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Frontman Auditions

J

Joronamo

Dec 12, 2009
271
4
#1
Currently a 3 piece band (me on bass, drummer and guitarist). I started the band 3 years ago so its been a long process finding the right people/

5 months later we are still looking for a singer. As the founder and band leader I sort of had a vision in my head about what we are looking for. So when a singer auditions, I can basically see potential or write him off after one jam based on all the criteria you look for in a frontman.

The thing is my band mates don't agree with my method of auditioning. The way I see it, if a singer has potential i.e you like their personality, sound, image etc then you call them back for a second audition. But if someone is way off what you're looking for whats the point if you dont see a future?

Anyways our latest auditioner was really crap in my opinion. He had good stage presence but that was about it. His lyrics were stupid and immature, has different influences/style, his timing and musical knowledge was missing, his sound was crap, he is a redneck and he is brain-fried from substance abuse (talks really slow etc). My drummer didnt like him but insists I am being too harsch and need to give him time as with my guitarist however he liked him a bit more than we did.

Even though I am the leader/founder I dont want to be a dictator boss because it never works that way and my bandmates will just leave me. But am I seriously in the wrong here? Aren't you supposed to be extremly superficial in the auditioning process especially with something you created and are passionate about.

I dont want to make them feel like their opinion doesnt count but its hard to make them feel that way when you find it really difficult to comprehend why they would see potential in something that is way off and they know it. They think I am being prejudiced because I am refusing to give him a chance because he is a redneck which is complete BS. However I still stand by my right to refuse to be in a band with someone because of their personality.

I spoke to them to give them my side of the story as did they and we all made up and stuff but last jam it was mentioned again because the guitarist asked the tricky question "Whats the point to audition him if you dont even want him in the band". Then the whole discussion got fired up again. Need advice. Thanks.
 
#2
Image is only part of the battle - the big part is the actual talent/performance level they are on. If the guy looks good, but sings terribly, your band will look bad. If he sings well and the image is not too great - you can always help him out with clothing choices. Then you can at least get somewhere with him.

Have you told the people auditioning what each song should be about? Or is it more of a "let's see what you come up with for the song". Sounds like you are asking too much out of one audition. Might want to loosen up on your ideas for "your" frontman and write down a bullet list of 10-20 things a singer MUST be for your band.

It also sounds like the band wants something a little different - make sure you are all on the same page before jumping into it. Otherwise, you will continue to argue get nowhere.

""his timing and musical knowledge was missing, his sound was crap""

RED FLAG! Do you want to work with him or deal with it? Forget that he is a redneck, start with technical abilities first, then go to personalities.
 
#3
The bullet list is a good idea. Yeah the audition is is more of a "let's see what you come up with for the song" appoach. I send the auditioners a recording of our songs and give them a week to see what they can do even its just one song just so we get an idea.

I am not too concerned with image just yet and I know that can be discussed later. Its more talent and personality I am worried about for now.

We have discussed as a band what we are looking for as a singer for some time now. So as I said in OP it is really suprising me why my drummer and guitarist what to give this guy some more time when he is clearly not what we discussed. I think they are just getting impatient even though I told them It took years to find you guys!
 
#5
The way I see it, as founding member you have 51% of the vote, the rest shared equally between other members...same as our band. We are mostly democratic, but our lead guitard is founding member, did all the leg work to get us together, and we understand that ultimately its his decision. State your valid reasons why this person wouldnt be a good choice, AND its also not what you envisioned, and why so. At the same time, be open for a 2nd chance, the singer may have been nervous, or had an off day, maybe you'll sense something 2nd time around. And possibly your band will see the same flaws as you and see your points. Its tricky, dont rush to gig..yet dont take forever. Good Luck.
 
#6
Hey, you used redneck in a derogatory manner, and that's not fair ;)

Finding singers is a PITA, but it can be amusing. My advice, enjoy the crappy auditions and keep having them until something works. Your bandmates might be off the reservation for the time being, but when someone comes along that really fits your music, they will be as happy as you are. Remember, finding a vocalist means sifting through plenty of "singers" and karaoke superstars who believe that this is their ticket since they can't play anything and believe that a beat up used shure microphone is all they need to claim they have pro gear. When the professional emerges from the wastelands, your band will know it and be on board.
 
#7
Pretty damn impossible for a singer to invent perfect lyrics and melody off a bunch of riffs.

Burt Bacharach gave his lyricist the tune in it's entirety. Then passed it over the artist of the day to make it their own.

If I was you I'd get your auditionees in much earlier in the scheme of things and see how they go. When I was playing in a rock outfit our grooves were shaped by the lyrics and vice versa.
 
#8
Did I miss something, or are you asking singers to make up lyrics on the spot? Is this the model for the band's performances, everything improvised, including the lyrics? Or are you auditioning these guys to be songwriters as well as singers? If you just want to hear his voice in a jam, I'd say forget lyrics and let him just go bop-bop-a-lu-bop-a-bop-bam-boom or whatever. It's possible that the unexpected pressure of having to compose on the fly as well as sing is throwing off some of your auditioners. Even if it's not going to be a cover band, I would ask them to come in and sing something they know and have prepared. It could be happy birthday or the national anthem, anything, just something where what you're testing is their voice and only their voice.

Having said that, it is an audition, and that means that it's up to the auditioners to impress you. You have to be confident in the person you go with. If he has no timing or musical sense, sounds like crap, and is brain-fried, I don't see any reason to give him a callback.
 
#9
lousybassplayer said:
Hey, you used redneck in a derogatory manner, and that's not fair ;)

Finding singers is a PITA, but it can be amusing. My advice, enjoy the crappy auditions and keep having them until something works. Your bandmates might be off the reservation for the time being, but when someone comes along that really fits your music, they will be as happy as you are. Remember, finding a vocalist means sifting through plenty of "singers" and karaoke superstars who believe that this is their ticket since they can't play anything and believe that a beat up used shure microphone is all they need to claim they have pro gear. When the professional emerges from the wastelands, your band will know it and be on board.
Click to expand...

Thats what I keep telling them, when the right person comes we will all know and be very happy. I dont know where you guys got this make lyrics up on the spot from? Pretty sure I said in 2nd post I give them recordings and they have a week to come up with something.

Each auditioner is different, one person did doo-dop,oom bop over the top of music just to get the harmony melody right and the other guy after a week was able to put his own '******' words on top. In terms of song writing we want someone who can take care of lyrics. Us instrumentalists have enough to worry about :smug:. Although I have written a few lyrics in my handy dandy notebook before.
 
#13
Downunderwonder said:
Lets get this straight. You are recording your riffology and hoping someone will find them to be awe inspiring enough to want to compose a rockin' song for you? This creative genius also has to be a rock singer.

Not gonna happen dude.
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I don't think thats a fair assessment of the situation, although I can see where you get that impression. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask a vocalist to throw something together for an audition. His "riffology" is known to him and his bandmates as their material, and thats kind of a condescending way to put that. I can't speak for the OP but I bet the lyrics themselves are secondary to the singers fit into the band.

I wouldn't expect a singer to show up with a finished product to a rehearsal, that part I agree with, but hearing what the guy would write about in the first meeting sounds kind of important. If you were trying to set up a hypothetical blues rock band and you got a a David Lee Roth type singing nothing but thinly veiled innuendos, that probably won't work.
Provided the OP is using the lyrics only as an indicator of what the singer is into writing and not the principle criteria for hiring him, this seems fair.

Edit: LiquidMidnight has a pretty good idea too. Select some covers that generally have a similar vibe to what your going for and see if that at least breaks the ice with a new singer.
 
#14
Great suggestion. The chances are much improved if you can find someone who can sing and front first.

Take the vocal line away from "Smells like teen spirit" and what do you have? A whole lot of nothing much. The chances of finding someone with talent that catches onto your material, and makes it their own for an audition, is remote. You're going to get your "rednecks" and tryhards having a crack to see if they can "get in a band".

Finding someone with the frontman goods is the 1st priority. Like they said, if you then get each others creative juices going you've got your ideal man. But even if they don't write inspiring lyrics it shouldn't be a dealbreaker.
 
#15
I'd say stick to your guns. The frontman position is too important to get wrong. that microphone is alot of power, and not just singing-- this will likely be the guy doing all the crowd banter during gigs, so choose wisely.

be respectful to your band mates. listen to their concerns openly... but also be clear and honest about how you feel. you want it to work for everyone, and if you communicate that to your bandmates, they should understand that you're holding out for a good fit for the band... it's a long hard slog to find a frontman.

have you considered learning to sing?
 
#16
Do the singing yourself. My band pretty much found lead vocalists who weren't instrumentalists to be a bit of a waste of time. It ended up being easier just to do the vocals ourselves.


At the very least, don't make auditioners come up with lyrics as well as melodies. That's like demanding an auditioner write riffs.
 

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