BETA STATE Vocal Audition FAQ
We've been getting a lot of emails regarding the vocal auditions and they all have the same questions. This Q&A will hopefully clear things up.

Q: What is the age requirement?
A: The younger the better, but we are most concerned about finding someone with a great voice.

Q: I'm a girl. Can I try out?
A: Yes, we are 100% down to hear a female singer in our band.

Q: What kind of singing style do you want?
A: We are open to many different styles but prefer singers in the likes of Circa Survive, MuteMath, Kings of Leon, Copeland, Taking Back Sunday, and As Tall As Lions.

Q: Would I have to move to the San Francisco Bay Area if chosen?
A: Yes and no... We prefer a singer that moves here and permanently involves themselves with our band. We want someone that is 100% down to take this band to it's fullest potential. That being said, this world isn't perfect and we understand that moving is a big step that not everyone is willing to take. If you are an amazing singer, we would find a way to make it work. Technically, we would only need you here only for the writing and recording process (a few months for writing, a few weeks for recording). Other than that, you can still live where you live when we are not playing a string of dates or touring. When it's time to tour or play shows, you would need to fly out for the dates, so things can get more complicated then, but at the end of the day we all want this to work and we are down to do whatever it takes when we find the right singer to make things happen.

Q: Do I have to record over your demo or can I just show you my band's MySpace?
A: Showing your bands MySpace is a bonus, but you HAVE to send in a demo of you singing on the track we provided.

Q: I finished my demo. What email address should I send it to?
A: betastatemusic@gmail.com

Q: What format should I email the track in?
A: MP3's are preferred, AAC's work too, but please, NO WAV, AIFF, or FLAC files!!!

Q: I don't have a way to record vocals. What do I do?
A: Go to a friends house and record, book studio time at your local studio, or download GarageBand (or similar software like Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) and do it yourself. You'd be surprised how good you can sound singing into the mic of your laptop...

Q: What are you looking for in a singer?
A: First and foremost, we are looking for someone who can sing ..... The better your pitch, the better your chances of landing the gig. We would prefer a higher pitched singer, but are open to anyone who has a strong voice. Secondly, we want someone who is confident in their voice. What this means is that none of your notes are "shaky" and "unsure". Third, we are looking for good dynamics. Know when to hold back and when to let loose... Fourth, we want someone who knows how to structure their melodies. If you have the same melody the whole song, it gets boring. Get creative with it!!! Lastly, we want a great lyricist. Melodies are nothing without great lyrics to compliment them.

Q: I am NOT a citizen of the United States. Can I try out?
A: No. In order to stay longer than 6 months in the U.S. and be able to work, you need a green card or some form of citizenship. Since we would be looking for someone who can stay longer than 6 months and can legally earn a paycheck, we will only be auditioning U.S. citizens.

Q: I AM a US citizen but I do not live in the United States. Can I try out?
A: Yes, but understand that you will have to move to the Bay Area at some point if you get chosen (at least to write/record).

Q: I live in the Bay Area. Can I just try out live without recording an audition demo?
A: Depends... If you have a previous works that you can reference, we MIGHT consider a jam session with you. HOWEVER, sounding good with your old band doesn't mean that you will sound good with our band. If the styles don't mix, they just don't mix... We don't want to waste anyones time. We prefer that EVERYBODY auditions with our audition track. It gives us a clear understanding of your pitch, confidence, dynamics, melodies, and lyrics. Also, at the end of the day, how you sound on record is ultimately what everyone ends up hearing and falling in love with anyways, and singing on our demos will give us the best frame of reference in which to judge you.

Q: I sent in a demo, but have yet to hear back from the band... what gives?
A: It is hard to respond to everyone who sends a demo in. However, if you realllllly seem like a potential fit, or at least are on the right path, you WILL hear from us. We get our fair share of bad demos, and we also get a lot of good demos, but only a few are truly amazing. You might have a great voice, but we may not find you to fit us "just right". Bottom line: If you haven't heard from us within at least a week, we probably passed on your demo for one reason or another. It doesn't mean that your demo sucked, it just means your demo wasn't the right fit. Don't get down on yourself if this happens. Maybe you could try switching your style/approach up and submitting a newer, fresher version. You never know, we might dig it!

Q: Why did Eric quit Strata?
A: Because.

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So you have some vocal ideas and you want to lay some shit on tape, right? Well, before you hit record, here are a few things to think about that will help you nail your audition:



1) Use some recording software like ProTools, GarageBand, Logic, Nuendo, Cubase, or Audacity. Most of this software costs money, but Audacity is a free open-source download that can be found at: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

2) You will need a mic, and nice mics sound great, but those who can't afford a nice setup should try finding a mic that can plug directly into your USB port. You'd be surprised how good the mic on your computer can be!

3) DO NOT use your cell phone to record. It does NOT sound good and could make even Bono sound like shit.

4) Make sure you have great pitch and stay ..... If you sound great, it allows us to focus more on lyrics and melodies as opposed to all the bad notes you hit.

5) Make a great 1st impression. Since we have to listen to demo after demo after demo, the first few lines you sing pretty much set the tone for the rest of the song. We can pretty much tell how the demo is going to sound within the first 10 seconds of listening, so make sure that when you start singing you deliver the goods.

6) Know the difference between verses, pre-choruses, and choruses. Have some change or dynamic when you flow from part to part.

7) Keep your emails brief. We don't read the long ones. Your name, some MySpace links, a SHORT bio if you feel like it (a paragraph is fine), and the track is all we really need. If we like you and want to know more, we will let you know.


Hopefully these tips will give you a better shot at landing the gig!


Lovelovelove,
Beta State