Audition advice?

[N.F.A.]

Going to my first band audition tomorrow night and just wondering if any of you have advice. I have played in plenty of bands before, but never had to audition to get in one.
It's a Rolling Stones tribute band. They sent me a list of 6 songs to learn for the audition. I have learned those and another 12 or so. It was very fun!

[stratovani]

Try to get a good night's sleep.

Show up early, 15 minutes or so. Time enough to set up your gear, tune your bass, and calm yourself down a bit.

Bring just one bass, a cable, and a combo amp if you have one. Worry about pedals if you get the job.

Remember that you're auditioning them as much as they're auditioning you. Essentially it's a job interview, and both sides are trying to see if there's a fit there.

Have fun, and good luck.

[N.F.A.]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I am taking this as a two way interview. I will try getting sleep tonight.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I am taking this as a two way interview. I will try getting sleep tonight.

Be prepared for curve balls,like throwing vocals at you when they told you they were not required.

[N.F.A.]

Cool, I have anticipated this and been singing simple parts for some of the songs.

[Stumbo]

Here are a few links that may apply to your situation:

~Joining a new band
Finding new band
Questions to ask before joining

~Auditioning
1 For new band
2
Getting back in the game

Red flag stories
Hilarious/Bizarre audition stories
"Never got to audition"

~Replacing a band member
Firing band member
1 Auditioning new member
2

~Leaving the band
Quitting
Giving notice
Getting fired
Quitting music?

~Reheasals
Wearing ear plugs
Band rehearsal/headphones

Learning band set list
Learning songs quickly
1 Rehearsal tips
2 efficiency
3 how often?

1 Sound proofing/reduction
2-w/ room pics
3-w/ room pics
Build Recording Studio book- for pros/DIYr's
Terms and Tips

[N.F.A.]

Stumbo, I feel honored! It's too cool having you post oneo of your famous lists in a thread which I started. Thanks!

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

Going to my first band audition tomorrow night and just wondering if any of you have advice. I have played in plenty of bands before, but never had to audition to get in one.
It's a Rolling Stones tribute band. They sent me a list of 6 songs to learn for the audition. I have learned those and another 12 or so. It was very fun!

Over-prepare. Be able to play the songs in your sleep. Be able to smile and look around at the others while you play. Knowing a song like the back of your hand fosters confidence and destroys stress. When you know a song well, you won't have any problem sleeping the night before.

Oh, and in this case, I highly recommend you play the tunes note-for-note like the originals. Especially in Bill Wyman's case, there are a lot of gaps and idiosyncracies, and they pretty much define the rhythm section. One of the best compliments I got playing 'Stones tunes was from a guitarist who said thank god I play them like Wyman and don't try to fancy them up.

[N.F.A.]

Thanks Electracoyote! I have learned them note for note. They gave me 6 audition songs, but I went ahead and learned 18 songs off their master list. (In 10 days or so!) Call me an overachiever I guess.

[Floyd Eye]

Show up drunk and belligerent. lol

[N.F.A.]

Too bad I can't show up with the Mothman bass..

[BassAsAHobby]

Yes...indeed it is a job interview. Dont go in there and try to wow them with some fancy lick or something. I had an audition where it was a beatles tribute band. I was over-confident, under prepared, and banked on my abilities on bass rather than what songs I should learn. Total inexperience on my part, and of course they were not impressed. BUT....next time I auditioned for a band I was 110% ready and nailed it. Sad part to this was the band broke up two weeks later. I thought I felt tension when I was playing with em.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by BassAsAHobby

Yes...indeed it is a job interview. Dont go in there and try to wow them with some fancy lick or something. I had an audition where it was a beatles tribute band. I was over-confident, under prepared, and banked on my abilities on bass rather than what songs I should learn. Total inexperience on my part, and of course they were not impressed. BUT....next time I auditioned for a band I was 110% ready and nailed it. Sad part to this was the band broke up two weeks later. I thought I felt tension when I was playing with em.

Excellent point, fancy licks don't usually over well or make much difference in the audition stage.If a person gets the gig, you can start gradually bringing your style into the songs.

[bassbully]

A Stones trib band that would be super cool! Good luck.

[N.F.A.]

Okay, so here is the update. I went and did the audition. It turned into an evening long jam session. We did the six songs they gave me on the audition list. Then we did 4 or 5 more songs I learned from their set list.( I actually learned 18 songs from their list of 38.) Then we sat down and talked band stuff. They seemed like really nice guys, they have a marketing plan, website, etc. in the works. They asked me to join on the spot. So, I apparently nailed it! I think that I am going to give these guys a try and hope for the best. Would you guys think it prudent to do Some Girls, When the Whip Comes Down, Star Star or Bitch live? They are on the setlist and I am not sure they would be a good idea to play live.

[stratovani]

First off, congratulations on nailing the audition and joining the band! As far as playing those songs goes, I'd think that it would be something that the band should discuss together, bearing in mind that your audience will be the final determinant as to whether you should play them or not. In other words, I wouldn't play them in a junior high school, but in a club they'd probably be OK.

[oldrocker]

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

... They asked me to join on the spot. So, I apparently nailed it! I think that I am going to give these guys a try and hope for the best. Would you guys think it prudent to do Some Girls, When the Whip Comes Down, Star Star or Bitch live? They are on the setlist and I am not sure they would be a good idea to play live.

Congrats - Stones tunes are fun to play and the girls seem to like to dance to them.

IMO - Bitch is a great tune. Even better is you have a Sax/Horns in the band. Not sure about Star Star though.

[oldrocker]

Originally Posted by oldrocker

Congrats - Stones tunes are fun to play and the girls seem to like to dance to them.

IMO - Bitch is a great tune. Even better is you have a Sax/Horns in the band. Not sure about Star Star though.

Oh - I didn't make the connection at first, you're worried about the language So yeah, what Stratovani said.

Though I will repeat that bitch is a great song:

The Rolling Stones - Bitch

[Jeb]

I've never auditioned for anything that I didn't get the callback. The reason for that is because I never auditioned for anything that I wasn't either: qualified, prepared for - or interested in. Plus, I'm a nice guy. Really.

[Stumbo]

Congrats on the new band!

Let us know how it goes.