generally when someone decides to become a musician and they really don't know sh*t about music, they base their decision upon what they see as what will get them the most pu**y. Period. The rare wonderful creature known as the bass guitarist initially takes up his/her instrument from an pure and innocent as well as genuine need that comes from thier heart. As far as looking down on a bass player from the perspective of a harp player and rhythm guitar player I don't see that as much as I see women in the crowd magnetically drawn to the singer and lead player. I have observed that the bass player is a silently confident and layed back person most time because the know that the bitches are REALLY moving to his/her groove, and also knows that he/she is the true gem in the band and that without them the band will just fall the f**k apart. I can go outside pick up a rock throw it and hit either a lead player or a drummer, but I've had to resort to exteme measures like coming here to find a bassist. My old bassist, a vietnam vet, retired from music and then the grooves were gone- I mean old school riffs and some funky sh*t, man, and we just fell apart. Singers are out there, karioke bars are full of them. Just got to do your homework and put up with the ones who can't sing to find the ones who can. Stage presence can be taught to just about anyone.
It seems like I actually hear people complain about not being able to find drummers more than bassists. From my experience that seems to be the case too, although I actually had a weird run of luck a year or two ago when I tried to get a band together in finding drummers. I actually had a choice of two I believe. Of course the one I chose later on left (wanted to focus more on his day job and school). What little recruiting attempts I have made now for a drummer are pretty bad.
However, trying to find a singer has always been much worse, just atrocious. I can agree with the singer problem entirely.
I'll see about how tough it is to find a bassist now. The one I've been mainly playing with until recently was the one that I basically tried to form the band with, so I never had to worry about it until now (he got into financial and other life troubles, had to sell his gear, move away etc.). I also started playing with another bassist later, but I'm not sure he's serious about music anymore.
And I could see it being a regional thing as far as what musicians are and are not available.
gtzip (if you're still reading the thread)-so are you declaring Seattle to be official musicians' "nothin' going on gotta move" relocation area? Sounds good to me, as long as someone can lend me some money and find me a job, I'll be there in no time...lol. Well, ok, maybe not. However, the way things are going here, every now and again I have a fleeting thought of relocating, seeing what's out there. I would had thought where I'm at (Raleigh NC), it shouldn't be too hard to get something together. But damn...although I think at the moment I'm just burned out. Kind of worked for something like a straight year as more or less the main (many times only) organizer and instegator for trying to try to get a band together and off the ground, didn't quite work out. But, I'll probably get back to it sometime in the near future.