You should be asking the people holding the audition, not a bunch of strangers on the internet with no first hand knowledge of the situation. 
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Expectations when auditioning for cover band
- Thread starter gkella
- Start date
I auditioned people for my cover band last year.... I gave everyone the same 5 songs to learn, none of the songs were standards in everyone's set list in town. I also gave them our entire set list and said pick 2 -3 of these you already know. I was way more interested in the songs they were to learn that I gave them , then the one's they already knew. I gave everyone at least 2-3 weeks to learn those 5 songs. ... I was looking for quality over qty. I had a guy who is very good come in and not learn any of the 5 songs but literally just want to play 20 from our set list and he wanted to show me he could sing lead.... he is a great guy and a great player but I did not chose him because he did not learn the 5 tunes. I also have a great lead singer and was not auditioning one.... he could not follow directions.
You should be asking the people holding the audition, not a bunch of strangers on the internet with no first hand knowledge of the situation.
But, I like to here from members who have gone through auditions, etc.
I have learned a lot from the responses.
It really depends on what the band expects. Personally I will not play a song note for note as the original. Signature lines of course but I want and need some freedom. I want to create art and not copy but I will also communicate this before the audition.
it probably depends.
i was playing bass in a band the day after i first tried it, but i had over 20 years of guitar experience behind me and i sometimes played basslines on my guitar for fun - i always liked the low end. i wasn't slapping away, but i was not just playing root notes, either.
Makes sense, I have about 10 years of guitar behind me, so hitting the roots notes makes playing songs I know fast and easy and fun. What I'm doing now is trying to find videos of folks online playing those same songs and learning how they are playing them.
I would send them a polite reply like, "Which songs will be playing at the audition? I'm happy to learn three sets of material if I get the gig." And then learn those songs really well.
The exception might be, if they take a lot of requests at their gigs, in which case they are trying to find a "human jukebox" who already knows the repertoire backwards and forwards. Someone who lives and breathes southern rock and knows all the greatest hits by heart. If you showed up for that kind of audition only knowing a few songs on the setlist, you probably wouldn't get the gig.
If you can find videos of the band on YouTube then you can get a good sense whether their previous bass player came up with his own bass lines vs. playing the originals note for note.
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Very wise. Someone who won’t learn a song for an audition won’t learn songs if they get the gig. It will be excuse after excuse.
When I held auditions for a Rockabilly band I sent 10 very common and simple songs. I said, learn any 5. Very few people showed up actually knowing five of the 10.
I would ask them if they play note for note, or just nail the groove and the changes. Southern rock is well known for loose arrangements, so you may just get by with nailing a deep groove. I'm sure there are southern rock bands that want to play 'just like the record' which will require more preparation.
Peace y'all, may the Freebird be with you.
Peace y'all, may the Freebird be with you.
If they aren't giving you detailed instructions about what you want to do, you need to take control of the audition process and make sure they are clear on your intentions. This means:
- Pick several songs you want to play and learn them.
- Before you spend a lot of time on those, contact whoever you are working with and let them know this is your plan. Tell them which songs and, more importantly, which versions (send links) you intend to learn.
- wait for the inevitable response of, "well, we are really just learning <song x> so that's not one we'll do." Bonus points if you don't hear this until the day of the audition.
- ask them point blank if there are other songs they would like to focus on. When you get the new list of 20 songs tell them you will learn two of those plus your initial five (or four, minus <song x>.
One thing I have learned is that auditions are rarely as organized and prepared as I am, so do your best, communicate your expectations, and expect to be disappointed. A pleasant surprise is just that. It's not the norm, but it's what you hope for. Some bands do it correctly but many do not.
Good luck!
- Pick several songs you want to play and learn them.
- Before you spend a lot of time on those, contact whoever you are working with and let them know this is your plan. Tell them which songs and, more importantly, which versions (send links) you intend to learn.
- wait for the inevitable response of, "well, we are really just learning <song x> so that's not one we'll do." Bonus points if you don't hear this until the day of the audition.
- ask them point blank if there are other songs they would like to focus on. When you get the new list of 20 songs tell them you will learn two of those plus your initial five (or four, minus <song x>.
One thing I have learned is that auditions are rarely as organized and prepared as I am, so do your best, communicate your expectations, and expect to be disappointed. A pleasant surprise is just that. It's not the norm, but it's what you hope for. Some bands do it correctly but many do not.
Good luck!
Update from the OP...so yesterday I get an e mail from the BL.
The drummer is frustrated with starting over with new members and doesn’t want
to continue.
The BL is interested in starting a new band...we are going to discuss...
so back to square one.
I want to thank everyone for your comments and advice.
Glen
The drummer is frustrated with starting over with new members and doesn’t want
to continue.
The BL is interested in starting a new band...we are going to discuss...
so back to square one.
I want to thank everyone for your comments and advice.
Glen
1. Play with the drummer. He may not play like the original. So you will have to do the same.
2. Play bass part close to the original as possible. Sometimes I struggle with that one, I have to make it my own.
3. Don't over-play.
4. Get several songs perfect.
5. As Major Payne said "be a good listener"
2. Play bass part close to the original as possible. Sometimes I struggle with that one, I have to make it my own.
3. Don't over-play.
4. Get several songs perfect.
5. As Major Payne said "be a good listener"
So won't the drummer be starting over then, again, with new players? Or, was there just excessive turnover in the band over time?
