General Music Chat

So I've been running my open mic events now for 3 months now. I've been messaging people on BM with profiles that show they might be interested in either 1) performing at an OM or 2) meeting with other musicians - networking.

I've had a number of really snotty replies like 'stop sending me spam', 'stop emailing me!'.
Some folks just reply more civilly 'not interested' or 'in a band now'. And I've had others express interest - either in coming to an OM in the near future, or they have already come.

I have to think that the people with the 'bad attitude' replies are the people who are NEVER going to gig with others (or if they do, it won't last). I always reply, 'from your profile I thought you might be interested in meeting other musicians, but no problem, I'll put you on the "not interested" list'.

I guess this is no more unusual than what I see from Craigslist ads - the ones I read or respond to and the people who responded to mine. Things were easier back in the old non-internet days. The 'wannabees' stayed at home playing in their bedrooms and the real musicians were out playing.

You ( even I ) have been in the business long enough to know the bacon from the grease.
Keep doing what your doing Mike.
There needs to be more people like you in music.

George
Jericho March

You ( even I ) have been in the business long enough to know the bacon from the grease.
Keep doing what your doing Mike.
There needs to be more people like you in music.

George
Jericho March

I love me some bacon! But I hate cleaning up the grease!

Massachussetts, right? How far are you from Boston and what nights do you hold this?

"Cleaning up the grease..."

Whew - down south we don't clean it up - we make gravy!

Talbot

Massachussetts, right? How far are you from Boston and what nights do you hold this?

Every other Wednesday night, in Dracut, about 25 miles north-northwest of Boston. You going to be in the area, Ted? I'll give you a 'feature' spot!

"Cleaning up the grease..."

Whew - down south we don't clean it up - we make gravy!

Talbot

Bah! I love southern cookin'

I have found there are about 200 dreamers for every doer in music. I focus my energy on the doers.

Would there be doers without dreamers ?
Not to nit pick nor banter semantics ( I fully agree with whence you come )
But if not for my dream ( my mission I call it ) motivation would be nonexistent.
Like that cRaZy ant at the rubber tree plant . . . I'm not smart enough to take no for an answer.

Biblical speaking my Lord said "Knock and it shall be opened" . . . I don't recall Him saying when or where, that is His Will not mine.
So I keep on knocking . . .

Massachussetts, right? How far are you from Boston and what nights do you hold this?

Every other Wednesday night, in Dracut, about 25 miles north-northwest of Boston. You going to be in the area, Ted? I'll give you a 'feature' spot!

I'll be about 30 miles from your area with an open Thursday night. Anything happen then? And I don't have to jam, necessarily. I like to listen to local music to get the vibe of a city.

Yod - If you were at an om and didn't perform - I think I might hit you with a stick!

Talbot

Yod - If you were at an om and didn't perform - I think I might hit you with a stick!

Talbot

I do it all the time. Twice last week in fact.

I get to play a lot so it's no big deal to just sit there and have a beer.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . beer . . .

Don't feel bad. I have the same problem. I have posted Open Mics, and requests for musicians to gig with with no response for several years, even though there are several pages of so-called musicians listed in the area.

But every once in a while, along comes some very talented person/band! One of the guys I contacted through BM messaged me back with some questions, showed up with 2 people from one of his bands, and they were really good!

So I continue to send out invites to my open mic every 2 weeks, and mention it is a good place to meet up with others and network, even if the person does not play solo or play open mics.

Now mind you, I only send these out to people close by (20 miles) to the OM location, and only to people with profiles here on BM that say they are looking for band members or gigs. And I've been sending these out to some people now for 9 events (and BM messaging shows you the history, too), yet I still get replies telling me to 'take them off the mailing list' (fine I do that) but with comments like "As I'm not interested in performing." Really? So WTF are you doing with an active profile with "SEEKING Band to Join" on it?