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Learn 10 songs for an audition?

#101
StayLow said:
To me being asked to learn 10 songs, especially if it's in short order, for a first audition is a sign of big egos, poor organization, or both, unless the caveats above apply. A band should be no more eager to spend more than 30 minutes with someone who says they can play than you should be eager to spend unnecessary extra time with people you've never met and that apparently don't have functional bassists in their collective circle.
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Great response, and I largely agree, but let me play devil's advocate for a moment:

If you were responding to a bass player audition ad for a band that, for whatever crazy reason, was asking candidates to come in knowing 10 songs, and it was a project you were otherwise highly interested in and motivated by, and you knew the stiff competition for the slot had several other competent bass players willingly learning those 10 songs...

...would you learn them and participate in the audition? Or, as a matter of principle, would you surmise the organizers of this project, no matter how attractive, are asshats for requesting so many songs at an audition and pass on the whole thing?
 
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#102
I once had the leader of an original blues band give me his cd, ask me to learn 2 songs and show up for the audition 3 days later. I learned the entire 10 song cd and got the gig. He later told me that I was chosen because I was the only person who took the time to learn more songs than he asked us to learn. I ended up touring the country, made some great contacts which led to more opportunities and made some friends along the way.
 
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#103
electracoyote said:
Great response, and I largely agree, but let me play devil's advocate for a moment:

If you were responding to a bass player audition ad for a band that, for whatever crazy reason, was asking candidates to come in knowing 10 songs, and it was a project you were otherwise highly interested in and motivated by, and you knew the stiff competition for the slot had several other competent bass players willingly learning those 10 songs...

...would you learn them? Or, as a matter of principle, would you surmise the organizers of this project, no matter how attractive, are asshats for requesting so many songs at an audition and pass on the whole thing?
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Thank you! Fair question. It's my firm belief that no credible band would handle it that way *for a first audition* unless it was made clear why they were doing so and it was for good reason(s). My caveats above would likely apply, then yes of course I'd gladly do it.

I'd even learn more songs of theirs if I know what they are and can manage it in time. I agree with that philosophy, as well as with the idea of nailing a few songs vs. half-assing many if that's the choice you must make.

Even if not getting the gig, you'd prove to those involved you can do it and they may call you or recommend you for other gigs or you may hire some of them for gigs someday. Plenty of ways to turn it into a win, so exchange contact info with the cats you gel with because the truth is you're auditioning them too.

I do recall one gig I auditioned for that was well worth it. Extremely demanding BL and I was way in over my head. I didn't get the gig but we stayed in touch and once I was on that level I wound up gigging with him and it was a blast, I learned and developed a lot, met stellar players, and got paid well. We're mates to this day.

I would not do it however if we couldn't have a dialogue first to determine why it's necessary to do it that way - in other words what's the real deal and what's in it for me - and if it's not clear I'll live happily with my existing gigs.

Want a reliable quality person on your team? At least have 5 minutes to discuss what's up. It's in your own best interests to filter out poor candidates or a poor fit long before meeting in person.

Gotta treat people the way you'd want to be treated, and I don't know any pros that conduct things under some shroud of secrecy like they're Yoda or Mr. Miyagi. I fully respect if they can't and won't name the artist or certain details for discretionary reasons if it's a high-profile gig. But I have to have enough faith in them and their credits to believe they're not wasting their own time much less mine. There should still be fundamental details available in any case in advance.
 
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#104
StayLow said:
Fair question. It's my firm belief that no credible band would handle it that way *for a first audition* unless it was made clear why they were doing so and it was for good reason(s). My caveats above would likely apply, then yes of course I'd gladly do it.

I'd even learn more songs of theirs if I know what they are and can manage it in time. I agree with that philosophy, as well as with the idea of nailing a few songs vs. half-assing many if that's the choice you must make.

Even if not getting the gig, you'd prove to those involved you can do it and they may call you or recommend you for other gigs or you may hire some of them for gigs someday. Plenty of ways to turn it into a win, so exchange contact info with the cats you gel with because the truth is you're auditioning them too.

I do recall one gig I auditioned for that was well worth it. Extremely demanding BL and I was way in over my head. I didn't get the gig but we stayed in touch and once I was on that level I wound up gigging with him and it was a blast, I learned and developed a lot, met stellar players, and got paid well. We're mates to this day.

I would not do it however if we couldn't have a dialogue first to determine why it's necessary to do it that way - in other words what's the real deal and what's in it for me - and if it's not clear I'll live happily with my existing gigs. Want a reliable quality person on your team? At least have 5 minutes to discuss what's up. It's in your own best interests to filter out poor candidates or a poor fit long before meeting in person.

Gotta treat people the way you'd want to be treated, and I don't know any pros that conduct things under some shroud of secrecy like they're Yoda or Mr. Miyagi. I fully respect if they can't and won't name the artist or certain details for discretionary reasons if it's a high-profile gig. But I have to have enough faith in them and their credits to believe they're not wasting their own time much less mine. There should still be fundamental details available in any case in advance.
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So, in short, if they impressed you sufficiently and you felt it was a good investment of your time and effort, you'd flex on your policy and learn the 10 songs.

Me too. ;)
 
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#105
Think of it this way...

What if you guys gel from the start and blow through all 10 and want to play more?

I've been in my current band for 2 years now, and for my audition they had me learn 5 songs, but I learned 20 as their song list was posted on their website. I already knew some of the songs, and I liked the material so much that for my own personal enjoyment I learned the additional 15.

It turned out we blew through the 5 they wanted me to learn, and the 15 others.

By the time I got home, I received a message that the bass position was mine if I wanted it.

I don't think 10 is too excessive especially if you enjoy playing the material. If you don't enjoy it, then I can see how you wouldn't be as motivated to learn it.

I tend to over prepare....;)

Good Luck!
 
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#106
with some of the experiences I've had, I might do the same thing to someone just to test their work ethic because, there ain't much bigger pita in the music biz than trying to carry some lazy%$# that won't do his homework and doesn't know the difference between practice and rehearsal.

Having said that...I would probably tell them no because my time is as valuable as theirs is. Pick three. You are going to know if I'm your guy or not in about a minute of playing. If you don't it's because nobody is listening while they are playing and if that's the case, you ain't the band for me.
 
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#108
Me, I'd do it just to be an *******, and I'd be fardling perfect too. Learning songs is not difficult for me though, and I do try hard not to give way to the Inner Brat. I myself think you can tell whether a cat is going to gel in three or four tunes.
 
#111
I personally don't think it's excessive but I love the challenge of learning new material. One friend of mine who is an amazing bass player was subbing in a band and in a show I saw them play at Viper Room the band tore through the whole set and sounded great. At the end the crowd was chanting for an encore but the singer said, "sorry, we have a new bass player and he doesn't know all of our material." This is where my friend turned to the bandleader and said that he learned every song they do. There was a moment of stunned silence from the rest of the band and when the band leader asked about a specific song with a bass intro my friend said he knew it and could even count it in. I was blown away by his professionalism and I carried that attitude into every gig since then but then again I'm the type A, be overprepared type of player. I've found it gets me a lot of calls. YMMV
 
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#114
learning songs is always a good thing ....

and i think during an audition , it can go both ways ... !! i usually felt like i was auditioning the band .. !! ( you Can get away with that when you play 3 instruments pretty well , plus vocals ) asked them to play a couple tunes that i wanna play/sing /whatever ..
 
#117
Bass Viking said:
In this day and age, I feel that bands and players should post videos of themselves on YouTube. Eliminates a lot of wasted time.
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If always ask for something online and it's saved me a lot of time. Not to go too far off , but I've noticed that when a band posts a multi paragraph ad looking for a member that they are usually the greenest as opposed to short and to the point ads that more vets seem to put out.
 
#118
rtav said:
I had a local guy who wanted me to play bass for his prog project. I had to learn all of Genesis "Trick of the Tail" and Yes "Relayer" and I had 2 weeks.

I learned "Trick of the Tail" but didn't have the time to get ALL of Relayer. Neither did anyone else, and the whole thing came to naught.

When my old band auditioned musicians we would send them three originals, ask them to choose one learn it reasonably well, and two covers - but they were Dream Theater covers and had usually 2 weeks or so to get them.

When I joined I had to learn DT's "Ytse Jam" and "La Villa Strangiato" (but I already knew La Villa, so it wasn't that bad).

It all depends,
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Dream Theatre covers ? That would be a blast !
 
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#119
Not a big deal if they are cover tunes. Not a big deal if they are originals and you have an appropriate amount of time to learn them. Not a big deal if you learn songs quickly. Especially not a big deal if you're not at all interested in the gig and nothing about the ad pertains to you... smh... Why do you care if you're not even interested? Just trying to get a mob riled up with their pitchforks? Ironically, the overwhelming response seems to be people saying that, though it's a lot to ask for, 10 songs for an audition is not excessive. I had to learn an entire 2 hour set list for an audition once... It happens. If you're into the gig, you just do it. If you're not, then you ignore it and move on with your life.
 

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