Auditions: They go Both Ways

[P. Aaron]

Yup. That's me lately. Auditions. I have been on 3 now in the last 3 weeks. Most bands are made up of mostly good folks looking for personnel to stay current and/or improve. Many ads (GIGS PENDING! types) I have replied to can't seem to herd their cats & schedule things.

I am a good bassist for rock & pop tunes. Don't stand a chance w/Jazz. I am always working to improve my skills & learn new songs.

The auditions I have been to were fun...at least fun to play again after recovering. My skill level is even a bit better though I'm a bit off from not playing live in over a year. After 7 years in the last act, I am also deciding: Do I want to join another cover band or, something a bit different?

Thanks to You-Tube, I can evaluate some of these acts to get a 'visual' impression before contacting them.

I always over practice for these things, and ask for the bands to do a few songs not on the list I was given. At the same time, I listen to who I am auditioning for. I am also evaluating their skills...hoping they're better than mine. I always bring my rig too. I want to get my sound anywhere. Many offer their PA-plug-in over the phone. Which would you trust: Your gear, or a PA you haven't ever seen?

Most bands' song selections have been pretty good. I also look for a good front-person to take the heat off the backing band and if they make the band an act. How sellable the over-all product is, I ask...about where they have gigged, not their 'connections'.

I haven't been to an audition yet where I want that job. If I walk into a situation and the skill level is higher than my capabilities, all I can do is hope. But that's the job I want! I can dream too y'know?

Anyone else walking this road right now? You got things to add?...I wanna hear.

[MysticMichael]

I can add only that it pays to be discriminating and selective...realistic, but selective. The hassle of schlepping around to various auditions and taking the time to make a good choice is nothing, compared with the hassle of getting out of a bad situation later on - then having to start over again at square one...

MM

[Robotsatemygma]

Well it's a good thing you're finding out some people's lack of scheduling skills ahead of time. I could tell you some of the nightmares I encountered.

Since I just got an amp I'm in the same boat as you, just started looking for a band to play for, and hopefully one I can learn from. I'm hoping to play in 2 bands but my work and training schedules might prevent me from that. Ideally I'm looking for a jazz fusion or an insanely good female fronted r&b/soul band, and a good original metal or alternative rock band. I plan on having two rigs.

If the ads don't have music links I ask for something to listen too, even if it's a old band. That way I can get a good idea of what I'll be working with, kind of like a pre audition, or demo. I know what I'm looking for even though I can't express it in words (that's why I play music right?). It also helps me weed out the possibility of trying out for a lame band. So far it's saved me from a few gigs that I know I would of passed on.

And what's up with bands wanting to audition bassists without a drummer? Kind of pointless IMO.

[P. Aaron]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I can add only that it pays to be discriminating and selective...realistic, but selective. The hassle of schlepping around to various auditions and taking the time to make a good choice is nothing, compared with the hassle of getting out of a bad situation later on - then having to start over again at square one...

MM

I am reconsidering one I panned earlier because they called and sounded like very nice folks. The band works A LOT! Which I would enjoy. I won't know for a week...when I set up an audition with them. The holiday has gotten in the way...I enjoy the holiday though.

Originally Posted by Robotsatemygma

Well it's a good thing you're finding out some people's lack of scheduling skills ahead of time. I could tell you some of the nightmares I encountered.

Since I just got an amp I'm in the same boat as you, just started looking for a band to play for, and hopefully one I can learn from. I'm hoping to play in 2 bands but my work and training schedules might prevent me from that. Ideally I'm looking for a jazz fusion or an insanely good female fronted r&b/soul band, and a good original metal or alternative rock band. I plan on having two rigs.

If the ads don't have music links I ask for something to listen too, even if it's a old band. That way I can get a good idea of what I'll be working with, kind of like a pre audition, or demo. I know what I'm looking for even though I can't express it in words (that's why I play music right?). It also helps me weed out the possibility of trying out for a lame band. So far it's saved me from a few gigs that I know I would of passed on.

And what's up with bands wanting to audition bassists without a drummer? Kind of pointless IMO.

I always want to audition with the entire band to get an idea of their rehearsal habits, attitudes, prioritizing the time, and quality of rehearsal intensity.

I rehearse like I play live...I would hope acts that want to improve all aspects of their perfomance & gig quality would too.

When they say "...they're not too serious about 'x'...", it means they're not serious.

[P. Aaron]

Went on this auditon mentioned in the post above. It was only a 3-piece band. They sent me a comprehensive set list covering many types of pop, rock & funk. So I picked a few from different categories to see how they adjusted.

The guitarist didn't.

One song that most decent musicians can easily knock out of the park: American Girl by Tom Petty. The guitarist's tone was Marshall Stack crunch. Having played this song as a guitarist for over 6 years, I recall it being nearly all Fender tone, with a smidge of tube amp burn. Spice it with some mid-American near-country tones for character. Yet this guy was dug in...DEEP: CHUGA CHUNK CHUGA at a high volume.

There's a time when a guitar should be bangin' pots. It's both a musical and percussion instrument...at least in rock-POP music. This guy was the car-crusher.

Tried; Rick James' Super Freak. Super Freakin' distortion crunchy guitar. No attempt to meld the keyboard parts into a comprehensive guitar part to fill out some more music.

Begs a question: If a part in a song is not played on guitar, does it make a sound?

Playing Super Freak in the aformentioned two-guitar band, I experienced the same thing without the crunch from the other guitar player. So I took the keyboard part myself and found those shapes and worked that key-tone on the guitar. It was a helluva learning experience.
Folks said it worked really well when we did it.

By the second song they were showing their cards as far as how well I did. Not to sound self-serving (hell! read the whole post...yeah..I'm strokin' myself), they were overly complimentive.

We tried:Melissa. The guitar sounded like Dwayne Allman's Harley; Melissa. The one he died on.

I'll either get the call or not. Will I take it? The guitar player will drive me nuts or, I will have to stifle my desire to coach him. Not a good idea...frustrating.

The drummer was decent & I could lock in just fine. Minimal dynamics with that Super Freakin' crunchy guitar all night.

Same thing happened on Let's Get it On. The sound-effect was the equivalent of your kid turning on the lights in your bedroom while you & your girl are...getting it on.

SHOCKA!!!: These guys are playin' like 80 payin' shows a year!

I love the Precision through that Hartke & the LDS cabs though...awesome tone...even cut through the CHUGA CHUNK CHUGA.

I'm still lookin.