Awkward Auditions - when they shift the marbles on you.

[Lincoln]

Hi gang,
I was curious to get your thoughts on auditioning. This was my first "pro" audition. It was with a production company who represents musicians for corporate gigs.

In any event I was sent a song list and told pick 5-10 songs I am familiar with and play them with the pianist. Pop, Latin, Swing and Jazz standard type stuff. So that is what I did. The gig was for a duo situation.

When I arrived the audition was with another pianist, 2 vocals and a drummer. And it was from a duo gig to a possible 10 piece group. Not that big of a deal....

Then it became let's try to find songs everyone knows -- well not being a guy who's primary gigs are corporate I don't have these songs ready at the top of a hat. I prepared for what they asked me to prepare for. More than a handful of songs found me fumbling for the chords. I will say that a many of the songs they did call I at least had a passing familiarity with and on the songs I knew, locking with the drummer and pianist was easy.

To make matters more awkward,though, the band leader decided he wanted to play my bass on a song and sing lead with it because he knew the song. I'm not even sure what or how to take that....

I'm a seasoned enough player, so I'm not worried about my abilities, but it felt awkward not being told how to prepare for the rehearsal.

Afterwards, everyone went their separate ways except for the singers and the producer.

My question is -- Is this typical of auditions for corporate bands and production studios?

[mattofash]

Ouch,
That to me sounds like a harsh one. If they seemed to like the ones you knew though, and they should have been impressed by your enthusiasm to improvise as much as you can, then it should be fine.
If I were you though I'd try and ignore the band leader, something tells me if you got this gig, then he would be correcting playing and what not quite a lot, he just seems to be that kinda guy.

[Fretlessboy]

That does seam very odd. Which production house/agency was it? It really does appear to be a very weird type of audition. Any word on the outcome?

[Lincoln]

Jerry Bruno Productions is the place, here in Cleveland, OH....

No word yet on the audition - I sent a follow-up email the next morning cordially thanking the band leader and the producer and stated that I could learn 15-20 songs in a week for a proper preparation.

No response - which is typically not the band leader's MO - he's tethered to his email during the day - get's it on his phone I think.

He did occasionally take over the keys from the other pianist and play parts for him, as well...and this guy was clearly a seasoned pianist who'd been around the block.

My ears are pretty good so I could pick up a few of the chords, but some of tunes have signature bass lines - you either know them or you don't. For example: Verdine White's line "September". I had a vague notion of it, because I'm familiar with the song. But I don't play it on gigs, hence I might not know it completely. It's not even that hard of a line, but the leader felt the need to take my instrument, play it and then not give it back so that we could replay the song....he just moved onto another song...

And no comments on the things that I did do well...

weird.

[agreatheight]

That was a poorly set up audition.

I was in a similar situation last fall, and I left the audition early. Same deal - I had the choice of learning 3 of 10 songs and they auditioned two players (a bass player and a drummer) and wouldn't you know it, we didn't match on any songs AT ALL. This was a rock band so the leader / singer figured I should just be able to play any song cold. So he calls for Rock 'n' Roll All Night by Kiss - a song I have never played and likely haven't heard it in a decade. So I tell them I don't know it and I'll do my best - and I stumble through pretty damn well considering. But at the end of the song there is a finishing lick and I had no idea what it was. So I didn't play it, and came in on the last note. Song ends and the leader sneers, "You missed that last run." I said "Thanks for your time" packed my bass up and left. Two minutes later the drummer is in the parking lot as well.

Forget it. That is not a professional way to handle an audition.

[Lincoln]

I wonder how many bass players this guy and producer will go through without giving them a fighting chance? It's not like they're Miles Davis or Buddy Rich?

The interesting thing is that there are only so many bass players in Cleveland that can and would do their entire catalog - and most of them are busy already....

I'm only a part-time bass player looking for an extra pay check, so we'll see if indeed the phone does ring again after they audition more bass players or wait to get more responses from their ad...

I'm not waiting for them, though.

is there another, better way i could have handled the situation?

[mattofash]

I dunno I would say coulda stood up and said Im the bassist or thanks for showing me now let me have a go at that one.
But if the guys as big a douche as he sounds...
prob best you didnt

[Lincoln]

I was trying to seem professional and not act fazed by his bogart. And because this my first audition of this kind, I didn't want to blow any connections with the other musicians i had met that night. The drummer and I locked and he lives right around the corner from me... might try to hook up with him in the future.

[Jimi Cleek]

I've been to a couple of similar auditions where I have been asked to pick songs from a list. It never seems to go well as the tunes I pick always seem to be the ones they are not ready to play and want to hear something else. Anymore I ask for 5 or so songs they want me to have prepared. If they can't do that then I don't go to the audition. I love learning new songs, but if I am not going to get to play them with real people then I can find a better use of my time.

Good luck,
Jimi

[agreatheight]

Originally Posted by Jimi Cleek

Anymore I ask for 5 or so songs they want me to have prepared. If they can't do that then I don't go to the audition.

+1. After my experience, I have them pick the songs. I also stopped learning more that three songs for each audition (more than enough for a first meeting).

[tZer]

That sounds like a very uncomfortable audition. I don't know what the norm is as I have never auditioned for a corporate gig. I've been lucky enough to be invited in without auditioning, but never had to go into one with people I didn't know and a catalog of material that was up in the air.

But I have a guitar player friend who has been playing in the cover band circuit for years and one thing I learned after playing in one of his bands was that he, if need be, could pretty much call up and play just about any song that would be appropriate for a 60's - today, pop/rock/bar-band situation. Not only could he play most every song ever, he could sing lead or backups on almost all of them as well - a true seasoned pro of the bar/cover band world.

What I am getting at is, as I am sure you know, there are players out there who are just like my friend - been in it so long that that have a monstrous catalog of tunes in their head.

I was invited to join his band (no audition and in a hurry) and was handed their list (well over 70 songs). A typical bar-gig will see anywhere from 35 to 40 songs - and I knew about that many from the list going in. My fist gig with them, mid gig the leader calls for one that I didn't know yet - and I'd have to fight my way through it in front of the world - then a few more I was OK with - then another that I didn't know very well - and so on - which sucked. Then I'd have to hear it from the leader, "Dude... what's up with that last tune? Don't you have the list?"

At first I thought he was being unreasonable and complained to my friend asking why this guy didn't seem to understand that it would take a few weeks for me to have the entire list under my belt. My friend was unsympathetic. He'd say to me, "My friend, that's the gig... play the gig..."

I got over myself really quickly - buckled down like crazy and learned the list before the next gig - never got the "Dude..." talk again. Bottom line? That's the gig, play the gig.

Even got to turn the table on the leader - cuz after a few months nailing our gigs, we wanted to freshen up the list with some new material - I learned it, leader-man didn't... Guess who got to pull the "Dude..." talk now!

But I feel for you and the nasty nature of that audition. There's no real way to prepare for that sort of thing and the only thing you can do is live through it and learn from it.

[Lincoln]

Yup, the gig is the gig....

I did note that even the other pianist and drummer didn't know all the tune the singers called either. So I think it seemed a little awkward for everyone.

I certainly think in the future I will ask for 5 specific tunes they want me to learn - auditions should be a go in kick but and leave situation. Not a 2.5 session of "well, what song do you know, okay well, you on keys, what do you know? How about you drummer, guy?"

if they call back, would you take the gig?

-- understanding that you're hearing this through my filter sans an feedback from the band leader.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by Lincoln

if they call back, would you take the gig?

That depends on how I felt about the gig other than the awkwardness of the audition. If the gig struck me as being interesting and had a good paycheck, sure. It's all experience and, quite frankly, money, right?

But if I got the feeling that this was some sort of disaster waiting to happen, I'd probably pass. What does your gut tell you?

[Lincoln]

My gut tells me, to wait and here about the pay check -- no, they never mentioned that at all. And not wanting to seem too mercenary, I waited for someone to say something. But they never did.

My gut also, says, gather information and make an informed decision. But the truth is, the whole production company seems a little smarmy. It is corporate, though...and that could just be the standard attitude.

[bassbully]

Although i dont have as much experience as some of you my last audition was the same old know 5-7 tunes out of 50 show up and play them. I show up plug in and we play 4 of 7 they go pretty well. Next thing i know the guitarist singer starts strumming Pink Houses from John Mellencamp (spell) And starts singing the rest of the band kicks in as do i never played the song in my life. Although it not being a huge piece i was taken off guard but pulled it off well. I got the gig and they did it again latter but it was an old school country thumper.

I think alot of auditions do this to test you but i really dont think its fair in a way. I will remember this if and when i do an audition ever again. If they say learn this or that and we might throw something at you fine but your nerves are already on edge at a tryout why frazzle you more? I feel they should ask you to throw out a tune you know from their setlist. The bandleader you faced didnt have to replay that song on your bass...that i wouldnt dig at all.

[Lincoln]

I kept wondering if he was ego checking me, trying to hear a complete sound on that particular song with the band or if he was genuinely just being an jerk.

I thought it was a little much

[Jimi Cleek]

[quote=Lincoln;5136264]
if they call back, would you take the gig?

Depends on how big an A*&% the leader really was. That being said, if the money is good I would probably take the gig just to add their set list to my repertoire.
Jimi

[Lincoln]

Adding their set list - upwards of 70 songs - would be a good thing. It's why i think the jury is out on the situation just yet.

How long would you wait before you followed up with them if you don't hear back?

[matrok]

I'd give it a couple days, the a polite "Just wondering if you've made a decision yet" email would be appropriate. Take it if the paycheck's decent and make the most of it, especially the contacts if the leader continues to be a jerk.

[Jonyak]

My personal view,

If someone asks me to learn 5 of 10 songs. I learn them all. and focus a little bit more on 5. But I would still have learned them all. that way, no surprises, and it shows you are truly prepared and want the gig.