to coil cables
[*]Are easily led by fantasists
[/list]
FANTASISTS[list]
[*]Think there's a market for their self-penned autobiographical dirges
[*]Believe that gigs grow on trees and will just happen
[*]Claim that being dreadful on several different instruments makes them multi-talented
[*]Always reckon that the next band is the one that's going to make it big
[*]Believe they will succeed because they "want it so badly"
[*]Tend to fill their bands with flakes
[/list]
[/quote]

Sad but true, if my band folded I wouldn't bother looking.

Blue

[ahpook]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1496306118' post='3310307']
The only thing I need when I'm answering a bass player wanted is to like their music on their Bandcamp and/or iTunes pages. Everything else can be sorted out after I've joined the band.
[/quote]

Plus the one.