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Latest reply from Joe Stone

(5 posts) (3 people)

Audition Length

Posted 1 year ago by timeforsax

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timeforsax said 1 year ago

David,

I'm starting to work in the Austin area. I do solo sax and flute using back tracks. My wife sings and sometimes she'll do a gig with me.

The manager of a fine dining restaurant has expressed interest in having me play. I sent him my demo CD. Then he asked to have me come and audition. I told him I could come and do 2 or 3 songs if he felt that was necessary. His latest communication stated that he wants me to come and play an hour for free.

I don't feel that he is right in requesting an hour of free music. If a demo CD is not enough (and some people feel it isn't), and they want a live audition, I can see doing a few songs. Am I right about that? It seems in Austin, those hiring musicians think that some people will play for free.

Anyway, if you have any ideas on how to handle this sort of situation, I'd appreciate it.
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David J. Hahn said 1 year ago

I've talked about this one with friends, sorry I never wrote back.

I think you're right. That's not really a fair situation. But if you have to do it to get in with this guy, maybe it's just what you have to do.

I wonder what this guy is looking for before he can pull the trigger and hire you? Maybe he's just trying to get to know you better and see if your vibe is a good fit for his place. ...Or he's trying to take advantage of you.

But in the long run, 1 hour isn't much time. I mean, if he hires you every week for the next year that's 1 unpaid hour for maybe 200 paid hours.

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Joe Stone said 1 year ago

I have a friend in the Netherlands (an expatriate American) who is a pro piano player. He's been around, he knows the deal, he knows that people try to take advantage, but he's willing to play for restaurants or hotels for three hours for free.

http://members.home.nl/davehorne/cv.htm

I would tend to think that if you're going to "audition" by playing while people are there, a few songs isn't enough and would also seem strange to the audience/guests that some guy played for 15 minutes and then left. An hour or more would seem more like he belonged there, and would also give you time to show how you interact and affect the crowd.
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timeforsax said 1 year ago

Thanks for getting back to me. I did ask around a lot about it. Most of the musicians suggested that I do the free hour. The idea being that the manager wants to see that what you gave him on your demo is what you actually do, and that you have enough songs to continue. Sounds kind of crazy to me.

I finally went down to talk to them face to face but things had changed and they had no budget for live music. So I never got farther than that.
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Joe Stone said 1 year ago

That's too bad, but maybe good that you didn't get started and then have the rug pulled out from under you.

Keep plugging away and good luck!