preparing for a cruise audition

[Blonde Bassist]

Hi guys,

I know there are a couple old posts with similar ideas, but I kinda wanted some fresh advice.

I've got a couple auditions coming up, and obviously need to be at my best for them. If you've done auditions (good or bad) can you post up some top tips on how to approach it, what material you played, how it went? I'd be interested to compare notes, and see whether I'm going along the right lines.

For the first, I've been asked to prepare some examples of different styles, a bit of Jaco, a bit of slap, some finger-funk, bit of latin etc. Along with the mandatory sight reading and standards. I've been told I'll be given an hour to prepare before the audition, and will be given some chord charts and some other reading as well.

For the second, I've been asked to prepare an etude, and a standard, with some improvisation and walking. I'll have half an hour to prepare and will be sent 1 show chart and some stylistic examples.

So far I'm making sure I know my standards, been going through the obvious ones, Autumn Leaves, Fly Me To the Moon, All of me, All the things you are, etc. As well as going through some different stylistic things, bit of the Chicken, bit of Rocco, using "Get on the floor" as my slap example, recordame for latin, maybe a bit of "For Once in my life" for some Jamerson style.

For the second one, so far I think I'm either gunna play "All of me" or "All the things you are" with an Aabersold backing track. I've also chosen Bourree II from Bach's 3rd Cello suite, I'm tempted to go with the Gigue from number 4, but it's a little bit long.

What kind of things would you chose to play, what were the sight reading bits like? How bad were the charts to read, or were they good?

Hopefully all will be ok, I need to work on some of my reading and I need to do some full-on audition-esque practise, I get really uptight which is never a good thing.


I'd really like to do the best I can, so please don't hesitate to tell me if you think I'm going wrong.

Cheers guys,
Dan

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Blonde Bassist

Hi guys,

I know there are a couple old posts with similar ideas, but I kinda wanted some fresh advice.

I've got a couple auditions coming up, and obviously need to be at my best for them. If you've done auditions (good or bad) can you post up some top tips on how to approach it, what material you played, how it went? I'd be interested to compare notes, and see whether I'm going along the right lines.

For the first, I've been asked to prepare some examples of different styles, a bit of Jaco, a bit of slap, some finger-funk, bit of latin etc. Along with the mandatory sight reading and standards. I've been told I'll be given an hour to prepare before the audition, and will be given some chord charts and some other reading as well.

For the second, I've been asked to prepare an etude, and a standard, with some improvisation and walking. I'll have half an hour to prepare and will be sent 1 show chart and some stylistic examples.

So far I'm making sure I know my standards, been going through the obvious ones, Autumn Leaves, Fly Me To the Moon, All of me, All the things you are, etc. As well as going through some different stylistic things, bit of the Chicken, bit of Rocco, using "Get on the floor" as my slap example, recordame for latin, maybe a bit of "For Once in my life" for some Jamerson style.

For the second one, so far I think I'm either gunna play "All of me" or "All the things you are" with an Aabersold backing track. I've also chosen Bourree II from Bach's 3rd Cello suite, I'm tempted to go with the Gigue from number 4, but it's a little bit long.

What kind of things would you chose to play, what were the sight reading bits like? How bad were the charts to read, or were they good?

Hopefully all will be ok, I need to work on some of my reading and I need to do some full-on audition-esque practise, I get really uptight which is never a good thing.


I'd really like to do the best I can, so please don't hesitate to tell me if you think I'm going wrong.

Cheers guys,
Dan

these days a lot of cruise customers may be younger than the american song book.....unless the jazz standards were specified,maybe include some modern rock/pop elements