The Audition Process (Done Correctly)

Auditions

Finding players can be tough.  It’s about more than just musicianship.  It’s also about chemistry.  This quick guide sheet will help you get past the bad candidates (and bad bands) and get to the good ones in it for the long haul.

1. Before the first meeting, ask the right questions.  While you may be tempted to handle all of this via e-mail, at least one phone call should go down before a meet up.  Here are the most important questions to ask.  Based on how answers match up to your own, this should give you an idea if this candidate is a good one:
   1. How much experience do you have?
   2. How far away do you live from our base?
   3. Do you have the support of you significant other/ family/ friends?
   4. Do you have a problem performing any particular type of music?
   5. What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
   6. How much are you expecting to make?
   7. How often do you want to play?
   8. Do you have reliable transportation?
   9. What kind of gear do you have?
   10. Why did you leave/ leaving your last group?

1. Discuss an audition agenda.  Once you have decided a candidate is maybe a good fit, you have to give them an opportunity to be successful.  Give them a list of 5 songs you do.  Be fair about it!  If you know your version of a particular song is way far away from the original,  don’t pick that song.  Pick a few you do pretty close.  Maybe even provide YouTube links of the correct versions.   Also, give them access to your full song list, and let them pick one or two more.

1. Schedule the audition.  Get the whole crew together and set up and play.  Go ahead, have fun.   You’ll be able to tell if the candidate did their homework, how their gear sounds and how they handle themselves under pressure.  Keep a critical eye and ear out but be aware that he is auditioning you as well, so do YOUR best.

1. Talk with the whole group.  After playing let everyone in the band have a few minutes to chat, ask and answer questions.  Take a few mins to get to know each other and get a feel for if it’s a fit or not.

1. Shake hands, and send them on their way.  Don’t linger.  Get it done and get them gone- politely.  Then have a good long chat with the band.  Discuss pros and cons of that player and give him some real consideration.  

1. Set-Up the next audition.  You definitely want to audition 3-5 people.  If you can set it up for all in the same night, make the candidates aware of the fact so there’s no awkwardness as people pass by each other on the way in and out.

1. Follow-up.  These guys have taken time out to learn your stuff AND come and play.  So give them the courtesy of a call with a thumbs up or a thumbs down.  Give them honest but gentle feedback.  That way, they will get something out of the experience, but you won’t seem like a jerk

1. Give a probation period.  You want to date before you get married right?  So, here you want to tell the new guy that you’re going to try things out for a few weeks and see how it goes.  That way, if a few weeks down the road things aren’t working out, there will be fewer hurt feelings.

AUDITION PREP

So you’ve been asked to audition for a band?  Here’s how to do it right.

1. Insist on seeing what they have got.  Some band will try to be secretive so that a player who’s being let go doesn’t bail before a new guy is in place.  Assure your new contact that you’ll be discrete,  but you want to know what you’re getting into.   Get the Facebook page info, the web site, song list, calendar- all of that will give you a good idea of what this band is all about.  
2. Insist on an actual phone call.  You can tell a lot by phone that you can’t get via text or e-mail.  Resist being a millennial and make a call.  You’ll be able to tell pretty quick if this is worth pursuing or maybe a job for someone else.
3. Insist on getting an actual audition agenda.  Some bands will say “just pick some songs off of our set”.  Don’t fall for that.  Tell them you’d be more comfortable knowing exactly what’s up.  Offer to pick one or two songs, but make the bulk of the plan come from them.
4. Ask why there’s a vacancy.  Knowing why they need a new player could give you and indication of how the band works and if it’s a good fit for you.  
5. Do your homework.  Learn the tunes as best you can.  Don’t let there be any room for musical critique.  Get them down, and walk in with some swagger- but not too much.
6. Dress for the gig.  At an audition, you’ll want to be presentable.  If you’re going to be in an 80’s band, get out your parachute pants.  Treat it like a gig so the band knows your serious.
7. Have your gear ready to go.  Don’t roll in and start messing with strings and pedals.  Get it all set up quick, and put your best “gear” foot forward.  Bring the good guitars.  But leave that full-stack at home.  Get or borrow a small combo for an audition.  This is usually done in someone’s home and now one wants to wake the neighbors.  
8. Hang around and answer some questions.  After the jam, you’ll want to talk a little ad get some more questions asked and answered.  Be honest, and let everyone feel each other out.  
9. Get out.  Don’t hang around too long afterwards.  Get going and thank them for the chance.  No one needs an awkward post-audition situation.  
10. Call and follow-up.  Find out what they thought, and get honest feedback.  This will be useful at the next audition.  If they ask for feedback about the band, be honest but kind.   
11. Ask for a probationary period.  Don’t get married right away!  Tell them you’ll join for a set period- 90 days.  By then, you’ll all know if it’s working or not and there will be fewer hard feelings in the end of it all.