leschirons

[quote name='Bankai' post='1138010' date='Feb 23 2011, 02:03 AM']Once again this proves the theory. Girls can't drum well. Now if you excuse me, I'll be sipping from my glass of awesomeness.[/quote] Really? There's a million of them out there like this. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkqTg7iqx94"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkqTg7iqx94[/url] If she'd have turned up, I wouldn't have posted in the first place.

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1137863' date='Feb 22 2011, 11:38 PM']Have you still got her number - she sounds better than a drummer I know. [/quote] I do actually. Could also let you have Charlie Drake's as well although I do believe he had to let the dustbin go due to hard times.

Didn't a lot of the 5 string Rays have a problem with the G string always slipping off the edge of the fingerboard?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1137725' date='Feb 22 2011, 10:03 PM']I do and Im glad you saw what I was saying in a sensible light and didnt take it the wrong way Drummers Eh......[/quote] No problem mate. I understood that it's all a matter of opinion. I guess we have both learned a lesson here. I will not offer advice any more unless it's requested and maybe she, (hopefully) will reflect on whether any of it was warranted. Kids eh.......

[quote name='merello' post='1137653' date='Feb 22 2011, 09:25 PM']So she never agreed to sex![/quote] Ah, now I remember why I love BC so much. The ever present voice of sanity

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1137389' date='Feb 22 2011, 06:50 PM']Sounds like more of a theorist than a practitioner. Good luck to her. I still can't play all styles of music [/quote] Fair enough but the difference is, that you know you can't.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1137374' date='Feb 22 2011, 06:40 PM']I remember being in a local band with loads of our mates bigging us up then we got a gig in London with 3 other bands, Best start to raise our game then! We never did fully but it made us realise what sort of standard the other bands were at. We used to do gigs with another local band and years later they still think they are the best band in the world but they never left their local pub to get the much needed reality check. Im not sure I would of bothered taking it any further than your gentle let down in the first place because music is too subjective, Please dont take this the wrong way but for all we know she could be right and your band could be crap in our eyes? Its all a matter of opinion in many cases with all forms of art. Look at the top 40 chart for a citation [/quote] Fair point Pete about the "maybe we're crap and she was right all along" and I understand what you're saying but I'm afraid you'll just have to trust me on this one. Her drumming was reminiscent of Charlie Drake falling down the stairs with a tin dustbin. If you're that good, you'd at least be able to listen to what the other players are doing and lock in to at least one of them. She was totally unaware of anyone else in the room and even her dad's eyebrows were going up and down a bit Probably wondering where all his tuition money had gone. Anyway, all over now, I wished her well for the future and she'll make that, whatever she makes it.

[quote name='silddx' post='1136992' date='Feb 22 2011, 01:45 PM']I'd never proffer advice to someone who hadn't asked for it.[/quote] Point taken. As of now, I'll just let the vocalist tell them to f*** off when they're sh*te.

Well, my intention was to call the girl who auditioned yesterday (Alice) but I had also drated an e-mail to send in addition to that so she had something to refer to after the call in case anything was lost in translation due to my French language ability (not bad, but things can get difficult on the phone) I called, and then hit send as she answered as I didn't want her to get a mail without personal contact. I explained straight away that I regret she did not get the position and hope that she was not too upset. I also added that I was happy to let her know why if she wanted to know, and that my comments may help her in the future and that the point in telling her, was to help and not to criticise. I'd also thanked her for coming down to see us and said how nice it was to meet her and that we wished her well for the future. I pointed out that she may have been nervous and that that, was normal in this situation. However, she would need to prepare a little more for auditions and really learn the songs demanded of her. I suggested that her time keeping was a little off and asked if she practices with a metronome and suggested that if she didn't, it may be worth buying one as it will help get a natural feel for timing into her head. I then took a slightly different tack and told her that I had no doubt that she could play hard rock very well but needed to maybe listen to different types of music in order to become familiar with other styles if she were going to audition for bands in other genres. What I got back was this. It was the band that did not know the songs properly, not her. (it was actually our CD she'd been sent) She uses a metronome, listens to, and can play ALL styles of music. Attends drum school for 40 hours per week with their top prof. ("So, I am good") her words not mine. She feels that my comments are totally misplaced and knows that she is a good drummer. Well, I tried. Maybe I handled it badly. Looking back to Doddy's comments yesterday, I took that into consideration but even if that was the case, shouldn't the auditionee "know" that they've screwed up?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1136439' date='Feb 21 2011, 11:35 PM']The thing is,once someone is outside of the teaching room you don't know how they are going to play. You can have a student who is great and can play along with tracks really well and groove to it,but sucks in a band. Likewise you get guys who play well with their band,but choke when they walk into their lesson. When I was setting up a rock band a few years ago,I listened in on a bunch of drummers while they were having their lessons and asked a couple if they wanted to come over and play a couple of tunes.One guy sounded great when he was in his lesson,but was shocking when we played together. I later heard him with his own metal band,and he was playing really well within his niche. The girl you auditioned may have been like this...maybe she would be better within her own comfort zone. She may be a great student and can play whatever her teacher throws at her,but just choked when put in an unfamiliar situation.[/quote] Relevant points raised. Thank you. Not being a teacher of any kind, this had not occured to me beforehand other than the usual audition nerves thing. I admit that I am probably over critical of drummers generally, especially on time keeping issues but I would have thought that she would have been able to hold a basic tempo. I wasn't expecting Lenny White, but I would have thought that her tutor would have maybe given her a few tips on preparation. I guess it could simply be a case of a youngster simply being in love with the idea of being a drummer but judging by her intial e-mail, it appeared she was really passionate. She has acoustic and electronic kits so I assume she also has the support of her parents. Thanks for your input.

[quote name='lowdown' post='1136307' date='Feb 21 2011, 10:17 PM']And her Drum teacher, calls him/herself a Drum teacher? The teacher should have known she was not ready - even for Audition experience. [whatever that means] Not good for her confidence at 18. Garry[/quote] My point exactly.

I'd find it quite interesting, maybe as a seperate issue, to hear from any teachers on here about encouraging their students to audition whether it be simply for the experience or believing that they may get the gig.

[quote name='RandomProddy' post='1134956' date='Feb 21 2011, 12:31 AM'](should quickly point out that I'm not actually french...) Hey gang, was looking for ideas for bass playing and have unfortunately fallen for Gear Aquisition Syndrome! Hope you guys can give advice. Been learning bass on and off for a year or two and am now getting a group together.[/quote] Hi, I live here too and my advice is not to buy anything in France as it's 8 times the price it should be. Apart from that mon ami, welcome to basschat.

I've just mailed the vocalist and told her that I'll speak to the auditionee. I agree it's best to be delicate, and honest and maybe offer some advice for her next audition, hopefully she'll be mature enough to accept it as help rather than just criticism. If I am found dead with a Slipknot / Megadeath CD severing my neck, I would like to be remembered as one who tried.

If it's for a charity, yes, do it all the time with no expenses. Mate's partys etc, yes. Expect grub and wine. Jam nights and impromptu get togethers, yes, just good fun. Local village thing? yes. Usually free food. Some bastard making shed loads off our backs, NO

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='1136125' date='Feb 21 2011, 09:07 PM']I knew we were in trouble once, when we auditioned a female singer who turned up wearing 2, yes TWO hearing aids. Honest!!! G.[/quote] Pardon?

[quote name='Beedster' post='1136077' date='Feb 21 2011, 08:51 PM']That's your shout of course, but the mere fact that you take 15 minutes out of your day to call her and explain personally, and to give her some ideas as to how she can do better next time, might motivate her hugely. Anyway, I don't know why you're worried about a drummer not having stick at an audition. We turned up to remote country house to record a few years back to find the session drummer had no sticks. When we got a bit angry he said "Why am I always doing this?" [/quote] Point taken and of course, you're right. I just need to assemble my thoughts about how to be honest, yet delicate but, I will contact her personally.

[quote name='BottomE' post='1136061' date='Feb 21 2011, 08:44 PM']I would have kicked her in the fanny and told her to **** off. Back on Sensible Common you did the right thing. It's not easy auditioning even when you are competent. Musos are so strange - its quite daunting walking into a room with a load that you don't know. Move on, you'll find someone.[/quote] Appreciate your initial comment however, her dad was there and was bigger than the 4 of us put together. Moving on and finding someone is obviously what we'll do but the reason I posted was the behaviour of what I consider to be an irresponsible teacher.

I agree with the possibility that her teacher wanted her to gain audition experience and I'd like to make it clear that although yes, our time was wasted, we do not hold her (the auditionee) responsible for this. Her teacher is treading a fine line I think risking her confidence against gaining experience. He should at least make sure she's at least "nearly" up to the job before putting her in this position. Afterall, he doesn't know that we may, or may not have really ripped into her and that's not fair. Burrito has a good point about letting her know why it's a no go but I don't think she'd handle any more than "not quite ready yet" and I'd hate to upset a young'un as they need encouragement to continue if it's what they really want to do. I think a quiet word (as has been suggested) to her teacher may be on the books. Thanks for the replys.

Just auditioned for a new drummer. Ours is leaving (pop function type band) It was at my house as I have a studio with a kit already set up. 18 years old and looking like she'd just left a Cradle of filth gig. But, in all fairness, that's just appearances and auditions should be open to everyone. She arrived with Dad (fair enough) but without sticks. She was put forward by her drum teacher who teaches at the Montlucon drum school. I'd suggested she learn three numbers from our set list. I'd chosen, one funky, one slow and one with a nice cool groove. I reckon playing in time, with feel, on a slow number is hardest to achieve. She was terrible. One pattern for everything and couldn't even keep time within one bar. Stopped playing three times as she'd got lost and obviously had not listened to the three tracks. I don't have a problem with anyone, at any level, as we all started off crap and then got better with practice. What I find unbelievable is that a pro tutor has put her up for this. He knew very well what we played as he'd seen a gig. No doubt she was nervous and we gave her all encouragement to try another couple of numbers of her own choosing. No better. We did the sensitive, "we'll e-mail you as we have others to audition". No doubt at some point, she'll get told in no uncertain terms what people think of her drumming but I can't see the point in upsetting someone so young, so she'll be let down lightly (at least, by us) As far as I'm concerned, her teacher is a dick-head. If she'd auditioned with someone else, she could have had all her confidence totally destroyed by some arshole.

First Bass Owned: Hohner cricket bat 'Go To' Bass: Old Aria 6 string 'Your' Bass Fender Jazz CS 4 string

[quote name='icastle' post='1134258' date='Feb 20 2011, 01:59 PM']I thought you were gonna say that Dr Hinge had redesigned your splint to make it easier to play! [/quote] Fraid not but it was great wallowing in all the sympathy for the whole night

Maybe the problem is that you're buying privately and there's some sort of retail pricing involved. Obviously I'd bought from a shop so I'd guess that they have some sort of turnover deal going on with the couriers. We have a friend here with a large turnover in sending out parcels and they can get up to 30kgs delivered anywhere in Europe for €16. When I've tried to do that off my own back with the same courier, it's 3 times the price.