Would you have done this audition?

[s0c9]

So.....
Last Monday, while waiting for my on-again-off-again new country band to be "on again", I respond to a CL ad (yeah I know) looking for a "solid" country bassist, with all other pieces (including fiddle) in place. I text the guy...

ME: "Just saw your cl ad for bass auditions..." etc, etc. Give them a link to my bandmix page.. with a "let me know if you have an interest".
Him: " I like what I see man! What does your week look like into next weekend"
ME: "I'm pretty much open - other than Sun am church."

NO RESPONSE.
FOUR days later (Thurs), I send a follow up text... "Hey, ____ Is this audition likely to happen this week?"
NO RESPONSE.

Friday at 16:18pm, I get a text "Can you come and set up your kit with us tonight, at ________. Full band minus drums"
I reply "What time, it's a 30 min drive for me.."
Him: "9:00 Let me know:
ME: "got an address?"
Him: "address of audition" - which is a venue in a warehouse district!!
ME: "Any hints on songs you plan to go thru?"
Him: "Sorry for the confusion, are you a bass player only?"
ME : "Yes..bass. country!"

No further communication at all. So I chew on this a while, and at 18:54, I send..
ME: "Sorry, I'm out. No Drummer, No Setlist. No band name, no other info from you. hope you find someone."
Him: "fair"

Seriously? What kind of BL operates like that? I did some research on the guy and found out that yeah, he's young (mid-20's) lives in the area near the audition location (I assume job location or another band members job location), but there were WAY TOO MANY red flags.. or is this how "young un's" run stuff these days?

I doubt any experienced bassist would have gone. I didn't.
Thoughts?


PS: My on-again band has rehearsal this wed night

 

[mrcbass]

You were more patient than I would have been. I wouldn't even consider a "full band - drums" audition - just never goes well. And the general disorder of communications was enough to scare me off even if they had drums in place.

 

[TedH]

Unequivocally, unambiguously, no.

 

[McG]

It's stories like this that make me so glad I'm not "out there".

 

[s0c9]

It's stories like this that make me so glad I'm not "out there".

Not only was the whole discussion "minimal" with the BL, the guy obviously DID NOT READ my texts as he appears to have thought I was a drummer, not a bass player.
I could never work with folks that clueless... I may BE a mediocre bassist, but even I have STANDARDS !!

 

[dlb1001]

Ugh! Not a good sign when the BL doesn't even know who the heck he is auditioning!
Well, I'm going to audition for an open bass spot; I did check their FB page so they seem to be legit. The songlist isn't too daunting; some songs I know but other songs I have heard before but haven't learned. Still iffy since the guy doing most of the singing is really at the edge of his range so some of the covers are marginal, at best. I should work on singing but I'm just not able to handle the bass parts and vocals, yet.

 

[JRA]

just another day in music/bands. nothing new here. big whup.

OP: glad you didn't waste your time on this one. now you can waste it on something else!

 

[Skokiaan]

Friday at 16:18pm, I get a text "Can you come and set up your kit with us tonight, at ________. Full band minus drums"
I reply "What time, it's a 30 min drive for me.."
Him: "9:00 Let me know:
ME: "got an address?"
Him: "address of audition" - which is a venue in a warehouse district!!

Rehearsal studios are often in warehouse districts. It eliminates noise complaints, as businesses are typically closed during hours the studio is open.

 

[mellowinman]

There is nothing that would have made me follow up on that.

 

[s0c9]

Rehearsal studios are often in warehouse districts. It eliminates noise complaints, as businesses are typically closed during hours the studio is open.

Yeah, I know.. thanks
I'm familiar with most rehearsal studios in my area, and the address the guy gave me was a business address in a warehouse district.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

So.....
Last Monday, while waiting for my on-again-off-again new country band to be "on again", I respond to a CL ad (yeah I know) looking for a "solid" country bassist, with all other pieces (including fiddle) in place. I text the guy...

ME: "Just saw your cl ad for bass auditions..." etc, etc. Give them a ling to my bandmix page.. with a "let me know if you have an interest".
Him: " I like what I see man! What does your week look like into next weekend"
ME: "I'm pretty much open - other than Sun am church."

NO RESPONSE.
FOUR days later (Thurs), I send a follow up text... "Hey, ____ Is this audition likely to happen this week?"
NO RESPONSE.

Friday at 16:18pm, I get a text "Can you come and set up your kit with us tonight, at ________. Full band minus drums"
I reply "What time, it's a 30 min drive for me.."
Him: "9:00 Let me know:
ME: "got an address?"
Him: "address of audition" - which is a venue in a warehouse district!!
ME: "Any hints on songs you plan to go thru?"
Him: "Sorry for the confusion, are you a bass player only?"
ME : "Yes..bass. country!"

No further communication at all. So I chew on this a while, and at 18:54, I send..
ME: "Sorry, I'm out. No Drummer, No Setlist. No band name, no other info from you. hope you find someone."
Him: "fair"

Seriously? What kind of BL operates like that? I did some research on the guy and found out that yeah, he's young (mid-20's) lives in the area near the audition location (I assume job location or another band members job location), but there were WAY TOO MANY red flags.. or is this how "young un's" run stuff these days?

I doubt any experienced bassist would have gone. I didn't.
Thoughts?


PS: My on-again band has rehearsal this wed night

There's not a lot to inspire confidence there. For someone like you, who has been gigging for a number of years and knows the ropes, you can tell when a band or band leader has their act together or not. I'm trying not to paint with a broad brush (I know, my "old man" is showing), but a lot of 20-somethings just don't have the musical and social maturity to put together a real quality product, market themselves, and get good gigs. It would be unlikely that I would get involved with a group like that. But they probably wouldn't have me anyway.

I used to think "if it's too loud, you're too old" but I kind of don't think that way so much any more.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Spent]

They keep using that word (audition). I do not think it means what they think it means.

 

[sharkbait130]

Don't think I would have gone. If for some reason I did , I would be packing one on my hip , one in my pocket and one on my ankle.

 

[foolforthecity]

The first NO RESPONSE would have done it for me.

 

[BassPilot]

Pretty frustrating and childish on his part. I think referring to him as a band leader is a stretch.
With no response on Thursday - 4 days after initial contact and potential interest - I probably would have just ignored additional contact. That kind of irresponsibility isn't worth the on-going frustration you would have had to deal with.

 

[Turbo Sparky]

So.....
Last Monday, while waiting for my on-again-off-again new country band to be "on again", I respond to a CL ad (yeah I know) looking for a "solid" country bassist, with all other pieces (including fiddle) in place. I text the guy...

ME: "Just saw your cl ad for bass auditions..." etc, etc. Give them a ling to my bandmix page.. with a "let me know if you have an interest".
Him: " I like what I see man! What does your week look like into next weekend"
ME: "I'm pretty much open - other than Sun am church."

NO RESPONSE.
FOUR days later (Thurs), I send a follow up text... "Hey, ____ Is this audition likely to happen this week?"
NO RESPONSE.

Friday at 16:18pm, I get a text "Can you come and set up your kit with us tonight, at ________. Full band minus drums"
I reply "What time, it's a 30 min drive for me.."
Him: "9:00 Let me know:
ME: "got an address?"
Him: "address of audition" - which is a venue in a warehouse district!!
ME: "Any hints on songs you plan to go thru?"
Him: "Sorry for the confusion, are you a bass player only?"
ME : "Yes..bass. country!"

No further communication at all. So I chew on this a while, and at 18:54, I send..
ME: "Sorry, I'm out. No Drummer, No Setlist. No band name, no other info from you. hope you find someone."
Him: "fair"

Seriously? What kind of BL operates like that? I did some research on the guy and found out that yeah, he's young (mid-20's) lives in the area near the audition location (I assume job location or another band members job location), but there were WAY TOO MANY red flags.. or is this how "young un's" run stuff these days?

I doubt any experienced bassist would have gone. I didn't.
Thoughts?


PS: My on-again band has rehearsal this wed night

...nope, definitely would NOT of done it after second no response. Yes, it seems the lil' ones operate that way. ...comes from upbringing. and yes, even in worst of times rebellious mohawked youth, we mainly rebelled against the established authority...not fellow bros or players.
Your word is your honor, honor your word.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, kids like this are the reason I can still find work after all these years. Being dependable is as important as knowing your instrument.

 

[Renaissance]

I have no time to waste on people with non-existent communication skills.

Good call IMHO.

 

[FranF]

So.....
Last Monday, while waiting for my on-again-off-again new country band to be "on again", I respond to a CL ad (yeah I know) looking for a "solid" country bassist, with all other pieces (including fiddle) in place. I text the guy...

ME: "Just saw your cl ad for bass auditions..." etc, etc. Give them a ling to my bandmix page.. with a "let me know if you have an interest".
Him: " I like what I see man! What does your week look like into next weekend"
ME: "I'm pretty much open - other than Sun am church."

NO RESPONSE.
FOUR days later (Thurs), I send a follow up text... "Hey, ____ Is this audition likely to happen this week?"
NO RESPONSE.

Friday at 16:18pm, I get a text "Can you come and set up your kit with us tonight, at ________. Full band minus drums"
I reply "What time, it's a 30 min drive for me.."
Him: "9:00 Let me know:
ME: "got an address?"
Him: "address of audition" - which is a venue in a warehouse district!!
ME: "Any hints on songs you plan to go thru?"
Him: "Sorry for the confusion, are you a bass player only?"
ME : "Yes..bass. country!"

No further communication at all. So I chew on this a while, and at 18:54, I send..
ME: "Sorry, I'm out. No Drummer, No Setlist. No band name, no other info from you. hope you find someone."
Him: "fair"

Seriously? What kind of BL operates like that? I did some research on the guy and found out that yeah, he's young (mid-20's) lives in the area near the audition location (I assume job location or another band members job location), but there were WAY TOO MANY red flags.. or is this how "young un's" run stuff these days?

I doubt any experienced bassist would have gone. I didn't.
Thoughts?


PS: My on-again band has rehearsal this wed night

So.....
Last Monday, while waiting for my on-again-off-again new country band to be "on again", I respond to a CL ad (yeah I know) looking for a "solid" country bassist, with all other pieces (including fiddle) in place. I text the guy...

ME: "Just saw your cl ad for bass auditions..." etc, etc. Give them a ling to my bandmix page.. with a "let me know if you have an interest".
Him: " I like what I see man! What does your week look like into next weekend"
ME: "I'm pretty much open - other than Sun am church."

NO RESPONSE.
FOUR days later (Thurs), I send a follow up text... "Hey, ____ Is this audition likely to happen this week?"
NO RESPONSE.

Friday at 16:18pm, I get a text "Can you come and set up your kit with us tonight, at ________. Full band minus drums"
I reply "What time, it's a 30 min drive for me.."
Him: "9:00 Let me know:
ME: "got an address?"
Him: "address of audition" - which is a venue in a warehouse district!!
ME: "Any hints on songs you plan to go thru?"
Him: "Sorry for the confusion, are you a bass player only?"
ME : "Yes..bass. country!"

No further communication at all. So I chew on this a while, and at 18:54, I send..
ME: "Sorry, I'm out. No Drummer, No Setlist. No band name, no other info from you. hope you find someone."
Him: "fair"

Seriously? What kind of BL operates like that? I did some research on the guy and found out that yeah, he's young (mid-20's) lives in the area near the audition location (I assume job location or another band members job location), but there were WAY TOO MANY red flags.. or is this how "young un's" run stuff these days?

I doubt any experienced bassist would have gone. I didn't.
Thoughts?


PS: My on-again band has rehearsal this wed night

He was the LEADER? Can you imagine how clueless the others must be? Sheesh....lol

 

[gln1955]

As they say, "you only get one chance to make a first impression".

This guy blew that chance spectacularly.