PART 2
Starting a Band: Intro/Auditions

So you reached the point in your playing that you have an interest in joining or starting a band? You have worked hard on your song list and your technique. You have the confidence to go out and audition for, or hold your own auditions to get a band together. Without a doubt you need to have some skills as a guitar player, but what knowledge and skills does it take to be in or run a band?

I'll begin with some of the basics:

There you are sitting in your room with your favorite guitar in hand. You just finished playing the last song on your play list. You know you can play your whole list with confidence, and you're really enjoying how good you sound, but something is missing. You’re feeling the need to get out and jam with real people. If you don’t have friends that play an instrument, or have ever played with another person, how do you go about finding someone to play with?

Your First Audition - Unless you’re brave enough to dive head first into a full-blown band audition, the first audition you schedule will probably not feel like an audition at all. When you meet the first musician it is usually very informal and impromptu. Perhaps it’s a person you met at NLGTV, or maybe your private music instructor hooks you up with another student at the same level and musical interests. You get together for a few small jam sessions and test the waters. It doesn’t take long until you find out whether you're both compatible. Then you start looking about to fill in the gaps in your playing style. This is where the fun begins.

Holding Auditions - If you have never held an audition before, make sure you proceed with an open mind. Many movie parodies about auditions do relate to real life situations. Whether you're holding auditions on your own or with a partner, try to have a hard and fast game plan laid out well before you announce your casting call. Know exactly what you want to achieve with this new band. If you are holding the auditions and did the leg work to get players on your schedule, it’s your band, your vision, your call. Be sure you have a lengthy conversation with the prospective candidate by phone before scheduling any live audition. You might save yourself a lot of time and frustration with a phone interview.

Here are some concepts you might consider before and during an audition:

1. Know the type of music you want to play and/or willing to play. See Gigging Essential Part 3 for more information.
2. Decide the age range of the players for your band. Going over your age range to get the right person isn’t a problem, but going under the age range could hamper the types of gigs you can legally play.
3. Check your local labor and liquor laws to know exactly what minimum age a person must be in order to play in a venue that serves alcohol or is open after hours.
4. If you’re not sure, verify a person’s age. (For instance, check their drivers license)
5. Unless you don’t mind being the band chauffer verify that a prospect has working transportation, or the ability to come to practice via a parent or friend.
6. Verify that they have all the equipment they need to play a gig. There’s nothing worse than finding a great bass player who only has a 10-15 watt practice amp and no means of securing the gear needed to play a venue. If you really want them, it might mean buying "pool" equipment.
7. Make sure they have some sort of income. If they are minors that could be an allowance or supportive parents. They must be able to support their playing. It’s very annoying when a band member doesn’t have the resources to at least do regular maintenance on their equipment, like string changes, new cables, etc.
8. Pick 4-5 songs from your song list and give it to a prospective player a week in advance of the audition. This will give you a great gauge of this person’s talent and their commitment. Plus it could save you a great deal of time when it comes to the live audition. Either they learned the material allowing the audition to be fast and efficient, or they didn’t and make a ton of excuses. Either way you will get a good read on the prospective candidate which will help you decide whether to move forward.
9. Take some time to talk to the candidate about what they would like to see happen with the band. Find out what else they have to offer, extra equipment, PA system, lights, marketing skills, and even venue connections.
10. Be polite and professional, but be firm. Only you will know and feel whether you have the connection you want with this person and for your band. Don’t ever be afraid to say no.

Placing your casting call
1. Your local music store is the first and best place to put your ad. Most stores have a posting board located inside the store where you can post your information.
2. Most good music stores have websites that also let you post "musicians wanted" advertisements
3. Local newspapers have a music section that lets you buy & sell equipment and also post a "wanted" situation. This will cost a few dollars, but will have a farther reach than your local music store.
4. Some areas have local music scene publications that allow free or very affordable ad placements for musicians.
5. Word-of-mouth is still one of the best ways to find people. You may know people in bands, or find yourself in a conversation with other musicians. Let them know what you’re looking for. You may be surprised by how many people they know in the same situation.
6. The most obvious is posting on guitar websites such as NLGTV.com. Many people find others in their area just by being involved in the lively forums.

Note: Where you place your casting call is the same place you will find information when you are looking to join an existing band.

What to write on your band ad
1. We won’t get too carried away here, obviously you need your name and contact Information. You may want to use an e-mail address first before using your house address or home phone number. Once you have completed a round of auditions and have the top prospects picked, give them more personal info then.
2. Make sure you include the age range of players you want in your band. Also include a specific gender if it is important.
3. Include the types of players you want. If you consider yourself the rhythm guitarist, then only ask for a lead player.
4. State what type of venue you plan to book.
5. List exactly what types of music, or the range of music you want your band to play.
6. List any extras you will look for with people who are interested in your band. Examples could be: "Vocals a plus", or "PA equipment gets first auditions".

Here is a sample ad
Looking to form a new band, 70-90’s rock. Need Bass, Drummer and Vocalist. From Zeppelin thru Metallica. Must have own equipment and be between 35-50 y/o. Singer must be a true front man. Bass & Drummer, vocals, a big plus. Will be playing small clubs, firehalls and working our way up from there. Contact John Doe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get a song list and schedule an audition. Only serious inquiries need apply.

Turning the Tables
Holding auditions is one matter. Auditioning for a band is another matter.

This is somewhat intimidating for those who have never been in a band before. You will realize very quickly how your talent compares with other player's talent. If you are answering an ad for a band that says they are already playing gigs at bigger or well known venues, you better have your act together. They want to fill a position, resume their commitments to these venues, and not take time to teach you their song list. It will be assumed by the members of this band that you will be able to "step in" and play. On the plus side, these bands pretty much have everything they need to perform live. They may even have management in place and have an established song list. If you're answering an ad for a band just beginning to organize, you may have a little more lee-way concerning song selection or the general direction of the band. Understand that they are doing the leg work and it is their band, their vision and their call. Know where the boundary line is drawn.

With either type of scenario you may have to accept the words "No thank you". Don’t take rejection personally. Even after a rejection remain professional. The one thing that can spread around the music community faster than your talent is when you appear to be a problem child at your audition. It’s not your band and if they don’t feel you're a good fit, it’s their call.

Here are a few tips that will help you make the best impression when auditioning for an established band:

1. Present yourself as professional as possible. Even with rock and roll, projected appearance is everything. You can dress the part, but don’t over do it.
2. Be on time for your audition. That may mean taking a trip a day or two in advance to make sure you know where the audition is located so you don’t become late the day of your appointment.
3. Make sure you ask for their song list as far in advance as possible. Learn as many of the songs as feasible, because the more songs you learn and the better you can play them, the more likely you'll become their new member.
4. Show up clean and sober. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
5. Play your instrument and don’t put on a show. A first audition is to see if you can play and fit in musically. Don’t act like you’re playing in front of a thousand people, jumping around, chewing on your strings. If they like you musically then they will address the issue of stage presence or choreography in future meetings.
6. It’s their band, don’t impose your will on them or immediately start talking about what you want them to do. If they like you and accept you into the band the time will come when they will want your input.
7. Understand that established bands are a business. Your audition is just like a job Interview. There are probably other auditions scheduled so make the most of the time you have with them and don’t overstay your welcome. Do everything asked of you, sell yourself, play for the allotted time you have, thank them and leave.
8. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. i.e. If they want you to provide vocals along with your playing, don’t say you can if you never did it before or already know you can’t.
9. If there are other talents you can provide the band, make sure you mention them. Some bands, especially established bands may require a resume. Even if they don’t, it could be impressive to have an organized document listing everything you can contribute to the band.
10. Be professional in rejection. You're going to hear the word, "NO". Be professional when you hear it. Thank them for their time, ask to leave contact info, and ask them to keep you in mind for future reference, or if they hear where you might make you contribution musically. Shake their hand, smile and leave.

This is where it begins, don’t ever be intimidated. Keep an open mind and above all, have fun.
One thing is certain, you will have stories about auditions that will last a lifetime whether you holding them for your own band or auditioning for another band. This is all part of the cycle of guitar playing you will experience if you want to play in a band. While rejections are never fun, the process as a whole will help you build character, learning to become the guitar player you want to be.

Read more:
â–ºGigging Essentials Part 1: Your Gear
â–ºGigging Essentials Part 3: The Set List
â–ºGigging Essentials Part 4: Promotion & Media Kits
 

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