Uncertainty of showing up to tryouts

swbest3 · #1 05-13-2008, 12:02 PM

Hey TB...

Have you ever felt nervous for a tryout? Not nervous about your playing ability, but simply for safety? I have been to a couple "craigslist" tryouts and they were in a pretty rough neighborhood. It's hard for me not to be skeptical when I'm showing up to an unknown location with unfamiliar people with thousands of dollars worth of gear.

I have an audition tonight for a gig on the 24th that pays $200 for a 2 hour playing time. It sounds great, but once again my over cautious paranoia steps in and makes me second guess even going.

Any one else relate?

invader3k · #2 05-13-2008, 01:33 PM

I don't exactly live in a rough area at all, but I guess the general rules of thumb would be "don't be stupid", and "don't bring more gear than you have to". Keep extra stuff covered up and locked up in your car. Use common sense and you'll be fine. And as always with craigslist exchanges, make sure your BS Filter is set on "high".

RED5 · #3 05-13-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swbest3

Hey TB...

Have you ever felt nervous for a tryout? Not nervous about your playing ability, but simply for safety? I have been to a couple "craigslist" tryouts and they were in a pretty rough neighborhood. It's hard for me not to be skeptical when I'm showing up to an unknown location with unfamiliar people with thousands of dollars worth of gear.

I have an audition tonight for a gig on the 24th that pays $200 for a 2 hour playing time. It sounds great, but once again my over cautious paranoia steps in and makes me second guess even going.

Any one else relate?

Man! what are you trying out for? Swat Team Jam band? part of what you're playing is Where you're playing it. 'Hood gives you the willies? stay out da 'hood! To speak more directly to your query? I only do auditions or tryouts in studios or rehearsal rooms. No home studios, no garages and NO basements. This works on many levels. It provides a common ground to meet on and it makes it clear how committed everyone is. An added benefit is also that you are faced with a time factor to either put up or shut up. Safety is a whole other factor that can't be ignored. You have witnesses if a crime goes down,(just kidding.) My 2c.

MoD_Scotty · #4 05-13-2008, 02:18 PM

The first time I went out to try out for my band, I was a little worried that I might end up getting carjacked. The house we play at is WAY out in the sticks...so I had to drive through some pretty run-down spots to get there. Turned out alright though!

rob2966 · #5 05-13-2008, 02:35 PM

We had a kind of opposite situation when looking for a drummer recently. We rehearse at my friends house (soundproof room) and it is in a very nice neighbourhood. He is more concerned about the people answering the Craigslist ad so we met the applicant at a local restaurant/pub (i.e. neutral, safe, territory) with no gear involved to essentially pre-screen. If that went well we had the drummer join.

Not very helpful info if you are the one answering the ad but it is a nice way for bands to approach this. In your situation, it wouldn't help the run-down location but at least there would be familiar faces.

Just my 2c.

Later
Rob

hbarcat · #6 05-13-2008, 03:37 PM

Bring a friend with you. Make sure your friend is either a martial artist or has a concealed carry permit. Or both.

DaveDeVille · #7 05-13-2008, 04:58 PM

oh yeah , been there , done that ...

refer to my post # 5 ...

Hilarious/Scary/Bizarre Musican Audition Stories

bonzo4880 · #8 05-13-2008, 10:54 PM

yeah i always like to meet people and grab a beer somewhere before we get together to play. i havent met any crazies from CL but plenty of people do. also, if you arent sure about the location or the people, leave the foderas and epifani cabs at home. bring enough of your rig so that you'll be loud enough for the space and leave the rest at home.

roberthelpus · #9 05-14-2008, 09:51 AM

Don't know what to tell y'all but most of the spaces that I've rehearsed in (that weren't in someones home) have been in at least somewhat questionable parts of town. That's where the rent is cheap. Bands are generally looking for places where you can make some noise and that are low cost, and that usually isn't in the mansion (or McMansion) district.

Then again, most of the auditions that I have gone to have come from referrals from/people that I know.

()smoke() · #10 05-14-2008, 12:09 PM

one of the reasons i liked living with a wolf dog...at 6' tall standing on his hind legs, Quilo has to hunker his head down when sitting in the passenger seat to look out the window...he likes to 'talk' to you, and that alone keeps people at a distance until they understand he's a big teddy bear