Was this complete BS or was I being too sensitive?

[SmokinJoe992]

Good lord. I can't believe the number of people in this thread who would just bail without even attempting to correct an easily correctable situation. After learning 5-6 tunes, driving as far as you did, setting up, etc--you can't take the initiative to say literally two sentences to get things back on track?

"Let's play one at a time--you go first."

"These are the songs I learned."

Not everyone can run an audition. That's not a deal breaker.

All of this ridiculousness of "you should have played some of your originals at full volume" or "packed up and sent an invoice" is pathetic internet posturing and not indicative of anyone in the real world who wants to actually, you know, play live music in front of people.

There is nothing wrong with being assertive. If they push back, fine. You've at least done SOMETHING to try and salvage the work and time already put into it.

Basically, you took a bad situation and made it worse.

I agree with a lot of what you say. In my defense I did make it clear that I wasn't going to play while the other bass player was playing. Also, I told him when we started that I was not familiar with a lot of the songs on his list, and he kind of shrugged it off with a 'you'll figure it out attitude'. Each time he would start a song I was unfamiliar with I would question him about the Key, chords, and turnaround. As I mentioned before while I don't think this is the ideal audition format, I would have managed if the other bass player wasn't there and playing at the same time.

 

[B-line]

It staggers the mind IMO to think of anyone who would audition (2) bassists at once.
Other than some sort of freakazoid musical experiment w/ 2 bassplayers, think about it:

The low-end is held DOWN- It's everything, and no one anywhere knows that more than HERE.

The Bass-Player drives the entire pulse, pocket, and groove. Having 2 different bassists lay down at the same time on a number with a band is probably one of the most short-bus things I have ever heard of, and I've heard a lot!

The only experience I can recount that almost equals that in stupidity is when I went to a cattle call audition for a numbnut
singer, trying to put an entire band together..at the same time.

He had everyone come at the same time, and...formed different groups to run through the tunes.
The group before me had a very fine guitarist (I later hooked up w/ and worked with him). The group I played with had a guitarist who I could crush, and I don't play guitar at all! What a tremendous waste of my time and everyone elses.
(I was able to salvage something in hooking up w/ good guitarist, so...)

People want to be performers; music is a magnificent thing. WHY do some asshats burn it all to he** w/ their brain-farts??

Jeesh!

 

[ZAR14]

Those guys must think they are really something special to pull crap like that. I fully understand "auditioning" several Bass Players until you find the right one, but a direct head-to-head competition, No Thank You.
I've gone on my fair share of auditions where the band either doesn't play the songs they gave you to learn or either changed Keys or drop tunes and doesn't bother to mention it.
I recently got out of a situation where the Guitarist just wanted to play the songs he likes and already knows...
I bailed!

 

[JRA]

I left with a new found appreciation for my other bands.

take what you can get...and use it!

 

[mikeyjm2]

BS for sure. SmokinJoe, you have a lot of patience to have stuck around for as much of that as you did.

 

[Nev375]

All well and good, and yes, jamming/ experimenting with others is a good thing, but this poor OP's chain was yanked so many times for this "spot" he needs a new set of links!

(2) Bassists at the same time??

Totally agree about the chain yanking thing, but whaddaya gonna do? Get mad and throw a fit?

And actually there have been several bands to feature two bass players. Shared a bill at a place in Seattle with one such band in the late 90's Really opened my eyes about the possibilities of the bass. It can be amazing if done right.

 

[5thsand4ths]

Complete nonsense. I wouldn't want to play with idiots like that.

 

[Felken]

You should have told them, when they sent you the setlist, that you can't possibly learn 40 songs in 4 days, let alone weird alternate versions. If they acknowledge, that's good. If they insist on 40 songs, huge red flag, don't even try the audition, their standards are unrealistic. The band should have specified the changes in their modified songs, and include a youtube link, if possible.

But, they should not have made you play simultaneously with another bass player. Anyone who knows anything about music knows that bass frequencies get easily muddled up. 2 bass players never sound good. But, there is nothing wrong with auditioning 2 bass players at the same time.

Also, the other bass player probably felt the same way as you.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Totally agree about the chain yanking thing, but whaddaya gonna do? Get mad and throw a fit?

And actually there have been several bands to feature two bass players. Shared a bill at a place in Seattle with one such band in the late 90's Really opened my eyes about the possibilities of the bass. It can be amazing if done right.

Spinal Tap - three basses.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Good lord. I can't believe the number of people in this thread who would just bail without even attempting to correct an easily correctable situation. After learning 5-6 tunes, driving as far as you did, setting up, etc--you can't take the initiative to say literally two sentences to get things back on track?

"Let's play one at a time--you go first."

"These are the songs I learned."

Not everyone can run an audition. That's not a deal breaker.

All of this ridiculousness of "you should have played some of your originals at full volume" or "packed up and sent an invoice" is pathetic internet posturing and not indicative of anyone in the real world who wants to actually, you know, play live music in front of people.

There is nothing wrong with being assertive. If they push back, fine. You've at least done SOMETHING to try and salvage the work and time already put into it.

Basically, you took a bad situation and made it worse.

If you go on a job interview, and you realize you're working with complete morons, you don't try to fix them. That would be futile and frustrating, with a high probability of failure. Those of us with experience and other opportunities wouldn't bother. It's not that hard to see the writing on the wall, and being assertive isn't going to do anything but delay the inevitable.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Sending 40 songs isn't a red flag. I'd assume that meant pick any 5 of the 40.

However, not telling you which were done differently, calling out whatever they wanted and not what you learned, and inviting a second bassist... yeah... that was BS.

 

[B-line]

Totally agree about the chain yanking thing, but whaddaya gonna do? Get mad and throw a fit?

And actually there have been several bands to feature two bass players. Shared a bill at a place in Seattle with one such band in the late 90's Really opened my eyes about the possibilities of the bass. It can be amazing if done right.

No not throw a fit. There can be a measured response to a lunatic, i.e. "Please don't shoot me!"

I would have bailed long before it got to that point.

As far as two bassists, yes, of course if planned and arranged.
But this was an audition to find ONE bass player for a Blues band, not a project involving 2 bass players.

It was not right to insult the prospect with that nonsense, but that BL was so far gone already, it didn't even matter.

 

[bassmonkeee]

If you go on a job interview, and you realize you're working with complete morons, you don't try to fix them. That would be futile and frustrating, with a high probability of failure. Those of us with experience and other opportunities wouldn't bother. It's not that hard to see the writing on the wall, and being assertive isn't going to do anything but delay the inevitable.

I don't think anything I suggested would really take that much effort when you are literally standing in the room. Maybe the guitar player has anxiety about trying to please everyone, or he's nervous around new people. Who knows? I have plenty of experience of dealing with morons at work. Guess what? I didn't just get to quit until I found the perfect group of people. I had to make it work. Going to my boss and saying, "they are dumb. It's not worth the effort to make it work" doesn't get the job done.

If the guys can play, and can get gigs, it's not a stretch to think that once the audition process is over that things smooth out. Not being able to run an audition doesn't make someone a moron. It makes them bad at running an audition. I have plenty of experience, and am lucky enough and have enough of a rep that people call me when they have an opportunity. So, I haven't had to deal with Craigslist for gigs. But, I still fail to see how simply saying, "Well, unless you want two bass players, it makes more sense to play separately" really requires multiple songs of trainwreck or staring at your phone in frustration.

I can understand never bothering to go to an audition if it seems like a cluster****, but once you are in the room? C'mon....This isn't reinventing the wheel. It's spending 2 minutes adding some organization to the process. If they balk--fine, they are fools and you walk. But, if it works out after that? Then, you might actually like playing with them. You might get something out of it. You might make other contacts.

I'm not saying you go to couples therapy with them. I'm saying you make a couple of suggestions to make it worth your while to have driven to the space for a process that is temporary.

 

[B-line]

I don't think anything I suggested would really take that much effort when you are literally standing in the room. Maybe the guitar player has anxiety about trying to please everyone, or he's nervous around new people. Who knows? I have plenty of experience of dealing with morons at work. Guess what? I didn't just get to quit until I found the perfect group of people. I had to make it work. Going to my boss and saying, "they are dumb. It's not worth the effort to make it work" doesn't get the job done.

If the guys can play, and can get gigs, it's not a stretch to think that once the audition process is over that things smooth out. Not being able to run an audition doesn't make someone a moron. It makes them bad at running an audition. I have plenty of experience, and am lucky enough and have enough of a rep that people call me when they have an opportunity. So, I haven't had to deal with Craigslist for gigs. But, I still fail to see how simply saying, "Well, unless you want two bass players, it makes more sense to play separately" really requires multiple songs of trainwreck or staring at your phone in frustration.

I can understand never bothering to go to an audition if it seems like a cluster****, but once you are in the room? C'mon....This isn't reinventing the wheel. It's spending 2 minutes adding some organization to the process. If they balk--fine, they are fools and you walk. But, if it works out after that? Then, you might actually like playing with them. You might get something out of it. You might make other contacts.

I'm not saying you go to couples therapy with them. I'm saying you make a couple of suggestions to make it worth your while to have driven to the space for a process that is temporary.

Did you read the OP's post #1?

Driving "blindfolded" to rehearsal, etc etc etc.
I couldn't even make it halfway through before I choked up, filled w / nausea. I guess that makes me intolerant.
No prob.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Did you read the OP's post #1?

Driving "blindfolded" to rehearsal, etc etc etc.
I couldn't even make it halfway through before I choked up, filled w / nausea. I guess that makes me intolerant.
No prob.

View attachment 1270858

Yeah, I read it. If he had turned around and texted, "nevermind," I wouldn't have disagreed with him. But, he didn't. He went the entire way, and set up his gear and was ready to play. So, when you are wearing your bass standing in front of your rig and "playing" multiple songs, why not take a little bit of initiative and try to improve the situation? Might not have made any difference at all. But, it might have. He'll never know.

 

[B-line]

Yeah, I read it. If he had turned around and texted, "nevermind," I wouldn't have disagreed with him. But, he didn't. He went the entire way, and set up his gear and was ready to play. So, when you are wearing your bass standing in front of your rig and "playing" multiple songs, why not take a little bit of initiative and try to improve the situation? Might not have made any difference at all. But, it might have. He'll never know.

Read it again, and if you're STILL good with all that, mmmkay, no skin off mine.

"Why not try & take initiative", blablabla?

Because you CAN'T make lemonade outta HS like that.
Never.

 

[gln1955]

Yeah, I read it. If he had turned around and texted, "nevermind," I wouldn't have disagreed with him. But, he didn't. He went the entire way, and set up his gear and was ready to play. So, when you are wearing your bass standing in front of your rig and "playing" multiple songs, why not take a little bit of initiative and try to improve the situation? Might not have made any difference at all. But, it might have. He'll never know.

No. The OP did what any reasonable person could be expected to do. More, really.

 

[SmokinJoe992]

Spinal Tap - three basses.

If they had played that song I would have stayed and begged them to let me join.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Read it again, and if you're STILL good with all that, mmmkay, no skin off mine.

"Why not try & take initiative", blablabla?

Because you CAN'T make lemonade outta HS like that.
Never.

I don't need to read it again. My reading comprehension is fine. Obviously, there was some ridiculous stuff before they even got to the practice space--but the OP still followed through with setting up his gear and trying to run through multiple songs. He could have spoken up at the restaurant about there being multiple bass players. He didn't. He got in his car and followed for half an hour. He could have balked when they both set up their gear at the same time. He didn't. He could have stopped when the guitar player asked them both to play at the same time. He didn't. he could have have left when he called songs he hadn't learned. He didn't. He could have stopped when they played a song he learned in a style he hadn't known about. He didn't.

At some point, if everyone in the room is an adult, the culpability here stops being solely the guitar player's and drummer's. The OP wasted his own time by not speaking up. Hell, even if it was just to say at the end, "You know, this is a bit too unorganized for my taste. You'll have better luck in the future if you do A,B,C,D." At least that way he might be saving a future audtioner the same awkwardness and futility.


Maybe you should work on your reading comprehension--I haven't excused a single thing that the OP went through in a very strange, unorthodox "audition" process. I merely suggested that there were steps besides stopping and looking at his phone that could have been taken to change the course of the situation. Maybe not. But, unless he was literally driven there with a blindfold on and had no way to leave, it's his own fault for not leaving sooner, or doing ANYTHING to affect the situation.

 

[B-line]

I don't need to read it again. My reading comprehension is fine. Obviously, there was some ridiculous stuff before they even got to the practice space--but the OP still followed through with setting up his gear and trying to run through multiple songs. He could have spoken up at the restaurant about there being multiple bass players. He didn't. He got in his car and followed for half an hour. He could have balked when they both set up their gear at the same time. He didn't. He could have stopped when the guitar player asked them both to play at the same time. He didn't. he could have have left when he called songs he hadn't learned. He didn't. He could have stopped when they played a song he learned in a style he hadn't known about. He didn't.

At some point, if everyone in the room is an adult, the culpability here stops being solely the guitar player's and drummer's. The OP wasted his own time by not speaking up. Hell, even if it was just to say at the end, "You know, this is a bit too unorganized for my taste. You'll have better luck in the future if you do A,B,C,D." At least that way he might be saving a future audtioner the same awkwardness and futility.


Maybe you should work on your reading comprehension--I haven't excused a single thing that the OP went through in a very strange, unorthodox "audition" process. I merely suggested that there were steps besides stopping and looking at his phone that could have been taken to change the course of the situation. Maybe not. But, unless he was literally driven there with a blindfold on and had no way to leave, it's his own fault for not leaving sooner, or doing ANYTHING to affect the situation.

Maybe you should test your reading comprehension by looking at I would say 90% or more of the replies-
By TB Bassists who understand that this "ordeal" was utter, total, nonsense, which you seem to want to argue for your sake of argument, that it is NOT!

Knock yourself out!

I've posted before- I run auditions on a very professional and high-level basis; they are for good jobs with good pay,for my project here in Las Vegas.

I expect that those interested will respect me- They will be on time, they will learn the material (We use charts) they will have the appropriate equipment, and they will not show up to my gig dressed like Iggy Stooge.

In return- I will respect their time, their efforts, and when appropriate, their talents and skills, along with respecting their interest in our Project.
I don't waste their time, they better not waste mine.

The OP situation was a trainwreck. You don't/can't see that. sorry for ya.
Also through replying to you, so knock yourself out, monkee, tag you are IT!