How to Audition for a Rock Band

You’ve decided that you want to be a rock star, or maybe just earn money playing local gigs in a cover band. You’ve found a band that interests you, they’re looking for talent, and you’ve managed to schedule an audition. Great! But now what? Aside from doing the best job you can playing your instrument (or singing) how do you impress these potential band mates? What do you do?

Know as much about the band you’re auditioning for as possible. Auditioning for a band you’re not suited to wastes your time, and the band’s time. Find out as much about the band as possible before you audition. Does the band play the kind of music you like to play? Do they want to tour, or will their gigs all be local? Are they full time or part time? How often do they rehearse? Are they looking for a specific kind of person, and do you fit the bill?

Don’t act self centered. Since this is an audition you may think now is the time to sell yourself, to show how great you are. It’s ok to give a run down of some of the things you’ve done in the past, but you will make a better impression if you do less talking about yourself, and show more positive interest in the band. Yes, tell the group about yourself, especially if they ask, but avoid boasting too much. No one likes a braggart.

Clothes usually matter. Even if a band says they don’t care how a person looks, in most cases your appearance will leave some kind of impression. While some bands are truly made up of un-superficial souls who care only whether a person can play an instrument and has a nice personality, most at least want the new band member to look like they fit in. Some bands are more picky about this than others, but to be safe it is best to wear something that looks like the band you’re auditioning for. You wouldn’t show up to a job interview wearing a ratty t-shirt and sweat pants (or would you?) so neither should you show up to a band audition without trying to at least look the part.

Do not be late to the audition. There are jokes a-plenty about artistic temperaments and lateness, so I won’t add to those. Put simply, being late to the band audition is a no-no. Not only is it unprofessional, but it gets the band thinking negatively of you before you even arrive.

Actually listen to the songs before you start playing all over them; especially if the band is playing an original. In your eagerness to impress, don’t just jump in and start showing off before you get a feel for the music. One drummer auditioned for our band, and didn’t bother to listen to our vibe. He just started playing–loudly. He was probably trying to show how well he could do, but in thinking only about his own playing he neglected to hear what was going on. He showed no interest in our music, only his drumming. His drums overpowered everything.

Do not talk bad about former band mates. You may be tempted to say bad things about a former band you played in, be it their egos, their music, or their mistreatment of you. Hold your tongue. When you say bad things about former band mates this makes the musicians you’re auditioning for wonder if you’ll do the same to them. You may come off as bitter, a whiner, or two-faced. Be diplomatic. It is better to tell someone you left your former band due to “musical differences” than to say “their originals sucked”.

Do not give advice or criticism during the audition. If you really dislike the music this may not be the band for you to begin with. If, however, you just have a minor suggestion it is better to wait until you’re in the band and know the people better before giving advice; and even then only do so if it is something expected of you (like you’re being taken in as a songwriting member). The audition is not the time to give advice.

Be nice to everyone, not just the band. Before I played in a band myself, I was a band manager. The band I managed lost their bass player, and they were holding auditions for a replacement. A guy came to the audition, and before the guys picked up their instruments to play they sat to talk a little about the band first. I sat with them, only taking a minor part in the conversation; however, the guy took one look at me and remarked “She’s pretty opinionated, isn’t she?” Being a female, and only in my late teens at the time, I probably didn’t look like the stereotypical band manager. However, this comment lost the guy the chance to be in the band. I said nothing about his remark, and didn’t even let on like I was offended. The band was offended on my behalf though, and told him right away that I was their manager, and a very good one. They politely allowed him an audition, but he didn’t get a call back from them. This is a good lesson. Be nice to everyone, and don’t make sweeping judgments about the roles people play based on gender or anything else.

Own something. People who do not have their own guitar, drums, or have reliable transportation do not usually give a serious impression. This is not to say one has to be a gear head or spend tons of money. Equipment is expensive! But if you want to be taken seriously as a guitar player, it is advisable you get a guitar. Don’t be like the kid who comes to class without pen and paper. Yes, there are exceptions. We once saw this guy play drums so well we didn’t care that he didn’t own drums. We’d have done all we could to borrow a kit for him. Unless you’re a virtuoso it is hard to get away with this, though.

Blend in with the band. They want to see how well you fit in with them. Don’t drown them out with your drums/bass/guitar to draw attention to yourself.

Don’t give the impression you want someone else’s job. If you’re auditioning as a bass player, do not act like you’d rather be the lead singer. The lead singer will not appreciate this. If the band wanted a singer they would have held an audition for one. If you prefer to be a singer, why are you there to begin with? If they just want a drummer don’t start showing them your original compositions unless you know they want that from you.

The bottom line? 1. Audition for a band you’re suited for. 2. Be likeable. 3. Dress appropriately. You can be the greatest musician in the world, but if the band doesn’t like your personality, or you seem to have issues, you may not get the job. If you have talent, and can function well with others, you have a good chance at making the audition. Don’t give up if the first band doesn’t take you. If they don’t want you, you’re better off with a band that does. Good luck!