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Should I Even Audition?

IncX

IncX

Jul 23, 2007
936
66
Philippines
www.youtube.com
#1
so now, there is this gigging band looking for a bass player. i responded to it and im not sure about everything so i'll tell the story:

i SMS'd the guy and he said "ok, come to our live set and learn englishman in new york" - i have 3 days to learn. and oh, it is important to note that they are an "acoustic reggae" band - no drums, just a beatbox.

now, i dont know about you guys, but there is this bass solo in Englishman in New York, and i wonder if any of you can nail it in 2 days? ... also, take note, i like Sting but i never really listened to him. was it a practical song choice?

i attempted to learn the thing, and thanks to my poor ears, no youtube tutorials, and no guitar pro - there are tabs, but they hardly made any sense ... i am left with a version that is probably not "audition quality."

thats the first thing.

2nd thing is, they are again, a REGGAE acoustic band, and well, i dont like reggae. i have a hard time nailing its groove and i feel really self conscious playing along to it. but well... just like any average bass player, i can play roots and get by.

3rd, they have a dress code for this regular set they play in a hotel ... and the dress code is "reggae." honestly, i am not sure what reggae is, all i know is the stuff bob marley wears + dreadlocks. i dont think red, green and black is my look.

so now, the only reason why i wanna play is because they are a gigging band ... and they gig in bars with actual people watching.

gigging bands in my area is so rare, and its rarer that they post "wanted ads" because what they usually do is just get a guy within the scene to play for them (its a really small scene and some individuals need the money so much, they basically play in 3 different bands THE SAME NIGHT).

so help me out, if you were me what would you do?

suck it up and audition ... or just stay home and play bass alone in the room
 
#6
IncX said:
lol

cause its better than sitting at home playing bass.

-*-

you make a good point phatbass

-*-

buzzi, thanks for the contribution
Click to expand...

Well, if that's the reason, you don't need a gigging band to remedy the situation. Just get out of the house and go find other musicians to talk to. Ask about if there are any open jams in the area or just where do other musicians go to hang out and meet other musicians. Just strike up a conversation with someone in a music store...or even the owner of the store. They usually know a LOT of people. If they have time, just talk about gear, bands, whatever. You will make friends and find yourself introduced to other musicians. Other opportunities will come along.

But in my experience, if you don't basically like the genre of music you are playing, you won't be giving it your best night after night. At first you will, but you will end more miserable than being in your own room with just your bass.

That being said, go to the audition anyway. Tell them up front you aren't experienced with reggae and you are just not sure about the idea of it, but you wanted to try your hand at it with a band and see if you could groove with it.

Afterwards, Just try and have a friendly chat with them and ask how they all met and whatnot. Basically make friends. You may or may not get offered the gig, but if some of them like you, you might find yourself invited to someones side project that is more up your alley.

(If I were auditioning someone for my band and I got to meet a talented AND friendly musician who was not at all right for the gig, I would not consider it a waste of time. People that audition often bring no talent and a bad attitude. Some don't even bring their gear.)

And FWIW I doubt they will expect you to play the solo note for note like Sting does. Just play something kinda like it that is in the same key. If it grooves with the beat it's good.
 
#7
1) Do the audition - if nothing else, it is practice under pressure, and you could learn something from it

2) If you can't do the solo, concentrate on the rest and get that to audition quality. Then tell them you'll work more on the solo if you get the gig.

Or am I misunderstanding your dilemma, and they want you to AUDITION AT A LIVE GIG? If that is the case, you may just be an unpaid sub, where a weak bass player may be better than no bass player?
 
#8
Dekker said:
Or am I misunderstanding your dilemma, and they want you to AUDITION AT A LIVE GIG? If that is the case, you may just be an unpaid sub, where a weak bass player may be better than no bass player?
Click to expand...

lol ... i actually dont know, they asked me to audition in one of their shows. i dont know if they have a bass player or anything.

if i was an unpaid sub, then i guess that would be one song where there would be bass lol

ill tell you guys what'll happen tomorrow.

-*-

thanks nev, good advice. i'd just hang out with reggae guys and hope they arent one of those stoner types.
 
#9
If your heart isn't in it and your just doing it for the $, then you will not last long and you would be better off to keep looking and work on your playing abilities and diversity of styles. Don't waste theirs and your time. Just my 2cents
 
#11
i wouldnt go

1) dont like the music they are playing
2) dont feel the groove and feel self conscience when playing reggae
3) dont feel you can learn the 1 song they gave you in 3 days time
do we need to list past 3 strikes??? cause i seen about 3 more
 
#13
couldnt say, never heard the song, but my audition I learned 20 songs in a week for my band, so if you want it bad enough you work on it. anyways the point was bullet pointing your comments, not judging you. you answered your own question within the question.
 
#14
mcapote said:
couldnt say, never heard the song, but my audition I learned 20 songs in a week for my band, so if you want it bad enough you work on it. anyways the point was bullet pointing your comments, not judging you. you answered your own question within the question.
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yah, but again ... its the only decent gig available. the music scene in here is really terrible.

im probably going tomorrow with 3 songs ready... and a bad version of my solo in that Sting song
 
#15
IncX said:
yah, but again ... its the only decent gig available. the music scene in here is really terrible.

im probably going tomorrow with 3 songs ready... and a bad version of my solo in that Sting song
Click to expand...

if your heart isnt in it, it wont be a decent gig for long. ive been there. Ive quit bands that make alot of money because I wasnt feeling the music. its not worth it in the end, cause the money and or attention aint worth playing the same thing day in, day out when you dont like it. my nemesis happens to be soft rock LOL :p
 
#16
mcapote said:
if your heart isnt in it, it wont be a decent gig for long. ive been there. Ive quit bands that make alot of money because I wasnt feeling the music. its not worth it in the end, cause the money and or attention aint worth playing the same thing day in, day out when you dont like it. my nemesis happens to be soft rock LOL :p
Click to expand...

very wise words. ill think about what you said. ive never played in a band with gigs before... i mean, i had a band that played extreme metal once every 3 months, and i hardly consider that "gigging."

all of this is kinda new to me.


-*-

and wow, soft rock?

i wish they gave me those songs instead lol
 
#17
Obviously not this bass solo in the middle :eek:

If it's a reggae band I doubt they are going to break into that jazz walk anyway so you're probably "wasting" time with it. Break out some funky slap.

fwiw I'm glad my first band was a "reggae band", although I have never become a fan of it. Go for it, do the absolute best you can with it and you might learn something about groove.
 
#18
Put yourself in their shoes: they need a bass player badly. You reply saying you're interested. Show up to the gig, you don't like reggae, you may or may not have the solo nailed, and you've just met these guys? I'd consider that kind of a let-down.

No offense to you, at all. Just picture what they'll see if everything doesn't go smoothly.

IMO, IME, YMMV, etc.
 
#20
bassist4dalord said:
Put yourself in their shoes: they need a bass player badly. You reply saying you're interested. Show up to the gig, you don't like reggae, you may or may not have the solo nailed, and you've just met these guys? I'd consider that kind of a let-down.

No offense to you, at all. Just picture what they'll see if everything doesn't go smoothly.

IMO, IME, YMMV, etc.
Click to expand...

i havent seen them ... i dont know, they seem to know a lot about "conserving time" ... i mean, they are auditioning me the same time they are doing their live set.

they ddnt even ask me any questions... just a simple "show up and play englishman in new york" ...
 

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