Auditioning new band members

In general most bands come about by a bunch of high school friends getting together and playing , in an organic way if you will, very naturally

However there are some bands who did not know each other, placed ads , connected and who went on to greatness, Kiss and Guns and Roses are 2 that spring to mind.

After you have checked with every friend and every friend of a friend that you know to find that replacement drummer or bassist you pretty much have to resort to the classified ads.

These days Craigslist is pretty much the go to website to run your ads - just make sure you click on the nearest major city or Town that's relevant for you.

Local Lifestyle papers like the Village Voice (for NYC) and the LA weekly (well for LA) have lost a lot cash revenue from their musicians wanted ads and now have free online ad services that are worth checking out too.

When writing your ad make sure you don't just put "drummer wanted" yada yada, use a couple of descriptive words to stand out from all the boring ads - even something like "Lunatic Drummer wanted" would get you better results that just "drummer wanted"

Most people applying to your ad these days want to see a website or check out a previously recorded track before they waste your time (or theirs) which makes alot of sense but it can be tricky if you have significantly changed your sound since the last recording or have never recorded anything before, in that case its best to explain the person asking what you plan to sound like and give them some back ground information about your band or project so they can see where your head is at.

If you do get a bunch of people asking to come down and you do have a rented rehearsal room (ass opposed to your own space) I suggest you book in try outs like this:

Your session is 8pm-10pm. Book your first guy for 8pm, Book your 2nd guy for 9pm , if you get anyone else coming down you book them for 830pm and the next for 930pm, etc etc

If possible get cell phone numbers from people and text them the day before hand. Musicians are a weird breed and I know of countless friends who have even had people call them saying "right I am leaving the house now see you in 1 hour" and just never turn up. Who knows what goes though someones head as they walk into a room full of strangers to audition , you know??

If you do get some one who can barely play - don't have them play for the full 15 or 30 minutes (or whatever time you have until the next guy is meant to come in) play a song or two and then politely tell them you have more guys to see and you will be in touch - if its not going to work out why waste your time or theirs?

If you have someone you are on the fence about - mentally file them in the "call back" file and if no one else is suitable that day give this person a 2nd change and get them back for your next round of auditions, perhaps give them a song or two to learn first - I have seen a lot of kick ass guys go in and fudge stuff on the day (nerves perhaps?) to go on and be a great asset to a band down the track

If you are a musician and you yourself are going for auditions - consider taking singing lessons - if it comes down to you and one other bassist and you can offer backing vocals and he can't who do you think a band is going to want? You of course!

Check out vocal power here Vocal Power - Rock Voice Lessons

Pretty much the best voice lessons on the market today

That link again : Vocal Power - Rock Voice Lessons

All for now

\mm/

Al
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