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

[Altitude]

Sounds like a professional rehearsal band. ... I remember, long ago, at the beginning, hooking up with an original band. At the time I was going to music college, while playing in a real good society band playing twice a month for great money, a country bar band Wed nights, a blues band with the odd gig and and this original band. ... The band was run by the keyboard player who wrote the songs and rented the rehearsal space. I'm guessing he'd replaced every player in the band at least a few times with never a gig, just another rehearsal. ... I lasted a month at best.

+1. Lots of bands are really just a hang. Thursday night bowling club, except with instruments instead of bowling balls and the same 4 dudes every Thursday.

You really know you're in for it when significant others who don't have roles in the band show up often at the rehearsals.

 

[LBS-bass]

Expecting someone to do so is out of line - that doesn't mean it's not beneficial to know more than the absolute minimum to get by. If I get sent a list with more than 10 songs for an audition, I usually ask which ones they want me to know - I've been in bands that had 3 or 4 songs used for auditions that flushed out the needs for the band. Typically they just say "whatever", but I still ask.

As I mentioned in my previous post, for personal growth, I'll learn as many songs as I can that time permits. As a result, I already have a high percentage of known songs on most audition lists I encounter.

It's beneficial in an abstract way, especially if most of what you're doing and intending to do is play the classics, either in classic rock bands or jazz combos or something. A lot of us older folks already know a bunch of those tunes, too, or at least could wing it by ear if they were called.

Nothing wrong with doing it for you, but I think the point is that feeling obligated to over-prepare for an audition, or being told by some here that you didn't do enough because you didn't learn their whole list for an audition, is different from just wanting to add to your vocabulary for your own purposes.

Again, as I said earlier, the OP would have known within 5 songs that he didn't want to do this gig, so even ten songs was five too many, unless he wanted to put those songs in his back pocket for some other reason. There are a lot of songs I've learned for auditions that I'm sure I'll never be asked to play again.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, 10 songs is enough to get a sense of your playing ability.
Maybe they wanted to have 'band practice' with the other 10 songs...and didn't care if you knew them or not. And the BLs quip about his ability to recall might indicate he'd do the same thing at a gig.
Good to cut your losses early... interested in your next audition.

 

[40Hz]

I don't disagree with anything you're saying, except attempting to learn the 10 songs the O.P. didn't already know. What else is going on right now anyway? That said I agree that discussing before jamming can render all else a moot point if the match just isn't there. But if it is, and it seems great? Myself I'd rather go in prepared, if it was something I felt was really iimportant, for reasons beyond simple proficiency.

Ok. I’ll confess. I do have a tendency to over prepare for most things I’m involved with that are even moderately important to me. But that’s just me (thank you mom and dad!) and not necessarily a good or efficient way to do things or go through life. It tends to make for unnecessary stress and worry. So I’m hesitant to recommend that approach as a one size fits all strategy.

I personally think the level of musicianship you display with what you do play packs a lot more punch than the number of songs you know. And I’ll take quality over quantity seven days out of seven. I know guys who are walking song encyclopedias and are totally soulless paint by numbers players. I’m always far more impressed by someone who has prepared a smaller number of pieces but absolutely nailed all of them during an audition. I don’t care that much about everything you can do. Show me your best stuff. Make me smile and whisper “Oooooo Yeah!”

I never worry about someone who can take on a tightly focused task and excel. Success breeds success. And any player who can absolutely nail a half dozen songs can do it again for another dozen. And the next three dozen after that.

 

[LBS-bass]

Ok. I’ll confess. I do have a tendency to over prepare for most things I’m involved with that are even moderately important to me. But that’s just me (thank you mom and dad!) and not necessarily a good or efficient way to do things or go through life. It tends to make for unnecessary stress and worry. So I’m hesitant to recommend that approach as a one size fits all strategy.

I personally think the level of musicianship you display with what you do play packs a lot more punch than the number of songs you know.

I'm the same way. Give me five songs and I'll walk into your audition knowing them forward, backward, sideways with all the background vocals; which part do you want me to sing? It's a more effective use of my time to give those five songs all of my attention than it is to learn ten songs halfway. And almost without exception I turn out to be the only one in the audition band that knows the songs that well.

The only time that wasn't the case was when I auditioned with the main band I am in now, which is part of why that's the band I joined. And by that I mean, I knew the songs - originals - really well, and so did they.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Professional ethics might call BS on his handling of the situation. Professional musicians may have rent to pay and see this as a minor issue easily worked around. The guy may very well have his Xhit together when it comes to getting work. If your in it for the hang, I can see leaving it.

 

[Sixgunn]

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. I will learn no more than 5 songs for an audition. That's plenty to get a vibe and a feel for the situation. If there's chemistry, then you take it to the next step. Not only are they auditioning me, I'm auditioning them. When my band has auditioned people, we suggest they learn 3 to 5 songs and it has served us quite well. A "dream band" would understand this.

 

[40Hz]

Because... wait for it... out of every ten auditions I ever did, maybe one of those would be a situation I wanted to get involved with. The rest were all waving red flags of some sort or another, including but not limited to them not knowing the material well, poor quality of musicianship, questionable leadership skills (like this situation) or poor choice of additional material.

On the same page here.

It sounds like the OP cut his losses appropriately and that also made it easier to spot the flaw in the situation.

^This too.

 

[Charlie Tuna]

My last audition was sitting in with a jam band for a song (Shakedown Street) at a local bar. The original (monster) bass player was heading out of town so they needed a fill-in for a while. As I plug in, using the bass player’s bass for the first time, the leader/singer/guitarist jokes “mess up and I’m throwing my guitar at your face”. I was nervous but that actually helped me loosen up. After the song was over he turns to me and says “you’re in!” That led to 7 fun & paid gigs in 2 weeks time before [blank] corona shut everything down. Twenty songs is overkill.

 

[Keyser Soze]

.... Anyone who expects you to learn 20 songs for an audition is immediately showing you that he doesn't understand how all this typically works.

This.

 

[fhm555]

20 songs? That could easily be stretched into a couple 45 minute sets. If they need to hear that much to decide what they want, i’m thinking they don’t really know what they want to begin with.

 

[Killing Floor]

20 songs seems like a big ask for a golf cart store audition. Did you bring your clubs?
"Deal breaker" when the players don't take off their spikes before they come into the store. It's just good form.

 

[Bassngtr]

It's a shame you left before a drummer was rage-fired...good call on your part.

 

[james condino]

I bet that band is always complaining that they can't find any good bass players....

 

[bwoodman]

I'm also in So Cal - tough scene here BEFORE the virus! I've had such a hard time finding good cover bands to audition for / join up with. I even tried the new startup thing - put ads everywhere - Musicians Contact, Bandmix, CL etc. I was trying to start a Yacht Rock thing - actually I do have a whole band of people on hold - guitar player and his wife who sings / her two singer friends (male and female), my buddy on drums that I've been in other bands with + a keyboard player. We were starting to plan rehearsals and get the initial set lists together - then the virus hit.

Before that, I did have a few strange auditions - the most recent was a new startup where they were auditioning not only bass players, but guitar players and singers. I showed up and set up - weird vibe - light conversation. After a couple songs, the female singer said something about the guitar player being too loud - and the guitar player completely flipped and set down his guitar and left the room. The male vocalist was able to go talk to him and convince him to come back in / we played a few more songs / the chick said again - guitar too loud - he flipped again and left the room. This is when I started packing my junk and told them I'm out - not going to deal with a guitar player like that. If you can't take constructive criticism, you shouldn't be in a band.

Your guy was grouchy and rude? I may not have even set up my stuff if I was in that situation. I will not be in a band with an a** hat.

 

[FDR Jones]

Did you at least kick the tires on a golf cart? Take one for a spin around the parking lot?

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

You made a great decision. When you get that certain whiff about people, the stench rarely changed. Smart move.

That said, it may be that the rest of the band may have been behind his surley attitude, and you could have been a pawn in a “See, I told you this was a waste of time” drama.

 

[jnuts1]

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.

you would learn 10 additional songs for an audition after already knowing 10 of them? nah ten is enough to know whether they are worth my time or I worth theirs. if I know 10 songs for an audition and nail them and they are disappointed they don't know what's up and are def going to be a problem later.

right now im learning stuff I want to learn not have to learn. I don't want to learn ten songs I may never play again or even care for in the first place when I can learn stuff I want to play and if the band is a good fit I can obviously learn the rest.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

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.

I always remember what a friend told me after he quit his job(middle of a recession) I tried to convince him to change his mind. HE said "Lifes to Short, I WILL Not work with/for @ss holes!! I tried its just not worth it! He was so adamant I had to consider what he was saying & had to agree, You wont get anything but regurts & frustrated! Good for You! I played in many bands & wth @ holes too and it was never worth my time! I'm Glad you Waked out, maybe he'll check himself next time, probably wont but maybe...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Disagree. Whenever I auditioned a player (or was being auditioned as player) I knew within three songs plus around 15-20 minutes of conversation whether or not I was interested in pursuing things further. Expecting someone to learn 20 somgs for a first audition is ridiculous unless you’re a tribute band six weeks out from going on tour.

Any time my bands were auditioning we’d first have a brief phone chat to find out what their goals and expectations were - and to let them know what ours were. If it seemed like a good enough match to proceed to an audition we’d then give the person a list of ten or so song selections and tell them to have three or four (their pick) ready to audition with.


Note: I’ve always insisted on talking to a candidate on the phone first prior to an audition. My experience has taught me that people who lack sufficient personal skills to be comfortable with an occasional telephone conversation, and want to do everything by text, tend to have other issues that don’t bode well for someone in entertainment world. So first part of my audition is the other party’s willingness to take a phone call.

Every flake I’ve ever met refuses voice and insists on text communications. Maybe some people, or even everyone else here has had a totally different experience with that. And that’s fine by me. But I have to go by my own experiences. So anyone who despises to the point of refusing to ever pick up a phone probably won’t ever be working with me.

I’ve come to the conclusion Auditions are like a first date. You’re dressed to the nines, you’re on your best behavior, prepared the best lines. But the real proof comes later. Like how well a musician prepares for a full blown rehearsal, preferably with several challenging pieces that he (or she) has never played before to gauge the work ethic. To that point, I work with a BL that puts you on short probation until you have the sets down. (I’ve been in the band for almost 5 years, so I asked him at the last rehearsal if I’m off probation. He said he’s still trying to decide)

Better yet, bring in candidate and have entire band learn something new. You go through that process, you got a pretty good idea off what you are working with.