Members Consume Posted June 30, 2009 Members Share Posted June 30, 2009 One time I had this guy get in an argument with me because he thought his sister would be a great singer for us because she was great at karaoke. When I said we need someone with band experience, he said it was the same thing and got all pissy about it. Uuhhh...yeah...You guys screwed up a perfectly good chance of getting laid."Well, we will give her a chance, but she has to have sex with each of us." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted June 30, 2009 Members Share Posted June 30, 2009 Asa rule of thumb don't bring your girlfriend, wife, or best buddy to an audition period. We audition drummers a few weeks ago and two different guys brought thier girsl with them. The first girl let us know that she was a singer and had her mic and stand in the car if we wanted her to sing (we didn't need a singer we were auditioning drummers). The second girl didn't let her man get in a work edge wise. She was quick to let us know that she was used to doing the booking because she was good at getting more money. She was so annoying that we could not get those two out of the rehearsal room fast enough. He might have a been a nice guy but we will never know because his girlfriend never let him talk. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Consume Posted June 30, 2009 Members Share Posted June 30, 2009 I'm going through this process right now. It's such a huge pet peeve of mine when someone can't respond in a well thought out manner with simply things like punctuation, sentences, and paragraphs. After all, they are applying for a job, aren't they?Wait. "Singers" and "well thought out manner"Wouldn't that be a form of an oxymoron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpaceNorman Posted July 1, 2009 Members Share Posted July 1, 2009 Asa rule of thumb don't bring your girlfriend, wife, or best buddy to an audition period. I think I'd have to make an exception to that rule for a female who is meeting and auditioning a group for the very first time in a non-public location. I couldn't in good conscience hold it against somebody who brought a friend to the audition - provided that the friend remaining a disengaged spectator. I certainly would not want my daughter to be heading off to an unknown basement somewhere for her "first meeting" of a handful of guys she found through Craigslist. Sadly, that just ain't safe these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted July 1, 2009 Moderators Share Posted July 1, 2009 I think I'd have to make an exception to that rule for a female who is meeting and auditioning a group for the very first time in a non-public location. I couldn't in good conscience hold it against somebody who brought a friend to the audition - provided that the friend remaining a disengaged spectator. I certainly would not want my daughter to be heading off to an unknown basement somewhere for her "first meeting" of a handful of guys she found through Craigslist. Sadly, that just ain't safe these days. Yep. I hired a demo singer who always had her boyfriend along for the ride. Even after I worked with her for a year. She was shy and scared.. and cute, and he was big and protective. And nice. I was on my best behavior. Did I mention she was cute? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MaxKincaide Posted July 1, 2009 Members Share Posted July 1, 2009 I think I'd have to make an exception to that rule for a female who is meeting and auditioning a group for the very first time in a non-public location. I couldn't in good conscience hold it against somebody who brought a friend to the audition - provided that the friend remaining a disengaged spectator. I certainly would not want my daughter to be heading off to an unknown basement somewhere for her "first meeting" of a handful of guys she found through Craigslist. Sadly, that just ain't safe these days. I feel that way, actually. I've auditioned a couple of times and my wife went with me. But the difference there is that she knows how to act like a competant human being that understands when and when not to say anything at something like that. The other difference is that I clear it with whoever I'm auditioning for...and if they say it's a closed audition, then guess what? She doesn't go. That's the thing that kills me about other dumbasses who bring their wives/gf's/significant others with them to auditions. They show up with them and expect everyone to just accept the fact that they brought this person with them, who usually either talks entirely too much or is in danger of spitting out a child at any given moment...just speaking from experience. My wife, thus far, is the only significant other that I have ever, ever witnessed that can go to an audition, allow me to introduce her as the introductions are made, and then just sit down and listen to the music without bothering anyone. And I just don't understand how f'ing hard that is for people to get. It's common courtesy...ask if it's ok to bring the significant other with you. If it is ok, then the gf/wife/whatever should stay out of the way as much as possible. If it's not ok, then they leave the gf/wife/whatever at home. I have heard some stories of several singers a few towns south of us who auditioned for a couple of bands that a few friends are in down there. The bands that have closed auditions let the singers know, and almost all of the ones that were married or had gf's at the time of the audition backed out because they couldn't bring their wife/gf with them. That's what my gripe is, I guess. If these dumbasses are "serious" enough to want to audition for a band, why is it a requirement for them to have their female (or male) with them at the audition? Moral support? IMO, if they need to have moral support during an audition, they aren't prepared to front a band and have an audience judge them as a member of the band. I bring my wife along because she just enjoys going, and I enjoy having her there, but it's not an f'ing requirement that she stay by my side all the time. Hell, to me, being in a band should be a way to have time away from my wife and to have time to myself. And then the wives/gf's that show up and run their mouths off...I've never had that happen with anyone I've ever had audition in any of the bands I've been in, and I hope it never does. I honestly don't know how I would react to that. The audition process is between the band and the person auditioning...not their opinionated wife or girlfriend. That's baggage the band isn't going to want to carry on with someone new coming into the band. I did actually play in a band one time in my late teens that the 2nd guitarist's mother always had to get involved in everything. He was 17, I believe I was around 19, and the other guys were around the same age...so it was an awkward situation whenever his mom would come into our practice space and start suggesting that parts of the song should be changed. It wasn't an audition, so that's a different story for a different thread, I'm afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tele-vangelist Posted July 1, 2009 Members Share Posted July 1, 2009 Speaking of craiglist ... I thought I was pretty clear in the type/style of music we are looking for and so far I've had responses from a singer who's into metal/classic rock (according to his myspace page), a singer from an 80's band (big hair and all), and a member of a Black Sabbath tribute band. They seem so far off genre it makes me wonder if these guys are really going to be happy playing with us? I guess that's what auditions are for though. The metal/classic guy seems to have decent vocals as per his mp3's so maybe we'll check him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpaceNorman Posted July 2, 2009 Members Share Posted July 2, 2009 If these dumbasses are "serious" enough to want to audition for a band, why is it a requirement for them to have their female (or male) with them at the audition? Moral support? Max, in my opinion, the reason for bringing somebody to an audition is really an issue of personal safety. Most of the time, when I'm headed for an audition - I'm meeting people I contacted through Craigslist for the very first in person. More often than not it's in somebody's basement - and not in a public place. We've all seen enough headlines to realize that presents some risk. I'm not sure whether it's my male ego / or male chauvinism speaking (or maybe a combination of both?) - when I say that I see the level of risk being higher for a female auditionee than that for a male auditionee. As a 50+ year old, 260 lb, hockey playing keyboard player that looks all too much like Uncle Fester of Addams Family fame - I don't feel like my ass is at that much of a risk. I can't help think that a 120 lb, female vocalist who's at least in some part selling her appearance probably feels WAY different about that than I do. That's why I don't mind if a player (male or female) brings somebody along to an audition (assuming that their escort gets politely introduced and then sits quietly and totally disengaged throughout the audition). Since we're on the topic of auditions and "significant others" - I'll mention that we always discuss our expections regarding SOs with prospective auditionees. Our policy is that SOs and guests are welcome any time we're playing in public - BUT when we're working a wedding/corporate /private party gig, SOs are NOT welcome unless our host has extended an unsolicited invitation prior to the event. I'd fire a new band member who puts a wedding/corporate/private party client on the spot by asking if it's OK to bring their SO. We always make sure a prospective new member understands and accepts that policy before we bring them on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members azmyth Posted July 2, 2009 Members Share Posted July 2, 2009 I'm a singer... so I'm usually the one auditioning. my wife has gone with me before to auditions as well, but most of those were more "meet and greet" than audition. I have recordings and what not, so whether or not I can sing is usually irrelevant for me during the first meet. Usually its more of a get to know me type thing, to see if we will even mesh at all. When I married my wife, it was kind of an agreement that she would be an extension of me. If someone has a problem with her being around, then I don't want to play with them period. I do understand the issues that can arise from it, but my wife keeps her opinions to herself. If your playing with a group of guys who are also married/gs. To me its a good way to bring everyone together, and make things work. One of the biggest ways to keep your wife from fussing about band practice, is for her to become friends with one of the other members wives/gf. Not only will she go to practice, she will enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MikeScalf Posted July 2, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 2, 2009 While I love my wife, and enjoy that she's friends with the wives of the other members, I love having my time with the band too. She's always welcome, but as we've been married well over 10 years, others over 20, our wives enjoy the time we're away at the rehearsal room as much as we do. Now playing gigs is another story. We all go and the wives will sit around, gossip, and drink margaritas while we play. It's a Win, Win situation. On topic, the guy we've selected came to his first full rehearsal Tuesday night. It went well I think. He still has to learn all the material, but I think he'll be up to speed soon. Lead guitarist is on vacation till next week, so it gives him some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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