Top 10 Musician Do's & Don'ts of Band Auditions

1. Do show up to your audition on time.

Don’t show up late. Remember first impressions are everything. If you are running late, at least have the decency and respect to call the musician holding the
audition.

2. Do show up to your audition prepared and know the artist’s material.

Don’t show up to your audition unprepared, try to learn the material on the way to the audition or make an excuse for why you are not prepared. Please be considerate to the musician holding the audition as if you are not prepared, you are wasting someone else’s time and money.

3. Do cancel in a timely manner if you cannot make the audition.

Don’t cancel at the last minute unless it is a true emergency. And please don’t book an audition and then just decide not to show up at all.

4. Do maintain a professional image.

Don’t show up looking like you haven’t showered in days, stumble in drunk and/or appear to be on drugs.

5. Do present yourself as a confident yet humble and grounded musician.

Don’t present yourself as a narcissistic, self-centered and arrogant musician who thinks he/she knows it all and is better than everyone else.

6. Do be up front and honest. If musically the band is not a good fit for you and/or you join the band followed by realizing it is not for you, please part ways in a professional, respectful and timely manner.

Don’t just join a band for the sake of being in a band. There is nothing worse going through the motions, when you know the music is not a good fit for you. And please don’t part ways by never returning calls, showing up unprepared or acting in immature ways so that you get kicked out of the band.

7. Do have a flexible schedule which will allow you to rehearse during the evening and play shows during the weeknights and weekends.

Don’t be misled by thinking that you will be able to commit to a band that gigs occasionally during the weeknights and has regular shows on the weekends if your work schedule is regularly changing or you consistently work the evening shifts.

8. Do thoroughly read the musician classified ad you are responding to and answer all of the questions ask in it.

Don’t just skim over the musician classified ad and respond in a vague, brief and non-descriptive way as this will only suggest to the musician placing the ad that you already are not professional or serious.

9. Do take a moment to reflect on all of your responsibilities before you consider auditioning and committing to a professional band.

Don’t add more to your plate than you can handle. If you are thinking of joining another band when you are already in a gigging cover band, are married with children and work a full-time job, it’s probably wishful thinking to believe you can add another band to your already full load.

10. Do be realistic when it comes to your expectations about becoming the next rock star. A hard work ethic, persistence and dedication are highly valued and can assist you in getting further toward your goal.

Don’t let everything in your life go in hopes to achieving a difficult and challenging dream such as becoming a rock star. Remember you do need to be able to support yourself and survive.

This article was written by Kerri Edelman, Psy.D. who is a Freelance Writer. It was featured in the September 2010 Issue (Volume I) for Really Great Magazine.