Playing in-front of management

[Groovist]

ive been very fortunate and lucky to be called up to play for a signed artist (pretty much a first for me ) so last week i went for rehearsals and it seemed pretty disorganised which was a shame, but anyways the rehearsal whent as i knew the material really well, and there's some really good players involved too!

so then a few weeks later i get a call to come down to the second rehearsal ('brilliant' i think)

i turn up thinking its going to be like the last one, but low and behold most of the management team are there and they have hired a rehearsal room like a stage, to see what we look like

im used to playing infront of big number of people but as i discovered that night playing in front of the glaring eyes or management is something i still need to get used to

ontop of being in a uncomfortable environment, the artist asked me to play a few songs that were not on the set list which the rest of the band knew which resulted in lots of things going wrong, i think i managed to pull through but my nerves nearly did get the better of me

anyway if i do get called up for another rehearsal im going to have both albums worth of material under my belt! lol

i just wondered if anyone else has had or herd of any similar experiences?
and how did you/they deal with it when things just start going wrong and your nerves get the better of you, infront of the management team

thanks

 

[steveksux]

I'm thinking you got it figured out now, know all their available material going in... if its pop stuff, not that hard to learn a couple albums worth of stuff if you have time after you learn the ones they specify for the audition.

I wouldn't worry about missing a few notes on the unfamiliar songs. They liked what you did for the first audition, figure they know you can do the playing. My guess is putting you on stage they were more interested in visuals, would you look good in concert/on video.

Hopefully you weren't freaked out about not knowing the new songs and staring at your hands, standing like a statue....

Randy

 

[AlembicPlayer]

2 centavos

picture the "management" sitting in their underwear, or better yet big huge adult diapers..picture them crying and wanting their mommy.


then, play that bass like it's the last time

 

[Groovist]

thanks guys, lets just hope i wasn't staring at my hands

i think i might have a shave and haircut for the next rehearsal ! lol

well you live and learn

another thing that im getting used/new to me, is that every thing is so "closed door" with the artists management, i.e they will never talk to any of the musicians, instead they will take the artist out side the room and talk and then the artist will maybe relay some of that info/criticism to us.
we dont even know if were rehearsing for show cases, gigs, or a tour

im not complaining (as im getting paid lol), but is that normal?

anyway thanks again for the advise guys

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

It sucks to be put on the spot like that, but you just gotta cowboy up & do it. I'd rather play in front of any management people than play in front of my family . Hell, I'd rather sing at a funeral than that. I remember once my dad came to see us. We played about 2hrs of original material & then 1 Johnny Cash song as an encore. After the show he says" Son, you sang that Johnny Cash tune pretty good." No matter how successful you are, your family still thinks you're on the edge.

 

[quale213]

Playing tunes you do not know sucks, been there done that. Nothing you can do but go by instincts and the musical tendencies of the genre.
I have done the "visual audition" before and it is weird. Got the gig, but still, weird.

Artists and management groups always weird me out as well. There really is no need for them to talk to us lowly musicians other than to tell us where to sign or where the back door is.
Sounds like you have it down though, keep rockin yo.

 

[Matt R.]

I have recently gone through a similar experience. I had a quick rehearsal followed by a couple gigs in huge venues playing with a well known artist, opening up for another act which was even more well known.

My biggest source of stress was not knowing how cool the band was going to be. Luckily, I immediately felt comfortable in the midst of everyone and the nerves quickly settled. Rehearsal and shows went great and I was hired on.

My advice to you is to not think too much. You seem to be well prepared as far as the material goes according to your post. So don't worry if new material gets sprung on you in rehearsal. They're musicians too so they will likely understand that you're winging it, because we have all done it from time to time.

Just take a breath and try to relax as much as possible and BE YOURSELF. You will be fine. So good luck!

 

[strozey]

I went to an audition thinking I would be alright having figured out the first 4-5 songs from the band's myspace, when I show up the band's producer was there which was cool but the guy used to tour with Eddie Money and LA Guns etc so you can't help but to be self-conscious, then the drummer wasn't there for the session and some of their music is in 3/4 and 6/8 time etc, finally we get all set up and they throw me another curveball and pull out a CD and played "Mission of Mercy" by The Motels which I had heard exactly zero times in my life before and ask me if I could figure it out real quick! My head was spinning at this point but it was no problem, had it figured out in ten minutes and got the spot too

 

[mstillman]

I just searched the forums for "Mission of Mercy" per a bandmate's suggestion.

It's not a bad song but geez, I think it'd be a waste of time. Seems like there must be 1000+ better ways to fill 5 minutes. Strokes me as a tune you could nail and nobody would care.

Does this go over at a gig? Am I way off? I was in an 80s band and I barely remember this one.

 

[DWBass]

Why in the world would any band call tunes that have not been worked on by the entire band is beyond my comprehension!! Signed artist, huh?

 

[mstillman]

Why in the world would any band call tunes that have not been worked on by the entire band is beyond my comprehension!! Signed artist, huh?

I wonder. Wouldn't call an unknown song at a gig, but at an audition I think it's worthwhile. I probably heard the tune once or twice in the 80s. I just ran it a few times on YouTube. Pretty simple structure in A with a little Peter Gunn-ish stuff and some little "let me hear that once more?" changes.

(Gotta admit, I like the song much better after playing it than just listening to it.)

 

[DWBass]

I wonder. Wouldn't call an unknown song at a gig, but at an audition I think it's worthwhile. I probably heard the tune once or twice in the 80s. I just run it a few times on YouTube. Pretty simple structure in A with a little Peter Gunn-ish stuff and some little "let me hear that once more?" changes.

(Gotta admit, I like the song much better after playing it than just listening to it.)

Audition? Yeah why not?! At a management showcase? No way! But that's just me.

 

[Beej]

Considering it was 11 years ago, hopefully they've learned some professionalism by this point.