Making an incredibly hard desicion

[Manuel101]

So as some of you know my band needs a new lead singer. We originally wanted a male singer because we felt it was more marketable and more appropriate for our sound. After auditioning a couple of guys we decided to expand the search and include female singers as well. Yesterday we auditioned a singer with an out of this world voice. She had learned all the songs (unlike every body else) and she blew our minds. This Sunday we are going to audition the last vocalist who happens to be a guy. It is now down to him and the female singer but she is light years ahead of him in vocal ability.

Guy: Looks the part, has lead a touring band, claims to have good contacts and connections. He looks our age.

Girl: An out of this world voice but she looks a bit older than us.

We love the girl, her singing is much better than the guy's but we are trying to take this band to the next level and feel that the band will be more marketable with a male singer. What would you guys do in our position. I can upload clips if you guys want. This is the most important decision that will greatly effect our future and we are trying to be wise about it.

 

[Marko 1]

Clips would be helpful.

 

[lowfreq33]

Is the girl hot? If she is then she'll be WAY more marketable than any guy.

 

[BawanaRik]

I would go with the girl. She has demonstrated a work ethic. Abilty. An as far as being a little bit older, with all possible respects, that isn't such a bad thing.

She might well have learned a few things in all those years.

 

[bassinplace]

In my opinion the bottom line is sound. The goal is to make good music. Whoever has the most musical skill gets the job.

 

[Marginal Tom]

You might want to consider hiring them both. If she's a great singer and he's a good frontman with connections, you should have better gigs and more income, even split over one more band member. Of course, if either singer is afflicted with LSD, this might not work

 

[butchblack]

Type of music you're doing and age of the band members would be helpful. However if the woman has demonstrated a stage presence as well as her ability to sing and a willingness to work to learn your songs she deserves STRONG consideration. Slightly older shouldn't be a problem unless you're a bunch of teenagers, then the age gap becomes glaring, and unless she's butt ugly a female front person shouldn't work against you presence wise.

 

[Manuel101]

The man:
http://vimeo.com/7402942


The woman:

 

[pedro]

Is the girl hot? If she is then she'll be WAY more marketable than any guy.

Ditto.

 

[Manuel101]

I have an mp3 from the guy but I dont know how to upload it so you can listen to it. He does sing well but she sings much much better. Lauren has gotten even better than in those youtube videos i uploaded. We were all looking at each other with our mouth open because she sings so well

 

[kevteop]

How about hiring the guy who suits your image/sound and starting another project with the female singer?

 

[pedro]

I have an mp3 from the guy but I dont know how to upload it so you can listen to it. He does sing well but she sings much much better. Lauren has gotten even better than in those youtube videos i uploaded. We were all looking at each other with our mouth open because she sings so well

Sounds like you know the answer. If she looks better and sounds better why is this a tough decision?

 

[Bassist4Eris]

I can't believe this is a tough choice for you. The chick! The Chick! The Chick!!! I can't even stand guys who sing like that. And marketability will not be a problem. She's beautiful. But that's not why it's a no-brainer. Her voice is what makes it easy.

I repeat, join the "I back a hot singerbabe" club. Go with the lady!

 

[BawanaRik]

It's an apples and oranges. The girl has the talent, imho. She might not fit with a harder band. But the guy probably wouldn't be able to pull off what she can do.

How about a vid of your band?

 

[klokker]

Do you expect her to do screamo? It's hard to make a comparison. From what I saw the gal was fantastic and would fit in just about anywhere.......

 

[BawanaRik]

Sounds like you know the answer. If she looks better and sounds better why is this a tough decision?

You do have a point.

 

[Stumbo]

I watched her video. If you don't hire her, my band will.

She's fine..both vocals and looks.

Good luck and don't look back!

 

[Manuel101]

She wants to play with us so badly that she said she wouldn't mind sharing the stage. She was also very impress with us and she really wants to join our group. The only issue is marketability, we think that even though she is amazing it might be harder to "make it" with her in our genre. The guy says he has played in packed venues he sent me some pictures from a concert where there were literally hundreds of people. Also he has a degree in music business and he says he has great contacts and the know how to take us to the next level (I must say he sells himself really well).

 

[Flyingfrets]

From what I saw and more importantly, heard on the videos, he wouldn't have made it past the first audition, let alone be in the running as a final consideration. All I hear outta him is a lot of generic, derivative growling. Sounds like a million other "shouters" in that genre.

SHE can actually sing.

Where's the quandry?

I must say he sells himself really well.

If the video you posted the link to is his best effort, I disagree.

 

[bassinplace]

Ok, after checking out the vids it would be a no brainer for me. The girl. No contest. She could wipe the floor up with that dude vocally, great presence and nice looking too.