Why Is It That We Think The Worst in Auditions

StyleOverShow · #1 10-31-2008, 07:44 PM

I auditioned last night for a rock band. I am almost 60 and this is a bona fide rock band made up of 35 to 45 year old guys (although their ages may push them into classic rockers).

I got a set list with 7 Nation Army, Wildflower, Cat Scratch Fever, Hard to Handle, you get the idea, guitar up tempo stuff. I downloaded the ones I didn't know and kinda charted them out. They wanted back up vocals too.

Put on a new set of high beams half hour before I left and hit the traffic to make a 7:00 start knowing I would be a little late.

On the way over I'm thinking, I'm too old for this gig, they may like the way I play but my gray sideburns, and maybe I just should stick to classic 70's rock/straight ahead jazz and not try to play more current tunes. All that BS. I thought about pulling over and calling them and telling them that I couldn't make it in time with traffic, too busy to play anyway, thanks.

I thought about it a minute and said to myself - Man Up! This is just an audition. You've done a million of them. Whatever it is, it isn't going to be the worst thing that has happened to you musically speaking.

Anyway, showed up at 7:12, walked in and introduced myself and got to business setting up, retuning my newly strung Hi-Beams. Set up the amp, the new strings just cutting with a edge and the big bottom booming.

We play 7 tunes, and I solidly played the licks from the recordings and I sang harmony (strongly IMO) on two tunes and then it was time to go. Everyone was nodding in approval as I left. I was the first of I don't know how many more bassist to audition that evening and I don't know if I'm have the style that they are looking for (or the looks for that matter).

Why is it that we focus on our perceived weaknesses, problems or issues in auditions. Just insecurity I guess.

ysand · #2 10-31-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StyleOverShow

Just insecurity I guess.

jazzbo58 · #3 10-31-2008, 10:40 PM

Play your best and let the chips fall where they may. I'm 50 and started playing with some guy's 15 yrs. younger and it really doesn't matter. Keep on rockin'! Hope it went well.

Cheers,
Jim

tycobb73 · #4 11-02-2008, 09:04 AM

We're auditioning guitar players right now and I have to say that although I'm giving the mature folks a chance, they don't seem to bring as many freinds to the clubs as younger players do. Our 25 year old singer can bring 25 people easily. Oour 43 year old drummer brings no one. Not that this is the only factor, but it is a factor.

guitfiddle0409 · #5 11-02-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycobb73

We're auditioning guitar players right now and I have to say that although I'm giving the mature folks a chance, they don't seem to bring as many freinds to the clubs as younger players do. Our 25 year old singer can bring 25 people easily. Oour 43 year old drummer brings no one. Not that this is the only factor, but it is a factor.

Yeah -- I'm 55. When ever I am in a band with younger guys, they always bring lots of friends. I can usually bring between 5 to 7 people at any given gig, but most of my friends kind of glaze over when I say "We go on at 10:00 PM and play until around 1:30 AM."

NorCal Dog · #6 11-02-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycobb73

We're auditioning guitar players right now and I have to say that although I'm giving the mature folks a chance, they don't seem to bring as many freinds to the clubs as younger players do. Our 25 year old singer can bring 25 people easily. Oour 43 year old drummer brings no one. Not that this is the only factor, but it is a factor.

there's a reason for this

thru the years & all the different bands that the drummer has been in, his friends have been continually used as bodies thru the door at gigs, it doesn't take too long for them to say no, been there done that

younger people are still stoopid & don't realize that they are just part of a draw with a wallet

i personally don't ask the same people to come to every single gig we do

people burn out on you pretty quickly if you do

Jim Breece · #7 11-02-2008, 09:33 AM

I'm 55, and yeah, I don't usually bring in many people my age to bar gigs, other than when my 37th high school reunion party was up the street from where I was playing. A bunch of people came after the party wound down- one drink each and they were out by 11:30. People who wanted to be part of a happening scene 25 years ago now want a couple more hours sleep before their joints seize up. Luckily, my gig is safe because my immense talent and charisma captivate the younger folks who are in the bars. That and I own the p.a.

StyleOverShow · #8 11-02-2008, 11:39 PM

Didn't get the gig although I was in the running. They went with another bassist who knew most of their set list and it wouldn't take much time to get him up to speed. They said some nice things about my playing and backup vocals. More prospects from Craigslist.

phatbass · #9 11-03-2008, 12:01 AM

I'm nearly 50 and one of my gigs is in a band with a singer/songwriter/guitarist who's just turned 20 and his (slightly) older bro on Djembe. I have a hoot and don't feel out of place at gigs; I just have fun and do my thing and the kids love it.

Plus I get to hit on the fans' mums...

Slax · #10 11-03-2008, 12:11 AM

I'm in a band where I'm the youngest. I'm 22, going on 23, where my bandmates are late 40s.

It's amazing that your story from the flip side of the coin is exactly the same as my audition into my band.

I guess it goes to show you, even though we all know, age doesn't matter when it comes to stuff like this, people are people and that's how it should be!

(Unfortunately, some people can't see past this...) Just because you're younger or older than a band your auditioning for, doesn't mean you can't do the part.

btw. Sorry to hear you didn't make it. I'm sure there's other bands out there.

Chinguschild · #11 11-03-2008, 12:30 AM

Im 18 and played with guys in there 50's for a few years before the drummer moved to texas.

The age gap doesnt matter. If you can groove you can groove. No one can take that from you

Busker · #12 11-03-2008, 06:41 AM

Older guy here, pushing 50.

Anyway, went to an audition recently. The band was much younger than me, not that it really matters. I'm already in a decent band, but this guitarist from this other band called me, looking for a bass player, looking to get their band rolling, record a CD and all. I told them I was already in a band, but would be glad to come audition, jam, have some fun, and if they were interested, to maybe help them with bass on the CD. He thought that was fine.

I spent hours during the next few days learning and trying to perfect a couple of the songs they do (I already knew a several others). One song that I learned for them, I thought was a great song. It was a beautiful ballad and I worked hard on that bass line, both making it sound like the record, and putting a little of my own ideas into it as well. I thought I had it down and would really impress them with that.

So I get there, meet everyone, and set up my gear. We started with that song mentioned above that I really like. They couldn't even play it correctly. They had one of the chords wrong and played the wrong chord over and over, plus two electric guitarists were tripping all over each other. The lead player was fumbling for the notes, hitting sour notes all over. In short, a complete mess, as were most of the rest of the songs.

I was P.O'd, but pretty much kept it to myself and jammed with them for a couple of hours to be polite and try to have some fun with it, then said I needed to go, its been fun, nice meeting you, yada yada. My fault for assuming they would have it together better than that, I suppose.

DanRJBrasil · #13 11-03-2008, 07:07 AM

I´m in my early 30´s I got a adver looking for bp, i emailed them & got some music to hear & play for the looks i thought they would be in their early 20´s, but only much later on, just before the first rehearsal they told thy are about 15 to16. I told them that age does not matter and really don't , but I had to let this one go. :O

Fretless1! · #14 11-03-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycobb73

We're auditioning guitar players right now and I have to say that although I'm giving the mature folks a chance, they don't seem to bring as many freinds to the clubs as younger players do. Our 25 year old singer can bring 25 people easily. Oour 43 year old drummer brings no one. Not that this is the only factor, but it is a factor.

This is somewhat true. I'm 45, drummer's 46, two guitarists in their late 30's. Our 23 year old singer can pull in a bigger crowd of friends than all of the rest of us combined.

All my friends, including my wife, have "paid their dues". It's very difficult to get them out of the house.