Auditions Rant

Uncle Ernie · #1 06-24-2008, 07:43 PM

Need to vent on the latest audition misfortunes... so here it goes.

We've been looking for a singer and a second guitar player for the band for a few weeks. We currently have an experienced drummer and guitarist, and we're looking to play blues and classic rock.

Last Sunday I had lined up 3 promising guitar players, at 3:30, 5:00 & 6:30, nicely spaced to be able to play for a bit and talk another bit and see how things go. At 3:00, after spending some time in the pool, I find a voice message in my cell... guy #1 can't make it because he's cleaning up this mess the tornado left in his house two weeks ago! Couldn't catch the drummer in time, so here we are all at 3:30 in the practice room, making the best of it and working some stuff out.

4:50 comes by and I get a phone call from guy #2. He will not make it because he is cleaning the mess left by yesterday's storm... so we play some more and polish some other things. Fortunately, guy #3 is a "professional musician" with a solo act, a duo and a trio, who is looking for a band to play with. Surely a guy like this will have a business like approach and keep the appointment...

By 6:45 guy #3 hasn't showed up... I call him and he hangs up on me! So much for professionalism!

Is this normal?

invader3k · #2 06-24-2008, 07:50 PM

Sounds like you're just having bad luck coupled with some natural disaster phenomena. Not really sure there is much you can do to prevent stuff like that.

Lemoore-on · #3 06-24-2008, 08:20 PM

Musicians are flakes!

Jonny B · #4 06-24-2008, 08:25 PM

Don't let it get you down. We spent six months looking for the right guitarist, and then another four looking for a singer because our vocalist bolted three weeks after we brought in the new guitarist.

Stumbo · #5 06-25-2008, 01:06 AM

So you're lounging in the pool while the universe has crashed and crushed the lives of thousands of people and end the lives of some.

Dude, there was a freakin' tornado.

The universe doesn't revolve around you and your band. If my house was in shambles and you called, I'd hang up on you, too, but not before I told you "who cares about your band" and few other choice words.

Depth_Charge · #6 06-25-2008, 02:34 AM

It's quite normal. When we ran auditions for my band, I had 5 guitarists lined up, and over 10-15 (female) singers interested in the position.

1 guitarist "hurt his hand" the day prior, and wanted a reschedule. I offered him one provided we didn't select one on the night.

Another just asked for a reschedule without offering a reason, and I didn't ask...but he was "good to go on the songs" any other night.

Another asked if he could come earlier, I said we were booked out so let me know if you can still make it. He didn't let me know and he was a no show.

2 showed up, both nailed the audition playing wise, and we went with the guy who we felt was a better fit.

Of the singers, I only managed to get 5 into the room to audition, and 3 couldn't sing well enough to compensate for the fact they were poorly prepared.

One girl we were going to invite into the band emailed me to tell me she was off to the US for summer camp, which "may" affect her chances

Aaaah, yeah. It does.

Another we invited back a second time and she came along, but when I called her to offer her the spot, she declined before I could offer it, stating she didn't feel the music was her style...DESPITE having the list for a month and coming to 2 auditions. Go figure.

So yeah, it comes with the territory...but at least your guys had natural disasters to contend with, the guys I dealt with were mainly flakes, wannabe's or just not good enough to cut it.

Oh, when I was putting my band together, EVERYTHING revolved around my band too and I felt bitter about each and everyone until I sat down and thought about it

Uncle Ernie · #7 06-25-2008, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

So you're lounging in the pool while the universe has crashed and crushed the lives of thousands of people and end the lives of some.

Dude, there was a freakin' tornado.

The universe doesn't revolve around you and your band. If my house was in shambles and you called, I'd hang up on you, too, but not before I told you "who cares about your band" and few other choice words.

He he, it sounds selfish, doesn't it? That's why posting here makes sense, you'll get some perspective on things.

Well, the Tornado was 2 weeks before we actually agreed to meet, he told me about it when I called him and I certainly asked if he was sure he could make it... but I understand, and I've called him back. Besides, he did call and email a couple of hours before, and I missed him. But that was the start of a rather frustrating afternoon of no-shows.

ilikethump · #8 06-25-2008, 06:56 AM

I've been having really ****** luck too...

Due to creative differences and tinnitus (or however you spell it), we lost our guitarist. We still have him recorded and have been practicing to the recordings for quite a while now... we're an original band with pretty much a full set ready to go. We just need a guitarist to step up to the plate.

And ye gods, I can not believe how flakey some people are. We have had one guy set up THREE separate auditions with us, then not show to any of them. Honestly. We had one guy swear he'd audition friday night (not a usual playing night, we all sacrificed a healthy chunk of our weekend when all we wanted to do is go home), and then turn off his phone and not show up. At 10 that night he emails the singer and tells her that he is sorry but he had to work late - can he come audition Monday? We're a bit angry at this point, but give him another shot.

Same **** again. Doesn't show up, and we're all sitting there with thumbs up our butts.

We've also had a ton of guitarists see us as a package deal to fulfill their creative dreams, and when they realize they have to learn the songs that we've crafted over the past year they lose interest. Even worse, they'll come in and become part of the band then a month later when they realize that we rather like those songs and no we will not change our style to their favorite country band (we're techno / alternative / hybrid) they just stop showing up.

SO. FRUSTRATING.

So we built a cardboard box robot yesterday and are going to hang a guitar hero controller around it's neck and go play open mic nights without a guitarist for a while. We have the guitar recorded already and have a full system, so the songs are intact we just don't have a live guitarist.

Figure that someone we find at an open mic night who actually enjoys listening to music will be more reliable than ****ing craigslist wankers.

/rant

So... I hear you man

.

aborgman · #9 06-25-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Ernie

Is this normal?

Sadly, yes.

While my band was searching for a rhythm guitar player we had the following experiences:

1) Guys shows up, plays well, we invite him back for rehearsal. Never hear from him again, and he doesn't answer/return phone calls.

2) Guy never shows up, never returns phone calls.

While my band was searching for a singer:

1-25) Yeah, I'll be there for the audition. Never shows up, never hear from them again.

26) Shows up and is so awful we can't believe people let him sing.

27) Shows up, sings well, even runs out after rehearsal and buys us a 6 pack to make up for the couple beers he bummed out of our stash. We invite him back. Never hear from him again. Phone disconnected. Doesn't respond to emails.

MoD_Scotty · #10 06-25-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemoore-on

Musicians are flakes!

A-friggin-men

denhou1974 · #11 06-26-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

So you're lounging in the pool while the universe has crashed and crushed the lives of thousands of people and end the lives of some.

Dude, there was a freakin' tornado.

The universe doesn't revolve around you and your band. If my house was in shambles and you called, I'd hang up on you, too, but not before I told you "who cares about your band" and few other choice words.

Yes, but they still could've called him and cancelled their auditions instead of just not showing up.

invader3k · #12 06-26-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aborgman

1-25) Yeah, I'll be there for the audition. Never shows up, never hear from them again.

You seriously had twenty-five people no show? I think I would have thrown in the towel at that point. Congrats on your perseverence, I guess.

Busker · #13 06-26-2008, 10:11 AM

It works both ways.

What about the times a person (ok, me) has went to an audition, and didn't get the courtesy of a call back? Not even to say, "sorry, we chose someone else." To me, that's just plain rude, to leave someone hanging and wondering. Maybe they just don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but its still rude, and a bridge burned, IMO.

But I guess I repaired one bridge. I'm now with a band that didn't even want to audition me last year, mainly because they thought I was too old. LOL I decided this old fart was going to take the job they NOW offered and show them what I could do. Now I have to get to work on their songs, so I can show them what I can do.

eotpr · #14 06-26-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

It works both ways.

What about the times a person (ok, me) has went to an audition, and didn't get the courtesy of a call back? Not even to say, "sorry, we chose someone else." To me, that's just plain rude, to leave someone hanging and wondering. Maybe they just don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but its still rude, and a bridge burned, IMO.

Or they say that they will call back and you never hear from them.

aborgman · #15 06-26-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

You seriously had twenty-five people no show?

Nah - it was probably more like a dozen... plus about a dozen more that said they were interested in scheduling an audition then never responded to another email/phone call.

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

I think I would have thrown in the towel at that point. Congrats on your perseverence, I guess.

Well... after guy #27 we gave up.