Audition tips?

[saabfender]

“Stay in touch”? What? No, man. If they don’t pick you, you are long down the road to the next opportunity. What would that look like anyway? “Hey dude, I auditioned for your band a month ago. Just wanted to see if your new guy is working out. He is? Oh cool. Well uh like check you later.” OMG.

1. Know the material as well as humanly possible. A dozen songs is a lot. If you have to scribble down some notes to consult before you start a song, that’s fine. Nobody will say a thing.

2. Be in tune. Tune.

3. Be nice to the drummer. Of course be nice to everyone but if you can hit it off with the drummer, that’s a plus.

4. Load in and out efficiently and without drama.

5. Be a little early.

6. After playing, if you had a good time and you like the guys, say so. If after playing the hour or so, it’s not really your scene, say so. It’s a drag when a guy comes over, plays, and you have no idea if he’d be into joining the band. You have to admit, it’s pretty important info for the band’s decision.

 

[JamesNC]

Don’t bring your gf/wife to the audition. It blows my mind that people do this. “I brought my roadie, haha”. Next.

 

[gln1955]

1. Suggest a bunch of new songs for them to play, especially if they are in a different genre. Give them a list of songs you won't play under any circumstances.
2. If they have a lead singer, sing the leads anyway.
3. Mess with the guitarists amp to improve his tone.
4. Make plenty of politically, religiously and racially charged remarks. Misogynistic and homophobic comments are also usually appreciated.
5. Demand an extra cut of the pay because you are making their band so much better.
6. Bring a six-pack and finish them all during the 45 minute audition. Smoke without asking if it's OK.

That should do it.

 

[trevcda]

This is from another thread about learning songs:

My rule of thumb has always been: know what the exact part is but change it as needed.....because bass is so integral with drums, it always sounds best when they play together ...... If im playing the correct part and the drummer isnt ( or vise versa) then we are both wrong.......

This. Learn it to the best of your ability. The world is full of phone-it-in bass players that are content to be "good enough" and "just get by". Have bigger aspirations. Want to be better. Learn as much as you can to get there.

 

[TexasHeat]

“Stay in touch”? What? No, man.

Hell yeah, stay in touch. It's not a binary relation; you're either in the band or have nothing to do with them. While not mandatory, staying in touch is a great way to keep networking. The OP, or anyone else going for auditions, might have missed the slot by a hair to another guy, but maybe 6 months down the road, that other guy doesn't work out. Maybe the OP is still available or interested. Doesn't hurt to leave yourself options and closing doors behind you isn't the way to do it.

On the other hand, your point about being early is spot on.

 

[bassliner50]

In addition to suggestions above, offer rehearsal space if you have it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

View attachment 3274725

Hey all,
I have an audition Thursday.
Cover band. Decent players, similar age and older etc. Good songs overall. P Bass is tip top and using Rumble Stage 800. Gear is ready to go. Learning a dozen songs for audition.

It is my first foray into cover band territory.

Any audition tips or funny stories?

Cool. Michael B

Be prepared. Make sure you ask for song keys so you aren’t learning things in the wrong key. Relax and be pleasant.

 

[Rib 13]

You are also auditioning them

 

[madbass6]

View attachment 3274725

Hey all,
I have an audition Thursday.
Cover band. Decent players, similar age and older etc. Good songs overall. P Bass is tip top and using Rumble Stage 800. Gear is ready to go. Learning a dozen songs for audition.

It is my first foray into cover band territory.

Any audition tips or funny stories?

Cool. Michael B

.Do your home work
(research the band web page.youtube videos etc.
.learn the songs good!
(in more then one key)
.be on time
.Don't be that guy!
(you know the know it all!)
.Don't blast your amp where you're burying the rest of the Band!
.Play good
.Do not "under no circumstance" show up drunk or Hi even if the ad. said 420 friendly!
. Be cool after you're done don't just pack up and leave ask if anybody needs help packing up etc.
(Will Show you're team player)
Going back to # 1 researching the Band, fit the script! if you're auditioning for a wedding band don't show up in ripped jeans and converse sneakers! Vise versa , if auditioning or a heavy metal band don't show up in a tux/shirt and tie suit etc.

 

[pappabass]

Don't over play the songs.

 

[LBS-bass]

4. Make plenty of politically, religiously and racially charged remarks. Misogynistic and homophobic comments are also usually appreciated.

LOL! You would not believe the number of Craigslist audition bands I have bailed on because people could not just stay shut up about politics. Honestly, I don't care what your politics are but I have my own views and if you're going to insult me by blabbering on about how much you hate people like me, I don't want to be in a band with you.

There was even one guy who started asking me my views and I point blank told him I don't like to discuss that in a band situation, we're there to play. The next time we got together he went on an insulting political tirade and I never went back. The guitar player contacted me afterwards and offered to PAY ME to rehearse, but I just was not interested in that. At all.

 

[bbh]

Just know the stuff stone cold and hope the drummer can play in time. Show up a little bit early, not too early though as someone else could trying out before you.
Find out the goals and how they’ll get gigs. Look to make sure they all get along and you like them personally as well as playing.
Good luck

 

[buldog5151bass]

Lock in with the kick drum. Know your parts, especially breaks and transition areas, down cold.

Can you sing backups? Even if they didn't ask, prep one or two songs, and offer to sing some harmonies.

 

[Beej]

Good suggestions, nothing to add really, except a short story.

Played in a hard rock band, with a bandcamp page, reverbnation, links to songs, etcetera, so no question you could hear what we sounded like. Auditioned a guitarist, who didn't even make it into the first tune before he asked us if we were into The Police, and then broke into the opening riff of "Message in a Bottle" before everyone could even say hell no. Drummer and I knew the song however, so we smiled to our other guitarist and singer and played along. The auditioning guy only knew the first riff, and tanked when I started singing. Nice work.

Then as we went back to our agreed tunes, he bragged how he didn't listen to our songs, and only needed to hear a bar or two to "keep up". Of course you know he was completely unable to keep up to anything, including his own ego. Singer had enough after like 30 seconds and told him to GTFO. Then he said he needed cab fare because there were no buses after 8pm (not true, this was the singer's place!). A day or so later he then started texting myself and the drummer repeatedly asking us to "drop off" his guitar stand to his place, 45 minutes away - and which he didn't leave behind.

Just a quick note - don't be that guy!

 

[jshinal]

REV said it - LISTEN.
Also, WATCH. Someone may be showing you a cue or a chord change.
Groove. Swing. Rock. Boogie. Thrash. As needed, repeat as required. This is fun, remember ?
Compliment someone if what you're saying is true ("that was a cool solo/harmony" etc).
Watch your volume, ask if it's booming too much.
Prepare so you know some of the songs.
Have your gear straight so it's reliable and you don't look dumb.
Be nice and have fun. I occasionally even smile once or twice.
Don't offer anyone a swig off your half full bottle of cheap vodka (seriously, I had a singer do this at his audition)

 

[saabfender]

. Be cool after you're done don't just pack up and leave ask if anybody needs help packing up etc.

Mostly good points, however this is wrong. When you are done playing, thank everyone, grab your sh!t and leave. Do not hang around. The band wants to talk about you and your playing while it’s still fresh on their minds. They can handle their own equipment just fine.

Also not sure about your suggestion of learning songs in multiple keys. Not practical nor particularly useful.

 

[Lowandfat]

not sure about your suggestion of learning songs in multiple keys. Not practical nor particularly useful.

Absolutely, what a waste of time. Learn the material they gave you, asking for a dozen tunes for an audition is too much in the first place, and a total red flag for me. If you don't know if it will gel after 4-5 tunes you are not together enough for my time. Not being prima donna, i ain't all that, just saying they need to have their stuff together, too. You want me to learn a whole set? Hire me, lol.

 

[madbass6]

Mostly good points, however this is wrong. When you are done playing, thank everyone, grab your sh!t and leave. Do not hang around. The band wants to talk about you and your playing while it’s still fresh on their minds. They can handle their own equipment just fine.

Also not sure about your suggestion of learning songs in multiple keys. Not practical nor particularly useful.

and This is why we all have different opinions lady's and gents!
I do agree on the do not hang around part ! (Sorry I missed it)
but only after you offer to help !
chances are they won't take you up on your offer anyway just to get you the hell out to either kiss your *ss or bad mouth you, But the fact that you offerd to help is just a good way to show you're a team player . now regarding learning songs in different keys not all bands play songs on original key !
ok, let's meet half way on that one
at least ask if songs are in original keys and if not , ask wish songs new key(s)

 

[StayLow]

... asking for a dozen tunes for an audition is too much in the first place, and a total red flag for me. If you don't know if it will gel after 4-5 tunes you are not together enough for my time.

Yep. Totally ridiculous, and ironic that was the last post in the thread because no one had mentioned it yet so my advice is:

1. Refuse to learn 12 songs for an audition. It's a sure sign of amatuers that don't know how to run an audition or respect the time and affort of others.

That said, good luck!

I recently auditioned for a band that gigs internationally and has won a bunch of awards. One difficult cover in their style, one original, one improv, 30 minutes of group chat for an hour total. That's how it's done, and some would say they were about 30-40 minutes too generous.

“Stay in touch”? What? No, man. If they don’t pick you, you are long down the road to the next opportunity. What would that look like anyway?

It would look like "Hi, I auditioned your band a few months ago. Need a sax player for an upcoming gig. Are you interested, or can you recommend someone suitable?"

Whether or not I'm hired for the band I just mentioned above, I'm sure I'll be hiring or recommending several of them for future gigs.

 

[Pulverizor]

#1 Be likeable.
#2 Don't be unlikeable.

 

[madbass6]

Yep. Totally ridiculous, and ironic that was the last post in the thread because no one had mentioned it yet so my advice is:

1. Refuse to learn 12 songs for an audition. It's a sure sign of amatuers that don't know how to run an audition or respect the time and affort of others.

That said, good luck!

I recently auditioned for a band that gigs internationally and has won a bunch of awards. One difficult cover in their style, one original, one improv, 30 minutes of group chat for an hour total. That's how it's done, and some would say they were about 30-40 minutes too generous.




It would look like "Hi, I auditioned your band a few months ago. Need a sax player for an upcoming gig. Are you interested, or can you recommend someone suitable?"

Whether or not I'm hired for the band I just mentioned above, I'm sure I'll be hiring or recommending several of them for future gigs.

I agree 100% most I'll do for an audition would 3/4 5 songs!(tops!)