Auditions: Whats more important, playing or backup vocals?

[smogg]

IMO/IME for a first audition nailing the bass lines out weigh the back up vocals. Once you establish you can nail the lines then the vocals can be integrated. Personally I will not work with a group that will settle for dumbed downed rhythmic lines in exchange for a few extra " Oh yeah baby, oh yeahs" But just me.

[bluewine]

Your audition was probably fine.

The problem is, established bands out there gigging and making $$ usually have guys waiting in the wings.

In other words they know who they want even before the audition. The bass player they chose probably has some sort of pre-existing relationship with the band and will not go through the traditional audition process.

Blue

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

Any player in my band has to be spot-on with backing vocals, as we are a four piece, and the biggest we would ever get is five.

So vocals are equally important to playing ability, for the most part.

I really don't need that much help in the high range, though; just someone who has a good voice and is on-key.

The same is true with my band - everyone has to be able to sing. Harmonies are what set us apart from so many other bands.

It sounds like you did pretty well though - a couple of vocal mistakes during an audition is no big deal. It's out of your hands now, so just relax and see what happens. Best of luck though - I hope you get the gig.

Regards,
Mark

[jonas_24112]

Originally Posted by jonas_24112

Update- OP here. I guess you can say I got the gig, but they started getting some label interest, so the bass player is going to hang in there for now to see what happens and help the BL in his bid for a Record deal. They have my number just in case and whose to say what will happen next year, lol. Have three other possibilities right now and still playing with my current band, but so ready to leave. i guess we'll see what happens. Thanks TB!

And as for the playing vs vocals, I guess it's dependent upon the gig. I would have replaced a bass player that did a lot of harmonies, therefore vocals were important. I beat a great player for the position cause I could sing harmonies.

See above quote from me, the OP.

[jonas_24112]

And I left my band last night. Boy do I feel relieved. Had an audition Saturday and another next week. Heck, I'll just sub for a while and be happy if I have to.

[MarkMgibson]

Sorry you didn't get the gig, but you made some new contacts. I'm sure those guys kept your number, and I'll give you 10 to 1 odds that you'll end up playing with at least one of them in the future (or maybe all of them). The music world is rather insular in that way, at least in my experience. Best of luck with your upcoming auditions.