A Flax experience

[terryc]

Well you know there are some right tin gods out there and even they get it wrong!
I went for an audition with a band that does 50's/60 covers, easy stuff(not exactly Weather Report or RTW!)
It went well and I played all the songs they asked me to but when I get an e mail telling me I am 'too keen' and there was a 'personality clash' between one or two members of the band and then asked me to wait as they were auditioning other bass players and I get a second e mail saying I didn't get the job because of the two points, well you can say it riled me a bit.
 
This is the scene when I got to the audition(please remember the 'too keen' statement)
 
I got there early to set up, you always go early for a job interview
 
The drummer forgets his sticks! Maybe I should have turned up with no strings on my bass!!!
 
The female singer is late and forgets to bring lyrics for two songs to which I supplied her with one song sheet from my comprehensive file which I lug around in my gig bag
 
The asked me to learn 6 songs from a list so I learn as per the record, they have a different arrangement which they didn't tell me about
The drop 'River deep, Mountian High' on me which wasn't in the list but I play it anyway(and in a different key) the keyboard player cannot get the intro phrasing and they don't know the middle part(which I put them right on that..remember 'personality clash' on that one.
 
The singer gets 'pissed off' because 'River' is not right, mind you she doesn't have the lyrics!
 
We rehearsed in some small club, not exactly a professional rehearsal room but what the hell.
 
They tell me they won some competition as the best 'club band' After that I take with a pinch of salt.
 
So in conclusion..to be 'too keen' or well prepared is not their remit
Their idea of preparation is not to prepare.
 
needless to say they have had to re advertise and won't be on the road for another month, unless they can get a bass player who has NO opinion

[dtrice]

Don't you hate when you are too good for a band? That is why I have stopped practicing, having an opionion, or generally caring when dealing with musicians like this. You seem to get a lot more gigs that way.

[keavin]

i had similar a experience..........drove an hour & a half for an audition and these guys had top notch gear, BUT those mother f@$&Kers couldnt even play!!!

[neyman]

Drummer forgets his sticks
 
Singer doesn't have lyrics
 
Throw in nobody knew the 6 songs they asked you to learn and you'd have my last band!

[dtrice]

Wow have we all played with the same people?

[lbpesq]

I think I know those guys.  Was the lead guitarist way too loud?  lol
 
Bill, tgo

[flaxattack]

i cant top bills line. i jammed a week ago with experienced dead musicians. drummer didnt know dead. lead g man couldnt sing, rythym g man spent 46 minutes setting up his toys and knew soome of the tunes and less of the words
me?  i smoked... you figure it out!
i struggling for a good jam/gig.........
oh i did get a set list from another band... it had cant get enough of your love on it- NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey bill you got a gig i can fly out for and play?
;-)

[lbpesq]

Flax:
 
NORML is having its national conference in Berkeley Oct. 17-19.  We'll be having a party on Sat. night, the 18th.  If it works out, both Stonetrout and August Wolf (formerly Rough Around The Edges, my Dead band) will play.  Come on out and I'm sure you could sit in.  Anyone else wanna come out?
 
Bill, tgo

[richbass939]

It's frustrating wasting your time and getting your hopes up.  However, if that's how it went at the audition what's the chance that it would be considerably better later on?  You are better off ending the whole thing at the very beginning.
Rich

[terryc]

Do you think it is us, I mean we could all get a complex about these people being against us or is it just they are absolute crap and unprofessional and have no idea about musicianship, band ergonomics and attitude.
My current band are just so easy to get on with but there has been a lull in gigs but it seems to be picking up..I think I shall stay firmly where I am.

[briant]

This is why I always approach auditions as me auditioning the band and not the other way around.  I don't mean to sound big headed or anything but there are way too many bands that need a bass player out there and I don't have to put up with that kind of nonsense.  You're better off having them not like you.  With that trainwreck of an audition for you - lord only knows what horrible things were coming down the tracks.
 
My most recent experience like this is for a one time only event that some guys at work are doing.  They needed a bass player and I said yes.  They picked all the songs.  At our first rehearsal I was the only one who actually knew how to play all the tunes.  Stevie Wonder's Sir Duke sounds interesting when you get to the soli bit after the choruses and suddenly it's just bass playing that line.

[bracheen]

Terry that sounds like the perfect job for me. I can't play worth a damn either. You still have their number?
 
Bill I've always been keen to visit Berkeley.  Not too keen but keen. I'll have to run that one by Senior Management.
 
Sam

[terryc]

Briant & bracheen
You are right along with everyone else I have told about this, the guy who runs the band is a tin god. I am not criticising there choice of songs but like I said we are not playing 'Birdland' or 'Vulcan Worlds'
You know you sometimes I wish they would e mail me back offering the job because they cannot get anyone and would I love to tell them to stick their band in the place where the sun doesn't shine.  
hey but lets not get bitter about it!!!!!!(LOL)
 
Briant - I will use your 'me auditioning the band' attitude in the future..a great attitude idea.

[briant]

More along the you're auditioning the band bit:
 
THEY are the ones looking for a bass player.  If any of the following happen at the agreed upon audition day/time I am very likely to walk on them:
 
1. Showing up late.  They should all be there already setup and good to go by the time you step in the room.  If they are doing it at their normal rehearsal time they should tell you to show up 30 minutes later so they can all get there, setup, warm up, etc...  People arriving 15+ minutes late when they are auditioning a new player is uncalled for.
 
2. Someone in the band doesn't know one of the audition songs.
 
3. The band is busy drinking/doing other mind altering substances before/during your audition.  If they aren't interested in having a clear head while they audition a player they aren't a band that is worth joining.  I personally don't like to have drinking/other stuff in rehearsals ever but - whatever.
 
4. Screwing around between songs.  This inevitably happens during any band rehearsal but an audition should be crisp and professional.  Done with one song, comments or questions, move onto the next song.  When the guitar player is busy practicing Smoke On The Water while the singer is trying to call out the next song... yeah... not good.
 
These aren't supposed to be hard set rules that absolutely cannot be broken; but they sure work as a good starting point when auditioning bands. :-)
 
As I said previously there are WAY too many bands out there who need a good bass player.  You don't need to put up with BS from anyone because there is always another gig out there waiting for you.

[bsee]

Brian, I guess that depends upon the bass player's maturity level and what you're looking for from a band.  This seems like a good guideline for the typical Alembic player in their 30s or 40s who wants to play some relatively serious music.  Many of us have been there and done that and aren't looking for a repeat performance.  On the other hand a 22 year old looking to gain some experience might not be put off by these sorts of antics.
 
These sorts of things are certainly worth considering, but, like everything else in life, to each his own...
 
-Bob