Need tips on how to conduct auditions

[el murdoque]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

In your shoes, I'd send out the list of tunes the band can play, with no requirements.
Someone that that has prepared one or two songs sends a different message than someone who has prepared five or six and someone who has prepared all of them (the latter might be a red flag).

I'd also do my best and audition the people one by one. It would be easiest to start with the drummer and then audition the singer with the new drummer.

 

[pepj]

I read something similar about when Phil Collins auditioned for Genesis. The band liked the way he sat down at the drums (before he even played a note). Maybe the player exudes confidence. Or maybe it’s the way he opens his case in a way that suggests it wasn’t 3 weeks since he last did it.

Recent Sub gig... drummer decided to announce his presense on stage by beating the bass drum.
It needed turning and most guys have a good thereabouts sound to their drums which might require a quick tweak even in a difficult room.....but this guy then announced he hasn't tuned his kit for 20 odd years. Now, I don't know if that is true but he made no effort to tune any off them and just proceeded to hit them as though to beat them into submission into sounding ok. No chance and clueless.
I said to him he might want to tune that kit...and he didn't know how ....and still doesn’t.
Now, either he doesn't care or doesnt know but both are as bad as each other.

 

[el murdoque]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

In your shoes, I'd send out the list of tunes the band can play, with no requirements.
Someone that that has prepared one or two songs sends a different message than someone who has prepared five or six and someone who has prepared all of them (the latter might be a red flag).

I'd also do my best and audition the people one by one. It would be easiest to start with the drummer and then audition the singer with the new drummer.

 

[Confunk]

I read something similar about when Phil Collins auditioned for Genesis. The band liked the way he sat down at the drums (before he even played a note). Maybe the player exudes confidence. Or maybe it’s the way he opens his case in a way that suggests it wasn’t 3 weeks since he last did it.

It shows experience, and also the fact that the player has prepared the material and is ready to run through it.
In the "bad old days' I've had players come to audition and ask what the changes are...

That's a NO!

 

[Bass Viking]

Recent Sub gig... drummer decided to announce his presense on stage by beating the bass drum.
It needed turning and most guys have a good thereabouts sound to their drums which might require a quick tweak even in a difficult room.....but this guy then announced he hasn't tuned his kit for 20 odd years. Now, I don't know if that is true but he made no effort to tune any off them and just proceeded to hit them as though to beat them into submission into sounding ok. No chance and clueless.
I said to him he might want to tune that kit...and he didn't know how ....and still doesn’t.
Now, either he doesn't care or doesnt know but both are as bad as each other.

Some people take up the drums because they like pounding on stuff. Music is an afterthought.

 

[pepj]

Lol, well there is not a lot of musicality in the band full stop, but if they canvassed opinion...and assuming you would be inclined to 'go there' the obvious answer is Fire the drummer...because he has no clue, but then you would also know that the fact they never realised this means its all rather hopeless and you just leave them be..

 

[LBS-bass]

Back when I was auditioning, the biggest problem I would run into involved bands who didn't know the material as well as I did. So my best advice to add along with what's already been said is this: Realize that your best candidate is auditioning you - it's not the other way around. Both parties have equal power to decide whether this is a fit.

If you want the best people, make sure you're ready for the best people when they walk in. Make sure you all know your parts, make sure your singer(s) are warmed up, and put your best foot forward. If you don't, you're going to lose the better candidates.

Other than that, most of the stuff has already been said. Stagger, give them all the information they need, including song versions (studio or live? Which ones? Links?)

Do not make the mistake of auditioning drummers and singers simultaneously; I have seen that happen and if you have a bad drummer in there the best singer will not be able to do what they do with any grace or finesse, so you're going to sabotage your efforts. Get the drummer in place first and audition singers with that person.

 

[drpepper]

The way I see it, anyone can engage in a cat fight, regardless of gender. But feel free to be offended if you like.

I'll tell you what, if you have unisex substitute that effectively communicates the intended meaning, I will be happy to use it. But as far as I know, a gender-neutral replacement does not exist.

Because it's the way you see something doesn't make it so.

Thanks for your permission to be offended, but I don't tend to take deep or personal offense to things that are simply wrong and come out of ignorance, like an elderly person who I know isn't really bigoted referring to all Asian people as "Chinamen". Here, that you can't be bothered to look at, consider or understand your potential misuse of a turn of phrase when it's pointed out, that's a you problem, not a me problem.

Not that you would seem to care, what I do find offensive is when people believe it's their right to decide what should or shouldn't be offensive to someone else, especially when an offense has been pointed out and explained to them. But in some of life's situations, we can make up our own definitions for terms and generally do whatever we wish. This is one of those for you, and I don't doubt that among minor occurrences, you consider this a minor, minor occurrence.

Hmm, but just maybe if you find yourself about to refer to catfighting in the future, because of this minor occurrence, you'll pause, remember that even though you feel you got away with it, saying that in your view catfighting can refer to anyone without regard to sex was something you stubbornly made up to preserve your ability to feel right, and not use it.

And "sniping" is one of the possible gender-neutral alternatives for petty, backbiting type disputes between people.

 

[Marko 1]

And "sniping" is one of the possible gender-neutral alternatives for petty, backbiting type disputes between people.

Are his expressions against TOS?

Are you a mod, or just the word police?

 

[Wasnex]

Because it's the way you see something doesn't make it so.

Thanks for your permission to be offended, but I don't tend to take deep or personal offense to things that are simply wrong and come out of ignorance, like an elderly person who I know isn't really bigoted referring to all Asian people as "Chinamen". Here, that you can't be bothered to look at, consider or understand your potential misuse of a turn of phrase when it's pointed out, that's a you problem, not a me problem.

Not that you would seem to care, what I do find offensive is when people believe it's their right to decide what should or shouldn't be offensive to someone else, especially when an offense has been pointed out and explained to them. But in some of life's situations, we can make up our own definitions for terms and generally do whatever we wish. This is one of those for you, and I don't doubt that among minor occurrences, you consider this a minor, minor occurrence.

Hmm, but just maybe if you find yourself about to refer to catfighting in the future, because of this minor occurrence, you'll pause, remember that even though you feel you got away with it, saying that in your view catfighting can refer to anyone without regard to sex was something you stubbornly made up to preserve your ability to feel right, and not use it.

And "sniping" is one of the possible gender-neutral alternatives for petty, backbiting type disputes between people.

I certainly would not want to invalidate your feelings, so I acknowledge your concerns. That does not necessarily mean I agree with or disagree with them.

I am not interested in sniping about this further and regardless of our differences, and I wish you a good day.

 

[drpepper]

Are his expressions against TOS?

Are you a mod, or just the word police?

I didn't suggest that any rules were broken or that I have some authority over other forum members.

I find it kind of funny that you imply that my being struck by something in a post enough to comment on it in reply to the poster is overbearing and out of bounds while you are doing precisely the same thing to me.

Or do you gratuitously come to the defense of other forum members in some official capacity, or just part the self-appointed the anti word police force?

While it seemed most likely that the post I initially responded to was unintentionally saying that a common problem with orchestras is women squabbling, it struck me in a way that I decided to post a simple, non-accusatory FYI. He could have rolled his eyes and dropped it, and it would have been done. He could have said something along the lines of "Doh! Picky, picky...not what I meant!", and it would have been over and done. Instead, he meant it and he's right...he doubled down, said if he offended me, he didn't care, and asked me to supply an alternative word, which I obliged.

 

[drpepper]

I am not interested in sniping about this further and regardless of our differences, and I wish you a good day.

Cool deal. Same.

 

[Wasnex]

Instead, he meant it and he's right...he doubled down, said if he offended me, he didn't care, and asked me to supply an alternative word, which I obliged.

Not accurate.

 

[Marko 1]

I didn't suggest that any rules were broken or that I have some authority over other forum members.

We have a constitutional right to free speech, you - nor anyone whom you feel it's your duty to "protect"- have a right to not be offended.

Your concerns are not on the same level as mine.

But if you must whine and lecture, and it's not against TOS, enjoy.

Just be aware that nobody has any obligation to accommodate your particular belief system.

 

[drpepper]

We have a right to free speech...

You say our concerns aren't on the same level? Starting out with your right to free speech in this context is a pretty good indication of the level you're operating on, so I'd agree with you on that point.

 

[gln1955]

Is there a proper gender-neutral name for an insufferable whiner that derails threads?

 

[hbarcat]

. . . It's not unheard of for a new member to abruptly quit (or be asked to leave) after a few weeks for any number of reasons.

I've auditioned as a bassist/singer for bands and also ran auditions for musicians in my own bands, and one guideline I picked up along the way was to make a point that when the choice was made to actually select the band/musician, that even though the selection was made, there would be a probationary period (of maybe several rehearsals or perhaps a month) during which time either party (the band or the applicant musician) could opt out for any reason (or for no stated reason) without giving offense.

I believe having a built in probationary period tends to weed out problems early that would otherwise linger for months with a new lineup until someone either quit or was fired under awkward circumstances, just because everybody assumed that once a decision to go with a new band member was made, then the decision must be final and must automatically be a good fit.

Leaving an out for both parties to walk away with no more than a "just not feelin' it" has saved me/my band lots of wasted time in the long run trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

 

[LBS-bass]

I've auditioned as a bassist/singer for bands and also ran auditions for musicians in my own bands, and one guideline I picked up along the way was to make a point that when the choice was made to actually select the band/musician, that even though the selection was made, there would be a probationary period (of maybe several rehearsals or perhaps a month) during which time either party (the band or the applicant musician) could opt out for any reason (or for no stated reason) without giving offense.

I believe having a built in probationary period tends to weed out problems early that would otherwise linger for months with a new lineup until someone either quit or was fired under awkward circumstances, just because everybody assumed that once a decision to go with a new band member was made, then the decision must be final and must automatically be a good fit.

Leaving an out for both parties to walk away with no more than a "just not feelin' it" has saved me/my band lots of wasted time in the long run trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

This is great advice from both sides. When I join a new band, I always tell them that I know there are always unidentified issues with bands that can only become apparent over time, and that they should think of me as their first call sub for a while, not a permanent band member. If it all works out and I love the gig, I'll make it permanent. They can also kick me out if they think it's not working.

 

[dangevans]

Regardless of your whether they make it or not, DO NOT GHOST anyone who took time to come play for you... Contact them afterwards thanking them for their time or to give them the good news.

 

[Marko 1]

We've been holding auditions for a drummer, and we make for a very pleasant audition.

Put out an ad that's very informative and accurate to the situation they're auditioning for.

One audition that day...

talk on the phone (buddy does that), text a whole setlist, he has a few days to go over it, very welcoming when they show up (my house), sit at the umbrella table and chat for a bit, go in, nice kit on a riser, Rock-n-Sock hydraulic seat, let him pick a songs if he wants to, good sounding room and his own monitor...

probably the nicest audition situation one can ask for.