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First audition at 40 (no laughing)

#21
Hey man its like looking into a mirror of myself after reading your story.

I also had not played in over 20 years with all the bands i had in high school being buddies and playing a couple of goofy parties for drunk friends ...never a real gig. I took back to playing bass this time at 40 myself.
I had made a goal before i die i will get on a stage and i will play in a band. I used to get down after seeing a band out at a bar etc and say "Why are you not doing that?

After seveal months of basement practice with scales and CDs i answered an ad for a band. I learned 5 songs, all blues and went to the audition, I got the gig ...i was thrilled! But the band was not to be so i looked again. Right away i joined a classic rock band that sounds just like the one you were in. They had a family party once a year and no real gigs booked. In 6 months i learned 50+ songs and took them to the bars where i first walked on a real stage for $$$ :hyper: I stayed another year and then saw they were going nowhere. After that I tryed out and landed a better gig with a semi metal, hard rock cover band who i gigged with for a year and a half. They band also hit the wall and i then switched paths to country music. I walked in never have played country to the audition but was always a fan and willling to give them 100% to learn.The bandleader was a longtime local fav and saw my interest and how i wouldnt let him down. I played some quick walks and a few blues riffs and was in. I was thrilled and did another year and a half with him till i left due to travel issues and lost of interest.

Today i am in great originals band who is gaining interest and ground all the time. We just released our first EP and are really enjoying the music. We are pretty booked up and its growing and has me very involved for a married, family man.

I didnt want to steal the show with all my stories. My goal was to tell you my road back and hope to show you it can be done and you can do it! You will need to do a few things to get there and do it quickly....ummm us older guys need to do it more quickly:)

1. Be Honest. The number one thing you need to be. I have heard this was the one thing all bands i was in past and present enjoyed about me............... A band will need this from you!

2.Be Prompt/Dependable- commit to practice and gigs and do them! Dont take anything you cant do or say you can knowing...you cant.

3. Be open with your playing. If you dont know a song or chord etc tell them and ask for the chord charts etc...dont fake too much.

4.PRACTICE- I was praised by every band i was in for always coming to practice prepared and knowing the songs. This is huge...maybe as big as #1. (tip-Tascam bass trainer:smug:)

5. Have good gear or the best you can afford and keep it up.

6.Keep drink,smoke, personal issues and views and anything else down.

7. Ask how the band wants the songs played. Are they playing like the record or do they do a twist on the original. Do they change keys for the singer,drop out sections, add sections, solos etc.

8. Show interest- Ask about the band, goals etc. Allot of players are just looking for a gig and then stick out their hand for $...be a team player. Help setup, tear down, haul gear ,book shows etc.

9. Have FUN! this is what we do it for. We wont be rock stars or make it big...that ship has sailed. Enjoy it and make it fun and others will notice this in you. If you have a family make them a part of it. Take them to shows, if the band travels include them also. Have some get togethers outside of gigs etc with the band and their friends and families.

I hope i was of some help. Its so funny how much your story sounds like mine. I have have had a ball. Played allot of shows made some money, recorded etc. The story continues. It time to keep writing yours...good luck!
 
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#23
NickInMesa said:
Thanks for the advice, all.

The easiest one is Don't Stop Believin' and the so-so hardest is Garry Moore's Still Got The Blues.

They provide a bass rig, I just have to bring the bass in standard tuning.
Click to expand...

If the singer has a set of pipes to cover Steve Perry,and they even play-anything by Gary Moore...with backline provided even! sounds like a good gig just by reading all that.

And what a great story 'BB'...this tome delivers!

Real life illustrations...there is no substitute.

"My goal was to tell you my road back and hope to show you it can be done and you can do it! You will need to do a few things to get there and do it quickly....ummm us older guys need to do it more quickly:)"

Amen to that brother!

Thx Nick,for starting this thread.

Heh,what do I know..."I'm just a city boy,born and raised in South Detroit".

To be sure there is,and will likely be more great advice forthcoming here.

My segue advice to you would be...Don't stop believing.

That and massive Woodsheddin' :D
~
 
#26
bassmanrocke said:
Make it a point not to down talk anyone you may have played with. You just never know who knows who. At the same time, try not to rave about someone local, again you never know who knows who.
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Agreed, that's because it's basically a job interview and I never downtalk my ex-employers.

"My perspective of progress is limited", "We are not doing as well as we expected", etc.... (Code language respectively for "they're ********" and "I walked out with a cardboard box").

I will be more relaxed because on the result of my audition does not depend if I will be able to pay my mortgage and feed my children, it's just about fun.

If I don't pass, so be it, it's not a good match for both of us and another opportunity will present itself.
 
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#27
Nick.

It's been a blessing to get to know you over the past year.

BASSES
I have tons and tons and tons of gear. I'll normally ask the leader if they have any preferences or requests. (I don't send a gear list as it's brag-ish). IF they don't reply - I'll bring a 6 string, fretless 5 and a 62 Pbass. This alone blows out most of the competition. AFTER they're over gear, I'll play $250-500 basses

AMPS and STOMP BOXES
Minimal is best. Nothing sucks more than meeting someone for the first time and they have a string of noise makers that takes an hour to setup. I bring a small luggable amp that can keep up wiht a Marshall JCM. They then marvel at how much sound comes from a small box.

PRETUNE
If it's an audtion I REALLY want, I'll stop at a local parking lot and pretune everything.. nothing beats showing up.. and being ready to roll in 30 seconds. How many of you have had the "sssshhhhh I"m tuning" stupidity go on.

ADVANCE MATERIAL
Sending advance material is the yes/no division if I'll meet with them. IF they say "lets jam" I'm more likely to know they're destined for the basement than stadiums. IF we click (and they're fun) - I'll suggest they stump me - I've had guys pull out obscure metal tunes (when a country band) and nail it on the head.

PLAYING STYLE
When in doubt under play it and HIT the notes with the bass drum. Chances are they don't want a busy body thumping.. Most bass guys forget to coordinate fills with the other players.. they'll just all walk over eachother.

BEWARE
Don't rely on a keyboard players left hand or guitar player. When I was in the staidum circuit we'd all do alternate tunings to ensure the guy had a good ear (vs quick eyes). Focus on the tonic and 5 (you'll be close enough 70% of the time).

Hope you do well.. the site looked very direct as to what they're doing.
 
#28
Go for it. I'm 43 now. Returned to playing in 2004 after a long lay off. Graduated music school in 1989 and quit playing.

In my small town of 300,000 people I'm busy and could be busier still but don't have enough time. My signature has some of the folks I play with listed.

The best advice I got when it came to returning again was "It's just music. Nobody dies." That made it easy to face any gigging situation. The worst case scenario for me is that I won't get a second call for a gig it doesn't go well. Not a problem so far but that also makes it easy to enjoy every moment. When I do gig I pinch myself that it's really happening. I figure half the folks in the audience play but aren't gigging and the other half doesn't play and wish they could and I'm the guy that get to play on the stage.

So go for it, enjoy yourself and don't look back.
 
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#30
NickInMesa said:
Is it a good think to show up with a scores? Cheat sheets? Or just show up with just the bass and a smile and just go ahead and pump whatever I learned by heart (even if I am likely to screw up)?
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Good question. I'd say whatever it takes to nail the tune. Sometimes I get hired for a gig and given a CD and the next time I see the band is on the gig so I'll make notes so that I can remind myself how the tunes go just before count in.
 
#31
The one thing I learned from the bass technique video put up by a seriously talented session bassist who once toured with the arena rock band mentioned in this thread and who now makes as fool of himself (as well as loads of money, hopefully) judging a televised karaoke contest: be yourself.

He said he got his first big gig because all of the other guys were playing note for note what was on the sheet, while he did his think and that's how he got the gig.
 
#32
Nick, I'm not qualified to give any special advice that others haven't already given. Just good luck, have fun and be yourself. If you can't be yourself, then the relationship with the band probably isn't going to last long anyway. You should be proud of what you've done so far whether you get the gig or not.
 
#33
NickInMesa said:
The one thing I learned from the bass technique video put up by a seriously talented session bassist who once toured with the arena rock band mentioned in this thread and who now makes as fool of himself (as well as loads of money, hopefully) judging a televised karaoke contest: be yourself.

He said he got his first big gig because all of the other guys were playing note for note what was on the sheet, while he did his think and that's how he got the gig.
Click to expand...

IMO be carefull here! As i outlined in my experiences some bands want the bassline just tlike the albums. Some want more or let you add etc. In the country band i was in we changed keys allot to fit the singers. They also had me walk lines on some songs that didnt walk etc...his style.

In rock it was pretty much like the record with a fill here and there. I always ask a band before i play where are they with the songs, like the album,same key or changeups?
 
#34
So it was a fun audition and these guys are way above my current band's level, like 2 levels.

I was very intimidated at first and although we started with the easiest song (If Looks Could Kill), I totally screwed it up. I think it's because I did not practice it enough, obviously. I thought it would be piece of cake as it's 4 chords, but hmm hmm nope. Bad mistake.

Good thing is, I pretty much nailed the rest, except for one or two goofups where I faked through.

I practiced the Gary Moore song about 30 or 40 times, and that showed. I think I made the guitarist happy, as the bass is REALLY important and if you screw it, the guitarist does not shine during that tasty outro. The rest was pretty much piece of cake and the more I played, the easier it got.

They kindly asked me to leave after 2 hours, as they had another bass guy to test, and the guy showed up wheeling a cart in, probably brought his own rig and pedals (as I told them I use none to little effect -especially with a key guy).

They were somewhat cold, I suppose that's standard, as they don't want to play favorites and make their candidates feel as if they were part of the band already. I got that, no issue, but I thought I really had to place a couple simple jokes and that got me a few smiles. No standup crap, just interview, melt-the-ice type.

The comment when I left was "besides the first one, you knew all the songs and you did well". We'll see.

Oh yes, major goof: I am so used to playing Don't Stop Believin' with no keyboard (yes it's possible, you can play anything with no keyboard), that I started right from the beginning and the key guy had to tell me "no you don't come in until later" and restarted from the top.

I felt like an idiot but hey! hey! what can I say?

Oh yeah they were also auditioning a singer but that was her second audition, and they were a lot warmer towards her. :rolleyes:

Well, whoever gets the gig, whether it's me, the guy who wheeled in after me, or some other Joe should have fun, these guys are serious and really talented musicians.

If I don't get that gig, I'll audition for another one. :D
 
#36
Sounds like it went pretty good! The only thing that would put me off was the coldness of the band...the whole first impression thing. I try to be friendly and cool to anyone trying out even if they are blowing the audition.
You could be right and they might not of wanted to give off any vibe or they could be jerks. Time will tell if you get in. My first band back was cold at the audition and i lasted two weeks when i found out they were jerks....i packed it up right quick.

Remember you are auditioning the band also. You need to see if they fit you, your schedule , lifestyle etc. I wont be in a band with idiots just to be in a good band. It's got to be fun.

On blowing a song ...isn't it always the easy ones LOL! You say to yuorself Ya,Ya I have it only to flub the easy lines and nail the harder songs since you prepared for those the most.

Bottom line is you did it. You have returned ,progressed and if it doesnt work out, keep looking and you will find it. Good luck!
 
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#40
ZB3 said:
Listen to the drummer so you two can get into the pocket. Relax and enjoy. If you do not make this group there will be other auditions. Use it as a learning experience. Life is great, enjoy the music and being alive. I wish you the best, Wayne
Click to expand...

Locking on the drum is absolutely no issue for me, I have at least that for me.

I am very weak on harmonic fundamentals, otherwise. I can tell if it sounds good or not, but if you tell me "The song is in G" and then start jamming, I'll be relatively clueless.

These are things one can work on, but easier done at 14 than 40.

Lady Kayri good luck to you, as everybody says: it's about having fun and nobody dies.
 

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