Hey, I've been playing bass for a little over 5 years now and I've played and filled in for a couple bands now but looking into preparing to audition for professional bands/artist. I've never had to really audition for anyone before and just want some advise for an upcoming audition with a local gospel artist. The artist is requesting a musical resume, a head shot, a brief bio, and a 90 sec sample before being considered for an audition. Thanks for your help.
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1st Time Audition Prep.
- Thread starter Vicdaman24
- Start date
Do what they ask then ask for track of the songs you are needing to know for the audition. limit it to 4-5. Practice, Be ontime, play the songs they requested well, smile, be professional and open but not to chatty. After the auditon send them an email thanking them and then wait.
Make sure you don't overplay or step on anybodys toes. Watch your tone as well with gospel. If it's like contemporary christian music, be a "bass" player. Show them how much you fill out the sound with some low tones and hitting right on the kick, but legato. Listening is key! Throw in small fills consisting of cadences toward the end of the song to show dynamic!
That all I got lol
Break a leg!
bassbully said:
Do a short sound check before you audition and make sure they can hear you and their ok with your tone. They're not going to tell you they couldn't hear you until it's too late.
Be cool, don't tell any stories.
Sounds like a pro opportunity, they have asked you to provide a few things. What does this band offer you?
Blue
This. And for the record, if the audition starts at 7PM and you arrive at 7PM, you are late.
If you get a chance to prepare for the audition (i.e. learn songs) make sure you know them. I made that mistake one time too often.
And speaking of mistakes, if you make one (and you will) just carry on. I read an interview with a bass player who landed a pretty sweet gig even though he played more mistakes than anyone else. Afterwards the band said he played with so much conviction, they wondered if THEY were wrong ...
Not meaning you should get cocky, but accept that mistakes will happen, smile when they do and carry on. It's only a bum note in a song, after all.
Oh, and enjoy the experience
Blue has got a SERIOUS point here. I once went to an audition for a gothic rock band. Arrived on time (i.e. early) so I chatted a bit with the husband and wife (lead guitarist and singer respectively) and started saying I was taking lessons cos you can only learn so much on your own. The guy had never taken a single lesson in his life. Strike one. Then it turned out his wife and I went to the same school so we started chatting about our experiences. Husband didn't like it (I should mention at this point that I told 'em I have a gf). Strike two. I had cut my index finger on broken glass the day before, and while playing bled all over my bass. Despite it being a gothic band, they decided to go with someone else ...
get hold of some of their songs and be able to lay down some of their grooves.....to show you are interested
EddiePlaysBass said:This. And for the record, if the audition starts at 7PM and you arrive at 7PM, you are late.
If you get a chance to prepare for the audition (i.e. learn songs) make sure you know them. I made that mistake one time too often.
And speaking of mistakes, if you make one (and you will) just carry on. I read an interview with a bass player who landed a pretty sweet gig even though he played more mistakes than anyone else. Afterwards the band said he played with so much conviction, they wondered if THEY were wrong ...
Not meaning you should get cocky, but accept that mistakes will happen, smile when they do and carry on. It's only a bum note in a song, after all.
Oh, and enjoy the experience
Blue has got a SERIOUS point here. I once went to an audition for a gothic rock band. Arrived on time (i.e. early) so I chatted a bit with the husband and wife (lead guitarist and singer respectively) and started saying I was taking lessons cos you can only learn so much on your own. The guy had never taken a single lesson in his life. Strike one. Then it turned out his wife and I went to the same school so we started chatting about our experiences. Husband didn't like it (I should mention at this point that I told 'em I have a gf). Strike two. I had cut my index finger on broken glass the day before, and while playing bled all over my bass. Despite it being a gothic band, they decided to go with someone else ...
Ed, thanks for highlighting this point.
I remember in my last band we were auditioning drummers.
One of the guys came in unprepared and rambled on with all theses tired stories about all the bands he had played with and venue stories. It's inappropriate.
Blue
