Do you audition musicians?

BigWave · January 2nd, 2008, 07:40 PM

Just a little back ground.

Our church rotates three full bands in an effort not to burn anyone out. We have keys (sometimes synth and piano) bass, drums , acoustic and electric guitar. We get music on Sunday, rehearse on Thursday and play for two services on Sundy. Usually one or two new tunes each week. We get charts and a CD with the songs for the week.

We're not pros but you need to know get your part down quickly. No one will try to embarass you but it will be clear if you don't know what to play on Thursday. We are expected to be able to get pretty close to the CD. The arrangement may change but it usually close to the original artist. And we have been blessed to have volunteers capable of playing at this level.

We have had formal auditions but of late its very informal. This informal process has put people on a team where they are just not up to the challenge.

So does your church let anyone play or is it more selective? Or something in between?

garytelecastor · January 2nd, 2008, 07:57 PM

I don't play worship music, but one of my acoustic partners does.
When I was first starting to get into the music scene as a player I went to an audition for a band that played Commander Cody, Asleep at the Wheel, etc.
Now I had never heard of these bands, I was quite young, but I thought I could bluff my way in. So I get up there with the band and we start playing, 5 measures or so in, the drummer stops, stands up and looks at me and says: "I am sorry, but we are looking for someone who can play western swing, thank you for your time." I felt lower than a snakes belly, but it was one of the best lessons I ever received in music. I have never put myself in that position again. He really made it evident that it was rude and inconsiderate of me to waste their time. If I could find the guy today I would thank him. In the years since, when it has been my duty to oversee auditions and hiring/firing, I don't waste time with banalities. It is unkind to the person, and it is unkind to me.
It's music, and music is a very personal ability, so people may be offended, but you have a job to do. If "A" can't fill the position you are wasting time trying to make it work. Be kind, yet be honest. Let the person know that it is not going to work and thank them for the time.

GoldieLocks · January 3rd, 2008, 01:55 AM

I would love to hold auditions

Lately we just let anybody who owns a cheap strat pack up on stage. (I wish the strat pack included a tuner)

Its interesting all the variety out there. If someone handed me a C.D. of a worship song & told me to play it EXACTLY the same I would Kindly say "no thanks, this ain't for me" and go home. Its kind of like telling BB King that he needs to learn some Metallica riffs for his next show.
I'm an improviser & a jammer. Its what I do. Its kind of like telling a pastor he's going to deliver a Wesley sermon word for word instead of his usual style.

Of course if your not a good improviser (25 years of practise

) then its probably best to copy someone elses approach.

Pesty · January 3rd, 2008, 10:41 AM

My church does a very similar 3 band rotation, our only diference is we only do one service a week, and most of our musicians are on two teams to spread the load around.

Our Creative Arts pastor auditions anyone who wants to start playing in church, not only to find their skill level, but to find out where they are at spiritually before letting them commit to helping lead worship on a Sunday morning. Often music is a good way to get someone new connected into a church.

I know when I auditioned I likely wasn't ready to play in Church yet, but we had no other guitarists that weekend, so they pulled me in. Thankfully the bass player and lead guitarist for the team I was on, took it upon themselves to mentor and teach me. Often I would meet with one of them on a Monday or Tuesday to go over things before the Thursday practice. It was a huge help, and really helped me grow as a musician.

ChurchPlayer · January 3rd, 2008, 11:47 AM

We're fortunate to have one good band - just not enough players in the church to support more. We don't hold formal auditions, but if someone is interested we'll ask them to hang after service and just jam briefly with the other worship leader and myself. If things sound promising we'll have them come to a rehearsal or two so they get a feel for the level of commitment. Usually we know when we're jamming.

There aren't a lot of adults who want to play in our church, but our youth team has been making real progress in the last year and I can see grabbing backups at keys and bass in the near future (their leader already plays bass and fiddle with us). Unless someone walks up and asks we generally don't go out looking for players, though our ministry profile always says that we're looking so just ask.

The tough part about holding auditions is that you have to be brutally honest - which can be tough in some churches for some reason. No sugar coating it. If it's not going to work, tell them exactly why, and let them what they need to get down before they do it again. And if there's an alternative available for them to get out and play let them know. Our church has a monthly informal acoustic jam session and it's a great way for folks to learn some songs and for us leaders to evaluate talent on the sly.

ravindave_3600 · January 3rd, 2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigWave

Usually one or two new tunes each week. We get charts and a CD with the songs for the week....We're not pros but you need to know get your part down quickly.

I hope I'm not hijacking here, but if you're adding one or two new tunes per week, when does the congregation get to learn these songs? I'd be more concerned for them than the musicians!

That said, at our church people don't get to play upfront until they have the skills and the heart. We don't audition people so much as ask them to play at rehearsal, and tell them when they can get up on Sunday.

As ChurchPlayer said

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChurchPlayer

The tough part about holding auditions is that you have to be brutally honest - which can be tough in some churches for some reason. No sugar coating it. If it's not going to work, tell them exactly why, and let them what they need to get down before they do it again.

It's tough because we want to be gentle with people. We love them, know they get their feelings hurt, so we sugar coat. That's why I find it easier to NOT deal with people on an audition basis; instead of telling them they're NOT good enough our process tells them what they need to do to GET good enough.

gtrman911 · January 3rd, 2008, 03:50 PM

yes, you ALWAYS audition musicians.

we even audition *drummers*

BigWave · January 3rd, 2008, 06:19 PM

Thanks for the responses. I'll have to pass some of these on to our director.

Ravindave:
We rotate songs in and out. So a new tune will be in for 2-3 straight weeks. Then rotated out and may return.

refin · January 4th, 2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrman911

yes, you ALWAYS audition musicians.

we even audition *drummers*

Worship is to be taken seriously,and you must choose the best players......best means talent and attitude.
Could you imagine if the pastor at a church said,"We are looking for new leadership...deacons,elders,ect.If you want to be in,see me." Leadership is screened and musicians should be too.Help the weaker/inexperienced players grow,give them something to do to raise them up,but don't throw them into the main worship service just because they want to do it.

garytlove · January 21st, 2008, 02:23 AM

at our church (about 150 people) we have a team of people who are on about every other week. we don't hold auditions as much as get to know people and play with them outside of church. we are very relational in our approach. our policy is not to let people on stage until they have been attending at least six months. we have had great luck with that and have a surprisingly talented team for such a small church. it kind of scares me as a worship leader to hear about churches recruiting musicians because they are talented and not because they have a heart for worship. i know that it does work out sometimes, but i'm sure it gets very messy more often than it is fine.

ChurchPlayer · January 21st, 2008, 09:19 AM

Here's one of the reasons you need to audition. A guy I know fairly well came up to me Sunday and told me that his son was making real progress on his instrument and that I should ask him to fill in on Sundays our player (on the same instrument - details left obscure in case folks lurk) can't make it, which is usually once or twice a month due to work and other commitments (it's great to have him there, but lets just say our music isn't centered around having him there - in other words, we can survive just fine without that particular instrument). I knew his son had been playing for a while, but had no idea how good he was, or perhaps wasn't. I told him that my policy is not to ask players to join, or to audition, but instead I rely on them coming forward and asking about opportunities to play as I feel it at least shows that they have enough confidence in their playing to want to join. It also makes it easier on me since, a) if I ask one person but not another then the other persons feelings can be unduly hurt (and in a church environment, for some reason, this quickly escalates to "hurt beyond repair"), and b) if I ask and they aren't up to it, then it makes it that much harder to say, "You know, you're not quite ready for this." I also told him that we try not to have formal auditions because of the "feelings" thing and I told him about some ways his son could come out and play during some less formal, jam-style events we have that we use as a gauge for who can play in band situations and is ready to fill in or join us on the platform. He understood and thanked me, and just before walking away he reassured me that his son, "is really getting good at the 3 or 4 songs he knows".

colonelrobert · January 21st, 2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChurchPlayer

(it's great to have him there, but lets just say our music isn't centered around having him there - in other words, we can survive just fine without that particular instrument).

Man, I had to walk apound the room a couple of times before I could sit down and type.

But after careful thought on different ways to respond, I will keep reminding myself that it is not my church, and that the churches we pastored did a good job of keeping that kind of attitude off of the platform.

Everybody has a place in God's house! Everybody! If I had someone that wanted to play in our church that needed lessons, there was always someone that wanted the blessings of sharing what they knew with this person.
If there was a insturment that to some seemed out of place we would find the need in our music for it. God knows what He's doing more then we do!

I guess I am old school when it comes to music in church. In the churches I grew up in, the teams we had were for prayer and softball.

Who knows if I would be approved to play in a church today. I'm over thirty, have tatoos and a beard, and have been known to stop playing, raise my hands and let the spirit take over.

Here's Cordell Jackson sharing her music in the church.

romo · January 21st, 2008, 11:17 AM

I didn't have to audition for the church I play with now (it helps to be on the church plant team

) We don't formally audition new musicians, but rather we have them practice with us for a few weeks to see what they can or can't do and whether they fit with the band style wise. This also gives us time to see their personality and whether they are really interested in leading worship and not just in performing. There is a more formal process for taking a leadership position, which includes members of the band. I didn't have to go through it (church plant team again) but the last couple musicians did. It involves some time with our worship leader and is mostly just an education kind of thing about what our church believes, the mission statement, etc.

I have auditioned for churches in the past and some have been very well done and others were just bad. I auditioned at one church that made me feel so unwelcome I never bothered to return their phone call asking me to join one of their bands. At another church the audition process was pretty long and I had 2nd and 3rd auditions but every step of the way I felt really comfortable and they made more of a point to be interested in me as a person rather than just my abilities and whether or not I was "saved."

Here is a tip for you guys who are thinking of holding auditions:
After the audition don't force the person to have a sit down one on one interview with the head pastor where he proceeds to grill you on your testimony and minute details of your faith. Man I felt like I was being attacked the whole time this happened to me and that the guy didn't even believe what I was telling him. Instead try to interact with the person auditioning like you would in real life...make them feel comfortable and you will find out what kind of person they are and whether they are genuinely interested in worshiping or just performing.

refin · January 21st, 2008, 12:45 PM

"And Chenaniah,chief of the Levites was for song:he instructed about the song,because he was skilful."
I Chronicles 15:22 (KJV)
"The song leader was Chenaniah,the chief of the Levites,who was selected for his SKILL" (Living Bible).

ChurchPlayer · January 22nd, 2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonelrobert

Man, I had to walk apound the room a couple of times before I could sit down and type.

But after careful thought on different ways to respond, I will keep reminding myself that it is not my church, and that the churches we pastored did a good job of keeping that kind of attitude off of the platform.

Everybody has a place in God's house! Everybody! If I had someone that wanted to play in our church that needed lessons, there was always someone that wanted the blessings of sharing what they knew with this person.
If there was a insturment that to some seemed out of place we would find the need in our music for it. God knows what He's doing more then we do!

I guess I am old school when it comes to music in church. In the churches I grew up in, the teams we had were for prayer and softball.

Who knows if I would be approved to play in a church today. I'm over thirty, have tatoos and a beard, and have been known to stop playing, raise my hands and let the spirit take over.[/center]

I think you took my statement entirely wrong, and if you searched on the various posts I've made in this section you'd see that I'm about as far from an elitist as there is. My statement was meant to show that the particular instrument mentioned (it could be fiddle, it could be tamborine) is a welcome addition when played by the particular player, but is not a part of any normal band and is not as crucial an ensemble instrument in the eyes and ears of those listening as, say, guitar, bass, drums or keys are, and because of that we do not experience a "gap" in the music when this particular player is not there, making the search for a competent substitute (and believe me, anyone other than a competent substitute on this particular instrument would be as close to a musical disaster as you can get) is not a priority.

That said, while I whole heartedly agree with your statement that "Everybody has a place in God's house!", I just as whole heartedly disagree with you if you feel that this extends to whatever areas of church ministry that the "everybody" believes they belong in. If someone proclaims to have the gift of teaching do you give them the pulpit on a Sunday morning before letting them lead a Bible study or a small group first? Absolutely not!! Paul speaks strictly about the Gifts of the Spirit, and warns that not all people are gifted for the same parts of ministry, and that we need to be discerning - both with ourselves and with others - as to where their "place in God's house" really is. So, when a guitar picker who wants to serve God comes up to me and says they want to join the worship team I'll listen to him/her and do my best to discern whether or not that person's gift is in line with their desire, and if so, whether or not they have developed the gift to the extent that they are ready to serve in a particular ministry. Jesus didn't send the disciples out by themselves with no training - he prepared them first and then sent them out. Likewise, if a person has a gift that's underdeveloped I will do my best to encourage their growth and find opportunities for them to use that gift to bless God that don't necessarily involve sticking them in front of a congregation. This way they can both develop the gift, learn the level of commitment ministry entails, and get some personal satisfaction that they are using what God gave them for His glory.

God wanted "skillful" musicians for His temple, did He not? It's not the job of the worship team to put on a good show on a Sunday morning, but it is their job to lay a solid foundation upon which the congregation can worship and enter the thrown room of the Almighty!! If that foundation is built on sand, or in other words, if you've got a player/singer who is "playing seek and destroy" looking for notes/chords during a song, can it not hinder someone's ability to enter into worship? If I, as the leader of that ministry, allow that to happen then I am not serving God to the best of my ability. I would rather have holes in a band go unfilled than to fill it with someone who is not ready, because that will not only break the spirit of the moment on a Sunday morning, but also break the persons' spirit should they fail at what they set out to do week after week. I would rather put them in to play on a Wednesday night small group Bible study or an informal Friday night worship service where they can develop their craft and still feel useful to God. We've got a monthly Friday night get together called "The Front Porch" that is open to anyone with a desire to sing and/or play, and we sit down for 2-3 hours and just bless God with a joyful noise, and I have players who know they're not ready to serve God in formal ministry come up and tell me that this is one of the greatest things our church does for folks like them because they get to bless God and be a part of "a music ministry" without being a part of "the music ministry" - something they didn't think they could do.

You have to be able to make a distinction between the "C" church and the "c" church. The "c" church serves not only God, but a specific community of believers, and knowing the likes, dislikes and politics involved in that it's no wonder Jesus prayed before He died that "they all might be one". Leaders in ministry have an obligation to serve both churches, and must do so skillfully and wisely. If your leaders are letting anyone do anything they want in the church then I would question whether they are truly leading at all. But if they are using the people entrusted to them with wisdom and grace then you are in a very good place, indeed.

As for your last statement, I'm in my 40's, had a ponytail when I started leading here and ride a Harley. It's never about what you look like on the outside - though believe me, I've had to deal with comments from the congregation on that with some folks, myself included. But it is about using each persons' gifts in the way in which God has equipped them - and I've been on both sides of that. Imagine having a gifted young potential worship leader and songwriter in your church that refuses to want to commit to the ministry. Just as I wouldn't let an unskilled musician serve, I would not let an obviously skilled person serve if they were not committed. It's a two-way street and we leaders are responsible for both directions. And while we may call them "teams" to encourage how they act, they are a "ministry" and at our church we call them that as well so that members understand the level of commitment they entail.

justapasinthru · January 22nd, 2008, 02:45 PM

Let me start by explaining my perspective...I was raised in a fundemental older sytle pentecostal fellowship that welcomed muscians especially guiitar players. Back in the day we played before service, during the song services, and after services during the alter calls...a very special time for all participants where we played from the heart as we shared leads, generally provided the background music for all that was happening at the final parts of the services. I remember some great telcaster players, and some Stratocaster players as well...although most players had Gibsons myself included back then for this setting....it was a great time of learning how to mix with others giving defference to those with greater skill levels...and I would love to particpate in that experience to this day in the same way...

Quote:

Originally Posted by refin

"And Chenaniah,chief of the Levites was for song:he instructed about the song,because he was skilful."
I Chronicles 15:22 (KJV)
"The song leader was Chenaniah,the chief of the Levites,who was selected for his SKILL" (Living Bible).

I'm sure many are rolling their eyes by now wondering how this 60+ year old can have a relevant opinion but bare with me please...

"WE"....(may i suggest spiritually alive & musically gifted persons)..have the unique priveledge & special perspeciative of what may or may not be appropriatley presented at any given time to help 1 or more present "other persons" to be appropriately inspired to spiritual awakening or awareness."

WHat does THAT mean?.....a properly enlightend, inspired, trained, and gifted musician can be and should be a very vital part of the balanced corporate religiouis gathering if true worship is desired....

Of course ,not every religious gathering will allow true worship, and if they do, may not welcome guitars as a vital part of that based on personal preferences of some, and and from there that list just goes on and on...

Many musicians very talented may not care to participate in a worship band but rather enjoy being a worshipper, then go out "among them"....and play from God's heart to the masses.....

What i feel is missing most places I have visited in recent years...is a forum where the musician can experiment and grow outside of the worship forum..and find out what his niche may be. I would guess that for every "worship player" that has a spot in a band in a fellowship..there are at least 2 maybe more that could play as well with encouragment but find no reason to "press in"...

the term "frustated musician" may be appropriate in the secular music world but really shouldn't be a part of the Church world...

What IS a part of the Church world are phrases like..."committed"..pressing in"...dedicated...submitted"....(mostly substitues for the bigger word..CONTROL) ( which probably is NEEDED if you are trying to "RUN"...a fellowship and STEER it in a CERTAIN direction.....).....hmmmmm I hope THEY get that DIRECTION right....cuz peoples lives are at stake...or certainly "quality of spiritual life"...

(On edit after re-reading I wondered if this last staement seemed somewhat harsh..is so please forgive and excuse me)...I hope that YOUR fellowship is a little more "right-on" than some I've observed over the years...we're all just trying for purfection though ...right?

If every musician were turned out.."so wide, so high and so long"..remember..they made bricks that way in egypt...

anyway....

getting back to hardware....one of my favorite players was a fellow named "JOE DUNN" from Nothern CA...playing that blonde 50's Strat thru that homemade amp of his....or that Tele picker with that old beat up early 50's tele..with the ash-tray cover and all...twaing'in away....thru tweed or brown covered amps....
BTW we Didn't even THINK about mic'ing an amp back then.....but BIGGER amps COULD step-UP to the Volume of the PIANO and ORGAN>>>>>>

In that day saturday night jams were always happening..that's where you learned licks..by watching other pickers....

BTW...I no longer have a Harley..but i DO have a ponytail....

I've been thinking about renting a hall one night a week and supplying my PA just so new musicians could get up and "get-it off-their chest"..for a set......who knows, maybe a few cafe tables spread about the room might encourage some others to come and listen...and if we could just keep those out who want to take an offering....or tell us what to play....or tell us what to think....we might acutally enjoy a little fellowship....and hear something new....and learn something....we can DO this....we ARE Levites......(boy i miss playing during the ALTER CALL....).....I wonder if they do THAT anymore....alter calls I mean.....talk about gettin' back to basics...

colonelrobert · January 23rd, 2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChurchPlayer

I think you took my statement entirely wrong, and if you searched on the various posts I've made in this section you'd see that I'm about as far from an elitist as there is. My statement was meant to show that the particular instrument mentioned (it could be fiddle, it could be tamborine) is a welcome addition when played by the particular player, but is not a part of any normal band and is not as crucial an ensemble instrument in the eyes and ears of those listening as, say, guitar, bass, drums or keys are, and because of that we do not experience a "gap" in the music when this particular player is not there, making the search for a competent substitute (and believe me, anyone other than a competent substitute on this particular instrument would be as close to a musical disaster as you can get) is not a priority.

That said, while I whole heartedly agree with your statement that "Everybody has a place in God's house!", I just as whole heartedly disagree with you if you feel that this extends to whatever areas of church ministry that the "everybody" believes they belong in. If someone proclaims to have the gift of teaching do you give them the pulpit on a Sunday morning before letting them lead a Bible study or a small group first? Absolutely not!! Paul speaks strictly about the Gifts of the Spirit, and warns that not all people are gifted for the same parts of ministry, and that we need to be discerning - both with ourselves and with others - as to where their "place in God's house" really is. So, when a guitar picker who wants to serve God comes up to me and says they want to join the worship team I'll listen to him/her and do my best to discern whether or not that person's gift is in line with their desire, and if so, whether or not they have developed the gift to the extent that they are ready to serve in a particular ministry. Jesus didn't send the disciples out by themselves with no training - he prepared them first and then sent them out. Likewise, if a person has a gift that's underdeveloped I will do my best to encourage their growth and find opportunities for them to use that gift to bless God that don't necessarily involve sticking them in front of a congregation. This way they can both develop the gift, learn the level of commitment ministry entails, and get some personal satisfaction that they are using what God gave them for His glory.

God wanted "skillful" musicians for His temple, did He not? It's not the job of the worship team to put on a good show on a Sunday morning, but it is their job to lay a solid foundation upon which the congregation can worship and enter the thrown room of the Almighty!! If that foundation is built on sand, or in other words, if you've got a player/singer who is "playing seek and destroy" looking for notes/chords during a song, can it not hinder someone's ability to enter into worship? If I, as the leader of that ministry, allow that to happen then I am not serving God to the best of my ability. I would rather have holes in a band go unfilled than to fill it with someone who is not ready, because that will not only break the spirit of the moment on a Sunday morning, but also break the persons' spirit should they fail at what they set out to do week after week. I would rather put them in to play on a Wednesday night small group Bible study or an informal Friday night worship service where they can develop their craft and still feel useful to God. We've got a monthly Friday night get together called "The Front Porch" that is open to anyone with a desire to sing and/or play, and we sit down for 2-3 hours and just bless God with a joyful noise, and I have players who know they're not ready to serve God in formal ministry come up and tell me that this is one of the greatest things our church does for folks like them because they get to bless God and be a part of "a music ministry" without being a part of "the music ministry" - something they didn't think they could do.

You have to be able to make a distinction between the "C" church and the "c" church. The "c" church serves not only God, but a specific community of believers, and knowing the likes, dislikes and politics involved in that it's no wonder Jesus prayed before He died that "they all might be one". Leaders in ministry have an obligation to serve both churches, and must do so skillfully and wisely. If your leaders are letting anyone do anything they want in the church then I would question whether they are truly leading at all. But if they are using the people entrusted to them with wisdom and grace then you are in a very good place, indeed.

As for your last statement, I'm in my 40's, had a ponytail when I started leading here and ride a Harley. It's never about what you look like on the outside - though believe me, I've had to deal with comments from the congregation on that with some folks, myself included. But it is about using each persons' gifts in the way in which God has equipped them - and I've been on both sides of that. Imagine having a gifted young potential worship leader and songwriter in your church that refuses to want to commit to the ministry. Just as I wouldn't let an unskilled musician serve, I would not let an obviously skilled person serve if they were not committed. It's a two-way street and we leaders are responsible for both directions. And while we may call them "teams" to encourage how they act, they are a "ministry" and at our church we call them that as well so that members understand the level of commitment they entail.

There are a lot of factors involved, I know. Size of church, goals and directions ...
And I know that some of the churches I worked it were small neighbor churches. But not all.
I agree with some of what you say. Those in charge have to be in tune with the needs of the church and that ministry.

I won't step back on what I said, so I am willing to let it stand that we have our own beliefs on the subject.

And talking about harleys and long hair...

This is a song I wrote for a pastor friend of mine who was ran over by a car on the way home.

PLACE OF THE SKULL

RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WIND IN MY FACE
MY MIND TAKES ME TO, SOME OTHER TIME AND PLACE
WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE, ANOTHER HARLEY SCREAMS
THOUGH IT'S A VINTAGE, THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN

HE ROLLED UP BESIDE ME, LIKE I WAS SITTING STILL
THE ROAR OF HIS PIPES, GAVE ME A ERRIE CHILL
NO MATTER WHAT I'VE DONE, NO MATTER WHERE I'VE BEEN
I KNEW THIS WAS A RIDE, I'D NEVER TAKE AGAIN

WHERE CAN YOU RUN TO, WHEN THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE
AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, IS THERE BEFORE YOUR EYES
I KNEW THIS STRANGER, WOULD CHANGE MY WHOLE WORLD
AS HE LED ME TO, THE PLACE OF THE SKULL

JESUS PAID THE PRICE, THAT WAS ON OUR HEAD
AND BECAUSE HE LOVED US, ON THE CROSS HE BLED
THE PLACE OF THE SKULL, IS THE HILL OF CALVARY
NO LONGER KNOWN FOR DEATH, IT STANDS FOR VICTORY

WHERE CAN YOU RUN TO, WHEN THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE
AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, IS THERE BEFORE YOUR EYES
I KNEW THIS STRANGER, WOULD CHANGE MY WHOLE WORLD
AS HE LED ME TO, THE PLACE OF THE SKULL

Bridge:
AFTER THE SAVIOR, CAME TO ME THAT DAY
I WANTED TO TELL OTHERS, WHY I CHANGED MY ROWDY WAYS
WHO KNOWS MAYBE NEXT TIME, YOU'RE RIDING IN THE WIND
YOU MIGHT GET A VISIT, FROM MY NEW FOUND FRIEND

WHERE CAN YOU RUN TO, WHEN THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE
AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, IS THERE BEFORE YOUR EYES
I KNEW THIS STRANGER, WOULD CHANGE MY WHOLE WORLD
AS HE LED ME TO, THE PLACE OF THE SKULL

© 1998 ROBERT MORRIS

JohnSS · January 24th, 2008, 03:12 PM

I think auditions are helpful to gauge a level of ability and experience as to how quickly a prospective musician can effectively learn and perform material with the other regular team members. It's the same in other churches with choirs and other instruments. Everyone is welcome, but not everyone is on the same learning curve. Some people need to do more homework before they reach the level to be in the same ballpark as the other members.

January 2nd, 2008, 07:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
BigWave TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Salinas CA Age: 53 Posts: 14	Do you audition musicians? Just a little back ground. Our church rotates three full bands in an effort not to burn anyone out. We have keys (sometimes synth and piano) bass, drums , acoustic and electric guitar. We get music on Sunday, rehearse on Thursday and play for two services on Sundy. Usually one or two new tunes each week. We get charts and a CD with the songs for the week. We're not pros but you need to know get your part down quickly. No one will try to embarass you but it will be clear if you don't know what to play on Thursday. We are expected to be able to get pretty close to the CD. The arrangement may change but it usually close to the original artist. And we have been blessed to have volunteers capable of playing at this level. We have had formal auditions but of late its very informal. This informal process has put people on a team where they are just not up to the challenge. So does your church let anyone play or is it more selective? Or something in between?

January 2nd, 2008, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,528 18 Photos	I don't play worship music, but one of my acoustic partners does. When I was first starting to get into the music scene as a player I went to an audition for a band that played Commander Cody, Asleep at the Wheel, etc. Now I had never heard of these bands, I was quite young, but I thought I could bluff my way in. So I get up there with the band and we start playing, 5 measures or so in, the drummer stops, stands up and looks at me and says: "I am sorry, but we are looking for someone who can play western swing, thank you for your time." I felt lower than a snakes belly, but it was one of the best lessons I ever received in music. I have never put myself in that position again. He really made it evident that it was rude and inconsiderate of me to waste their time. If I could find the guy today I would thank him. In the years since, when it has been my duty to oversee auditions and hiring/firing, I don't waste time with banalities. It is unkind to the person, and it is unkind to me. It's music, and music is a very personal ability, so people may be offended, but you have a job to do. If "A" can't fill the position you are wasting time trying to make it work. Be kind, yet be honest. Let the person know that it is not going to work and thank them for the time. __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Would you mind holding this bag while we go through the custom shop????? Redd Volkaert is a Jedi Knight at one with the Force!!!

January 3rd, 2008, 01:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
GoldieLocks Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abbotsford B.C. Posts: 833	auditions? I would love to hold auditions Lately we just let anybody who owns a cheap strat pack up on stage. (I wish the strat pack included a tuner) Its interesting all the variety out there. If someone handed me a C.D. of a worship song & told me to play it EXACTLY the same I would Kindly say "no thanks, this ain't for me" and go home. Its kind of like telling BB King that he needs to learn some Metallica riffs for his next show. I'm an improviser & a jammer. Its what I do. Its kind of like telling a pastor he's going to deliver a Wesley sermon word for word instead of his usual style. Of course if your not a good improviser (25 years of practise ) then its probably best to copy someone elses approach. __________________ "How little I know inspires me tremendously! I'm a huge fan of other people's playing." Bonnie Raitt

January 3rd, 2008, 11:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
ChurchPlayer Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 375	We're fortunate to have one good band - just not enough players in the church to support more. We don't hold formal auditions, but if someone is interested we'll ask them to hang after service and just jam briefly with the other worship leader and myself. If things sound promising we'll have them come to a rehearsal or two so they get a feel for the level of commitment. Usually we know when we're jamming. There aren't a lot of adults who want to play in our church, but our youth team has been making real progress in the last year and I can see grabbing backups at keys and bass in the near future (their leader already plays bass and fiddle with us). Unless someone walks up and asks we generally don't go out looking for players, though our ministry profile always says that we're looking so just ask. The tough part about holding auditions is that you have to be brutally honest - which can be tough in some churches for some reason. No sugar coating it. If it's not going to work, tell them exactly why, and let them what they need to get down before they do it again. And if there's an alternative available for them to get out and play let them know. Our church has a monthly informal acoustic jam session and it's a great way for folks to learn some songs and for us leaders to evaluate talent on the sly. __________________ Jake "I tell my kids, 'Daddy's the best guitar player on the block. Always will be. Even if we have to move.'"

January 3rd, 2008, 03:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
gtrman911 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Camelot Posts: 1,165 7 Photos	yes, you ALWAYS audition musicians. we even audition drummers __________________ My opinion is worth what you paid for it.

January 3rd, 2008, 10:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pesty Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manitoba Canada Posts: 317	My church does a very similar 3 band rotation, our only diference is we only do one service a week, and most of our musicians are on two teams to spread the load around. Our Creative Arts pastor auditions anyone who wants to start playing in church, not only to find their skill level, but to find out where they are at spiritually before letting them commit to helping lead worship on a Sunday morning. Often music is a good way to get someone new connected into a church. I know when I auditioned I likely wasn't ready to play in Church yet, but we had no other guitarists that weekend, so they pulled me in. Thankfully the bass player and lead guitarist for the team I was on, took it upon themselves to mentor and teach me. Often I would meet with one of them on a Monday or Tuesday to go over things before the Thursday practice. It was a huge help, and really helped me grow as a musician.

January 3rd, 2008, 06:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
BigWave TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Salinas CA Age: 53 Posts: 14	Thanks for the responses. I'll have to pass some of these on to our director. Ravindave: We rotate songs in and out. So a new tune will be in for 2-3 straight weeks. Then rotated out and may return.

January 21st, 2008, 02:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
garytlove TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington State Age: 28 Posts: 14	at our church (about 150 people) we have a team of people who are on about every other week. we don't hold auditions as much as get to know people and play with them outside of church. we are very relational in our approach. our policy is not to let people on stage until they have been attending at least six months. we have had great luck with that and have a surprisingly talented team for such a small church. it kind of scares me as a worship leader to hear about churches recruiting musicians because they are talented and not because they have a heart for worship. i know that it does work out sometimes, but i'm sure it gets very messy more often than it is fine.

January 21st, 2008, 09:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
ChurchPlayer Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 375	Here's one of the reasons you need to audition. A guy I know fairly well came up to me Sunday and told me that his son was making real progress on his instrument and that I should ask him to fill in on Sundays our player (on the same instrument - details left obscure in case folks lurk) can't make it, which is usually once or twice a month due to work and other commitments (it's great to have him there, but lets just say our music isn't centered around having him there - in other words, we can survive just fine without that particular instrument). I knew his son had been playing for a while, but had no idea how good he was, or perhaps wasn't. I told him that my policy is not to ask players to join, or to audition, but instead I rely on them coming forward and asking about opportunities to play as I feel it at least shows that they have enough confidence in their playing to want to join. It also makes it easier on me since, a) if I ask one person but not another then the other persons feelings can be unduly hurt (and in a church environment, for some reason, this quickly escalates to "hurt beyond repair"), and b) if I ask and they aren't up to it, then it makes it that much harder to say, "You know, you're not quite ready for this." I also told him that we try not to have formal auditions because of the "feelings" thing and I told him about some ways his son could come out and play during some less formal, jam-style events we have that we use as a gauge for who can play in band situations and is ready to fill in or join us on the platform. He understood and thanked me, and just before walking away he reassured me that his son, "is really getting good at the 3 or 4 songs he knows". __________________ Jake "I tell my kids, 'Daddy's the best guitar player on the block. Always will be. Even if we have to move.'"

January 21st, 2008, 11:17 AM	#13 (permalink)
romo Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 215	I didn't have to audition for the church I play with now (it helps to be on the church plant team ) We don't formally audition new musicians, but rather we have them practice with us for a few weeks to see what they can or can't do and whether they fit with the band style wise. This also gives us time to see their personality and whether they are really interested in leading worship and not just in performing. There is a more formal process for taking a leadership position, which includes members of the band. I didn't have to go through it (church plant team again) but the last couple musicians did. It involves some time with our worship leader and is mostly just an education kind of thing about what our church believes, the mission statement, etc. I have auditioned for churches in the past and some have been very well done and others were just bad. I auditioned at one church that made me feel so unwelcome I never bothered to return their phone call asking me to join one of their bands. At another church the audition process was pretty long and I had 2nd and 3rd auditions but every step of the way I felt really comfortable and they made more of a point to be interested in me as a person rather than just my abilities and whether or not I was "saved." Here is a tip for you guys who are thinking of holding auditions: After the audition don't force the person to have a sit down one on one interview with the head pastor where he proceeds to grill you on your testimony and minute details of your faith. Man I felt like I was being attacked the whole time this happened to me and that the guy didn't even believe what I was telling him. Instead try to interact with the person auditioning like you would in real life...make them feel comfortable and you will find out what kind of person they are and whether they are genuinely interested in worshiping or just performing.

January 21st, 2008, 12:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
refin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida Panhandle Age: 52 Posts: 1,962	"And Chenaniah,chief of the Levites was for song:he instructed about the song,because he was skilful." I Chronicles 15:22 (KJV) "The song leader was Chenaniah,the chief of the Levites,who was selected for his SKILL" (Living Bible). __________________ "For You,Lord,are good,and ready to forgive,and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." Ps. 86:5 http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/refin_music.htm MASTER VOLUME? WHAT'S A MASTER VOLUME?