My Band was Auditioned and ...

[JW56789]

Arbiter nailed it, worlds apart.

Used to make me crazy when you'd get a clueless sit-in or even worse booked behind someone who's only ever fronted herself in a mirror singing into her deodorant can. You can spot these wannabe's a mile away.

I don't mind them being green as hell, but I really chafe when they try and tell veteran players what to do when they don't have the chops or experience to tell me a damn thing.

On the other hand, it was always tremendously gratifying to get a young'un that had a little talent and a humble attitude to learn from cats who'd be experienced enough to work them onto the bandstand properly. I'd bust my hump all night to do right by them, because at one time, we were all in that spot.

Hey, if you need the money, you can stand it, and they want to keep going good for you. I'm just glad it's not me.

 

[mrjim123]

Show business is no business. Can I get a "Meh"?

 

[pglaser01]

As bad as this thread is making the Instagram star out to be talent-wise……

you’d all be lining up to see her if you had witnessed me trying to sing lead and dictate the harmonies last weekend on “Heartache Tonight” after our singer tested positive for COVID.

Ooofff!!!

 

[BBQisgood]

The 19 year old Instagram "star" called us a bunch of "Old fakers that sound like an elementary school orchestra."

We are 9 people in our 40's, 50's, and 60's who all tried to be professional musicians early in life and failed, so we now do this for fun. We were asked by her management to be the live backing band for 5 local gigs in April because her record label wanted her to get some crowd time before they spent real money on an out of state tour.

Our impression - she is a Karaoke singer with no experience with a live band. Shelly, our lead singer, did one of her songs with us last night and blew her away, and she did that reading the lyrics off a piece of paper. That's when our "star" stormed out.

We are now waiting to see if we are fired. It wouldn't disappoint any of us.

No names to protect from legal actions

She was intimidated.

 

[PillO]

As bad as this thread is making the Instagram star out to be talent-wise……

you’d all be lining up to see her if you had witnessed me trying to sing lead and dictate the harmonies last weekend on “Heartache Tonight” after our singer tested positive for COVID.

Ooofff!!!

Video or it didn't happen...

 

[ArtechnikA]

Pretty sure I saw a series of CL ads over the course of a few months for this project.
"Talented, high-power singer with management needs all the supporting players for big show tour."
Had it all listed out -- band, backup singers, dancers...
Literally hoping to plug a kid with American Idol-inspired 'star quality' and backing from somewhere into an instant success story.
Oh, and of course, "no money at first."

I think the other shoe just dropped...

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

The 19 year old Instagram "star" called us a bunch of "Old fakers that sound like an elementary school orchestra."

We are 9 people in our 40's, 50's, and 60's who all tried to be professional musicians early in life and failed, so we now do this for fun. We were asked by her management to be the live backing band for 5 local gigs in April because her record label wanted her to get some crowd time before they spent real money on an out of state tour.

Our impression - she is a Karaoke singer with no experience with a live band. Shelly, our lead singer, did one of her songs with us last night and blew her away, and she did that reading the lyrics off a piece of paper. That's when our "star" stormed out.

We are now waiting to see if we are fired. It wouldn't disappoint any of us.

No names to protect from legal actions

What is this... "Instagram" that you speak of?

 

[pglaser01]

Video or it didn't happen...

Any video of that was set on fire and then buried.

during the break in the middle I turned and yelled to the drummer “stop singing”

 

[Pilgrim]

Put the whole band in ZZ Top beards.

If the age difference is there, make it a feature!!

 

[LBS-bass]

Why was your singer there?

 

[MichelD]

Forget it.

It's not worth the grief. You've got lots of good stuff going. Keep it up.

 

[LBS-bass]

Why did your singer sing one of the Artists songs in front of her? That's a weird move.

My thoughts exactly. Does no one remember the insecurity of the teen phase? This is really a weird move.

 

[5andFretless]

Why was your singer there?

She plays guitar as well

 

[LBS-bass]

She plays guitar as well

Then she should have played guitar. What is the point of deliberately upstaging the young woman? I can understand why she wouldn't want to work with another singer who appears to be unable to keep her ego in check.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I am wondering how doe someone like her get backing from a label? Admittedly I have no knowledge of the current workings of labels or stardom.

I'll take a stab in the dark - betting that she photographs well.

 

[LBS-bass]

She was intimidated.

This is likely the case, and also, the band forgot that they have a job to do in this situation, and that job is to support the artist who is hiring them, not make them feel crappy about thier faults or lack of experience. Sheesh.

 

[WillyW]

I love peepholes like that, intentionally NOT saving them when they don’t know when to come in, would be fun.

 

[devnulljp]

"Instagram star" is a tell. Has she ever performed in front of a live audience with a live band? Not so easy, as she has discovered.

The requirement for an Instagram star is usually a big butt and some collagen in the lips. Nothing more.

 

[LBS-bass]

Well...

Sounds to me like the original plan was a good one. I don't think that "being 19" disqualifies you from having a more professional attitude or working with older musicians. E.g. the musicians and producers who worked on Adele's first album (when she was 19 ) were at least 10 years older than her.

It sounds more like the singer is less experienced and more insecure than management expected. I doubt that can be fixed by working with musicians her age.

It won't be fixed by working with musicians who see her as a nuisance, or worse. This is a situation that never should have happened because the OPs band never should have been hired to provide support when that is not what they intended to provide to her.

 

[gln1955]

Sounds like the rude awakening that was going to happen sooner or later. It has little to do with this particular band if she can't accept that she has a lot to learn about live performance.