Damned if you do and damned if you don't....

I may have said this before, but I’ll be damned if you do and I’ll be damned if you don’t. It’s the razor fine line a drummer walks when searching for a new project. I’ll admit that my fellow drummer brethren have not made this easy. Drummers have a bad reputation for being more than flaky, egocentric, unreliable… should I go on? You get the picture.

But for those of us just trying to find a suitable gig, the going keeps getting tougher, the hill just keeps getting a little steeper.

I recently posted a ad on Craigslist… one of the worst ways to find a gig….but what the hell. Now I’ve written plenty of ads in my life. I’ve learned a lot about posting ads. Display too much and you’re judged harshly before picking up a stick. If you want some responses, be a bit more vague and you develop, at least, an opportunity for some dialogue and then maybe you can talk your way into an audition.

People…being people and thus never satisfied will find fault with either approach.

This was the case just today when I posted the following ad:

“Stage and studio experienced drummer with pro gear. I’m mature, dependable and in an on-going odyssey to find the same in a good, local cover band. No country, metal, punk, classic or angry rock. I’m dedicated, reliable and easy to get along with. I have a flexible schedule and I’m a musical workaholic. If you’re serious about your music and are looking for someone who can plug right in, I might be your next drummer. Your complete details get mine in return.”

Succinct. To the point. I thought a pretty functional ad…until I got this response:

“Instead of saying "No country, metal, punk, classic or angry rock" why don't you state what you do play.

From the perspective of a band looking for a new drummer it's a bit of a turn off to read all the negatives. As a "musical workaholic" myself there are certain songs in just about every genre of music that I can listen to, although I wouldn't want to play in a 100% country band there are still country songs that I appreciate on some level, same with Metal, punk, and classic Rock.

I mean what's left,.polka.reggae.disco?

And can you be more specific about your age, your equipment, how long you've been playing, what music you do like, how often are you looking to gig? Can you sing?

I couldn’t take this with a grain of salt….especially since it came from someone I not only know, but have played music with before…of course, He didn’t know that until I responded to his response asking him if I should just run all my ads past him before posting…

A “smarmy” response from him ensued.

It’s all part of playing the fun, wonderful games of trying to play music.

That’s why when people find good music situations, you have to pry their dead fingers off their instruments to get them off stage. They’re so precious and so few and so elusive.

Good times.