Quote:
Originally Posted by blevinspercussion  Get some recordings of them, if you can. Listen to them constantly. Learn the songs backward and forward. Learn the drum parts, memorize the lyrics, be able to sing the guitar solos. I would suggest writing drum charts, if you can. Try to learn the songs as close to the recording as you can, as they are going to be looking for a seamless transition. After playing the songs that way, they may ask you to add some of your own ideas to it.
I would advise against writing out a solo. You will never get a gig based on your ability to solo.
As far as what to expect...
Just expect to play some of their songs. That's probably all it will amount to. Concentrate on keeping good time and playing the song form and everything should be fine.
Good luck and keep us posted! |
I absolutely could NOT AGREE with this LESS. If you're auditioning for a cover band, then by all means, get the songs and learn them.
If you're auditioning to be a member of an Original band, you should show up as an original Musician. Yourself. I would go out my way to NOT be familiar with ANY of their songs. Give it a listen, if you like it and are interested, that's enough. STOP listening to it. What's REALLY important is how well you vibe with each other. Here's how best to approach it, in my opinion (I'll add some tips to help you add too):
Go in and hang out with them, and do some off-the-cuff improv jamming (tips on this later). Inevitably, if you attempt to play established songs in an audition setting, it becomes more of a performance evaluation, than a musical exploration. Nobody intends to do this, obviously, but it's what happens. This is a HUGE mistake.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK is to get a feel for everyone. How do you get along? Are you similar personality types? Similar interests? Sense of humors? Similar Ethical and Moral concepts. If they're all Cops, and you're a heroin junkie that boosts cars for a living... It ain't gonna work. If they're all Ministers and Clerics, and you've got a Pentagram branded on your forehead, it ain't gonna work..... You get the idea... Next:
If everyone passes the "Smell" test, and you don't see any imminent personality clashes, you should just jam with them, and see how it goes. THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT TASK is to see find out if you're musically compatible. Forget trying to play a song. If they suggest it, politely decline. Give this reason: (not an excuse - this is really why you should decline): I think it's more important to just jam together, and see if there's a creative chemistry between you. That's the only way to achieve anything authentic or musical. You might jam for an hour, getting a feel for each other, but if you happen all settle into something magical for 2 minutes, you'll know you've got something to build on. Certainly, They will continually suggest trying to play songs already written. This they're "safe" mechanism to fall back on. Politely decline, in preference of exploring musical compatibility through an improv jam. You're gonna have to be adamant about it. If they can't just jam, then move on...
If you are going to join an original band, you should learn the songs during rehearsals, not off a recording. You should hope to learn to play the songs the way you interpret them, not the way someone else played them. Again, this is the only way to achieve anything authentic or musical. If they want you as a member of an original band, they should want that to include your original musical voice.
Now, on the other hand.... IF it turns out to be a situation where someone else writes all of the music and you're expected to learn and play them as written... Then PACK UP AND LEAVE... Tell them to buy a drum machine. You're only other option is to negotiate a substantial monthly salary due for your services, if you're so inclined. What I hope to impress upon you is: it is VITAL that you properly gauge what role you are walking into. Not the one they tell you... But what the dynamic ACTUALLY is. Is it a truly collaborative effort where everyone has license to make creative contributions??? OR... Are you intended to be a hired gun or human metronome in service of other people's musical concepts? You need to figure out the REAL dynamics of your role for yourself. They will not be completely honest with you. It's human nature. Initially, you will only meet their representatives. They'll sugarcoat it.
I take it your new to the audition process, so....
Here's some tips to help you out:
Take a very basic set-up. Don't bother lugging a huge kit and allot of cymbals in and wasting time setting up. This goes back to that "Don't Hot-Dog" thing. The more you have, the more you'll be tempted to use. Keep it simple and efficient. Just the basics. You're not there to see what you are capable of doing as a drummer, but to find out if the collective has potential for musical expression, with the inclusion of your drumming voice... Keep it minimal. This will also help calm your nerves, if your anxious. As familiar as you are with your own kit, in stressful situations such as this, many times a full set will only make your anxiety worse. By limiting your options of playing surfaces, you're actually combating nervousness, indecision, and creative uncertainty.
Play around with everyone. Find times to jam with just a guitarist and just the bassist. This will help you identify their individual voicing, making it easier to alternate your accompaniment between them, on the fly, when everyone's together. Find a groove, then start pushing in different directions. Change up your dynamics. Try to drive the feel toward transitions in tempo, volume, and textures.
If you lock into groove with a guitarist or bassist, try to play it smoothly while picking out what the other is playing. If you can, hum it to yourself for a couple of bars, and at the end of your next 4bar phrase, try to to jump over and mimic that pattern on the drums for a couple of bars, then return to the groove. Always fun. If you have a way to take short audio samples, and play them back in a loop, try recording random 3-5 second clips of conversation off the TV, then loop it's playback, and try to play drums along with it's inflections. Great improv Skill builder.
Mix it up. When nervous, people have a tendency to resort to a "safe" skill-set. This is why so many pop songs are played with the "Universal Sucky Beats I & II". If you find a good groove, don't bead it into the ground. Mix it up. You can breath life into a basic jam just by employing some basic concepts withing the groove. Change your dynamics up, switch from ride/hh, change the subdivisions up. You can alternate 1/4. 1/8, 1/16 on your ride and HH to move the pulse, you can do the same on your snare, and change the feel altogether. A simple 4/4 rock groove w/ a 1/2note snare beat, can turn into full-bore metal by going to 1/16, without ever changing time or tempo. Try double stokes on your down beats every 4 bars.. Use quavers, dotted 1/8 and triplet grooves. Use accents notes... It's simple stuff, but it will help you work through nervousness and you keep from falling into stagnate "safe" beats.
No Hot-Dogging: Showing-off, Wanking, Trying to look cool or impress somebody. (See Mike Portonoy). Be Musical - not Flashy. (See My Core Values #1 & #2, at bottom)
Tune your drums before you get there. It's a really good idea to have a new snare head and new sticks for this. Don't show up with you kits sounding sub-par. Wipe them down too. They don't have to sparkle, but your instrument is a reflection of you.
Don't drink. It's never a good idea for drummers anyway, but certainly is not in this case.
Finally: NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER!!!!!!! NEVER join any band after just one tryout/audition, no matter how great it goes. There are cases where this has worked out OK for people, but that's not the norm. You should play with someone at least 2x before deciding you DON"T have an interest in pursuing it further. You should play with someone at least 4x-5x times minimum, before deciding you DO, and making that commitment. Trust me.. It will save you from wasting allot of time and energy, unnecessary drama, and emotional conflict later on.
Be Professional (To an Extent)
Be Punctual, Courteous, Attentive, Well Rested, and Sober. Do not take Friends, Girlfriends, or Pets.
Be Prepared:
Equipment Complete, Tuned-Up, and reasonably Clean. Take a Notebook, Pen/Pencil, Bottled Water, A Towel, Extra clothes (you may stay for dinner, but your sweaty), New Snare Head, (FYI: Sticks & Thrones most often forgotten items.)
Be Yourself and Have a Good Time. You'll do fine.
Core Musical Values:
#1.) The Music is not in the notes you play, it's in the space between the notes.
#2.) Musical Maturity is being able to recognize when NOT to play.
Linear Mode
