General Music Chat

The following is a real e-mail I received from a fellow on Bandmix who calls himself dpproject from New Bern, NC. I assure you this is unaltered. When you are done check out his profile and the swell musical offerings he graced us with. Enjoy....
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Jul 5, 2012

Dean,

As per phone conversation, our drummer has suffered a severe hand injury and we'll require a fill-in for 6+ months or more. We are a trio playing cover tunes. This is a start-up project with about 42 songs listed. Shown below is the standard audition requirements we've sent to everyone.


Below in blue are the six audition songs and information:

Red Hot Chili Peppers= Dani California
James Gang= Funk 49
Sublime= Santeria
Jimi Hendrix Experience= The Wind Cries Mary
Seether= Tonight
Cream= Sunshine of your Love

These songs are selected to showcase your abilities of different drumming styles such as alternative, classic rock, ska, ballad, and funk. We follow the original recordings closely i.e. song key, breaks, fills, solos, endings, etc. This ensures everyone works from the same musical blueprint and standards during audition.

Audition will be performed in a non-air conditioned metal garage with the worst room acoustics imaginable. There is no foldback system (floor monitors) as we utilize wireless IEM's. This usually isn't a problem unless you're singing. If you wish to sing (encouraged but not required) bring your mic, stand and cables. Be prepared to use FOH system to hear yourself. Bring your drum kit and a carpet to avoid sliding. Session will be recorded.

Word of advice: Come prepared to play well. Some people think they can "wing it" on their ego without knowing the material. It doesn't work here. No drugs, no booze, no broads on premises-no exceptions. The audition and Q&A will last about 70 minutes. Questions will focus on your availability, reliability, work ethic, and spousal non-interference. We'd expect the same terms and questions if we were auditioning for you.

Finally, relax and have fun.

If interested in auditioning or questions, respond via email and we'll schedule a date/time.
DP

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Is this guy the coolest thing since whale sh*t or what?

whale sh*t is pretty cool though..

They are auditioning for you! Audition is a street that goes both ways!

I can't listen to his tunes on his profile because I'm at work, but looks like hta tprofile has not been visited/updated for some time and he says it is all solo/MIDI (I assume), so unless the voals ar etoal sh*t, I wouldn't judge by the samples.

The audition invitaiton is pretty thorough, have ot give it that - if you have any interest, ask for some sound samples of their band, not his solo stuff, but as this is a temporary 6 month thing, why bother?

To me it sounds like someone who has been burned often enough that he is trying to narrow the playing field by using this 'filter.'

A band I played with called Forced Entry finally stopped auditioning drummers and went to interviews instead - to screen out the ones we were interested in and then schedule an audition if we felt the 'magic'.

Sadly, while a good tactic, it didn't work. Nobody made it past the screen. We threw one guy out of a diner where we were having coffee, he annoyed us that much. After laying out what we were about, the business plan and so on - we asked him if had any questions. "Just one. What is the band's policy on smoking weed?"

The band broke up not long after and I went ahead with the singer and some other guys and recorded a few tunes.

But I simply hired a drummer - a dorky surfer boy, like, you know? Kid could play so that's all I cared about.

Yod is always kidding about bass players but for me it's been drummers - what a bunch of eccentrics I've played with over the years.

Talbot