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Audition For A Band

So, your thinking about auditioning for a band. It may be your first time, or you may have done it a few times before. Either way, there are some things you can do to save yourself time, and possible frustration, and hopefully find the band that’s right for you. If your just starting out and never played in a band before you may want to find a band who is also just getting started. That way you can grow with the band without too much pressure. Or you may want to join an established band that is already getting gigs. This is also good as it will allow you to gain experience straight away, plus most of the formalities such as manager and songs are already taken care of, all you need to do is turn up and play. The down side of this however may be that you won’t have long to learn all their music and they will probably want you to play with a similar note structure to their last musician so their music sounds the same, and you may find this restricting.

Either way, whether the band is established or just starting out, finding the right band to play with is like looking for a good job. Firstly, you need to get straight in your own mind what your looking for in a band, as well as clearly knowing what you have to offer them. The following questions will help you make a list or mental note of things to keep in mind when you reply to an audition notice. Remember, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Knowing up front what the band requires from you and knowing whether you can or even want to meet those requirements will save everyone a lot of time in the long run. Having a list of what your looking for will also help you stay focused and consistent during your search, as well as help you decide if you will join the band after the audition. So, lets take a look at some of the things you need to ask yourself.

1.    What style of music do you want to play?

It’s really important that you like the music that the prospective band plays for a number of reasons. Firstly, if you have a certain style you like or want to play, don’t join a group in a  different genre just because they happen to be auditioning and you want to be in a band. If you don’t like the music you’ll be playing you probably won’t stay with them for very long anyway. Mixing styles within a band can also cause problems because members will often want to play at different types of venues and have differing ambitions and goals, not to mention tensions that will arise if you are going to be songwriting together.

So, get clear what type of music you want to play, and then find out exactly what type of music they play. A great way to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding and find out what the bands style of music is really like before the audition is to ask for a sample to listen to. Websites like Ozjam have member profiles with video and audio clips attached which make this easy, or you can ask them to send you an MP3 or CD. Either way, make sure they are playing the style of music you like to play.

2.    Are your goals the same as the bands?

Bands usually have a basic set of running rules and goals. It’s a good idea to find out what they are before you get to the audition to make sure you’re both on the same page or at least going to be heading in the same direction. Firstly, get clear about where you expect the band to be going and what role you want to play in it. You may be the kind of person who likes to be involved in any decisions that are made. So you’ll need to ask who runs the band, if it’s one member or if everyone has an equal say. Know whether you want to play covers or originals and find out if the band is open to either? If you have a personal agenda discuss it with them when you call. For instance, you may fancy yourself as a songwriter and be looking for a band to try out your material. If there’s no room for one in the band it’s better you know up front.

Get your personal goals clear so you know where your going yourself. Ask yourself, do you just want to jam for fun or are you looking to make a living from your music. If it’s the latter, be honest with yourself when you work out how much time you have to dedicate to this once family, work and other commitments are taken care of. Do you have time to play twice a week plus rehearsals, or do you only have time to play once a month. Also think about how much and how far you are prepared to travel. Do you only want to do local gigs or are you happy to go further. If your plans are to cut a record deal and tour the country, and the band you are auditioning for just wants to gig once a month at your local, you’ll be wasting your time.

The band may also have other requirements they expect you to meet like having your own transport, equipment and money to pay for rehearsals, advertising and general band costs. Relying on others for lifts to gigs, borrowing equipment or not being able to contribute to costs will eventually cause unnecessary tensions. You may want to be in a particular band but not have the time or resources to do it, so you not only have to know what your goals are but also if you can realistically meet them. Don’t join a band hoping they will change their rules and goals to suit you. It’s better to find a band that shares yours in the first place and save everyone the frustration.

3.     Do you have the skills and experience required?

This can be another sure waste of everyone’s time if your not honest about your own skill level. Be truthful with yourself about your abilities and be aware of your limitations. It’s usually a good idea to audition for a band where the technicality of the music suits your skill level as a musician. Ask them what songs they will be expecting you to play, and once again, listening to a sample of their material should give you a fairly good indication of the level of skill that is required.

Also be ready to tell them about your musical experience, like what bands you’ve played in, where you’ve played, how long you were in them, as well as why you left. Sometimes this needs a bit of thought ahead of time to remember exactly what you’ve done and when you did it. Even if you have never played in a band before still be prepared to tell them about your solo experience. Everyone has to start somewhere and it all counts. Remember, bands may not always state in their audition notice what level of experience they are looking for so it’s up to you to find out.

4.    Are you prepared for the Audition?

So you’ve lined up an audition which sounds like it might suit you. They play your kind of music, you feel confident you have the skills and time to give, and the band also wants to tour the world – great! It’s always to your advantage to be prepared for an audition for many reasons, especially if your just starting out and might be a bit nervous. Being prepared helps calm your nerves and give your best performance. There are a number of things you can do to get prepared for an audition.

Firstly, find out what material you need to learn and don’t forget to ask what key they play them in. Three to five songs should be enough to show your capabilities as well as get an idea of each others style. Whatever you do don’t turn up not knowing their stuff. It’s better to know three really well and show them you can play their songs, or are at least willing to learn, than trying to make a half arsed attempt at all five. Remember, this is your chance to show them what your capable of, so make the effort to learn them well.

Secondly, if your just starting out, or trying out for a genre of music your not to familiar with, make sure you take some time to get to know that genre really well. It’s a good idea not only to know the role of your instrument in the style of music you will be playing but it will help you play in time if you know the roles of all the other instruments as well as how they work together as a group.

Finally, be on time for the audition. It not only shows them that your serious about the audition but that your likely to be reliable as a band member. So work out where your going ahead of time and make sure you leave plenty of time to get there, get parked and get your equipment ready. It’s also a good idea to make sure all your gear is working well and ready for business before the audition. There’s no use getting there on time, knowing your stuff and then having your equipment let you down.

5.    Do you see yourself fitting into the band?

So you’ve made it to the audition. Your trying out a few songs together and getting a feel for each others style and capabilities. Don’t forget that auditioning is a two way street. You may be auditioning for them but at the same time they are also auditioning for you. You are both there to find out if you are right for each other, and although in reality this will take a lot longer than one audition, there are some things you can look out for.

Firstly, make an effort to talk to all the members. Let them get to know you and you get to know them by being open, sharing experiences and finding out what their goals are for the future. Auditions are not only an opportunity to see if you like playing together but are a great opportunity to see if you get along before you make any commitments. Ask yourself if you think you could be friends with the members? It’s important to find people you get along with because if you end up rehearsing and playing a few times a week, or even traveling together, you’ll probably end up spending more time with them than you do with your own family. So at the audition you should be thinking, long term relationship!
 
Also watch how the members are with each other to get a feel for the dynamics of the band. Do they look like they get along together or does there seem to be disharmony in the group. You’ll also need to ask yourself if you feel like you would fit in with the band. Either way, if something doesn’t feel right to you at the audition chances are it’s for a reason and you should listen to your gut feeling. For example, if there’s someone in the group that really rubs you up the wrong way, do yourself a favour and don’t join. Although it’s true that a good performer needs a certain amount of ego – don’t be fooled. No matter how good the players, a band won’t grow and evolve in the wrong environment. You’ll need to get along with everyone or you’ll spend more time sorting out differences than making music.

If all goes well at the audition and your keen, talk to the members before you leave and find out what they thought of your audition, just so you know if you’re all on the same page before you leave. You may be asked back for a second audition, they may call you later to let you know, or you may leave the bands latest member. Remember, don’t waste anyone’s time trying out for a band just because they happened to be auditioning for a drummer, and you happened to be one. You might get in the band and get some experience but odds are you wont be there long. The key is, know what your looking for, get prepared, give it your best shot, have fun and make sure the band ticks all your boxes before you join them.

Mavis Black