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Sometimes an audition doesnt go exactly as you expect....

#21
Just Bill said:
Having grown up in Winter Garden, I knew some incredible musicians in and around Windermere.
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ABSOLUTELY!

And out toward Clermont/Groveland as well. I was not trying to say that there are not killer players in the area, there absolutely ARE. However, you definitely have to kiss a lot of frogs to find princes anywhere...

...and FWIW, my story took place when I was living in Clermont, the people were in Casselberry, and they were not what I typically ran into at auditions and gigs in the area.
 
#22
jowens004 said:
Yea CL hasnt paid off for me at all so far. I dont even have any really lofty goals about this, all I want is to find some decent guys to jam with and maybe play a time or two every now and then. anything more would be great but thats all i really want at the moment. Im still trying to figure out if my Carpel Tunnel is under control or not.
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Bummer about the Carpel Tunnel! Don't give up on CL, i have a fairly high profile engineering gig I got from there . . . never know

so did you need to "get out" of playing w/ these guys? do tell, as I'm looking for more band gigs there too ;)
 
#23
cassanova said:
This problem is not exclusive to Orlando. It's quite common in Pasco/Pinellas too. I guess I missed the memo that stated "ego is more important than talent."

Granted, they're are quite a few good musicians too, but it seems like they are the exception rather than the norm.
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Same with Hillsborough. I've found some excellent musicians in Tampa using CL, but they're few and very far between.
 
#26
My band auditioned a drummer from craigslist last week. He said he'd been playing for-ever but it's been a few years since he was in a band. We are just 4 on the floor straight ahead rock....a shuffle beat or 2 in there but mostly just easy 4/4 grooves. He shows up in a prison striped shirt and man capris. No worries I dont care if he dresses wierd. He sits down behind the drumkit, and I think it was the first time he had ever played drums. He held his elbows way up high and kept his forearms level with the ground. He hit the drums with so little force that they could barely be heard. Couldn't even play a simple ac/dc type beat. Knew NOTHING of playing drums. Singer asked him to hit the ride instead of the crash on one part, he did not know what the ride cymbal was. WTH??? We have a profesionally produced CD and obviuosly sound very professional. We sent him a copy before-hand. What did this A-hat think was going to happen here?

It was the most uncomfortable I've been in a while.
 
#27
some people are just idiots. Look at American Idol auditions. They have people on there that think they are good, and they have no business singing in the shower much less anywhere else. Some people build up such a delusional world around themselves that reality just has no meaning.
Hopefully i can find some actual musicians soon. keepin my fingers crossed.
 
#30
MrTAteMyBalls said:
My band auditioned a drummer from craigslist last week. He said he'd been playing for-ever but it's been a few years since he was in a band. We are just 4 on the floor straight ahead rock....a shuffle beat or 2 in there but mostly just easy 4/4 grooves. He shows up in a prison striped shirt and man capris. No worries I dont care if he dresses wierd. He sits down behind the drumkit, and I think it was the first time he had ever played drums. He held his elbows way up high and kept his forearms level with the ground. He hit the drums with so little force that they could barely be heard. Couldn't even play a simple ac/dc type beat. Knew NOTHING of playing drums. Singer asked him to hit the ride instead of the crash on one part, he did not know what the ride cymbal was. WTH??? We have a profesionally produced CD and obviuosly sound very professional. We sent him a copy before-hand. What did this A-hat think was going to happen here?

It was the most uncomfortable I've been in a while.
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I cringed when I read this... :rollno:
 
#35
To the Original Poster-

Honestly man, I'm not trying to patronize you, just offering some (unsolicited :-/) advice-

It sounds to me as if you are tearing up cover songs really easily, picking up new songs really quickly, and that you are a very capable musician; considerate of things like tone, tempo, dynamics, listening to the other members and making sure they don't suck, etc.

Anyway, my point it this:

Even if you do find a decent cover band, I don't think it will be as fulfilling to you as it potentially could be to do your own thing musically. Knowing what you know, I totally think you should start writing your own material!! Find a competent drummer, a competent guitarist, and a place to get together once a week--- that is really all you need man. Sit down and hash out some tunes. Especially if you have an appreciation for GOOD music, classic rock, blues, etc... I bet you could write some face melting stuff. The world is in desperate need of a tight, ballsy original rock band to step up to the plate right now.

Of course, if you're looking for a way to make some extra loot on the weekends, then definitely find a cover band- something will turn up eventually, I promise. I just feel bad hearing how quickly you pick up new material, and hearing about what guys like you, professional musicians, have to deal with on a regular basis. Maybe if you work your schedule out on paper you could find time for a cover band to make some cashola, and a band "for your soul" that may prove to be much more rewarding for you in the long run. In my experience, a lot of venues are actually dying for good, original music. A solid beat, a basic understanding of the blues, and a guitarist with a tuner--- the possibilities are endless.

Just a thought. Best of luck to you, duderino. I hope you find a band that makes you happy ASAP!

{EDIT} FWIW, I'm not trying to say cover bands are better than original bands, or vice versa-- different strokes for diff'rent folks, dig? I've seen some GREAT cover bands, horrible cover bands, great original bands, and horrible original bands. I just thought considering what I said might open up some more windows for you, dig? (I don't usually say "dig" in real life, but it makes me sound cool online, ha!)

[EDIT #2] Congrats on finding some competent players!
 
#36
jellymax said:
here is an even tougher situation. you concentrate on playing best as you can at an
audition only to realize the band is decent, but not as good as you had hoped for
then what you do is ummmmm ahhhh wellllll i a ummm.

compunded by the fact that they want you for the job
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Well now that all depends on if you've got any other options, and if you want to be out playing for money or sitting at home with nothing. Are you willing to play in a band that's to some degree below your "ideal standard" if it means you can play out regularly and make good coin? I have.
 
#37
Just a thought, but I hope the other musicians that played with the OP don't stumble across this thread. This seems to be the sort of posting that could potentially blacklist a bassist from their local community of musicians.

I know you just felt the need to vent & share your stressful / humorous situation with your fellow bassists. We all need Bassist-to-Bassist therapy from time to time.

I've played with musicians ranging between awesome, decent, good, not-so-good, just for fun, just learning, and "stay 10 metres from that instrument at all times." lol
 
#40
:cool:

Same thing happened to me a few years ago.
An audition for a 5 piece Band.
They all had slamming gear, $15.000.00 easy in rehearsal room. And boy, did they talk the talk.
After showing me some original charts, we began rehearing the first tune.
I learned that day that gear does not mean a thing.
 

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