"Live" audition

[oldrocker]

I agree with Blue here, I would never accept a live audition. The bass player provides the structure for a song - it's not like an extra guitar player or harmonica player sitting in with an established band and just providing some solos or highlights.

It looks like what the OP had was an invition to play some songs at an open jam. Very different situation.

In my experience the bands I've seen with 100s of songs in their set list with interchangeable band members don't play these 100s of songs very well. They miss stops, interlududes key changes ... and are not bands that I find interesting. I don't like listening to these bands and I have no interest in being in one.

IMO of course

[jive1]

I'm curious.....

For the guys who wouldn't do a live audition, would you also refuse to do a fill-in gig?
To me, they are basically the same, except in one situation you may become a permanent member.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

It I broke my hand and had a gig coming up I know I could call up a guy like Jive (or any number of good bassists around),give him a set list and have no worries that the gig would go on fine. Happens all the time.

well this is more of the "sub" idea where you "know a guy" to cover for you.

it's more on the regular member to pick a sub that can handle the gig, and if the sub doesn't hack it it's the regular member who gets the evil eye from the bandleader.

i would love for a cover band audition to be a paid gig. it would mean that i had enough of a rep that at least they expected the gig wouldn't fail, and i'd be getting paid to learn or brush up on all those goddamn songs.

the OP's kind of open jam situation sounded perfect, a chance to play plenty, maybe get paid, but not have the pressure of a "real" gig.

[Keithwah]

Those who can do. Those who can't.....b*tch about the idea that a guy can walk into an audition setting live or not and nail his parts, knowing darned well they don't have the moxy to pull it off.

Its exactly the same as a "sub" gig as well. If you ain't got it, you ain't got it. That doesn't mean that if you spent months in a basement you might not be able to play that song as well as those of us that can get a song with a couple listens. Some have a gift for that sort of thing and others have to study much harder. This isn't meant to annoy those that can't, but rather is a pretty legit answer.

[JumboJack]

Originally Posted by Keithwah

Those who can do. Those who can't.....b*tch about the idea that a guy can walk into an audition setting live or not and nail his parts, knowing darned well they don't have the moxy to pull it off.

Its exactly the same as a "sub" gig as well. If you ain't got it, you ain't got it. That doesn't mean that if you spent months in a basement you might not be able to play that song as well as those of us that can get a song with a couple listens. Some have a gift for that sort of thing and others have to study much harder. This isn't meant to annoy those that can't, but rather is a pretty legit answer.

Bingo!

[Munjibunga]

I kinda did a live audition once, although I didn't know it. My acoustic trio played at an open mic and after we were done, the house band, who had just lost their bass player, asked me to join them every week. Since I'm in two other bands I had to decline, but I have gone out a couple times and played with them since then.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by jive1

I'm curious.....

For the guys who wouldn't do a live audition, would you also refuse to do a fill-in gig?
To me, they are basically the same, except in one situation you may become a permanent member.

I am a one band guy, I want people to say " he's the bass player in the abc band. I don't sub or do fill ins.

Nothing wrong with it, its just not me.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Keithwah

Those who can do. Those who can't.....b*tch about the idea that a guy can walk into an audition setting live or not and nail his parts, knowing darned well they don't have the moxy to pull it off.

Its exactly the same as a "sub" gig as well. If you ain't got it, you ain't got it. That doesn't mean that if you spent months in a basement you might not be able to play that song as well as those of us that can get a song with a couple listens. Some have a gift for that sort of thing and others have to study much harder. This isn't meant to annoy those that can't, but rather is a pretty legit answer.

I would love to see a guy nail 3 sets at a live audition flawlessly. That would be impressive.

Blue

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I am a one band guy, I want people to say " he's the bass player in the abc band. I don't sub or do fill ins.

Nothing wrong with it, its just not me.

Blue

Yup, nothing wrong with it at all. Each of us finds a niche that balances what we're capable of, what we enjoy, and what the market will support.

[longfinger]

Originally Posted by jive1

I'm curious.....

For the guys who wouldn't do a live audition, would you also refuse to do a fill-in gig?
To me, they are basically the same, except in one situation you may become a permanent member.

To me, the wording means this difference:

auditions => no pay
fill in gig => pay.

Audition for no pay, we'll that's 3 songs and a chat about goals and future plans. That's an audition.

Fill in gig, is a fill in gig. It can also be an audition for future projects, but for that one night it is not an audition but rather a fill in gig with pay.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I would love to see a guy nail 3 sets at a live audition flawlessly. That would be impressive.

Blue

Like someone else said, it's not rocket science....

[jive1]

Originally Posted by longfinger

To me, the wording means this difference:

auditions => no pay
fill in gig => pay.

Audition for no pay, we'll that's 3 songs and a chat about goals and future plans. That's an audition.

Fill in gig, is a fill in gig. It can also be an audition for future projects, but for that one night it is not an audition but rather a fill in gig with pay.

For me, if it's at a gig and I'm playing all night, it's paid whether it's an audition or not. To me the difference is whether there is an opportunity to be a member of the band.

[klokker]

I'm a weekend warrior type, that plays out a couple or three times a month. I've worked up 20 songs I've never heard before in a week without too much trouble, given the right set list and a week with enough time I might be able to pull 50off and do it pretty well. I'd love to give it a try.

But I couldn't just show up and play songs I've never heard before etc. and pull off a decent bass line. The song has to be in my head, or I'm SOL.

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I would love to see a guy nail 3 sets at a live audition flawlessly. That would be impressive.

Blue

The subjective part is defining "nail"

[MNAirHead]

Update from New Year's Eve

We got together (just the bandleader).... He asked for a non playing meeting

"Sincerely thanks for coming out.... Hope your wife had a great time ... anyone can basement audition well or not - were a performing band - we can't tell if you lick with us until you're live"

We.then discussed direction etc

[MNAirHead]

Autocorrect --- meant click

[obimark]

This sounds STUPID to me. Why couldn't you audition before this gig, and if they want you they pay you? YOu could literally practice/audition two days before. Sounds like UTTER BS>

Yes I have played lots of songs at open jams/mics, FOr the hell of it, and if I screwed up some pieces, NOone noticed or even cared, but to play an all night gig with ANY band, that aint my own, that is a fill-in gig, and they need to pay.

[bradjonesbass]

I do a fair amount of sub work. I don't do note for note covers and everyone who hires me knows it. My rule on sub gigs is KISS - Root - Five - Octave, lock with the kick for pop/rock gigs. On funk gigs I get a bit more adventurous. If the band leader calls out a bass solo, I'll take it, but keep it pretty basic. Most calls I get are because I've played with a drummer or guitar player before and they know me and know I'll hold the bottom down all night. Most of these gigs are chord chart gigs but sometimes they'll pull out a song not on the set list and not in my book. Listen, watch, and go...

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by obimark

This sounds STUPID to me. Why couldn't you audition before this gig, and if they want you they pay you? YOu could literally practice/audition two days before. Sounds like UTTER BS>

Yes I have played lots of songs at open jams/mics, FOr the hell of it, and if I screwed up some pieces, NOone noticed or even cared, but to play an all night gig with ANY band, that aint my own, that is a fill-in gig, and they need to pay.

You could consider it a full in gig --- if the player sucks, they're not permanently filling the spor

[MNAirHead]

Dang autocorrect