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Audition Next Week

I would ditch the Culture Club tunes and move in some more straight forward tunes that would be easier to learn and rock out a bit.
I like 80s music but there is a reason there are a lot of classic rock bands (70s) when you have the guitar, bass and drums lineup.
Keyboards, keyboard bass, electric drums and singing that has a different timing than the straight forward songs of the 70s are some of the reasons you have to pick choose the right tunes for your instrumental lineup if you are doing the 80s.
It's not '80s pop unless you have a key-tar. :D
 
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I wouldn't take the ipad...pick 5 songs to learn inside and out, and listen to as many of the others as you can, just to get a familiarity with them. Show up knowing 5 like you wrote them, and if they want to play more, say, "I concentrated on these 5, but I can probably fake my way through some others if you want to try them." That will show you can do your homework, and you're laid back enough to take some chances to get more playing time with them.
I've always questioned the ability/dedication of people that have auditioned for me if they can't find time to memorize a small handful of songs.
 
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I was at a jam/audition thing. I knew a couple of the guys and there were two more that showed up that none of us knew. Guitar player shows up. Late. Then doesn't have a strap so we lent him one. Then he talks about how his amp can do a million different sounds but he needs the wifi password to hook it up to his ipad (or something). Then he says that his amp should be enough for gigging but he also has a 100w Marshall. Then he says that we need to memorize songs and not use ipads on stage. Bass player/organizer said "yeah, I'm using notes/ipad".

Then we play a song. Before it's done, he's harping at the drummer (his house) to play it more like so-and-so and not like other-so-and-so. Drummer is like "this is what you get". Then he's on me for not playing the right chord on one song (he was right). Then he's worried about his tone on one song. Then to show us (me) that he knows a song better than I proceeds to sing it....and bails out halfway through. Midway through the jam, he packed up and split. Don't be that guy.

To be honest, he was a PITA beforehand too. Talked all about the amps and the effects, who's playing what when we get there. The organizer didn't do a good job but this guy was over the top.

I see him advertising on CL for a band now...he talks of the one-hit wonder band he played in in the 1960's. He's one (or many) of the types in the bad bandmates thread.
 
I've been asked about amps on auditions, especially if we're at a studio or somewhere a bass rig is provided for the audition. I think they're just checking that I'll have adequate reliable gear for gigging. They tend not to know much about bass gear so unless they ask for more specifics I just tell then that I have several rigs to cover from from small quiet shows to bigger clubs.

This guitarist apparently knows bass gear. He plays bass in another band.
 
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So a slight change in plans. The audition has been moved to the drummers house across town, so I'll need to bring a small amp after all. So I'll bring the PF-800 and one 2x10 cab. I could go with the Micro VR head and one of the matching cabs - lighter and certainly enough power, but the tone is better with the slightly larger and heavier 2x10 that I built. I'll probably still bring the 2nd bass as a backup, unless I get tired carrying out the cab to my car :P I may just leave the 2nd bass in the car.

I've been practicing the songs on the 5 string Ric, and have become quite used to the narrow string spacing. I also ordered a Zero Mod thumb rest for it, which should arrive today. I'm playing at least 2 songs finger style, the rest with a pick. I also went through the bass's setup, tightened down the loose bridge pickup, and swapped out the pickup selector switch which was a bit loose.

We're set for tomorrow at 7:00 PM. Looking forward to playing in a band setting again!
 
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Something to be mindful of....

Other than "We Got the Beat", the rest of the songs you mentioned are fairly medium tempo nondescript songs. If you stick with all songs like this it will be a snooze fest for your audience. You gotta kick it up a notch and do some songs with some energy.

If you're going to be a folk band, go fokr it. If you're going for an 80s and country bar band, y'all gotta grab another gear.
 
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So a slight change in plans. The audition has been moved to the drummers house across town, so I'll need to bring a small amp after all. So I'll bring the PF-800 and one 2x10 cab. I could go with the Micro VR head and one of the matching cabs - lighter and certainly enough power, but the tone is better with the slightly larger and heavier 2x10 that I built. I'll probably still bring the 2nd bass as a backup, unless I get tired carrying out the cab to my car :p I may just leave the 2nd bass in the car.

I've been practicing the songs on the 5 string Ric, and have become quite used to the narrow string spacing. I also ordered a Zero Mod thumb rest for it, which should arrive today. I'm playing at least 2 songs finger style, the rest with a pick. I also went through the bass's setup, tightened down the loose bridge pickup, and swapped out the pickup selector switch which was a bit loose.

We're set for tomorrow at 7:00 PM. Looking forward to playing in a band setting again!

When I say I'm your #1 fan, I do NOT mean in a "Misery" kind of way. Any band would be lucky to have someone of your caliber. Make sure they are good enough FOR YOU.
 
Just to update, the audition went well. We played the songs I practiced, and went on to play a bunch of others. The guitarist would show me a progression, I'd pick it up and we'd play. I even sang a few Eagles songs. The singer and I seemed to harmonize pretty well. I have a good feeling about this band. Best of all, the drummer played at a reasonable volume. My PF-800 and 2x10 cab easily kept up and I wasn't even cranking the volume. The Ric performed flawlessly. Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions! I expect to hear from them in a few days with their decision.
 
Final update regarding the audition. I just got an email from the BL, and he offered me the position, which I promptly took. I'm in a band! Yay!

:bassist:

Congratulations! We look forward to gig reports as well-photographed as your bass builds!
 
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I'm in a band! Yay!

hooray.gif



congrats!!!

Wise(b)ass
 
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