Audition over phone

[jive1]

Yup.

An audition is usually a 2 way thing.

When I audition for a band there are a few things that I want to know:

1. Does the band have a professional attitude.

2. Do they play the same types of music that I want to play.
(I am flexible, I will play songs that I don't like if necessary.)

3. Can they play well enough?

4. Do they have pro level gear?

5. Can I fit rehearsal times and gigs into my schedule? (I frequently travel on business from Monday - Thursday).

Actually, you can get lots of those questions answered without meeting the band if the band is established. Of course, nothing beats seeing first-hand, but you're not going in blindly either.

1. If you're plugged in to the local scene, you can ask around and see what the folks are like. You can also check the band's website, facebook, etc. to see how often they play out, where they play, if they have any agency representation, etc. Check for repeat bookings, since that to me shows that the band is at least pro enough for a place to want them back.

2. You can check out the band's playlist from their website, or listen to samples that they have available on various online sites. You can even ask the band for that stuff, if it's not available online. If nothing is available, then I would question how established the band is.

3. See #2. If they have video clips of live performances, even better.

4. You can see if they have a gear list online, or check out their photos of live shows to see what they play.

5. See #1 about the gigs, and you can always ask over the phone or e-mail about the rehearsal schedule.

And if you're an established player in your scene, bands can also get those same questions about you through online sources, asking around, and talking to you over the phone/e-mail.

Not that this is foolproof, because it isn't. But we've all also been dealt BS from people we have met in person as well.