Yeah, that’s why you have multiple options. 
No problem to not use CANBUS.
Are both ESCs connected to the same BAT- (black) wire? If the grounds are the same then make sure you set up the software on the VESC, it needs extensive setup in software before it will run. You need to set the battery voltage cutoffs and run motor detection, and then set up the application for PWM (erroneously called “PPM” in VESC) control before it will spin the motor.
If it still doesn’t work, describe exactly what you’ve done here (with screenshots) so someone can attempt to assist.