Auditioning lead vocalists....

guitfiddle0409 · #1 01-29-2008, 09:38 PM

My band has gone through four lead vocalists in the last four years.
We decided to have auditions a few weeks ago....

Are we the only band that has decided that our mediocre vocals were vastly superior to the parade of ying yangs that visited us after placing a few ads? Now I know what sitting at that judge table on American Idol must be like.

Jonny B · #2 01-29-2008, 09:51 PM

Going through this bs right now as well. It's amazing how even on my worst day, I still sound better than some of these yahoos that try out.

tycobb73 · #3 01-30-2008, 05:45 AM

Our last round we auditioned 4 female singers, 3 could sing really well, one had lousy stage presence but we struggled over the other 2. We were amazed at the quality of singers we got.

Ramstien · #4 01-30-2008, 05:50 AM

Choose the hottest one. It'll do wonders for your band.

invader3k · #5 01-30-2008, 10:16 AM

It's kind of gone both ways for us...we've only had to audition a couple over the course of our band. First one was exactly what we needed, and was with us for a while. We tried adding another one, who seemed to have "potential", but he didn't really pan out.

I think what I've learned is that either someone has vocal chops and can handle the material, or they can't. I'm probably not going to bother with someone who is "rough" again, despite their enthusiasm for the band.

Jonny B · #6 01-30-2008, 07:04 PM

At this point I'd be thrilled with a singer that could come close to staying in key and had at least a little more personality than a turnip.

guitfiddle0409 · #7 01-30-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny B

At this point I'd be thrilled with a singer that could come close to staying in key and had at least a little more personality than a turnip.

Sounds like you might be the next singer. That's what happened to me and our guitarist....

Jonny B · #8 01-30-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitfiddle0409

Sounds like you might be the next singer. That's what happened to me and our guitarist....

Not a chance. My singing voice on it's own is bland at best. I'm a great back-up singer, have a high range, can actually sing in key, but have a heck of a time singing leads while playing. I can pull it off on some songs that I have been playing for years and years, but again my voice is not lead vocalist material.

Not too mention I have no desire to be a lead vocalist. I am quite content to plink my strings and show my stuff during the chorus.

MoD_Scotty · #9 01-30-2008, 11:12 PM

Been there, done that, several times. My band's been together for about 3 years, and we're now on singer #5. This last time, we actually auditioned a decent number of people (and had offers from a bunch more that we knew wouldn't fit the bill), until we found the right person for the job. I think singing is the easiest "gig" for someone to get into. Think about it, 90% of the civilized world sings along to music on a regular basis. Plus, there's no expensive gear necessary (Oh wow, a $100 SM57 microphone). So naturally, plenty of people will jump at the chance to front an established band, regardless of what kind of actual talent they might possess.

This is exactly why there are literally 19,980 numbskulls at every American Idol audition, and only 20 or so people that are worth a crap (in entertainment value). That's 0.1 percent.

Bard2dbone · #10 01-31-2008, 05:30 AM

You are telling the story of my life.

My old band auditioned singers for something like three years. I can't sing well enough to do what I heard in my head when I wrote our songs. I'm about good enough to be a backup singer. I would not hire me as a frontman. But I ended up singing lead in the band because out of something like 50 singers who auditioned, two were better than me. We hired one...and he showed up for the first practice stoned, so I fired him. The other one turned us down.

Out of the other 96% or so, none were better than me, and half were actually physically painful to hear.

But the amazing thing is that every one of them thought they were ready to be a rock star right away, like that very day.

Years later I actually found out whose voice I heard in my head while writing. I couldn't have afforded him anyway. It was Paul Carrack.

Wyatt · #11 01-31-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoD_Scotty

Been there, done that, several times. My band's been together for about 3 years, and we're now on singer #5. This last time, we actually auditioned a decent number of people (and had offers from a bunch more that we knew wouldn't fit the bill), until we found the right person for the job. I think singing is the easiest "gig" for someone to get into. Think about it, 90% of the civilized world sings along to music on a regular basis. Plus, there's no expensive gear necessary (Oh wow, a $100 SM57 microphone). So naturally, plenty of people will jump at the chance to front an established band, regardless of what kind of actual talent they might possess.

This is exactly why there are literally 19,980 numbskulls at every American Idol audition, and only 20 or so people that are worth a crap (in entertainment value). That's 0.1 percent.

We are in the same situation here. We got a guy that we are having to train to be a frontman. It isn't going very well. He has been with us since mid November. We got together last night and he could only sing about 5 songs, and he only knew all the words to one of those. Time to start looking again.

invader3k · #12 02-01-2008, 06:14 AM

That's a long time to get such little return...sounds like you're going to be searching again. I feel your pain.

Bard2dbone · #13 02-01-2008, 06:53 AM

You don't need to give them that much time. If they're not making in a month or two, they're not going to make it in a year.

*'It' in this case being the effort to master all the material to the best of their ability.

BillMason · #14 02-01-2008, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyatt

We are in the same situation here. We got a guy that we are having to train to be a frontman. It isn't going very well. He has been with us since mid November. We got together last night and he could only sing about 5 songs, and he only knew all the words to one of those. Time to start looking again.

Imagine playing bass with a band that long and only being physically able to play 5 songs, but only able to remember the chords to one. People would be wondering if music is what you really want to do, right?

guitfiddle0409 · #15 02-01-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Imagine playing bass with a band that long and only being physically able to play 5 songs, but only able to remember the chords to one. People would be wondering if music is what you really want to do, right?

I like that one!