Is Craigslist Full of Negative People in All Cities?

Not sure about your cities, but in Philadelphia craigslist is teeming with negativity. Tons of people everyday just bashing each other rather than trying to get together to actually make music.

I posted an ad looking for a bassist. In order to find musicians I figured I better have something for them to listen to, so I threw down a couple demo tracks in my basement. I played all instruments. No post-production. Just some reference tracks. Here's a response I just got over the weekend:

Doesn't mention what he plays. Doesn't mention any interest in being involved. Doesn't include a link to his band or music. Nothing. Just another guy with the uncontrollable need to tell someone else their stuff ain't cuttin' it. Gotta love people.

Btw, the "demos" I posted are at http://www.myspace.com/bloomrats. Far from the worst {censored} that's out there. Oh well...people are people I guess.

so you hired him right?

Well, I would have, but his grammar isn't perfect, so I felt it would not be wise. I mean...using "you're" when you clearly mean "your" demonstrates a glaring inattention to detail.

I'm in your "Scene" as well... Our band is based out of Woodlyn, PA.

So, I know the Philly Craig's list well.. So yeah, the short answer is, there are a lot of assholes on it... people that, for whatever reason, feel the need to comment. To you directly or even on Craig's List itself.

Some of it has to do with just human nature and the nature of musicians in genral... large ego's.. my {censored} don't stick.. you suck.

..But part of it, IMHO, is out of frustration. The frustration of having to sift through ad after ad of sub par, or even downright {censored}ty, musicians.

Every yahoo that goes and buys an instrument from Guitar Center on Saturday, posting an ad to want to join a band on Sunday.

I've been on both sides on it. Posting an ad and Replying to ad. It gets old having people come to audition who have no place being there. It's a waste of your time and theirs.

Honestly, I would have been thankful you posted a link to anything, even rough demo's. It would give me an idea of what you're thinking. I can't tell you how many times people post these grand ideas, but have no recorded information to share... If you have no recording, from past projects or otherwise... then chance are, you're new to music and waste of my time.

Craig's List can be a useful tool, but like every other method of finding like-minded people, it's hit or miss.

That said, What are you looking to get into? What's your primary instrument?... We have been toying w/ the idea of thickening up or sound

It's the same here in Phoenix.

It's either arguments over whether the band or the club is responsible for promoting and drawing patrons, whether churches should pay musicians for their worship groups, folks ragging on DJ's for posting in the musicians thread, or complaints about posts being flagged.

I just ignore all the crap and read stuff I'm interested in.

backpage.com is much more civil, imo, and it categorizes the musicians sections...

musicians

* available/wanted

* equip/instruments

* instruction

* services

* plug the band

even if you post a link with ' what kind of music your looking at creating' does not mean you get folks who want to do the same. One of the bands I'm in were looking for a lead guitar- we have a song posted- its the vocalists- she did it her self with keys and all- just to give an idea of what were looking at. Kind of alternative Rock- we get guys come over... mess around with the few songs we have... then its... "What about my stuff"? Were like cool- you write...lets hear. Next thing you know its Drop D crap or Metallica wanna be. Not even on the same planet as too what were doing.

I dont get it.

At the moment in our town...its the Origional musicians vs. the covers- yawn!. Add in the zillion adds that " our band is playing here" and come to my studio... Its amazing you can even find anything.... then you talk too them and they flake out! Flake flake flake.

Oh well... good luck in Philly- least ya know your not alone.

Philly did that through the entire fall. It was ridiculous. The winter seems to be about just plain old bashing each other.

I had such incredible success with Craigslist in DC. I met some great musicians, some of whom became great friends. It's definitely a bummer dealing with the people on Philly's craigslist. It sucks even more since I grew up here and came back after 12 years with a total gung-ho attitude about "coming home."

Oh well...they may piss me off, but they'll never stop me from rockin'.

I've been playing drums since I was 9 and guitar since I was 15. I love drums 100 million percent. I love guitar 99.44 million percent. I'll play whatever, but these days I seem to be playing more drums. As you can tell from the recordings, I can handle either (and have in multiple bands).

Music-wise, I'm definitely in a rock mood with some pangs of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest style metal. Zeppelin is my shining beacon of spiritual creaminess. Hell, I like everything...Foo Fighters, Zep, Sabbath, Get Up Kids, Social Distortion, Jimmy Eat World, Megadeth, The Refreshments, Blink 182, 80's pop, The Cars (cause ya know...80's pop doesn't include them, right?), Clapton, Springsteen, Shinedown, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Bob Marley, Mozart, Lamb of God, Green Day, Dwight Yoakam, uh...I think I'll quit. You get the idea.

Man, I'm trying to pick up a kit from someone north of Philly and he acts like he's doing me a favor talking to me. By the way, I'm looking for someone near Montgomery County, PA if anyone's interested.

Maybe it's just the "yo Adrian" Philly tude...gotta love it...like the New York "what cho lookin at" or the 'you wanna piece of me" greetings I used to get when I played Queens and Brooklyn... Loved those places...

I hit up the philly craigs classifieds every so often. too much editorial content. "waah, you're an idiot/thief charging too much!!!'

Man, I'm trying to pick up a kit from someone north of Philly and he acts like he's doing me a favor talking to me. By the way, I'm looking for someone near Montgomery County, PA if anyone's interested. Maybe it's just the "yo Adrian" Philly tude...gotta love it...like the New York "what cho lookin at" or the 'you wanna piece of me" greetings I used to get when I played Queens and Brooklyn... Loved those places...

I live in MontCo, but it's a HUGE county. What part?

I don't know yet. I will get an address...

They are as flakey as GrandMa's biscuits!

Wow...I totally agree, but if you're waiting to find someone who only ever uses those correctly online...good luck. Your and you're are the most frequent blunders with their, there, and they're a very close second. But don't forget your base drum and cymbols...definately.

Got to love people who can't write their own native language. {censored} drives me crazy.

Well, I've never looked on the band members wanted section, but I've never had a problem buying on Craigslist... at least not yet. *knock on wood*

I bought my first drum set in 7 years today... a set of Tama Rockstars for $65 (shells only). They're kinda grungy and need to be cleaned, but they'rte perfectly fine for what I'm going to do with them. Emailed the guy last nite, met up with him today before work, brought 'em home. Got a guitar preamp and power amp from another guy on Sunday... he drove them out to me because I was at a recording session and couldn't leave until late.

I'm very satisfied with Craigslisting so far... I've only bought 5 or 6 things, but haven't had a problem. As a matter of fact, I've bought more gear so far thias year than I have in '06 or '07!

Well, I've never looked on the band members wanted section, but I've never had a problem buying on Craigslist... at least not yet. *knock on wood* I bought my first drum set in 7 years today... a set of Tama Rockstars for $65 (shells only). They're kinda grungy and need to be cleaned, but they'rte perfectly fine for what I'm going to do with them. Emailed the guy last nite, met up with him today before work, brought 'em home. Got a guitar preamp and power amp from another guy on Sunday... he drove them out to me because I was at a recording session and couldn't leave until late. I'm very satisfied with Craigslisting so far... I've only bought 5 or 6 things, but haven't had a problem. As a matter of fact, I've bought more gear so far thias year than I have in '06 or '07!

Yeah, I've actually had a lot of good experiences buying and selling on craigslist. It's just the musicians page that gets nasty.

And just for the record, I was kidding about the your/you're thing.

Didn't you post that 'Issues' clip elsewhere? That was very energetic and driving stuff. You got sloppy when the stuff got quiet but it didn't slow down at all.

it didn't slow down at all.

Wow...apparently you have a better memory about my posts than I do. I didn't even remember posting a link to the pop punk stuff.

But yeah, "Issues" was recorded in 1997. The dude with the random email about slowing down didn't even hear that. He only heard the myspace stuff, which was all from the last 6 months or so.

Oh boy...here we go again. Today on the Philly craigslist musicians page we have a guy anonymously bashing a vocal coach, another guy bashing a band for announcing that it got spins on the radio, and yet another guy telling one of the former guys that his mom is a 69-cent hooker. Ah, the love. I can't believe that so many people are so pissed off and think that spewing their crap on the internet is going to make them feel better.

...and I still have no bassist.

I feel for you ,we went though the same thing, found a great bass player oniy for him to quit 2 yrs later, so now the 2nd guitar player is learning the bass and we're starting over again--- have not fixed frontman yet

Check out the following from Norfolk VA area...

This rant was posted in the last day or two under the title "DRUMMER STARTING BAND" i am pretty sure this guy will not be starting a band anytime soon...

Yikes...Bob