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Taking a Stance

B

bluewine

Inactive
Sep 4, 2008
10,296
27
WI
#1
I auditioned for a start up band last week, decent guys, everyone was adequate. The idea of doing covers with a heavy rock twist was good. I would say I was still interested in the opportunity after the 3 song audition.

They were to bring in another bass player to try out this week Wednesday and would let me know where I stood this Thursday.

Yesterday I received and e-mail stating the other bass player couldn’t make it and they rescheduled him for next week.

I wrote back and told them I liked them and was still interested, however, they would have to give me a yes or no now because I had another offer from a band.

My Reasoning

The reason I gave them an ultimatum, I told them I was a pro-level bass player. If this was an established band with shows lined up I would have never put the screws to them. Since I was only marginally interested and it’s a start up, I am not going to sit around for a week waiting for a decision on a marginal opportunity.

Have I missed out on something, maybe? I have no regrets on how I handled this.

What do you think.
 
#3
I've seen a few of your threads about your 3 song rule and whatever. I would suggest that you relax a little bit more and not try to put so many demands on bands you are auditioning for. Now I don't want to offend you, but it seems like you have been auditioning for a while. As long as you are easy going then people will be more interested in playing with you than if you keep trying to place demands or ultimatums on them.
 
#6
I would of done the same thing Blue. If they want you they will decide, if not dont waste your time sitting around..keep looking and auditioning . I dont let bands who are start ups pick and choose forever since you might not have anything going with them anyhow. Like you said if it was an established act...different story.

I let a band who said they were an established band do this to me once and it bit me. They had me kind of on the fence as to come in the band and when I asked them to decide they went with me. They might of been established years ago in other bands but after 6 months of jamming in a smoky, cramped shed (kid not) we had no gigs and a handful of worked out covers...Fail!
 
#8
metalstorm said:
I've seen a few of your threads about your 3 song rule and whatever. I would suggest that you relax a little bit more and not try to put so many demands on bands you are auditioning for. Now I don't want to offend you, but it seems like you have been auditioning for a while. As long as you are easy going then people will be more interested in playing with you than if you keep trying to place demands or ultimatums on them.
Click to expand...

I'd go with this.

My take is that until I haven't got an offer, I am not in the band, therefore if something coems along that I like... I'll take it. I won't put pressure just like I won't have pressure put on me.

When I have been auditioning people to join in a band I was, I take my time to find teh right player. I'm not taking the first one that shows up unless I'm totally amazed. I would normally like to try various players and see which one we get along better, at a personal as well as musical level. I would expect that too from other bands.

It's your right to put pressure on them to make a decision, but I'd imagine most bands would not like that.
 
#10
Is the same band that you were talking about getting a female lead singer for?

From reading all the numerous threads you've started about changing bands, I think it's time you simply put out feelers for players and put your own band together. You obviously have it all figured out and need to be the decision maker in a band setting.

Which is fine--you just need to stop auditioning for bands looking for bass players, and instead start your own band as the leader.
 
#12
Nothing wrong with your reasoning. They gave you a "deadline" where they would tell you where you stand. That milestone date came, & they told you where you stand: Waiting.

At that point, I don't think it would have been the least bit out-of-line to ask for a new date, at which time you'd be informed again. I don't know that I'd give them an ultimatum, though. I might keep one in my own mind, but there's really nothing to gain by telling them that. It's basically just a date that, if they haven't responded, I'm blowing them off & moving on. Meanwhile, it's still open season as far as any other opportunities are concerned!

In the meantime as well, if I liked the band I think I'd see if I can get a follow-on audition, regardless of what the other candidate bass player does.

It might be worth noting (if only to yourself) that this other bass player has missed an appointment, which is a strike against. In my book, a reliable player (even a mediocre one) who actually shows up is worth more than 100 Top Guns who are somewhere else. Maybe he's got some hot-shot rep. & they really want to bend over backwards to give him every chance? Or, maybe he's just a flake. Or, he may have had some legitimate reason to miss his audition. I think I'd still want to find out what my status is with the band on its own, not just relative to some unknown 3rd player, just to be sure I'm not being strung along.
 
#13
As the guy above said, if your not in the band yet there is nothing keeping you from joining another group. You don't have to hold out until they decide, take any better offer that comes along.

I have to ask because it is not clear, but do you really have another offer or did you just lie to them and said you did?

From your post I have to wonder, as others have as well, if the problem might have nothing at all to do with your playing and everything to do with your personality.

-eSmith.
 
#14
I have no problem whatsoever with how you've handled this. I had almost the exact same thing happen. Auditioned for a band....smoked the audition...everyone got along, blah blah. Then they tell me they've got another guy coming in a few days. Okay cool, whatever. I contact them several days after to find out whats what and it turned out the other bass player couldn't make it so they were trying to reschedule. While its always been my experience that people who flake the first audition are almost *always* flakes (yes, I realize there are exceptions), I told these guys fine but also made it clear to them that I had no plans to just sit around while they played footsie with the other guy. They called the next day and offered me the gig.

Auditions are two way streets. Unless we're talking about a national act or something....make a decision...its not exactly brain surgery. If they want to check out another player who they've lined up, I have no problem with that. If that player flakes and that doesn't ring the clue phone for them....that tells me something about them. As always, ymmv.
 
#16
I am the band leader of an extremely busy 9 piece band. While our turnover rate is virtually non-existent, we do need to hold auditions from time to time. The fact that they wanted to audition the other bass player tells me that they were most likely not convinced that you were 'the one' on the spot. But there are other possibilities as well; maybe someone in the band has a relationship with the other auditioning bass player. If the other candidate is indeed friends with someone associated with the band, a necessity to reschedule would simply go without saying. Either way, as a band leader, I would have viewed your approach as a red flag. It is incredibly important for band members to be flexible, and to be selfless team players with some ability to compromise from time to time. When I am evaluating talent, the candidates nature , personality, and level of professionalism are weighed equally with musical abilty. There are a lot of great players out there to choose from so personality is key. If someone told me they were a pro player, I would deduce that they are A)insecure about their playing, or B) think they are better than everyone else. In your post, you take a 'well they are just a 'startup' attitude and 'I don't really care' sort of approach in my view. I would bet they have picked up on this...another red flag. Every successful band was just a startup at one point and btw, it is at the startup point that such an attitude can be most harmful. In order to get a cover band off the ground, the players must be even more dedicated during the start up phase because you will have to play less desirable venues for less money in order to get tighter as a band and begin to build a reputation. During our first year, the members of my 9 piece band did whatever it took to gain exposure and experience, often playing for $500 or less. Now, we command fees in the $4000 to $6000 range and are very well payed by the 'it' clubs of the moment. Chances are, the members of the band you auditioned for are looking for the level of dedication required to be successful and the maturity to understand that startups are an 'investment' at first. If I had auditioned you, I would have appreciated your ultimatum in the sense that it provides a valuable insight into how you might face adversity. In the meantime, I would continue my search for a player that told me they would be relly excited to be a part of the project and ready to put in a lot of hard work should they earn a position in the project. Best wishes.
 
#18
metalstorm said:
I've seen a few of your threads about your 3 song rule and whatever. I would suggest that you relax a little bit more and not try to put so many demands on bands you are auditioning for. Now I don't want to offend you, but it seems like you have been auditioning for a while. As long as you are easy going then people will be more interested in playing with you than if you keep trying to place demands or ultimatums on them.
Click to expand...

I agree, however I am going to be a little tougher on start ups.
 

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