It’s important that when you’re looking for new band members that you do not choose someone solely on the basis of their musical talent. Indeed, there are an array of largely speculative considerations to mull over when selecting new bandmates.
Firstly, it’s crucial to recruit musicians whose personality and attitude are well-suited to existing members. I often consider playing in a band to be similar to that of being in a relationship. Thus this analogy underlines the importance of assessing an auditionee’s compatibility with the rest of the band on a personal level as well as on a musical one. After all, an active band are likely to spend a considerable amount of time together, any personality traits that may not sit well other members – such as someone who is lazy, unreliable or overly-dominating – may well upset the chemistry in your band. It’s also paramount that a potential bandmate is able to demonstrate the same level of enthusiasm and commitment as the rest of the band.
The importance of recruiting musicians who share similar musical influences and direction to existing members may in fact be overstated. So long as musical tastes are not diametrically opposing, a new member may bring a fresh set of ideas to the songwriting process, and in-turn provide a positive contribution towards developing the band’s sound.
Admittedly, it is extremely difficult to definitively assess a person’s suitability from a short audition. Though a failure to sufficiently consider each of these factors is likely to lead to tensions, and possibly divisions, further down the line. This guide will help you better foresee any potential red flags that may arise from auditions, and instead choose a band member who’ll positively complement your band’s creative processes.
Before arranging auditions
It may seem wise to audition as many people as possible, though when it comes to auditioning new bandmates you should aim to consider as few options as possible. While auditioning a small number of musicians may sound irrational when you’re trying to find the best possible candidate, it would be a far more efficient process than arranging auditions with lots of musicians just for the sake of doing so. A more effective (and less time-consuming) strategy would be to narrow down your options to a more manageable size consisting of only those candidates who you regard as feasible options. Not only will this save you time but also enhance your recall from each audition.
Arranging auditions and narrowing down your options
Musician Go is a brand new online platform featuring the web’s most comprehensive search for finding and meeting local musicians looking to play together in bands. When looking for individual musicians, results can be filtered by instrument, location and genre. Musician Go quickly refines your search to pinpoint only those musicians matching your specified criteria. You are able to view personalised profiles to watch videos and listen to audio clips to assess suitability before deciding whether to arrange an audition – streamlining the process of filling vacant positions.
Using our private instant messaging service, there are a number of pre-audition questions you can ask to further gauge whether a musician meets your band’s criteria:
- Firstly, it’s important to ascertain their level of commitment and determination. If you’re looking to make music your livelihood, you’ll need someone who shares the same goal. Similarly, if you expect your band to be active going forward and plan on playing shows and rehearsing regularly, perhaps it will not wise to choose the guy who already plays in another five or six bands.
- Get to know their previous band experience. What kind of music have they played in the past? Are there any recordings of their previous band(s)? What was their role when writing the song? Also ask about their key achievements in music to date – have they previously been signed to a label, toured, received radio play or any noteworthy press coverage? Musicians with an impressive track record are typically well-connected individuals, who can bring with them an array useful contacts that may aid your band’s progression.
- Ask what musical equipment they own – hiring musicians without sufficient equipment may later present problems for your band.
- Gauge their availability – demanding jobs and other commitments are likely to make arranging practices and gigs difficult.
- Do they have their own form of transport? If not, this may present issues with attending rehearsals and getting to gigs, particularly if they live far from other band members and if their area is not adequately served by public transport.
- Learn more about their musical interests and the kind of music they are looking to make. While Musician Go profiles provide the option of adding a list of musical influences, the truth is that most musicians take influence from a range of artists of differing genres. It’s important to learn what kind of music they’re keen to write so you’re able to judge how well aligned their priorities are to your band’s.
During the Audition
There are various approaches you could adopt towards the audition process. You can have them learn a song or two, either in advance or at the practice itself – the latter may provide a useful acid test for assessing how quickly they’re able to pick up new songs but is certainly more time-consuming than providing them with the material beforehand. It may also be worth jamming with them to see how they fare when giving the freedom to showcase their musicianship.
A face-to-face audition provides the best opportunity to assess their personality and how they as a person – and not just as a musician – are likely to fit in with the rest of the band. When presented with a trade-off between musicianship versus personality, you may need to base your decision on how each musician fits with the priorities of your band; if you’re serious about writing great music then the candidate with the greatest musical ability may be the most rational choice. Conversely, if you view your band as merely a hobby with no real ambition for progression beyond playing small pub gigs, then electing for a more likeable personality may be better alternative. Although while they may develop as a musician over time, their musical shortcomings may ultimately slow the learning and writing process of your band and generate frustrations within the group.
The interview process shouldn’t stop at the audition. If you have any further concerns you feel haven’t been properly addressed through your initial discussions, now provides the best time to seek clarity. Likewise, provide the auditionee with the chance to ask the band any questions they may have, after all they may too have concerns whether your band fulfils their criteria for their next musical venture.
Regardless of how well the audition may go, I would advise you to not offer someone the job straightaway. Remember that you’re making a decision that could prove to have a significant impact on the future fortunes of your band, and given the sheer number of considerations to take into account, you should avoid making any impulsive decisions. The verdict should be reached communally between all band members on the basis of assessing each musician’s merits against those key considerations that this article has alluded to.
The benefits of such a meticulous approach to band member recruitment
It’s possible to draw a number of parallels between this approach to band member recruitment and the typical hiring process for most jobs. But a thorough band member recruitment process is the best way to mitigate against any of the potential risks that a change of personnel may bring to your band. Just like how most companies will eliminate the majority of job candidates prior to the interview stage, bands should employ the same tactics and leave only the most desirable contenders for the the audition process.
By eliminating candidates prior to the audition process, you also lessen the chance of any awkward encounters arising from auditioning someone who clearly isn’t suitable or of the required standard. This creates a sensitive situation that could have otherwise been avoided by not hastily arranging auditions without enough prior consideration.
If you have any experiences or tips you would like to share, feel free to add them below in the comments.