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That's pretty lame, you'd think they'd be curious about the potential new guy. Unless the guy you're replacing hasn't yet been told he's being replaced.
unprepared, way too loud, an unreasonable amount of heavy gear, girlfriends present, hard liquor, a no show member, somebody is out of tune and not aware, arguments, harsh tones, harsh vibes, somebody breaks out a harmonica 
Husband and wife in the same band
Wrong chords/wrong forms being played on standard tunes by whole band because that's the way they've always done it
Bandleader wants to call three rehearsals a week for a month to "work you in" before a single paying gig
Wrong chords/wrong forms being played on standard tunes by whole band because that's the way they've always done it
Bandleader wants to call three rehearsals a week for a month to "work you in" before a single paying gig
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Chuck Rainey once told me that, in his observation, sometimes the drugs/alcohol and dependency was a necessary part in creating the fire that great musicians have. I've seen some of that too, but his experience with great musicians is much much more than mine.
Chuck also mentioned that he played best after drinking half a martini (not a whole one). He said that loosened him up to play his best, and said everyone needs to find what works for them. I think I play better after drinking one beer, but two within an hour degrades my playing.
LOL, did they also ask if you could drive him home after his audition?
I had that happen on a gig, the other band asked if their bassist could use my bass.
I saw a video of a local band playing Listen To The Music by The Doobie Brothers. When it got to the chorus they played a C# major chord instead of C# minor. That sort of thing would drive me nuts. I'm sure they'd love the new guy coming in and telling them they're playing it wrong.
There's a big difference between moving in a large circle of Great musicians (the calibre of which Chuck works with), an intersect of the Venn diagram delivering consistently greater results enhanced by a variety of substances; and entering a small circle of unproven musicians who believe taking the same substances makes them great.
I experienced this on one of my first bands...the one guy with a serious drug problem also was the only one who owned a van, and who somehow recovered his gear after "a friend tipped him off" to his gear being re-sold.That's the smell of your gear getting stolen if you leave it at the practice space.
This one is a toughie. For the reason that as an *auditioner* you've probably come right off several rehearsals with the recording. That never changes. The guys playing together, might have deviated from that over their time together.
Now, straight up not knowing how the song goes is another matter.
So Anyway, I've usually 'auditioned' at the pick-up job someone called me to play.
If one of my music connections called me to be in their band, I'd probably be rehearsing for an upcoming gig, not auditioning. They know me and are familiar with what I can and can't do.
I don't know what it would take to audition for someone I didn't know. Maybe if Ry Cooder called....
If one of my music connections called me to be in their band, I'd probably be rehearsing for an upcoming gig, not auditioning. They know me and are familiar with what I can and can't do.
I don't know what it would take to audition for someone I didn't know. Maybe if Ry Cooder called....
Bands should be on their best behavior for an audition, so if any of the following happens, I'm probably out:
Audition gets postponed, band members show up late or can't be bothered to be there without a damned good reason- no commitment, no deal
BL is an overly controlling micromanager, argues with other band members or is a jerkweasel in some other way - I ain't got the patience for that any more
Any band member is impaired on arrival or gets that way during the rehearsal - this WILL be a problem keeping the band functioning
Band spends more time BSing than playing - I don't mind rehearsals, but if I'm giving up a few hours of my time it better be productive
Band has no solid plan for gigging within a reasonable time - "we'll see what happens" or "I know a few people" doesn't cut it
BL is an overly controlling micromanager, argues with other band members or is a jerkweasel in some other way - I ain't got the patience for that any more
Any band member is impaired on arrival or gets that way during the rehearsal - this WILL be a problem keeping the band functioning
Band spends more time BSing than playing - I don't mind rehearsals, but if I'm giving up a few hours of my time it better be productive
Band has no solid plan for gigging within a reasonable time - "we'll see what happens" or "I know a few people" doesn't cut it
If I'm watching the ads for musicians and a band keeps coming up needing a drummer, then a guitarist, then a bassist, I won't go audition. No gigs, no go. If they have nothing I can listen to online, or what I can listen to stinks, I don't go, unless someone in the band sounds really good, then it might be a good networking option. If I don't have anything going, I might break any/all of these "rules" but I feel getting in a room with musicians is almost never a complete waste of time. You meet people, something may come of it later on. Though I have had a few that I couldn't get out of fast enough. Almost nothing worse than being in a working band and auditioning bad drummers.
That's nuts of them expecting you to assist the competition (although by the sounds of it the guy probably wasn't much of a threat).
It absolutely was! This was for an Ozzy/Sabbath tribute so I was prepared to put up with some BS, but…That's Spinal Tap stuff!
somewhere there's probably some kind of algorithm that correlates talent / sobriety ratios among artists. i don't qualify as an artist, but i know i play best completely sober. i saw larry carleton & steve lukather together in a tiny joint. they came out on fire then later had martinis on a silver platter ( it was kind of a shtick, ) and proceeded to get lost on " put it where you want it. " i felt bad for the bass player. no big deal, larry & steve can do whatever they want, but it was awkward.
This also applies to any business I may patronize. Same holds true when the walls are covered with Christian scripture. Not offended but, all too frequently, there will be a strange dynamic that will bite you in the ass eventually.
Riis
Here's a good one , a band I really wanted to join had me audition by playing behind the Band of Gypsys record as they sat eating , drinking and smoking and watched me play . Very awkward experience and I didn't get the gig , but they gave me tickets to one of their concerts .
