Tops in Blue audition video

Tops in Blue is an Air Force entertainment unit. There is a whole audition process to get in, and one of the first steps is an audition video.

This is one of the segments of my audition video.

That's not really what I talk like...but they are looking for the right "attitude", so I attempted to portray that.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jamming
• Looping
• pedal
• guitar

[jarbafat]

I'm usually content as long as i'm not stuck trying to teach other people how to play along with me, that become really annoying if your pressed for time.

[Drawthemoral]

*laughs* I'm give music lessons actually. It definitely takes patience and a certain mentality. It's not for everyone.

[jarbafat]

hmm, I dunno, i've been thinking about applying for a good while now. I think i could probably get in, not positive though. I enjoy being creative and doing new things, and I dont mind playing the same songs allot, but... i guess I've always had enough flexibility to do something a bit diffrent with songs, but i feel like if I was famous and doing reg concerts it would be the same way, you would play the same shit all the time.

[Drawthemoral]

I've heard that some tours are better than others from friends of mine. Some people love it and keep going back for more. Getting into Tops in Blue isn't so much about the skill on your instrument so much as your ability to play the game. You have to know how to drink the Koolaid, and show that you are "an Air Force ambassador." Keep in mind, once you are on the team, the ambassador thing only goes surface deep. You will find every form of "breaking the rules" happening right in front of you.

[Drawthemoral]

Also, do NOT be fooled: you will have NO creative input whatsoever in Tops in Blue. You will be playing the SAME songs every night for a year. If you are looking to be creative as a musician, then TIB is NOT the gig for you. I'm not telling you to not do it. At least try out for it, as it's a free permissive TDY. Just remember, they will show you a bunch of things at the competition that are NOTHING like the real tour. Again, my one main positive from tour was meeting my wife. Everything else...

[jarbafat]

so why are you so glad its done? did you hate it or something? the tour i mean.

[Drawthemoral]

In my opinion, it's an organization that works well for musical performers/entertainers. The whole organization plays on the psychology of primadonna performer types. So if you are one who simply wants to show off "talent" in front of a bunch of people, and you don't care what the music is, then Tops in Blue is great. If you are an artist/musician who cares about creating original music and being a student of your craft...it is the most frustrating organization to be a part of.

[SCO43]

did you make it in?

[jarbafat]

lol ugh. Leave it to the AirForce to step in and suck the fun out of something i guess.

[Drawthemoral]

Well, there's a lot of reasons, but I'll try to keep it short. To be fair, I met my wife from it, and I don't regret that one bit. Other than that, there was way too much drama and internal inconsistency. The organization is not who they said that they were, and they were not professional. It was the first time in 13 years that I had ever been sick of playing guitar. They don't give you any creative flexibility whatsoever, and you never have time to play anything for personal enjoyment.