Audition question

[BillyIVbass]

+1 on going to his place.

A guitar or bass and a combo amp is 1 trip to the car.

2 PA speakers, a PA head and a bag of cables is 2-3

Cymbals, hardware, kick, toms, snare, drum rug = one giant hassle.

Unless you guys are U2 or something and it takes hours to setup your gear, I think you're over thinking this.

 

[Febs]

Are you going to have all of your gigs at his place too? A drummer who is unwilling to move his drums is a drummer I don't want to work with.

 

[JimmyM]

Are you going to have all of your gigs at his place too? A drummer who is unwilling to move his drums is a drummer I don't want to work with.

i totally agree. i once had this drummer pull this on a band i was in. i already knew him and just asked him to join, and he insisted on doing it at his practice loft which was very inconvenient for everyone else, but it was the only way he'd do it so we went along with it. next thing you know, he's barking orders at us, refusing to do songs we wrote just because he didn't get into them, telling the lead singer how to pace his show (this was an old blues cat who hated set lists and just liked to call songs out), and generally being an annoying jerk. it didn't last long.

 

[nitsuj]

keep looking.
if you were looking for a job, would you ask the boss to come and do the interview at your house? do you think they would negotiate where the interview would be held, or would they not even call you back? be professional in your search and look not only for someone with musical talent, but motivation/drive as well.

or... meet half-way.
say this: all auditions are being held at our regular rehearsal spot. if things work out with you, we can discuss practicing at your place.

 

[Waterpilot]

why should they go to the drummer? the drummer called them.

They don't...

No one but the OP knows the specifics of the e-mail conversations, but the drummer just asked. I didn't see where he stated that the drummer said come to my house or I'm not auditioning.

So they don't have to go over, but it would seem easier for them to load and set up then it would be for the drummer. Not to mention it would take less time for them to get out if it wasn't going well... Plus, he could have a better practice space then the one you have now, if not, like someone else said, ask him to leave a second kit at the OP space...

 

[StuartV]

Moving drums is a much bigger pain that moving guitars, amps, and the PA equipment required for a practice. Quit whining and go audition him. If his place meets the requirements for a practice space, use it.

I have a drum kit and good PA setup at my house. Any band I play drums in would have to have a REALLY good reason not to come to my place for an audition and practice (like, they have a space and there's already a drum set there). The band that I play bass in still comes to my house for rehearsal and the drummer uses my kit.

No way would I ask a drummer to move their kit back and forth once a week just to come to practice - if there was any acceptable alternative.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Find an hourly rehearsal place nearby. Equipment is provided. He'll bring his pedal and sticks.... youll bring your bass.

+1000. If you are auditioning you should have a space available with equipment already. I have a similar three piece set up. I've had to audition drummers recently. You need to be professional. Rent a rehearsal space for an hour. Drummer brings normally symbals, sometimes a snare, pedal and sticks. Some rehearsal places provide everything.

Then, you don't haul, he doesn't haul, you look serious and professional and everyone is happy.

If someone asks me to audition, if they ask me to bring my amp I usually decline the audition. That already tells me they ain't serious and they ain't for me...

 

[Frankjohnson]

+1000. If you are auditioning you should have a space available with equipment already. I have a similar three piece set up. I've had to audition drummers recently. You need to be professional. Rent a rehearsal space for an hour. Drummer brings normally symbals, sometimes a snare, pedal and sticks. Some rehearsal places provide everything.

Then, you don't haul, he doesn't haul, you look serious and professional and everyone is happy.

If someone asks me to audition, if they ask me to bring my amp I usually decline the audition. That already tells me they ain't serious and they ain't for me...

Sorry -
I don't agree with that - just my opinion - experience.

You are already a "group".....looking to "Add" a player to complete a "Band".

I would recommend doing the audition, where "you" rehearse.....
If the addition of the new member will change that rehearsal location to EVERYONE's satisfaction, THEN think about changing it.

Just my opinion.

I would recommend that when he arrives, everyone be courteous and help him load in, have his space clean and cleared, and well lit, and observe him from there. At the end, help gang his equipment back out to expedite. THAT is also part of what HE may be looking at also.

Previous bands I played with did not help each other, the current one ALWAYS does. We use 8-10 different guitar/vocal guys, from time to time to help fill in when someone is unavailable and ALL operate this way. We have 3 different drummers who have played with us, and so far, I have made EVERY gig.

just my thoughts - and I guarantee they are worth every penny you paid for them!

 

[NOAH_FX]

+1000. If you are auditioning you should have a space available with equipment already. I have a similar three piece set up. I've had to audition drummers recently. You need to be professional. Rent a rehearsal space for an hour. Drummer brings normally symbals, sometimes a snare, pedal and sticks. Some rehearsal places provide everything.

Then, you don't haul, he doesn't haul, you look serious and professional and everyone is happy.

If someone asks me to audition, if they ask me to bring my amp I usually decline the audition. That already tells me they ain't serious and they ain't for me...

+1 So many lazy musicians around here, when I auditioned my drummer he came and used MY kit.. He brought his pedal, his symbols and his high hat.. That was it, it took around 10 minutes for him to be setup and ready to go.. If he had to bring a 10 piece kit to audition, it would have taken us probably 45 minutes of just setting up and tearing down.. For a 30 minute audition...

 

[bluewine]

I suggest we set up a time to get together in a couple weeks (I have some personal issues coming up that are going to put the band on a short hiatus).

If he is looking for a serious gigging band this would have put me off. Just sounds like your offer is not together.

 

[THORRR]

I agree with Jimmy ^^^

The drummer is auditioning for your band.
He has to come to you.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Sorry -
I don't agree with that - just my opinion - experience.

You are already a "group".....looking to "Add" a player to complete a "Band".

I would recommend doing the audition, where "you" rehearse.....
If the addition of the new member will change that rehearsal location to EVERYONE's satisfaction, THEN think about changing it.

Just my opinion.

I would recommend that when he arrives, everyone be courteous and help him load in, have his space clean and cleared, and well lit, and observe him from there. At the end, help gang his equipment back out to expedite. THAT is also part of what HE may be looking at also.

Previous bands I played with did not help each other, the current one ALWAYS does. We use 8-10 different guitar/vocal guys, from time to time to help fill in when someone is unavailable and ALL operate this way. We have 3 different drummers who have played with us, and so far, I have made EVERY gig.

just my thoughts - and I guarantee they are worth every penny you paid for them!

I hear ya FJ, but still disagree. Practice is way different then auditioning. And gigging is way different then auditioning. You bet every band member better help load in and load out at shows and if its required at rehearsal. Doesn't matter whose band it is or what they do or don't play.

If you are the one asking for a drummer, and a drummer calls you in respons to your ad, yes, you do not have to accomodate him and go to his place. However, since YOU are the one looking, you have to be courteous. That pretty much leads you to having a place with drums already. Its total crap to ask a guy to lug his entire drum set for an audition for a band that he may or may not get the gig. You might reject him before he plays just because he doesn't fit your look or something about him you know immediately you won't accept.

I don't care if you regularly rehearse in your bathroom. That shouldn't matter one bit when it comes to an audition.

I would agree, if you accept the drummer, I wouldn't change my regular rehearsal spot unless everyone agreed to do it.

 

[Blah114]

So our band (which is just myself and a guitarist currently), is starting the slow process of finding a drummer. I have had quite a few online inquiries already. Only downside is that a lot of people emailing me are from places that are 45 minutes away or more. I don't have a problem with that personally, but I'm always skeptical about what folks are willing to commit to.

Anyway, I had a guy email me who lives about 20 minutes from here. Has his own gear, been in bands, yadda yadda. OK, great!

I suggest we set up a time to get together in a couple weeks (I have some personal issues coming up that are going to put the band on a short hiatus). He emails me back asking if we can come out to his place "so he doesn't have to move his kit and gear."

For some reason this kind of ticks me off. It's our band, we both live in the same town. Why should we have to pack up and go to his place when he's the one auditioning?

What do you all think?

that would be enough for me to pass on the guy.. or gal.. that's ridiculous.. YOU are the band.. the audition is at your place(s).. avoid this person now.. if you end up going with him.. you'll have problems later..

 

[NOAH_FX]

that would be enough for me to pass on the guy.. or gal.. that's ridiculous.. YOU are the band.. the audition is at your place(s).. avoid this person now.. if you end up going with him.. you'll have problems later..

"He emails me back asking if we can come out to his place "so he doesn't have to move his kit and gear."

You must be psychic to figure that.. He asked a question and you assume he's going to cause problems? When did bass players become so judgmental

 

[invader3k]

I suggest we set up a time to get together in a couple weeks (I have some personal issues coming up that are going to put the band on a short hiatus).

If he is looking for a serious gigging band this would have put me off. Just sounds like your offer is not together.

Yes, in retrospect, I probably should have just put off looking for a drummer for a couple weeks. I was enthusiastic about getting the band going, and maybe jumped the gun a bit. I have an unavoidable and difficult family situation coming up that is going to make it impossible to practice for a couple weeks. Like I said, after that we will be good to go. I guess I didn't see the harm in trying to line people up before hand, but in hindsight maybe should have held off.

I ended up emailing him back, telling him we were practicing at the guitarist's house, since he already has equipment set up. He emailed me back asking if the guitarist has a kit.

Come to think of it, I think the guitarist does have a cheap basic kit, so that may be a solution (I have to double check...he may have sold it since then). I was just somewhat put off by someone asking us to come to his place. I just think if you're the one auditioning, you come where you are asked. Different practice spaces can be arranged later on. I understand that an audition goes both ways, though.

I also had to chuckle at the "rent a space" suggestion. We live in a small town of like 10,000 people. The drummer in question lives in a little burg of about 200 people, 20 minutes from us. There aren't exactly a lot of furbished studios around the area that rent out time by the hour to cover bands.

 

[Blah114]

"He emails me back asking if we can come out to his place "so he doesn't have to move his kit and gear."

You must be psychic to figure that.. He asked a question and you assume he's going to cause problems? When did bass players become so judgmental

you're right.. I was too judgemental.. I have just had this happen too many times and am PREjudging too early.. you're right, though.. the guy might have issues and it might be a one-time deal..

But to "audition" means you want a job.. to want a job means you should be willing to go wherever necessary.. asking IF IT IS POSSIBLE is okay.. I took it to mean the guy "expected" it.. and I have had that happen a few times..

let's put it this way.. I have had this question asked a few times.. by 4 different people.. all 4 caused problems later on in bands in which I played.. coincidence? maybe.. other people caused problems in bands I was in.. who were not like that.. so maybe there's no correlation.

If I call an employer and ask that person to meet me at a cafe for my job interview.. that looks a bit bad.. to me.. this is just my opinion.. but you're right.. maybe the guy was "just wondering..." if an audition at his house was possible..

 

[Skitch it!]

+1000. If you are auditioning you should have a space available with equipment already. I have a similar three piece set up. I've had to audition drummers recently. You need to be professional. Rent a rehearsal space for an hour. Drummer brings normally symbals, sometimes a snare, pedal and sticks. Some rehearsal places provide everything.

Then, you don't haul, he doesn't haul, you look serious and professional and everyone is happy.

If someone asks me to audition, if they ask me to bring my amp I usually decline the audition. That already tells me they ain't serious and they ain't for me...

+100 This is the organised way of doing it IMO, also if you can block book a few hours and line up a few guy's to audition on the same day you can make a comparison back to back in the same playing environment, it highlights the differences your looking for in a drummer or whomever IME.

 

[electracoyote]

He emails me back asking if we can come out to his place "so he doesn't have to move his kit and gear."

Wrong.

Good, responsible drummers accept their burden of extra gear, and when they are on the outside looking in hoping to get into a band, this is the wrong attitude. It sends one gigantic red flag.

I know a lot of bands and musicians in my area that can not rent a space and set up a kit to audition their drummer candidates.

On the outside chance that he may be a good drummer, and those are pretty hard to find, you should send him one more forgiving e-mail and ask him whether he can make it, with his kit in tow, or not. One more Princess word out of his mouth, and I hope you will sever that communication line and move on.

Now, once he shows initiative and respects the protocol of the audition process, and is actually asked to join the band, you can negotiate where rehearsals should take place. You might then decide to have them at his place.

But as a first impression from someone who wants a shot at playing with you, I'm not impressed. A gigging drummer is a mobile drummer. One of the things he should be willing to prove is that he is a mobile drummer.

 

[invader3k]

I think you and I are on the same page, electracoyote. I think every musician is responsible for their own gear. I am "just a bass player", but I haul two cabs, two basses, an amp (which weighs quite a bit), a pedal board, and a gig bag (with cables and such). It's work to load it in and out. I don't complain about it, because it's part of the craft.

We're happy to help a drummer load in an out of the practice space. Setting up drums shouldn't really be that big a deal for a dedicated drummer, to be honest.

Frankly, I think some drummers just haul too much stuff. A five piece drum set with a throne is fine for an audition, and not really that strenuous to haul and set up.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Wrong.

Good, responsible drummers accept their burden of extra gear, and when they are on the outside looking in hoping to get into a band, this is the wrong attitude. It sends one gigantic red flag.

I know a lot of bands and musicians in my area that can not rent a space and set up a kit to audition their drummer candidates.

On the outside chance that he may be a good drummer, and those are pretty hard to find, you should send him one more forgiving e-mail and ask him whether he can make it, with his kit in tow, or not. One more Princess word out of his mouth, and I hope you will sever that communication line and move on.

Now, once he shows initiative and respects the protocol of the audition process, and is actually asked to join the band, you can negotiate where rehearsals should take place. You might then decide to have them at his place.

But as a first impression from someone who wants a shot at playing with you, I'm not impressed. A gigging drummer is a mobile drummer. One of the things he should be willing to prove is that he is a mobile drummer.

Hey Coyote!

I know that not everyone has the luxury I do to live in a music rich area, but rehearsal spaces are usually pretty plentiful and extremely cheap.

In my area there are three main rehearsal spaces. Each has at least three rooms. Cheapest is $15/hr, most expensive is $22/hr. All of them provide at least two vocal mics and pa, guitar amps, bass amps and full drum kit in all rooms. Two of them have Marshall stacks and Ampeg SVTs in all rooms.

I think any band who is auditioning should be able to get an hour or two easily in a place like this. I personally find it hard to believe that there are bands who cant find this. I've never had a problem myself in my 30 years, including having to book 6 hours over three days a couple of weeks ago for a short notice gig. I had to play with time a little, but got the three days I wanted and darn near the times I wanted. At one of these places I ran into a few former Wings band members as well as a famous bass player.

My two cents...