General Music Chat

Haven't had many responses to my Craigslist ads, but I keep renewing them.
This guy contacted me abotu 2 weeks ago, said he listened to my online stuff, and was interested in exploring things.
My ad says right in it 'mostly acoustic', yet when he called me this morning he mentioned bringing over a small amp. I told him just to bring an acoustic (I had said the same in an email ...)

Meanwhile, I have been telling 'Steve' the guy from the trio I've been 'guitar for hire' with that I'm not playing any more open mics unless it is at a place where there is a chance of getting a payng gig. The most recent place he wanted us to do has dance bands (oldies/blues) on the weekends - the music choice/style definitely doesnt' fit that category!
He's having a party at his house on Saturday and has us doing a set of songs, he also said I can do some solo stuff. Will see how it goes. The people he dragged to the open mic last week were all over 70!

Hang in there Mike eventually folks will respond!

I'll give him a second chance, but not too favorable an impression ...
1) He didn't bring an acoustic, made an excuse about his daughter needing his acoustic for her lesson tonight. He brought a Strat, I didn't check out the details, but noticed it was missing the backplate over the trem springs. I'm guessing he only has the 2 guitars. He had told me he doesn't have any PA equipment.
2) Singing-wise he was very soft when he tried to sing, and didn't try to harmonize with me at all.
3) He made a lot of mistakes on the songs he said he 'knew'. And although I tried a bunch of different people's tunes, he didn't seem to really know any of them well, although he said he 'knew' the songs, he just didn't know how to play them.

I assume he was nervous, so if he wants to do some homework and we try again, then I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

the search goes on ...

Added The Morning After:
Frustrating! I think I'm going to change my CL ads to say 'if you don't have any music online to demonstrate your abilities, don't bother replying". I may be limited with some of my abilities and talents (and I know what those limits are), but the people out there looking to jam and screw around - or who think they are any good - are a real deterrent for someone who wants to seriously make some good music.

My opinions...

1) No excuses. I'm sure his daughter does need a guitar for lessons, but why doesn't she have one of her own? Beginner guitars don't cost a fortune and if you have specified this is an ACOUSTIC gig, an acoustic is required.

I keep the backplate off my strat all the time, too hard to feed strings through it when the string holes are out of line.

2) With me, harmonies are required. So is a strong voice. Sounds like someone who is not really a singer. Singing is actually a controlled yell. He's probably accustomed to humming along with the car radio. Entirely different than singing with a group, even an acoustic one. I usually have trouble finding an acoustic as loud as my voice.

3) Sounds like a rank amateur. Anyone with a little experience should be able to play songs they "know" without thinking twice about it. I'm a different breed, but I can quite often play along with songs I've never even heard without too many glaring mistakes. As long as it's not too complicated. In an audition, I'll simply tell them I don't know the song, and will try it anyway, but to expect mistakes. Being honest about it makes me a lot of points...and most of the time they ask me if I'm sure I never played it before...

I auditioned for band in San Antonio that turned out to be a metal band, not my thing. We played a dozen songs I had never heard, and several I had never tried to play and I told them that. They tried their best to talk me into joining anyway...I had to tell them no thanks, I didn't think I would be an asset to the band, I'm not into that type of music and probably wouldn't put as much into it as I should. That's happened twice, once in Houston too, same story. But if it's not my thing, I don't think I'm doing the band any favors by joining anyway. I didn't even have the sound for it...I couldn't believe either one actually wanted me to join, but they both definitely tried to convince me to join up. I didn't know what to think...

I'd say you're dealing with a wannabe. It's not too difficult to make arrangements with a guitar teacher to re schedule, most would understand you need your guitar. Excuses don't wash. Anyone who's been in a band or two will know the soft voice doesn't work. Anyone who shows up for an audition unprepared will most likely show up for rehearsals and gigs unprepared.

I'd almost bet he was late too.

LOL, reminds me of guys who show up at my bands gigs and want to play guitar, I will say what can you play? Anything! Im like anything, name a song that you know backwards and forwards, and can play without me helping on rythym, cause Im gonna go take a piss while you play. Uh uh uh, I cant think of anything. Heres a list, well Im not sure, maybe Sweet Home Alabama or Gimme 3 Steps, ok go for it.

Im like Paleopete, as long as songs are in some standard form I can wing most anything, but some people who think they really know a song but then dont, I dont get that.

I always tell these guys afterwards, from now on pick you out about 5 standard songs and learn them backwards forwards and sideways, if a band lets you sit in play the one you know best, then politely say thanks, and sit the f**k down, Ive also heard a few guys who on first listen were pretty good, but then they didnt want to sit down and showed their bad side.

If you really cant nail a song, or put your print on it, why do you want to get up in front of a crowd and show what a sorry player you are, Ive never understood that, Im a fairly good player in my own mind, but when I go to see a band I dont even ask to get up and play with bands anymore, if they ask do I play I will say yeah, who do you play with, I will tell them, if they say do you wanta play a song, I will look at thier list and see if there is some song on there that I know I can own, if not I pass on it.

hehe...I've seen plenty guys like that...barely able to muddle their way through 3 songs and you can't get them offstage...and then the ones that can play and you still can't get them to get off stage...

I have a rule when I sit in. I play 3 songs and say see ya later. If I play any more it's because they ask me to come back, not because I won't go away. That's just plain rude.

That's what happened last year at the benefit for our old band leader in Texas. The 2nd band after us played a song I've played for 20 years or more, I hand signaled the leader and he motioned me to come up and play. He had already heard me so he knew I could keep up. My Super Reverb and guitars were still on stage, everybody used the amp but nobody touched my guitars, so all I had to do was grab a guitar and flip the stand by switch. We swapped leads, (he was a very good player,) finished the song and I walked offstage. He stopped me at the top step..."Hey where do you think you're going? Get back over here." I ended up finishing out the whole show with them, he wouldn't let me leave. I enjoyed every minute of it, but would have never stayed after that first song, that was not what I intended.

Another band let me sit in on sax, I played that song and got offstage. They asked me later to do another one on sax, same thing. Finish the song and see ya.

I ended up onstage more than anyone else the whole night, sat in with every band there, but only that one set did I play more than 3 songs. And that was because he wouldn't let me go...We talked later, we both loved every minute of it. Come to think of it, he played a couple I had never tried. He didn't know that till later when we talked off stage.

That's what comes from being a musician, not just a guitar player. I learned long ago that I can follow the chord progression of a song even if I've never heard it, as long as it's not too complicated. A few years of practice with my uncles, who were both much better than me, while I learned to play helped a lot too. It also gave me the attitude I don't care if you're a better player, I'm still going to jam with you and have a good time at it. It just makes me work for it...and I might learn something too.

Guys like Guitar Mike is talking about can't do things like that, they can usually just barely keep up. I've seen them audition for my bands. I guess the most irritating one was a kid who kept playing lead on top of the vocals, after I told him 3 times "You're auditioning as RHYTHM guitar player...play rhythm." He kept working his way into leads, while I was trying to do the vocals. His audition lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. No, he didn't get hired...and he knew it before he left.

OK I'm rambling again, I'll shut up...

around these parts it's always two songs when someone's invited up and then you're either thanked for coming up or you're asked to stick around for more.

That would be cool with me. I go with 3 because that has usually been the norm in the places I've played.

. I guess the most irritating one was a kid who kept playing lead on top of the vocals, after I told him 3 times "You're auditioning as RHYTHM guitar player...play rhythm." He kept working his way into leads, while I was trying to do the vocals.

The guy last night was doing that There's probably a ton of BAND players out there who would fit the bill, but finding people who want to do an acoustic gig is another story.

i've spent most of my 38 gigging yrs doing the elec thing. about 7 or yrs ago i got into a bluegrass band playing mandolin. i mentioned that i also played lap steel. the gtrst's eyes got real big and he said "so, do you also play dobro?"...."no, but i dig 'em". "hey, i've got one you can take home and mess with". so not long after i picked one up for myself.

anyway...this is the first "acoustic" band i've been in since i started playing back in HS. i just love huddling around two big ol' condensor mics on gigs and moving in and out to "work out the mic".

in other louder deals i'm involved w i end up playing a solid body electric mandolin and it's cool enough....(always get folks in the audience coming up to ask what instrument it is!) but damn, i sure miss playing an acoustic mando in those instances.

. I guess the most irritating one was a kid who kept playing lead on top of the vocals, after I told him 3 times "You're auditioning as RHYTHM guitar player...play rhythm." He kept working his way into leads, while I was trying to do the vocals.

The guy last night was doing that There's probably a ton of BAND players out there who would fit the bill, but finding people who want to do an acoustic gig is another story.

I'm always happy to do acoustic gigs... There should be more of it...

Must be this area of the country! Don't think my wife wants to move to Nashville or Texas, though!

Yeah and you're about 1800 miles too far away for me to commute...

Yeah and you're about 1800 miles too far away for me to commute...

It does make regular rehearsals tough! The guy sent me an email yesterday saying he was interested in pursuing this. I told him to do some homework (actually lots of homework) and then we could try another hour together.

Paleopete, you need to work on your self confidence.

I tell people all the time, "don't even bother with Craigslist for anything serious".