Questions for guys with band experience...

[Ace]

OK, I have two questions. First of all, my band is looking for a bass player. We have three guys interested, but since I plan on touring with this band and keeping it for years, I want the best possible guy I can find. What are some things you guys do to tell if someone is right for the job or not? What have been your experiences with putting out "Bass Player Wanted" ads/flyers? Remember, I am in L.A. so you gotta figure there are 20,000 musicians in this town looking for a gig. And 19,985 are the wrong guy.

Secondly, how do you kick someone out of the band? The other guitar player in my band has missed half our practices, when he does show up he's at least 2 1/2 hours late. The drummer(Alex) and I play for an average of 5-8 hours twice a week, and the other guitar player shows up after Alex and I have been jamming for hours, then he just wanders off and smokes cigarettes. When we are playing a song, he lets his guitar hang while he's in the other room. He leaves the guitar live and the amp on, so he's feeding back where the drummer and I are playing while he scratches his ass and opens a beer. Then when the song is done and the drummer and I are discussing what we want to do next, he goes off on some gay ass Guitar Center solo while we're trying to talk. His gear is a import Jackson Kelly, which he insists on keeping in gay ass drop tuning, and a Line6 2X12 that I can barely hear loud enough to tell that he sucks. He's been thrown out of his other bands by my friends for missing shows and doing the same shit he's doing with me, so he goes around and talks shit about them. My band has 5 songs we rehearse, all of which I've written. He can fake three of them terribly. AND he's supposed to be the "lead guitarist".

The problem is that he and the drummer started the band. They talked about doing it as their last band broke up, and the drummer asked me to join. So even though they never practiced without me I am technically the "new guy". I am about one practice from seriously beating this kid. If he doesn't come into practice Wednesday and blow me the **** away, I am going to tell the drummer that I am not going to waste my time with amatures and that either he goes or I do, and I'll take my music with me. It really sucks because I love my drummer, but I am going to go to prison if that little b!tch pisses me off again.
[img]/images/graemlins/rant.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/band.gif[/img]

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

toss him. if he is not playing while you and the drummer are playing, then he's not in your band in the 1st place. and all the greats can play while a smoke is in their mouth already anyway.
you know where i stand, i never heard anything like this before. shoo bug!!!!

[Ace]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

I've never SEEN anything like this before. Any band that I have worked with would have jammed his guitar up his ass and sent him packing the minute he showed up 2.5 hours late for an audition. I told my drummer how I felt, and it totally caught him by suprise.

[diablomozart]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

ok...number one...you need members that can play...that is obvious...but...and i say this with all honesty, you need members who you can get along with on a personality basis...if you're gonna spend a lot of time with this person, best not to hate them as a person...sometimes you have to scarifice talent for personality...as for the other?...ummm...don't bring the drummer into it yet...talk to him on side about what is bothering you...odds are he feels the same...when it comes down to it, just tell the guy "it's not working out"...if he wants reasons, bring up that if you have gigs he can't show up late...hope this helps...d.m.

[Emthrax]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

Ace,

Your drummer is surprised by your concern? Wow.
In my opinion being in a band is not only a privelege it is a job. If someone is screwing around it's not fair to everyone.
Every member owes it to each other and themselves to be punctual and be ready to work. If this guy can straighten his act, cool, but given his track record it doesn't look promising.

I think you have it figured out already, so I wish you goodluck!
One day this dorky guitarist will realize he made a huge mistake. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Em

[Ace]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

DM, I already told my drummer how I felt(you were probably posting the same time I was). The problem isn't his technical ability on the guitar, it's that he WON'T play what we're playing. His personality, outside the context of the band, is decent. We have similar interests and we get along just fine. However the way he treats the band has pissed me off to the point where I really could care less what his interests are, since they are obviously NOT playing in this band.

[jgcable]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

With all the problems you are experiencing, it doesn't sound to me like you have much of a band anyway so throwing members out shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you can't get along at rehearsals it will never work out. Oh yea... one more thing... you mentioned that you are looking for members so that the band can last for years. Forget that crap. Just take it 1 rehearsal at a time. Most bands go through a ton of members until they find the right group and even after that it usually doesn't last very long.

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

Don't look for the John Petrucci of the bunch!

Of course you want a relatively good player, but like DM said, connect on a personal basis first.

The reason you shouldn't look for a JP, is because a player can learn a lot from being in a band and jamming with other people. And if this guitarist is still learning and showing that he's very eager to keep progressing, then he's an excellent choice.

[No Use]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

yeah dude. look for someone who's decent at the least, but look for someone who can Hang. if you're gonna tour and shite for years, plan on being with these dudes as like girlfriends/wives, b/c you're connecting with them as good friends, but on a Much deeper level, one of the pure magic that is music.

i bet this doesn;t make sense. shit. well, good luck my brother!

[skidd]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

#1 TOSS him on his ass.

2# When the right shows up you will know.

I spent about 9 months of my life with a guy I wanted to cut up into little pieces leave him all over the road. Hang with the guy for a week or two, go out for beers, food etc. You will lose your mind otherwise.

[Ace]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

I understand what all you guys are saying. The thing that makes this band work is me and the drummer. Remember, I am no newbie to this business. I have been around successful bands for years. I've worked with lots of professional guitar players, and I know what it takes to make it in a band, and this kid ain't got it. The guy isn't bad at handling his instrument, but it's his DEDICATION(or lack thereof) that is pissing me off. That is the No. 1 thing I look for in a bandmate. Like some of you guys have mentioned, people can grow as players within the band. That's fine with me.

Anyways, anyone have any awnsers to the first part of the question, about auditioning bass players? I know the basics, I was just wondering if anyone had any trade secrets they want to share.

[RR05xx]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

Toss the guy like people have said and if the drummer is not with you on this, you may need another drummer (in my area, drummers are few and far between so losing the drummer may be tough short term but better long term).

You really do need to connect with the people and this guy reminds me of the guy in my hs band (who started as a good friend). However, he could not show up to practice and had other emotional issues that messed things up. In the end I "stayed" with him and quiting the fukin guitar for 10 years after that mess finally self-destructed because I was so fed up (which now pisses me off to no end - I could have been a contender - NOT! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]).

If you are serious about music, you need to find like minded people or it will go no-where. Simple as that. I have determined that one of the reasons way there are so many staving musicians is the fact that while most can play, it is also true that most cannot play with other people for one reason or another (lazy, drugs, insane, undependable, home life, etc.)

[img]/images/graemlins/rant.gif[/img]

[diablomozart]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

the personality statement was referring to your choosing of a new bass player...lol...d.m.

[Hollywood]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

First I would tell the other guitar player in the most professional manner, that you are needing someone more dedicated to making the band work. It's no different than owning a business. You need everyone in the band working as smart/hard as possible to make it work.

As far as finding a bass player, I would check out bands that fit your style, and talk to their bass players. Not necessarilly try and steal them, but find out where they stand with their current band. Putting up ads tends to bring out the flakes and wannabe's in my experience. Going out and finding them, as opposed to sitting back and waiting for them to come to you, will usually get better results (Just like buying equipment). Referrals from musician friends is always better than ads too of course. Seeing them in person first will weed out the inexperienced players, and also keep you from going through an audition that can be a waste of everyone's time. You'll also get to see how they are on stage, which is 1 more step further, and that you won't get in the garage/basement. If you do find someone to audition from an ad, tell them that you need a demo of their music, preferrably original, a bio/photo, and a video of them on stage always helps. If they are serious, and at the level you probably want, they should already have it. Excuses such as "my cd burner is broke", "I just ran out and haven't had time to make any more up", "I haven't had the money to put a promo together", etc... is a sign of someone who will make excuses as to why they can't make practice on time, or help with things outside of practice/performing. I've co-owned a rehearsal studio for 10 years, and seen bands that are at the very beginning level, and bands that you can tell have their stuff together. It's easy to tell by how they run their rehearsals. Be upfront with any prospects. Tell them you are very serious at doing things right, and in a way that will give you the best chance of making it successful. And make sure they know it's not just talk. It might take longer to find the right person, but it will be worth it when you're not going through auditions every 6 months to find a new bass player, and having to go through that honeymoon period over and over. That will kill your spirit very fast. Look the person straight in the eyes when he/she is telling you about his/her experience. That will give you a better feel of whether they are being straight with you, or bs'ing their way through it. I don't know that there are any secrets....just being smart, and working at it. Word of mouth and being cool with people are the cheapest, and can be the most effective way of advertising. It's always worked best for me. Best wishes with your situation. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Ace]

Re: Questions for guys with band experience...

Good point Hollywood. You don't happen to actually own a rehersal studio in Hollywood, do you?