Advice for Auditions

[Dad3353]

12 minutes ago, ricksterphil said:

and wear a large pink wig 🤣

 

You are @stewblack and I claim my £5.  (no 'Smilie' for fear of transgressing Gummint guidelines protecting innocent children...)

[Sean]

Well, after yesterday's exploration I think checking the band's social media and any YouTube videos should be towards the top of the list. 

I also got some trusted 3rd party input. 

 

What I saw/heard yesterday:

 

1. How the band ends some of the songs.

2. How close or not close to the originals they play the songs. 

3. How your sound might fit (or need to be tweaked).

4. Areas for improvement and what you could bring to the band. 

 

 

[itu]

Were there any kinds of arrangements or just dixieland? 

[Frank Blank]

On 27/09/2025 at 08:20, binky_bass said:

● Break wind ceaselessly 

 

Seconded.

[Sean]

3 hours ago, itu said:

Were there any kinds of arrangements or just dixieland? 

Pretty much like the records. 

Solid drummer.

Good audiences. 

It gives a good insight into who you're replacing and in this case, who he replaced. Lots of videos going back years. 

My #1 takeaway was on what bass to use at the audition, or rather, in my case, what not to use. 

[Tokalo]

My last audition, I got to learn some songs I love but had never had the chance to play with a band previously. Afterwards, I realised that even if I didn’t get the gig, I really enjoyed the opportunity.

 

An established band will have history. There will be private jokes and shared gig memories that you are not party to. When these are referred to, prepare to feel a bit awkward, and practice having an expressionless face!

[Sean]

One thing I learned the other night was to consider using a chart if the song arrangement is different from the record. 

 

Mr Blue Sky by ELO. 

 

Sit me down with cans on and I'll reproduce that line every time playing along to the original without any visual aid or chart or anything. Playing it with just a drummer, two guitarists and a singer, in an audition scenario, you lose a lot of your cues and, unrehearsed with a very different arrangement, it's easy to drop the ball. 

 

In retrospect, I should have said that I'm going to use a chart to stay on track as I know the song but not the arrangement. The end of the song was played differently, which was a surprise and that's just something you have to deal with on the spot. The other songs were very guitar based and had simple arrangements so there were no issues. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Sean

[Burns-bass]

15 minutes ago, Sean said:

One thing I learned the other night was to consider using a chart if the song arrangement is different from the record. 

 

Mr Blue Sky by ELO. 

 

Sit me down with cans on and I'll reproduce that line every time playing along to the original without any visual aid or chart or anything. Playing it with just a drummer, two guitarists and a singer, in an audition scenario, you lose a lot of your cues and, unrehearsed with a very different arrangement, it's easy to drop the ball. 

 

In retrospect, I should have said that I'm going to use a chart to stay on track as I know the song but not the arrangement. The end of the song was played differently, which was a surprise and that's just something you have to deal with on the spot. The other songs were very guitar based and had simple arrangements so there were no issues. 

 

Most of the auditions I've done I've taken the time to chart out songs and stick it on the floor in front of me (even if I don't need it). As well as providing a useful memory aid, it shows you've taken the time to learn the songs. 

 

People in bands are people and they want you to do well. Always worth having a chat about any potentially tricky bits. I remember a band wanting me to play "Crazt Little Thing" in Bb on double bass (preposterous). I warned them it might suck and they all laughed and in the end it was fine. I still hate the song though, they can't take that from me!