Auditions

[Pocket Dave]

I was subbing for a band. Learned 3 sets in two weeks. Got to the gig and the bass player I was subbing for was there. He didn't want me to play and wanted to use my gear to play the gig. Nope, homie don't play that. That was the quickest load out I ever did.

I'd be inclined to suggest a rental fee that was x2 my sub scale + damage deposit.

 

[Egg250]

Crazy....
Why was he there and how did the band allow that situation ....
And then the cheek of the guy who 'expected' you to donate gear ...
wth...???

The cynic in me wants to believe the bass player had an issue with his own gear, causing him to set up a sub situation and then dash in at the last minute and borrow the gear.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

The cynic in me wants to believe the bass player had an issue with hid gear

Well? Who hid it on him?

 

[pepj]

Should still have paid the sub fee.

 

[DJ Bebop]

The cynic in me wants to believe the bass player had an issue with his own gear, causing him to set up a sub situation and then dash in at the last minute and borrow the gear.

I had a goofy set up at that time.
I had an Acoustic 126 combo amp


On top of a ported cabinet with a Sunn SPL cast frame 18" speaker. Looking much like this.


Being powered by Sunn SA 20 bridged.


Being controlled by the Acoustic 126 but hitting a Rolls or Shure crossover going to the power amp making the 18 a sub.

It was goofy

 

[Pocket Dave]

I had a goofy set up at that time.
I had an Acoustic 126 combo amp
View attachment 5014997

On top of a ported cabinet with a Sunn SPL cast frame 18" speaker. Looking much like this.
View attachment 5015009

Being powered by one of these bridged.
Sunn SA 20.
View attachment 5015013

Being controlled by the Acoustic 126 but hitting a Rolls or Shure crossover going to the power amp making the 18 a sub.

It was goofy

Goofy? Not so sure. Though worthy of a $$/lb rental fee.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Goofy? Not so sure. Though worthy of a $$/lb rental fee.

It actually sounded pretty good.
But yeah it was a pretty good pile of stuff too.

 

[HolmeBass]

I was subbing for a band. Learned 3 sets in two weeks. Got to the gig and the bass player I was subbing for was there. He didn't want me to play and wanted to use my gear to play the gig. Nope, homie don't play that. That was the quickest load out I ever did.

You have bad luck with odd people! I hope there have been some better band experiences for you.

 

[DJ Bebop]

You have bad luck with odd people! I hope there have been some better band experiences for you.

Yup
When you play a lot one or two odd ones make it in the mix. It keeps it interesting

 

[Sarge79]

If it's a cover band, they usually give you like 10 songs to learn a week (or a couple days) before you meet them for the first time.

If it's an originals band, you'll either get a few songs to get familiar with, or you'll just go jam with them and they'll see if you can pick things up.


Tryouts, are more about personality than your abilities. If you can play your instrument, and you're cool, and they didn't audition Nate Navarro, then you're good.

If they tell you their practice schedule, or send you a list of 60 songs or more, you're in. If you blow it, then you blow it. No big deal. Try another one.

I only heard of Nate Navarro for the first time a couple of weeks ago, while I was going through some YouTube videos. Really enjoy watching his videos, and learning from him.

 

[Jimmy4string]

Well first thing you got to do is bring a Fender to the audition man!

kidding, kidding.
All these are great suggestions and love the stories. man i loved audition time for my old band. Bass players were pretty solid but the guitarist and drummers were something else. LOL

 

[Sarge79]

Also, you’d think it would be in the band’s best interest to see what kind of rig the auditionee has. If he even has a rig.

True... I remember when I tried out for a band when I was in my teens. I only had a practice amp and a bass that needed the wiring redone. If I was actually decent and got selected, then I would've been SOL because I had no rig to play live with or even be able to practice with the rest of the band. I

 

[Nedmundo]

If it's an originals band, you'll either get a few songs to get familiar with, or you'll just go jam with them and they'll see if you can pick things up.

I've mostly played in original bands, and that's exactly right. A couple of times I was given fairly well-recorded CDs of the tracks I needed to play, so I learned them in advance, usually duplicating the bass parts on the discs, but adding some of my own style to others.

In my last original band, they gave me chord charts during the audition, so I had to follow along and come up with bass parts on the fly. I ended up staying in that band for 10 years, and a couple of my bass parts barely changed from the ones I created at the audition.