Anyone ever botch an audition - on purpose?

jaywa · #1 06-01-2009, 05:18 PM

So maybe you get to the audition and for whatever reason you just really realize you don't WANT this gig? Has anyone ever intentionally played below their ability in hopes of failing the audition, as opposed to just doing your best and then saying "no"?

My philosophy has always been, you do your best and then if they ask you, you say "no thanks" and deal with the awkwardness. Also because word gets around and I would much rather have the others in that band telling people, "yeah he's a great player but he turned us down" rather than, "oh that guy? He sucks." And there might be one or two good players in an otherwise not-so-good band that might remember you down the road.

But am curious to know if anyone has ever played that situation another way.

wingnut · #2 06-01-2009, 05:30 PM

Nope. You never know what will come along in the future. The band you audition for could change members or styles of music. If you blow it on purpose, they'll just remember that you blew it. If you turn them down and give them the reason why, they'll still remember that you are a class player that just didn't like what they were doing at the time.

dhomer · #3 06-01-2009, 11:31 PM

I've turned down some offers in the past, never dogged it once....

EddiePlaysBass · #4 06-02-2009, 05:20 AM

Not proud of it, but yes. This was ages ago, when I wasn't playing for that long. My dad (a singer) was in a band and the drummer's stepson needed a bass player, so I was called in. I felt obligated and pushed into this audition, so when I arrived and they said "Let's jam in E" I switched between the open string and 7th fret on the A

That "audition" lasted all friggin' day, because the drummer was exhausted (not tired, exhausted) after every single song so their routine was: play a song, take a break, play a song, take a longer break, play a song, take an even longer break ...

Ironically, about a year or two later I joined a band who rented the rehearsal space from the aforementioned drummer (the dad, not the one lacking physique) and when he heard me play he went all out, saying to everyone how much I'd improved and what an awesome bass player I had become since "back in the days" ...

HogieWan · #5 06-02-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

Also because word gets around and I would much rather have the others in that band telling people, "yeah he's a great player but he turned us down" rather than, "oh that guy? He sucks."

If some people get turned down, they'll use the latter no matter how good you were

PSPookie · #6 06-02-2009, 05:32 AM

Sandbagging an audition strikes me as being cowardly. If you don't want to play with these people then man up and politely tell them so.

Bruce Lindfield · #7 06-02-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

So maybe you get to the audition and for whatever reason you just really realize you don't WANT this gig? Has anyone ever intentionally played below their ability in hopes of failing the audition....

I can't see how that would work anyway - so if it's a poor band and you play poorly - then surely they are more likely to take you, as you will fit right in!!

I have been in an audition where the band told me I was too good for them and that I would be bored - and I believed them!!

RustyAxe · #8 06-02-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

So maybe you get to the audition and for whatever reason you just really realize you don't WANT this gig? Has anyone ever intentionally played below their ability in hopes of failing the audition, as opposed to just doing your best and then saying "no"?

I can't imagine why anyone would put out less than his/her best performance ...

... every time I play is an audition, whether it's for a new project, the next booking, or for audience approval. We're selling ourselves ... why would we sell short?

PJSShearer · #9 06-02-2009, 08:12 AM

A Sax player I knew - who was a very competant player - did something similar in front of the bandleader I was working for at the time. When my bandleader mentioned to me a few months later that he/we needed a Sax player, my friend, who would have been fine for the gig, was rejected out of hand and I went down in a little in his estimation for even mentioning him.

Moral of the Story - you never know whose watching and/or listening.

jaywa · #10 06-02-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HogieWan

If some people get turned down, they'll use the latter no matter how good you were

Unfortunately, you're right!

jaywa · #11 06-02-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

A Sax player I knew - who was a very competant player - did something similar in front of the bandleader I was working for at the time. When my bandleader mentioned to me a few months later that he/we needed a Sax player, my friend, who would have been fine for the gig, was rejected out of hand and I went down in a little in his estimation for even mentioning him.

That's a good point. The only thing in my estimation, worse than dogging an audition you got yourself, is to be recommended for something and then dog it there. Cause then the stink is attached not just to you, but the person who recommended you.

father of fires · #12 06-02-2009, 12:55 PM

I tried out for a band after one of my bands broke up. I thought I was the man and they'd be lucky to have me. I heard one song then decided I was to good for these guys. So I just went through the motions and got out as soon as I could. We got into the parking lot and started showing each other stuff we had played on. I played my old band's e.p. and talked about how awesome we were. Then they showed me their demo.

I was floored. It was so good. They didn't play any of these songs at the audition. I called the guy back and asked for a second tryout and he never returned my call.

Lesson learned.

I tried out for another band during the same period and I basically walked out when they showed me two's riffs and said they needed my help deciding which one was more commercial.

jaywa · #13 06-02-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by father of fires

I tried out for a band after one of my bands broke up. I thought I was the man and they'd be lucky to have me. I heard one song then decided I was to good for these guys. So I just went through the motions and got out as soon as I could. We got into the parking lot and started showing each other stuff we had played on. I played my old band's e.p. and talked about how awesome we were. Then they showed me their demo.

I was floored. It was so good. They didn't play any of these songs at the audition. I called the guy back and asked for a second tryout and he never returned my call.

Lesson learned.

Lesson learned, but that was kind of cold by the band not to expose you to their best stuff either. Not sure what they were thinking on that...

father of fires · #14 06-02-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

Lesson learned, but that was kind of cold by the band not to expose you to their best stuff either. Not sure what they were thinking on that...

I think they were trying their new stuff out on me. Or may be they picked their easiest songs.

I realized soon after that, that I wasn't as great as I thought I was. I'm much more humble now-a-days.

20db pad · #15 06-02-2009, 05:28 PM

I haven't - you have to bring your best game no matter what. From the smallest prairie town to the highest A-list levels in the biggest cities, the music community is too small to play below your level. People talk, for better or for worse.

BigOldHarry · #16 06-02-2009, 05:28 PM

No.

Never dog it - you never, NEVER know who might be there that you may need a good word from later. Case in point: New band I'm in, the drummer played with a guitar player I used to play with - a guy I did NOT get along with, but I always played my best, never dogged it. Drummer gave me big thumbs up as a player, so it make getting the gig easier.

If you don't like the band, you turn down the gig - but don't fake blowing it.

PJSShearer · #17 06-03-2009, 04:35 AM

I always smiled, said thank you and "if you need me again, please call ..." when I took the money.

The number of recommendations I've received from guys I personally could not stand and/or bands who's material I disliked more than made up for it.

dave64o · #18 06-03-2009, 04:43 AM

Nope, it's as useless as faking an orgasm. Seriously.

Like others have said, it's best to play to the best of your ability and if you don't like the situation then just politely decline. No good could come of faking it - for you or for the band.

GearHeadBassMan · #19 06-03-2009, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I have been in an audition where the band told me I was too good for them and that I would be bored - and I believed them!!

Had something like that happen to me too! they basically said "we're looking for a guy to just ride the roots" and told me i'd be happier if I kept looking.

Really cool dudes though, level headed at least.

PJSShearer · #20 06-03-2009, 05:38 AM

Of course good can come with faking it - the band gets through the gig and we all get paid!!. If we go down well, they might book the band again, and I might get another gig.

I was a professional Bass Guitarist at the time - my only job was playing bass - so turning down work for any reason was not something I could afford to do. Whether or not I liked the people I was working with, or the music I was playing was not a consideration. I was a professional musician and, if you booked me, you were paying me good money to provide you with a service and for that you got my best shot.

Mostly I enjoyed the bands I worked with and the music I was playing, but sometimes I didn't and then, like those in the world's oldest profession, faking it convincingly was a necessary part of the job!!.

The music business is run on reputation and word of mouth - if you have a good rep then people will recommend you - I used to get people call me up saying "I got your number from ...." who'm I personally could not stand, but as I always "smiled and took the money" he never knew and I got work put my way because of him.

As with my earlier post in this thread referring to my Sax player friend - treat everytime you are playing in a group or band whether it is an audition, just a jam with friends or a paid gig as an audition - you never know who's watching.

Be cool out there ...