Rehearsal expectations.... How many songs?

[grinx]

3 songs
1 hour
IF you like 3 of the tunes

especially for a bunch of unknowns by the OP

 

[40Hz]

Bullet dodged IMO.

Got that right IMO.

Sound like a bunch of cowboys.

While ten songs may not be an unreasonable ask depending on the band and the type of gigs they play. An established corporate function or "society" band for example might need someone ready to roll quickly - as in @right now.".And that type of band isn't going to be doing a cattle call on CL looking for a bassist in any event. It strikes me as a bit of posturing for the average cover type band to be asking that much with while effectively refusing to answer basic questions even a semipro is perfectly within their rights asking.

Either way, you not being able to get any info out of them at all about the band would be a big red flag for me. Strikes me there's a good chance there isn't any band and someone is trying to put one together on short notice.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

I'm with you. Bands that don't seem to have it together usually don't and I'm too jaded to ambitiously learn a bunch of songs for someone who has no interest in telling me about themselves.

 

[turf3]

It was a two way test. You failed your half of the test, and they failed their half too (by failing to impress you).

I guarantee you someone else was happy to learn 10 songs and get the gig.

I think "get the gig" is an overstatement.

Sorry, a band that won't give me any information about themselves but expects me to do more than the ordinary amount of audition work, to hopefully get a totally undefined position in a totally undefined organization? Nope. Not a "gig". More like someone's fantasy.

We've all had a call to do a paying gig where we had to seriously prepare. I doubt very much that any of those calls have come to anyone with the proviso that the band, the location, etc. are all closely held secrets.

So, yeah, someone probably DID buckle down and learn 10 tunes for the "audition", and I bet they're regretting the waste of time now.

 

[turf3]

Real story, two guys playing banjo and guitar busking on street corners in the mid 2000s ask someone they know through a mutual friend to meet them in an empty parking lot to jam. The someone is actually a guitarist who brings an upright bass (which he can barely play) because the two busking guys thinks it looks cool. The jam didn't go all that great. The three form a friendship and playing partnership that lasts for over a decade eventually performing in packed arenas and resulting in lucrative recording contracts and grammy nominations. Guess the group? Point is, unless you're set musically and have no need to collaborate with anyone else, there's nothing to lose by taking a chance by playing one short rehearsal and learning a few tunes. One common trait of good musicians is they'll play with anyone, anywhere, anytime in the hopes of discovering musical experiences, good and/or bad.

Not the same thing at all.

OP responded to an ad looking for a hired gun, supposedly auditioning for an established band, and got no information except "shut up and hope we deign to hire you"; decided it was bogus.

Your example is people jamming without preconceptions to see what develops.

Not the same thing at all.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Sometimes I wonder why I look at CL at all...

Found a local country band in need of a bassist... I've never done new country, but at least I wont be expected to play like Geddy Lee or Steve Harris. The add lists 10 songs. So I reach out to them, ask them a few questions about them etc. Reply comes back asking me if I can learn those 10 songs. I reply sure, nothing beyond my capabilities, and what about your band again? Their reply is to let them know when I learn those 10 songs and I can audition.

10?

I say sure, but can I have some info on your band? What is your skill level? what are your goals? what is your rehearsal and show schedule? Do you have a name? A youtube channel? Give me something to go on, Otherwise I will do 3-5 of your choosing.

I get back... "I had to learn 10 songs and another band I had to learn 30. Sorry you feel that way. Best of luck."

Bullet dodged IMO.

Absolutely dodged.

For me, I try to be specific in my ads of what we are looking for, and will spend as much time as a responder wants to spend on the phone answering any questions asked. I will also clarify what we will be doing at the audition and what our expectations are.

When I audition players, it, doesn't take me 10 songs to find out if somebody understand music, can play, knows how to prepare, and has the ability to learn and accept coaching (this is vastly different than critique btw). Other things I look for is a positive mental attitude and a team player.

And finally, I want to work out a new piece of music at the audition. This way I can watch the learning curve, and as issues come up, see how those are resolved in a group stetting. Do we have a wall flower, or a leader?

I will say this, at auditions, everybody is on their best behavior. When you go through the grunt work of working through a piece, you get a much clearer picture of what you have.

 

[elberon]

Tr

Not the same thing at all.

OP responded to an ad looking for a hired gun, supposedly auditioning for an established band, and got no information except "shut up and hope we deign to hire you"; decided it was bogus.

Your example is people jamming without preconceptions to see what develops.

Not the same thing at all.

True, it was a different situation, but the band's response as recounted by the op was nowhere near as rude or dismissive as how you characterized it either. In my post I was trying to get across the basic idea of "nothing ventured, nothing gained." The band didn't exactly come across as friendly or welcoming, I'll give you that.

 

[MasterG]

Musicians today are a sorry lot. Thats all Ive got to say on the matter.

 

[LuckyScott]

I'll show up ready to play 10 songs, but thats the limit. Usually I already know a handful of them. So many bands just don't have there act together when it comes to auditions. They have the band show up but no singer, or drummer.
I like to spent a few minutes talking to the guy that wants me to audition first. If they only want to text, thats a red flag.

 

[awakefie]

Had a band want me to learn 10 before. But they also provided links and references. It was worth it. A corporate band that got paid nicely. I did learn the 10 songs and got the gig. Dissolved after a while when the lead singer's health gave out.

 

[pcake]

you had me at "what about your band again? Their reply is to let them know when I learn those 10 songs and I can audition."

nope. just nope. they can't be bothered to tell me about the band? cool - i can't be bothered to audition.

 

[turf3]

Band leader thinks he's Mick Jagger or George Strait;

But he isn't.

 

[micguy]

There's a video on Dream Theater's auditions for a new drummer. World class musicians, several weeks to learn the tunes - it was 3 or 4 tunes that they all came in prepared to play.

 

[DavC]

auditions actually go in Both directions ...!!

if they can't be bother answering a few questions , ... then go away ..!

answer my questions = i'll kinda learn your tunes

 

[BAG]

Some bands roll that way. just show, be a good hang, have fun, and go home. Once a week. Forever.

And for some of us that's all we want (although I did remove a couple of your points).
The current group I play with I put together with the intent that it was just to enjoy playing good songs well with no pressure to put together a song list and look for gigs. It's been going very well. Good people, good hang, great music once or twice a week.
After being convinced to do an open mic recently we were immediately asked to do a weekend gig at the venue. We'll do it sooner or later but are still in no rush.
BUT...... this was all spelled out right from the start.
They fact that they didn't want to tell you anything about themselves or their aims is a BIG red flag.

 

[QORC]

I've always thought 6 was a good number

 

[2112]

If a working band has gigs on the calendar, and they need someone who can slot right in, it's not unreasonable to ask that ANY replacement be completely prepared to play a show. Experienced and/or talented bassists will presumably know and/or be able to quickly put together quite a few songs in a short amount of time. However, they're also more likely to command higher-paying jobs and/or expect a busier or fuller calendar.

As far as my working covers band, we don't bring on any more than 2 new songs per week. Any more than that, and next rehearsal we spend the front 15 minutes listening to a bunch of "musician gonna musician" excuses why nobody could work on more than 2 songs on the list, all of them different than the 2 songs everybody else worked on... and most of those excuses start out with, "man...".

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Wait, you can actually understand what Craigslist ads seek?

 

[obimark]

Also, he insisted it was 24 songs, because Waitin' for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago were in fact one song. Insisted.

They aren't?

 

[electracoyote]

And for some of us that's all we want (although I did remove a couple of your points).
The current group I play with I put together with the intent that it was just to enjoy playing good songs well with no pressure to put together a song list and look for gigs. It's been going very well. Good people, good hang, great music once or twice a week.
After being convinced to do an open mic recently we were immediately asked to do a weekend gig at the venue. We'll do it sooner or later but are still in no rush.
BUT...... this was all spelled out right from the start.
The fact that they didn't want to tell you anything about themselves or their aims is a BIG red flag.

Sounds like fun!

Yeah, there's nothing wrong with a home space band with no ambitions to gig out.

But like you said, when you don't have a web presence, and an audition candidate asks pertinent questions about the project, the band rep should be able to provide answers and evidence regarding their purpose.