Auditioning
With
Sister BlissSister Bliss shares how Faithless audition band members, and what to look for in fit, temperament and the ability to play to a click.
What's in the course
20 lessons (1h 18m) · 1 free
01. Make electronic make sense live
12:56
02. Expanding the studio tracks
7:24
03. Creating space
6:12
04. Synthesised vs. live
4:17
05. Sound designing the show
7:28
06. Rehearsals and preparation
8:56
07. Working with session musicians
7:50
08. Working with musical directors
Free lesson
09. Incorporating stage filming
3:24
10. Visual design
7:59
11. Adapting your setlist
5:18
12. Importance of the crew
13. Front of house engineer
3:30
14. Live broadcasts
3:03
15. Recording quality
16. International touring
17. Time keeping and logistics
18. When things go wrong
19. Auditioning
You are here20. Stress and personal health
Lesson transcript
Auditioning for the Band: Insights and Protocols
We've auditioned for every single position in the band over the years, apart from our core members, me and Maxie. Throughout this journey, we've had various drummers, percussionists, guitarists, bass players, and backing vocalists.
Finding the Right Fit
- Recruitment Channels
- Some musicians come through word of mouth
- Others are sourced through agencies
- Most musicians go through an auditioning process
The Importance of Auditions
An audition helps determine:
- If a person is a good fit for the band
- Their temperament and how it aligns with the band's dynamics
- Their musical skills and adaptability
- Their comfort with a click track
- Their interest in and understanding of electronic music
Auditions can be quite stressful, but with clear expectations, they can be effective.
What to Expect During Auditions
-
Playing Requirements: Ask musicians to perform three different pieces of music.
- This helps showcase the band's identity.
- It allows you to assess their versatility.
-
Commitment: It's crucial to communicate the nature of the opportunity:
- Is it for an eight-day arena tour?
- Could it lead to a year-long position with potential American tours and festivals?
This clarity ensures mutual commitment between the musician and the band.
Session Musicians and Contracts
Often, session musicians come through an agency, which helps broker deals. Here are a few key points to consider:
- Negotiable Terms: Various fee structures exist; there's no one-size-fits-all approach.
- Contracts Are Essential: Despite the free-spirited nature of music, it's vital to have contracts and protocols in place to handle potential conflicts or issues.
Navigating Challenges in the Band
Maintaining Harmony
- Living and working closely together can create stress. Factors like:
- Jet lag
- Exhaustion
- Excitement
- Homesickness
These elements can lead to tension and even toxicity within the group.
Protocol for Difficult Situations
In case a band member needs to be asked to leave:
- Determine who will communicate this decision.
- Ensure you have contact details for all band members to relay the message appropriately.
- Consider remuneration for expected work that the departing member may not complete.
It's critical to have structured communication protocols in place to handle these tough situations professionally and sensitively.
Setting Expectations
In any working environment, including a band, clear expectations must be established:
- Warning Systems: Implement a system to alert members who may not be meeting expectations.
- Understanding the Journey: New members might not fully appreciate the years of hard work that have led the band to its current state.
Creating awareness about the band's journey and expectations is crucial.
Respecting the Audience
Ultimately, when performing live:
- People invest their hard-earned money to enjoy music, so it's vital to give your absolute best.
Respecting your audience is non-negotiable. If you don't respect them, perhaps you shouldn't be performing at all.
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
'Sister Bliss never stopped writing music. She's an accomplished composer for film and TV, a club DJ, and an advocate for the creative industries'. Billboard
One of the most successful British dance music artists of the past 25 years, Ayalah Bentovim AKA Sister Bliss is the musical force behind Faithless.
Together with iconic front man Maxi Jazz and producer Rollo Armstrong, she formed Faithless: one of the most successful electronic acts of their generation, with a career spanning more than two decades that included 8 albums (3 at number 1) and six top 10 singles. To date, Faithless have sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide and have played live to millions across the world, headlining festivals, stadiums and arenas. The band have collaborated with artists such as Jazzie B, Boy George, Cat Power and Dido, never conforming and moving effortlessly across an eclectic range of genres.
Over a 25-year career that took her from the underground UK club scene to sold-out arena shows and festival headline slots around the globe, Sister Bliss has become one of British dance music's longest-standing and most influential female electronic artists.
She comes off the back of releasing Faithless' first studio album in ten years, the highly anticipated 'All Blessed' - Faithless' love letter to electronic music that presents them at their very best. The album reached number 6 in the charts and the singles, along with their premiere remixes, garnered extensive support across BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and BBC 6 as well as Kiss FM and Capital.
A classically trained multi-instrumentalist, she has also scored numerous TV, film and theatre productions. Credits include 2012's film Knife Fight starring Rob Lowe and directed by two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag, commissions for Sex & The City 2, Chasing Amy, Danny Boyle's The Beach, A Life Less Ordinary, acclaimed British film The Hide, Crossing The Line and the BAFTA-winning TV dramas Life Begins (ITV) and The Poison Tree (ITV).
For theatre, Bliss has written music for The Black Album and The Emperor Jones at The National Theatre in London, as well as composing an original piece for the London Sinfonietta, which was performed at Fuse Festival, UK.
She recently had a lead role in major prime time BBC1 show 'This is My Song', mentoring the contributors and producing their final recordings.
She released a new collaborative album with Rollo and Dido in 2019 under the moniker 'R PLUS' - 'The Last Summer', following a jam-packed summer of festival headline DJ sets throughout the world including sets at Bestival, Exit Festival, Glastonbury, Creamfields, Ibiza and beyond.
Her hugely successful weekly radio show and podcast 'Sister Bliss in Session' is syndicated to over 100 stations and 43 countries worldwide. She recently guest presented Gilles Peterson's acclaimed show on BBC 6 Music and regularly stands in for Ana Matronic on the Dance Devotion show on BBC Radio 2.
She has also presented a 5-part series on Bauer Media's Scala Radio station joining the dots between classical and electronic music, which won the Bronze prize at the New York Festival Radio Awards, competing against 30 countries.
She currently teaches at Tileyard Studios' Masters MA course, including modules on songwriting, production and writing to commercial brief, and mentors individual Masters students - the same hands-on knowledge she shares in Studio to Stage, breaking down exactly how Faithless turned their records into a stadium-filling live show.
