I suspect it's a bit different, but I look for stressors. I want people who will retain quality and professionalism - even when you don't particularly care for the job, or even your fellow bandmates. Being good with their instrument is also a bonus!

I suspect it's a bit different, but I look for stressors. I want people who will retain quality and professionalism - even when you don't particularly care for the job, or even your fellow bandmates. Being good with their instrument is also a bonus!

For me, that's the bottom level of acceptable.  What I want, however, is someone who is not only polished and professional, but also someone who wants to participate in songwriting, arrangements, developing the stage show, etc.  It's not too difficult to get a solid guy who just shows up and does his job for the check.  That's what I have now.  I want more!

Aaaand...  The guy is awesome.  He's a good bass player.  Not quite as good as the current, uncommitted bass player, but almost.  That said, he's a better guitar player than I am, and also plays an instrument that can be summed up as a 5 string mandolin which is perfect for the genre.  He is also a very good vocalist and loves singing backing harmonies.  Add to that, he's also a really nice guy and fun to hang out with.  He stayed here until pretty late into the evening hanging out and having a few drinks after we were done playing.  He's excited about the band and the travel, and comes with a lot of contacts in the area we tour the most because he just moved from there.

The girl says I shouldn't get my hopes up that he'll stick, because he's just too perfect and people vote themselves off of the island all of the time around here.

The first Christmas gig was lovely, beautiful spot and an appreciative crowd, but that was a shit show, as to be expected under the circumstances.  One of the other musicians was out for a very unexpected funeral, and I had to come up with a Christmas set in 2 days to cover.

The bright side of things is that the new fiddle player left last night, and all of the violins are tracked for the new album, photoshoot is done for the new press kit and the back of the album cover.  The new bass player is working out great!  He's quite the character.  He's a person that I'd choose for a friend if he weren't a bandmate.  I've just got a few overdubs to finish this week, then it's down to mixing.  The only snag I might run into is getting the backing vocalists I want in time.  I can do it myself, but just because you *can* do a thing, doesn't mean you *should* do a thing...

That explains why you're so busy!