Not a gig report, an audition report.....

[LuckyScott]

Well, the band I'm in has been on hold due to the Corona Virus, and now it looks like it may not get back together again. Even with gigs pending, the future looks cloudy.
So, I'm hitting the band audition trail and thought it might be interesting to post a report. Of course, I would rather be posting a gig report and in true BassCliff style I would show photos of the stage, the food, the beer, and the girls. But this is the best I can do.
Connected with a guy that wanted to bring a bass player into a band with him on guitar, a drummer, and a girl singer. Gave me a list of twenty songs. I knew half of them already so I figured I'm good to go. I never learn more than that because I don't know if I like the band or the people in it. If it works out, I can always learn more. And they can get a idea of how I play with 10 songs. No gigs pending so no time crush to deal with.
The guy gives me an address and says we can play at his place. I show up and I'm in a shopping center???? So I call him and no answer. I text him and no answer. Starting to get worried and he returns text saying I'm at the right place but he is busy with customers right now. After about ten minutes he opens the door and walks out.
Guy was kinda grouchy and rude but whatever. Met the folks in the band, and they were nice enough. Started playing. After the songs I know he wanted to play the rest. I told him I don't know them. He said he remembers every song he ever learned. And went ahead and started playing stuff I didn't know. So I did the best I could, and after a while I decided I had enough. I didn't like the guy, and I knew it would not work out. Told them I had to go, thanks for your time, and took off.

 

[oldrocker]

So, where was the audition?

 

[LuckyScott]

So, where was the audition?

A golf cart store in Lake Forest Calif

 

[kevin wells]

Yeah, I think I would have left too. I've dealt with all kinds of personalities, and it wouldn't have hurt for him to be more of a team player, and be a little more welcoming

 

[68Tele-Bass]

Wow.... that’s weird.
Glad you bailed, but thanks for doing that for us! Great story!!!

A golf cart store in Lake Forest Calif

 

[BassCliff]

Hi @LuckyScott,

Very curious indeed. It was an audition at his place of business? Free entertainment for his customers? Quite odd.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[EXCAV8]

Hi @LuckyScott,

Very curious indeed. It was an audition at his place of business? Free entertainment for his customers? Quite odd.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Hey- can it and get back to posting gig reports!

 

[brianrost]

I always have trouble remembering how to play songs I have never learned

 

[fourstr00]

A golf cart store in Lake Forest Calif

A quick trip to Google didn’t nail that down as much as I thought it would. How many golf cart stores does one town need?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It’s better to find out early.

 

[Dincrest]

And I wonder how long until the drummer and singer eventually tire of this guitarist's shenanigans and strike it out on their own.

 

[CarpeBasso]

Regardless I would have At least made a run at learning the songs I didn't know. To me it demonstrates a degree of commitment and work ethic (nobody's playing right now anyway) as opposed to a degree of arrogance. What if it had been a dream band situation and you had to admit you didn't trouble yourself to learn all the music, to the disappointment of the others. That's just my thoughts, anyway.

 

[ELG60]

Regardless I would have At least made a run at learning the songs I didn't know. To me it demonstrates a degree of commitment and work ethic (nobody's playing right now anyway) as opposed to a degree of arrogance. What if it had been a dream band situation and you had to admit you didn't trouble yourself to learn all the music, to the disappointment of the others. That's just my thoughts, anyway.

I disagree. If they can't figure out whether I'm 1. Competent and B. A good fit: stylistically, visually, and personality-wise, then I'm not interested. Furthermore, the most valuable commodity one has on this planet is time . . . Don't waste mine.

 

[Ulf Buck]

You are lucky you found out in such a short time that this was not worth pursuing.

 

[Christophe C]

Regardless I would have At least made a run at learning the songs I didn't know.

10 songs is enough for the band members to evaluate if you're good enough for them. If they don't understand that then "the best is yet to come".

 

[Treblefree]

20 songs for an audition is extremely high. I would think 5 or so would be enough to know and make comparisons.

 

[MrLenny1]

My last audition was 9 tunes.

 

[Altitude]

Auditions are weird. The hobbyist kind, not the pro kind. It's like you're walking into someone's alternative reality, and you and they have to size one another up in all kinds of ways very quickly. It's about way more than the music.

I've left many many auditions with the heebie jeebies.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I remember walking into an audition once and asked the drummer why he was always tightening and loosening his cymbals while I was setting up.

I'm not making this up:

"Yeah...I'm tuning them to pitch with the guitar "

I ran away faster than Usain Bolt on roids with rocket skates.

 

[growlypants]

You did the right thing. (All it really takes is one song.)