Oddest question asked in an audition...

[grimjim]

this was in Japan... One guy asked me, "You're not a Ninja, are you? Last guy we had was a weirdo and he was a Ninja."

I was like, "Yeah, no, I don't even own a black t-shirt." He never knew that I actually WAS a Ninja....

Good ninjas never reveal themselves.

 

[gln1955]

Good ninjas never reveal themselves.

The first rule of Ninja Club....Don't talk about Ninja Club

 

[Richland123]

The first rule of Ninja Club....Don't talk about Ninja Club

 

[Matt Dean]

this was in Japan... One guy asked me, "You're not a Ninja, are you? Last guy we had was a weirdo and he was a Ninja."

I was like, "Yeah, no, I don't even own a black t-shirt." He never knew that I actually WAS a Ninja....

Those who are ninjas don’t say they are, and those who say they’re ninjas are not.

 

[stigbeve]

YOU GOT A REHEARSAL?!?!?! Consider yourself lucky: I've known three different musicians who worked with Chuck, and none of them got any rehearsal.

 

[MNAirHead]

My most important audition (major label)

"do you pee in the shower"
"yea"
"good - you're in... stop pissin in the shower ... at least you're an honest team player"

Serious... life changing moment

 

[Holdsg]

wasn't directed at me, but I had a BL once that asked a singer auditioning (male) to take off his shirt during the audition. they wanted to check out his abs. awkward moment.

 

[StatesideRambler]

YOU GOT A REHEARSAL?!?!?! Consider yourself lucky: I've known three different musicians who worked with Chuck, and none of them got any rehearsal.

yeah, that's how he rolls, usually (depending on circumstances). we played several dates without rehearsals that 'tour', but we were indoctrinating a few different players because of the nature of that one event.

Many years ago I talked with a drummer who’d backed Chuck Berry almost every time CB came to town. When CB arrived backstage just before showtime a rube sideman had the nerve to ask for a set list. “We’re gonna play Chuck Berry songs.” was CB’s reply accompanied by a pronounced chill in the air. [Editorial aside: If you can’t back Chuck Berry without a set list you’re nobody I’d want to gig with.]

EDIT Springsteen had the same experience, I see. [above]

 

[stretch80]

Great thread. Reminds me of some great ads looking for musicians to audition.
Back in the 80s, my favorite was the line "...looks, hair, and attitude a must." (This was in Boston)

 

[foolforthecity]

Probably not the oddest but I do remember asking alot people auditioning for bands I was in in the 80's "is that a wig???".......

Yeah, I’ve been getting a lot of that just lately

 

[StatesideRambler]

At least half the ads in L.A. in the hair band days of the 80s included the phrase, “No posers.” Uh-huh.

 

[LBS-bass]

At least half the ads in L.A. in the hair band days of the 80s included the phrase, “No posers.” Uh-huh.

Yeah, I love that. CL ads that say "no drama." Do you seriously think someone who creates drama thinks they're the reason for drama?

 

[bassbrad]

Do you have any warrants or convictions?

 

[Deleted member 165050]

wasn't directed at me, but I had a BL once that asked a singer auditioning (male) to take off his shirt during the audition. they wanted to check out his abs. awkward moment.

Because male singers all are real shy and just hate taking their shirts off to show of their abs

 

[b_carville]

Many years ago I talked with a drummer who’d backed Chuck Berry almost every time CB came to town. When CB arrived backstage just before showtime a rube sideman had the nerve to ask for a set list. “We’re gonna play Chuck Berry songs.” was CB’s reply accompanied by a pronounced chill in the air. [Editorial aside: If you can’t back Chuck Berry without a set list you’re nobody I’d want to gig with.]

EDIT Springsteen had the same experience, I see. [above]

Chuck plays in a lot of piano keys.Aflat,Eflat,Bflat,etc.
My band was called upon to back him at a Philadelphia PA thing called Rock-A-Rama. Our booking agent said "NO WAY". He booked Chuck before & was familiar with his ways.We wanted to do it & were quite pissed. He did 2 Rock-A-Rama shows on 2 different days. I saw both The 1st band (who were good players) Chuck did everything he could to foul them up.He changed keys & songs in the middle of a song.Chuck fired them.2nd show he had the Sun Rhythm Section who were well seasoned(Sonny Burgess,DJ Fontana & other 50's vets) & backed Chuck up before & knew what he was like. I was onstage on the side(my road manager at the time was working this show) & got to hear the off mike banter. Chuck Berry: I'm F....in'Stuck with you crackers!
DJ Fontana(Elvis Presley's drummer): Shut up Chuck & don't make us call you what you are!
WHOA!

 

[vvvmmm]

"Do you do h------?" - turned out to be an OK band that was much better after that singer left and we went from goth to alt.

"Do you promise not to hit on the singer? She's married, and that was a problem with the last guy ..." - honestly, she was very pretty, and very sweet, and apparently disliked her husband a lot, so she said. I got kicked out after a cuppla months, mostly because I hated doing covers, only hung out to talk to her.

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

Great thread. Reminds me of some great ads looking for musicians to audition.
Back in the 80s, my favorite was the line "...looks, hair, and attitude a must." (This was in Boston)

Not only in Boston, my friend!

 

[Rib 13]

Great thread. Reminds me of some great ads looking for musicians to audition.
Back in the 80s, my favorite was the line "...looks, hair, and attitude a must." (This was in Boston)

Yup, same in Florida....plus, thanks to those ads, "Hair A Must" would be a great name for an 80s tribute band

 

[GretschWretch]

Do you like Billy Ray Cyrus
I said "no"... didn't get that gig.

<edit> it was a contemporary country band, I probably should have said "he's ok", but than I would have been stuck playing that crap

One of the most shameful episodes in my own history is playing "Achey Breakey Heart" for money.

 

[GretschWretch]

My most important audition (major label)

"do you pee in the shower"
"yea"
"good - you're in... stop pissin in the shower ... at least you're an honest team player"

Serious... life changing moment

Sounds like urine luck.