Auditioning for Bands

What you need to know

Introduction:

Whether you are a hobbyist, weekend warrior or seasoned professional, we all are faced with auditioning for new bands, regardless of what level we perform at. Once we become part of a local musical scene, the process is still the same, but usually the stress levels are lower because we have had time to build a reputation, and people get to know us and our abilities through varied interactions. I’ve moved around quite a bit over my career, and each move has brought a fresh wave of breaking into new scenes, and establishing myself as both a guitar player and bass player. The reality is that no matter how good you are, the process takes time, patience, effort and persistence. It also takes a thick skin that can handle the possibility of rejection, and the ability to keep moving despite it.

Landing an audition can be a difficult proposition in itself, but the first step is putting yourself out there. Open mics are a good place to start, but it is good to keep in mind that they are only one avenue. Some people go to them to find potential band members, while others find them sufficient to scratch a performance itch, remaining content to show up when they want to, and leave it at that. Some open mics are geared more toward semi-pros and pros, and are good opportunities to start establishing relationships, essentially networking. If you’re just getting started, it’s a good idea to suss out some open mics and get a feel for them before actually signing up to perform. Different open mics tend to cater to different genres of music, and the skill levels can vary quite a bit. Some are more oriented toward acoustic music or singer/songwriter types while others will focus on full bands made up of spur of the moment mixes of people who’ve signed up. If you go to open mics with the intent to network, it’s a good idea to get some business cards made up with your name, areas of expertise, and whatever contact information you’re comfortable sharing. Try to be a bit selective in deciding who to hand off your info to, focusing more on folks you’ve heard and have an interest in possibly playing with, or who seem to be good possible contacts. You never know what may come of it.

As noted, open mics are only one avenue to find opportunities. There are some connections that can be made through social media, craigslist ads, and local music stores. Some places use these outlets more than others. The trick is to maximize your search – use all the avenues available and don’t live in a vacuum.

The process increases in complexity the more specific your search is. Most working musicians might have an area that they specialize in, like the blues, but end up playing a variety of genres in order to broaden the pool of opportunities available to them. And some focus on becoming multi-instrumentalists in order to sweeten the pot. For instance, I am a really good guitar player, but took up the bass because there were more people looking for good bass players. I kept going with guitar, but learned how to be a really solid bass player as well, and honestly reaped quite a few benefits from that. My reality is I want to be a working musician, and I love both the guitar and bass. Whichever gig I land, that’s what I’m doing. I’ve played in a lot of blues bands, and in a wide variety of other genres as well on both instruments. It keeps things interesting, and increases the opportunities to gig.

Whatever the instrument, the main key to getting through an audition successfully is knowing what to do with your instrument. But simply knowing how to play, and play well, isn’t the whole picture. If you’re going to successfully pass an audition, you’re going to need to show that you are agreeable, know how to work with other folks toward mutual goals, display a certain level of flexibility, a work ethic and a desire to be there in the first place. There really isn’t any substitute for being prepared. You can fake confidence, to a certain extent, but the other aspects, not as much. One thing to remember, though, is no matter what your personal motivation is, if you’re auditioning for a gigging band, the audition is, at least on some level, a job interview.

Just like any other job interview, some will be painful and some will be fun. I’ve been to auditions where the tension in the air was unbearable, largely due to infighting within the band over replacing the guy who currently occupied the spot I was auditioning for. That can be very unpleasant, particularly if you’re unaware of what’s going on and someone actively resents you being called in. It’s awkward, and sometimes hostile. Most of the time, though, that isn’t the case, and it’s more akin to any other job interview. That being said, I’d rather do 100 auditions than regular job interviews, simply because I get to make music during the process, and possibly make some new friends while doing it.

A few quick notes before we get into the meat of things. When auditioning, it’s important to use your eyes and ears as much as possible. Watch for cues, really listen to what the other players are doing, and try to tailor what you do to fit into what’s going on around you. In between tunes, don’t noodle with your instrument (unless you’re tuning). Listen to what is being said and join in the conversation. If someone is talking and you’re noodling, you’re not focusing on what they’re saying, which can quite frankly be annoying, and bordering on rude. Be mindful; it shows that you respect boundaries and are interested in working with the other musicians in the group. If noodling is a nervous habit, at the very least turn down your volume, or roll it all the way off, so it’s not interfering with communication.

Auditions/Auditioning

1. Preparation:

Know yourself – how much time does it take to learn new material?

Make time to prep – practice, review, set up charts/binder/ipad (if needed)

Make sure that you practice and listen to material that you’re not as familiar with.

Some auditions are time sensitive – not allowing for much prep time – If this is the case, do the best you can with the time you have. Focus on whatever you feel needs the most attention.

The more lead time you have before an audition, the better prepared you need to be.

Know your equipment and make sure everything works before heading to the audition. Don’t show up with stuff you’ve just acquired and haven’t really familiarized yourself with. You’ve already got enough on your plate without adding unnecessary stressors.

If you play a plucked string instrument, make sure you pack and bring a spare set of guitar strings, spare batteries (if any of your equipment requires them), spare picks (if you use them), and anything else that might provide a potential hiccup, like cables.

2. Questions Prior to the Audition:

What tunes should I have worked on for the audition?

What equipment do I need to bring?

Sometimes the band has a back-lined space and all you need to bring is your instrument and whatever personal gear you are attached to. Sometimes you’ll need to roll out like you’re going to a gig.

Where is the audition and what time should I be there?

List of Band’s Repertoire and keys tunes are played in.

Who’s already in the band? Instrumentation?

Are they in your demographic (age range, skill range, etc.)?

Sometimes image can be a factor as well.

How long have they been together?

Does the Band play tunes ‘just like the record’ or do they come up with their own versions?

Does the band do any original music?

How often do they rehearse, and how often do they gig?

Do they have any issues with members playing in other groups?

(Maybe Political leanings – only an issue in certain circumstances)

3. Remember that auditions are a two-way street:

Do the members seem to be easy to get along with?

Auditions can be stressful – does everyone seem to be welcoming?

Do they make you feel comfortable?

Are you going to have any say in what tunes are covered?

When and where do they rehearse – is it doable?

4. Possible Red Flags:

Friction among members – sometimes doesn’t show until later

Someone in the group that obviously isn’t on board with bringing someone new into the fold.

Behavior – there to party or make music? This also depends on why you are there.

Other band members are late for your audition.

Obvious egos or control issues – not always immediately displayed.

Obvious alcohol/drug abuse.

Chaos – nobody runs the audition, people don’t listen, constant noodling.

Obvious disconnect between their goals and yours.

The Yoko Ono Effect – there are people at the audition who aren’t actually band members for no apparent reason.

5. The Audition:

If you’re a list person, make a list of everything you need and check it when you load your vehicle. You don’t want to get to the audition and realize that you left something crucial behind, like your charts if you use them.

Be on time for the audition – allow time to get lost on the way, as well as to set up your gear and do whatever prep you need to do before the band hits. A good rule of thumb is “if you aren’t early, you’re late.”

This is really basic, but it’s surprising how many people forget this one: Tune your instrument before the band starts playing.

Usually, particularly if you don’t already know the musicians present, there is some time at the outset where folks introduce themselves, ask questions, and get a feel for the people in the room before starting to run songs.

Sometimes auditions are run by the band leader who determines what tunes to work through. Sometimes the band leader will ask you what you want to start with, effectively turning over the reins to the potential band member. If that’s the case start with something you’re confident in, but allows you to warm up a bit before heading into more difficult territory. This also depends on your confidence and skill level.

Don’t get caught up in performing perfectly, everybody makes mistakes, particularly the first time people get together in a creative endeavor. If you make a few mistakes, don’t draw attention to them, just move on. If there’s a train wreck on a tune, acknowledge it, then move on with an apology, and a nod that you need to work on it some more. Most of the time folks are expecting at least one train wreck in an audition, so it’s not necessarily the end of your chances of joining the band.

Try to have fun, despite the stress. Remember, part of the audition is demonstrating that you can work with people, and projecting the attitude that you enjoy the process goes a long way toward showing that.

Remember, ultimately the audition goes both ways. They’re auditioning you and you’re auditioning them.

6. The End Result:

Sometimes auditions go great, and you’ll get the gig immediately – leaving the decision entirely up to you.

Sometimes auditions go great, but they’ve still got other folks scheduled for auditions – we’ll get back to you. In these cases, you might get called up, or you might never hear from them. If you’re really interested, let them know, but recognize that they’ve got other people lined up for tryouts.

Sometimes you might think you didn’t do all that well, but get the gig based on how you presented yourself – easy to work with, conscientious, etc.

Sometimes you don’t get the gig because your skill level isn’t close enough to the other members of the band, or they were leery about whether you’d fit in. It happens, and while it doesn’t necessarily feel good, every audition is a learning experience, whether you get the gig or not. Learn from the experience and move on, practice more, build your skills, and don’t give up.

Sometimes you just don’t get the gig, for whatever reason.

If they seem open to it, ask if they have any suggestions on what you could have done differently that might have changed the outcome. Sometimes you can get valuable feedback, other times not so much.

If you’re offered the gig, you’ve got the time to do the work necessary, and it seems like a solid situation, go for it.

If you’re offered the gig, and you’ve got serious reservations, bow out gracefully.

If you need time to think about it, or you really find you don’t want the gig try to be diplomatic. You never know, you might end up playing with someone from the band down the road

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