Bottom line and happy about it: the Bar Pilots, in which I play bass, has a new drummer. His name is Tom Krause and he's a likeable, experienced player and vocalist. We found him on Craigslist. Craigslist is a great source. It's also a bad source. We got lucky with Thom, because good musicians continue to use Craigslist. But putting a classified ad on CL is like trolling in a bog; most of what you net, you throw back in. I realize that the CL musicians' community page is good for just that: our music community. Newly relocated players can network and immerse themselves in our scene, and inexperienced players can get their feet wet. Here's where it lacks socially. Coarse, flaky, big-talking wannabes pool in this site. A lot of time was wasted in the process by musicians who led me on, backed out, or just didn't show up to scheduled auditions. Drummers already suffer a bad reputation, "they're not really musicians, they're unpredictable, without a girlfriend they're homeless, and one has been known to spontaneously combust." I haven't witnessed immolation with syncopation, but I have seen drummers pass out behind the kit, forget their drum sticks, and throw tirades at innocent club-goers. It doesn't turn the tide of common opinion when drummers respond to want ads with emails that are full of typos, misspellings and braggadocio. Wouldn't you cringe to find a typo on your resumé after it leaves your hands? The effect is the same. Maybe that's why so many drummers can't find work. But one of them has, and he's with us. Now I can concentrate on other things, like the music. Thanks, Craigslist, for the most part. CommentsLeave a Reply | Vince Adáme | Bass & Drums
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