Author Topic: Interesting Bass Player Adds from Craigslist (Read 367 times)

billostech · « **on:** October 13, 2011, 10:16:52 AM »

Oh the life of a Bass Player... The following Ads were pulled from our local Craig's List. Please share ads you may have come across.

CLASSIC R&B BASSIST available: inquire within (Southfield)
Date: 2011-09-02, 2:18PM EDT

I am principally an electric bassist (although I learned on the upright double bass) that is most comfortable playing the traditional role of a bass player in a group with authority. If it's blistering extended soloing or utilizing the bass as melodic lead instrument I'm probably not the man for the job. However, if you're looking for someone that understands how important it is to lock with the drummer to establish a solid foundation for whatever song is being performed, I am worthy of your consideration.

What I take great pride in is recreating not only the original notes and feel of the song, but the TONE as well! For instance, playing vintage Motown hits (James Jamerson) on any bass other than a Fender Precision bass w/heavy gauge flat wound strings is sacrilegious!; playing classic rock and R&B hits played by the greats Carol Kaye and Joe Osborne should be played with a pick; playing the many great Michael Jackson hits of the early 80's with a Musicman Stingray (Louis Johnson); the many hits that Marcus Miller played on as a sideman using a Fender Jazz bass w/medium-light round wound strings. I could go on and on, but I think you get my point.

Having several decades under my fingers, I've played most of the popular styles occurring during this period, along with some jazz standards (from Real Book charts). I am best suited to playing classic R&B, Smooth Jazz, and Jazz standards. Sorry, but I don't do rock.

I have all the necessary equipment for gigs from small to large, good transportation, and I do my homework, so if you have a paying project that is in need of that a fundamental bottom don't hesitate to contact me.

older bass player wanted (wayne county)
Date: 2011-10-10, 1:41AM EDT

Why older? Well I'm 61 & want players who know their stuff & want to join a startup project doing uptempo 60s & 70s tunes. We old farts grew up w/those tunes so who better to put them across?
Folks who've been in bands & know what's expected of them & are ready & willing to make this happen. Looking for those who sing & play simultaneously.
Past all the games, settled & want to play for the love of it, fun & some bucks. I'm laid back & want like minded people.

If you fit the bill give your contact info & I'll get back to you. Thanx

Bass player needed for NEXT weeked (Royal Oak / $150)
Date: 2011-09-24, 1:54PM EDT

Hi. I'm looking for a pro bass player who just happens to have nothing going on for the dates of Sept 29th, 30th, Oct. 1st. I have 3 paying college shows, a band, a van and a trailer (save Blues Brothers reference for sake of integrity of the ad). It would be a cram session. I will forward you 12 songs to learn, which, if you have any chops, shouldn't be an issue. If you like a challenge and also playing good music, then I encourage you to reply asap. You will be paid $150 for the weekend. You also will not have to pay for any travel (gas/lodging), basically just your own food and anything that you forgot to bring, cos that always happens.

ALSO, I know beggars can't be choosers, but I am looking for someone under 40 please, preferably 20s - 30s.

Our music is in the vein of: Ryan Adams, Foo Fighters, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Citizen Cope, Weezer.

These are all Midwest college shows (Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota). We would be leaving on Thursday morning (sept 29th) and returning Sunday evening October 2nd. The shows take place Thurs-Fri-Sat.

We're serious about the music, but very laid back personalities and like to have fun.

I'm pretty open at this point, but prefer professionals. Please reply with serious interest only, and I can begin to forward you songs while I am still on the road playing solo shows.

hb3 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2011, 10:27:26 AM »

Well, gee, those aren't so bad. Here's the archetypal Craigslist ad:

Wanted: Bass player. Must have own gear. Must have own transportation. Must be willing to play my music EXACTLY, NOTE FOR NOTE, as I give it to you. Must be willing to rehearse nine times a week. No oldsters, please: if you're over 40, do everyone a favor and kill yourself, now. No pay.

billostech · « **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2011, 10:52:59 AM »

Hugh,
Now that is one for the books. I wonder how many serious replies were generated from this one.

(Message edited by billostech on October 13, 2011)

811952 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 13, 2011, 11:17:20 AM »

old people okay, but no one over 40.

billostech · « **Reply #4 on:** October 13, 2011, 11:28:01 AM »

If 40 is old, I am one of the walking dead.

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:05:22 PM »

Billostech..yep that makes me positivley jurussic at 54.
There are some great young players out there and there are some who just want to sound as if they have had their larynx removed, the drums are at million bpm, the bass is just distorted like a time warp and the guitarist thinks playing at the speed of c is cool.
I am glad I am over 40( I am the oldest in our band)

stout71 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2011, 01:18:52 PM »

It always makes me stop and think when a musician wanted ad makes a stink about age. I suppose there is something to be said for sharing common ground and having stuff to talk about, but I think some of it has to do with pay. For myself, I won't take a gig unless it pays pretty well or I'm doing a friend a favor as a fill-in or something. I mean seriously - the ad above pays $150 for a 3-night stretch? I for one have not put 30 years into my craft to play for peanuts. If I sound slightly jaded, it's only because a lot of youngsters will play for nothing, or close to it, which drives down the price a venue is willing to pay a band. I don't mean to stereotype or over-generalize. I'm sure there are 20 year-olds in our midst who have plenty of self respect, and there are certainly exceptions to this. Craigslist ads like this only get me unnerved. End of rant.

811952 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:01:42 PM »

I'll play for zip, nada, zero if it's with a great bunch of players and I'm confident I'll have a blast. I've been helping out with a local jam/open-mic night for free as well, providing some subtle (and some not so subtle) guidance to the next generation. They are amazed at the songs I can get through, and most of them appreciate the value of my having been around a long long long time (and that I'm not in the market for their women)..

That said, I generally bring home substantially more than zero most of the time, and won't play with a shaky drummer for any price. I did recently suggest to a potential client that I won't show up for less than $150 for a 2-hour gig, drinks and room included, and I kind of hope it scares him off. Ironically, I told him that at one of those freebie open-mic nights..

I think the age thing is purely to assure that the crowd thinks the band is made of cool hipsters and not titanium hipsters..

John

billostech · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2011, 11:08:02 AM »

Titanium can be pretty cool.

To me, it's always great to see a bass player that doesn't care so much for being seen but heard. You know the one, locked into the band, attentive to changeups and smiles when it?s working to the flavor of the heartbeat. Not knocking the performing for the eyes of the crowd, but playing to the soul of the listeners is not a bad thing either.
I think having a little Titanium in ya brings that out the most.

811952 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2011, 11:25:36 AM »

I would have to agree with all of that, with the exception that I hope to put off the titanium bits for as long as possible.

John

billostech · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2011, 11:39:42 AM »

+1 on that John.
I have to share this thread from the talkbass forum. I wonder what the ad (if there was one) looked like to this bassist:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/ive-got-all-816704/

stout71 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 14, 2011, 01:39:30 PM »

Bill - that is funny, and unfortunately all too common. The thing is, you can always walk away from a project when you want, for whatever reason (assuming you haven't signed a contract.)

And I love the quote on that exchange! In my experience with bands...there are no victims, only volunteers. So true.

billostech · « **Reply #12 on:** October 14, 2011, 02:53:21 PM »

Jerry, I agree. That quote was awesome. I am a novice and am amazed at what a musician has to go through to get the job done. I will stick to open mikes and jamming with friends.

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2011, 03:25:45 PM »

I read all the Craiglist listings, but rarely find anything interesting. I did respond to one recently, not so much because the text suggested a style of music that appealed to me (it didn't), or because links to mp3s and videos showed a player who could play (no links), or for anything else listed about the player that got my attention (nothing about the player listed), but because of his unique approach to the bassplayer wanted thing, plus the fact I hadn't found anything worth responding to in a very long time. The title of the listing ...

Too Much to Ask?

You are a mature guy or girl who plays bass. You are not on crack or heroin--you are also not likely to show up to play drunk. You have a day job that pays your bills--no, even better you have a vocation or career so that a bit of success in playing won't encourage you to make another run at making it. You don't want to go on three week mini-tours of dives around the Southeast and eat crappy food while playing for brain-dead drunks. That being said you also step outside the root regularly, know that good bass playing involves knowing when not to fill space with notes and appreciate dynamics and tone. Tone--that's really important. You have several basses and your idea of a good bass sound does not involve distortion. Being able to play fretless with good intonation is a plus.

Oh, a few other minor requests. You aren't obsessed with playing cover tunes with such precision that you make the same mistakes the original player made; you don't have a desire to drop tune everything because that's what the good cover bands in the Asheville area do. If you happen to know a like-minded guitarist and/or keyboard player that would be very cool. THAT may be asking too much....

Ableton Live is starting to look like the only option--please prove me wrong and send me a response before I give up and start playing with a freakin' computer.

Frankly, at this point I'm not stuck to any particular genre. If you groove your @$$ off I'll play whatever. Latin, jazz, funk, R&B, rock, country, Greek, Poly-freakin-nesian, ambient, techno, whatever...really. It's come to that.

Looking forward to hearing from someone while I get out that Ableton manual and start programming stuff.

811952 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2011, 03:43:30 PM »

THAT is an ad worth answering.

John