Nick's thread inspired me to post my experience and I didn't want to hijack his thread.
Long post but I found that other TBers stories help so much in realizing that we're not along. So, I'm in a very similar position to Nick. I'm 36 but very much a late bloomer. Demanding job, wife, three kids, etc. I'm preparing for my second 'real audition tonight.
My backstory is that I had jammed on bass in high school with some buddies, nothing serious. Went to college and hadn't picked it up for years. Fast forward like 15 years and I'm hanging with one of my buddies from high school in his new band. He's having problems with his bass player and that their stuff is really simple. He suggested that I pick bass up again. Well that started the bug. He landed me a nice MIM Jazz, helped me with some basics. Well his band fizzled and he got married again....I'm on my own but determined.
So I try out for a band after a few months in the basement. Original band was retooling and played some really good covers and originals. I would be the oldest member by far, but what the heck age never really mattered to me. I met and tried out, I found that experience to be very intimidating. The band was great and absolutely professional, but my confidence tanked after the first song and I got myself flustered. Needless-to-say I did not get the gig. But I handled it professionally and have kept in contact with the guitarist regularly. He was very supportive and is an absolute excellent guitarist and person. He's given me very good advice since I met with him. Now I'm helping him prepare for his first kid....
After that I went back to the basement. Tinkered around and kept learning. I posted an ad on Craigs. I just wanted to start a garage band to give me more experience working in a band environment. I found a lot of people were in the same boat. I landed with a guitarist and drummer in the area. We kept going for about a year, retooling as needed. Played some covers and originals but got majorly derailed when we brought in another guitarist and the band fizzled out since we made no progress. Work scheduled changed, original guitarist was having a baby, time to move on. I still keep in regular contact with the original guitarist from this project.
Picked up with the former drummer and another guitarist and just jammed for fun for the past 8 months. Swapped drummers due to schedules early on and brought in a friend of the guitarist and kept going. We had a nice power three piece with an on/off singer. It was a blast. Now the guitarist has a new job with a wacky rotating schedule. Drummer is having home issues. So my current project has just crumbled.
Seeing the writing on the wall a few months ago (when the guitarist took the new job) I reached out to a local band that was looking for a bassist. I explained my situation and just wanted to make contact. I reached back out to them about 2 weeks ago and have an audition with the new band tonight (9/18). The new band is very local (5 minutes away instead of 30), same age bracket, same obligations with family and work (drummer's son and my daughter are in the same class it turns out - met him at the school's open house). They have a very cool practice schedule (every other Friday night 630-930 with emphasis on individual practice and band rehearsal). Ran into the guitarist/singer at the grocery store 2 weeks ago- same goals and objectives (play hard rock, have fun, record and play out very a few times when ready). So it seems like a good fit all around. The audition songs are pretty good and not very difficult. All alternative rock stuff. I'm really excited as it seems like the perfect situation. I've met 2 of the members already and they are people I would hang with regardless. I've already been asked to hang with them after the audition for the rest of the session and join them for a beer after (no drinking during which is fine with me).
I've used the past few years developing and learning and picking up quality equipment. I think I'm prepared and I believe I have a very good shot at getting the spot. My biggest concern is overthinking in the audition. I know I'm prone to do this. I know the songs, I played 3 previously and worked on 2 more on my own before. Only had to learn one cold and it's the easiest song on the list (save me - shinedown). I already know from my garage band experience that when I'm comfortable I feel the song and let it fly, but when I'm nervous I think way too much.
Any advice for overthinking? Its a personality trait. I'm a consultant and analyst by profession and have been conditioned to think of every angle. That's why I have just locked in with the bass. It's creative and about feel (to me at least). If they said 'hey let's just get together and jam tonight' I would be very relaxed but as an audition all aspects of my thinking brain on overload.
Long post but hopefully there is some information and inspiration for others. I'll post the outcome tonight or tomorrow. Keep at it, things happen for a reason.
