Part III - TROUBLE FINDING PARTS

I feel the most integral part missing in society today is courtesy. May haps, that is the umbrella under which the rest of our collective ills fall. Courtesy is the backbone for most other manners. Compassion is courtesy you pay to others in pain or discomfort for example. Putting others before oneself is a courtesy. A simple word or recognition is a courtesy. Be your answer in accord or contrary to their question, simply replying to an inquiry is courtesy. This is where I choose to concentrate my writing efforts in this installment.

To compare the forming of a band, and its small nuances, to the problems of the world, and life’s strains is quite elementary. The world is vast and detailed when compared to any one's own individual problems. What one can bitch about, another may wish they had. However, I feel this certain aspect of forming a band applies, across the board.

When someone takes the time to write, in this instance email and phone calls, and inform you in great detail what they are about and looking for, all the while, contacting you because you placed an ad, looking for a band, simple common courtesy dictates you at least acknowledge their existence with a polite "no thank you". Now, I understand, one might not check messages all that much, email accounts come and go on a daily basis, but odds dictate, if you send out a certain number, at least a small percentage would respond, in any form, yea or nay. Now, this problem is microcosm of what the hell is wrong with local music scenes, as I am sure this kind of (un)professionalism surpasses Pennsylvania's music scene. It is further indicative of what the hell is wrong with society. Someone reaches out, just to inform you about themselves, a fellow artist perhaps, and you can't even take the time to tell them "no"? Manners, people.

As I said, granted some emails got bounced, due to cancelled or full accounts. But it's a kick in the sack, when you know some of the people you wrote are quite alive and active, and using their account to keep posting available musician advertisements. I doubt that took less energy to hit reply and type "no thanks". Well to that I say a humble, piss off. Perhaps you have to keep searching for people, because you lack a key ingredient in professional musicianship and in life. - Say it with me kids, you lack COURTESY.

Enough of that diatribe. As of this writing, I had thought we had landed a bassist, who seemingly, was very interested and in tune with what we were doing. However, I am having difficulties contacting him. To this, I am unsure how to feel. A bit worried I may admit, as we were quickly becoming friends. And so, not hearing from him is worrisome. On the other hand, tragedies notwithstanding, I must make a decision as the leader of a band, to move on. Ample time is given, and in starting stages such as the present time we're in, I will be honest and say, I haven’t got time for the bullshit. However, being as close personally, as we were getting, I question one's honesty, if there isn’t anything wrong, and the person being discussed is no longer interested. Ok, fine, I can respect that, but to ignore? Not cool.

So these things take time. I feel no need to rush into a situation with the wrong type of people. The stage isn’t going anywhere. Hadn’t gone anywhere in years, and as far as I know, won't be leaving anytime soon. So I can be patient, but never can have enough for the likes of some people. My disposition has been acquired through years of wanting to change myself to be a better person, and have learned to let a lot of things go. But from time to time, I regress because my newfound level has been exceeded. Got no time for the misanthropic nihilism anymore. However, people do make it difficult at times.

So, in conclusion, after some fruitless communications, we are still looking for a rhythm section. Remember the golden rule. Less of I, more of you, feel that ya'll.