fantasticsound Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Well, Rob suggested I should play out. I really do want to play with a band now. But something was dropped in my lap that could be lucrative and fun, though I'm not counting any chickens yet. A casting agent phoned my company in hopes of finding a guitarist and upright bassist for a national tv ad campaign. They're looking for 25 - 35 year old men with (preferably) musical ability and outgoing personalities to star in a series of tv ads. I said, "Well, I'm 38 so I guess that counts me out." and she asks, "Do you look 30-ish?" Next thing I know I'm scheduled for an audition Sunday afternoon. Wish me luck! It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A String Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 That's fantastic! I certainly wish you luck. Keep us updated as to how it goes. Craig Stringnetwork on Facebook String Network Forum My Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardtail Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Don't be scared of opportunity. Embrace it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BriBaby Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Good Luck! Keep an open mind, you have just as much right to be there as the next guy. Once I thought I saw you, in a crowded, hazy, bar........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudcat Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Knock-em dead! BTW - I have a friend who manages a restaurant who also does some voice-over and acting work. He tells me their is a HUGE talent gap for 35-50 year old males in Nashville. Supposedly it is VERY easy to land commercial gigs in town if you are in this demographic. Mudcat's music on Soundclick "Work hard. Rock hard. Eat hard. Sleep hard. Grow big. Wear glasses if you need 'em."-The Webb Wilder Credo- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Madness Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Well, well, Neil... looks like we might very well see ya on TV!!! Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BriBaby Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Originally posted by Mudcat: Knock-em dead! BTW - I have a friend who manages a restaurant who also does some voice-over and acting work. He tells me their is a HUGE talent gap for 35-50 year old males in Nashville. Supposedly it is VERY easy to land commercial gigs in town if you are in this demographic. Holy cats, pack the bags & fill up the tank Mary! Once I thought I saw you, in a crowded, hazy, bar........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted December 9, 2005 Author Share Posted December 9, 2005 Originally posted by Rhino Madness: Well, well, Neil... looks like we might very well see ya on TV!!! Best of luck! Thanks, but don't hold your breath waiting for my mug to grace the airwaves. It would be somethin', though. Mudcat - I really need to speak with your friend. As a 38 year old who'd love to break in to that end of the entertainment/advertising business, I'd love to hear his full take on how to proceed regardless of how this turns out. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesape Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Go in there and kick ass, Neil! Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skipclone 1 Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 excellent mon! do it up, promise I won`t mute your ad. Just every other one. Same old surprises, brand new cliches- Skipsounds on Soundclick: www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandid=602491 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tone Taster Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Congrats. Word of advice: Stay out of the way and keep your mouth shut for at least 6 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 HA! Do it, bro! Keep us posted! BTW...Is Lilly getting ready for some Hanukkah goodies? 'Tis the season... I just snapped a pic of Preston rockin' around the Christmas tree...gotta upload it for an avatar. You had that absolutely stunning avatar of Lilly in front of a Menorah last year. That's what this time of year is about. Kids!!! kIdS rULe!! "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 There...hopefully my Christmas avatar will show up... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kramer Ferrington III. Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Originally posted by fantasticsound: They're looking for 25 - 35 year old men with (preferably) musical ability and outgoing personalities to star in a series of tv ads. **LMAO!!** Do they supply the hat and ponytail? Band MySpace My snazzy t-shirt empire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Originally posted by fantasticsound: They're looking for 25 - 35 year old men with (preferably) musical ability and outgoing personalities to star in a series of tv ads. It'll be the silver beard that gives away my age, then - Damn!! ....... G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Hay good luck Neil!! what an ultra cool thing to be doing! Even just the audition should be great and what an experience for you! I hope you get it if ya want it! I wonder if you are going to actually have to play in the commercials live or you will get to track first and then mock it in the production? Hay tell them you can play bass too and you can get both parts Good Luck Neil! and happy holidays to you and your family. http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Hey, break-a-leg, Neil! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 way to go Neil. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted December 11, 2005 Author Share Posted December 11, 2005 Wow! Thanks, guys! I've been going over the music and it just occured to me that I don't have a clue if they're looking for something specific in the musical style. But since they asked for an upright bass player I'm assuming they want an acoustic and to play it straight... well, as straight as one can play campy song parodies with rather awkward lyrics. Hey Vince, I certainly hope so! I just shaved my hair down last again last weekend with my moustache trimmer. I just wish I could find my fedora... That would make me a shoe in. Hey Ted, I think I'll use the Chanukiah avatar again this year. Thanks for reminding me. And Preston looks like he'll be playing Johnny B. Good by the time he's 5. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caprae Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Raise your children and spoil your grandchildren. Spoil your children and raise your grandchildren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 (I wrote this last night, but for some reason it didn't go through. ) The audition turned out well despite some minor trainwrecks. I was the last one to show up. In fact, I probably could've come in anytime today. When I arrived several duos were practicing in the hall and a friend of mine, a full time entertainer, was just leaving. I went to the check-in desk, filled out some paperwork, then sat down to listen to a demo cd they had of the intended arrangements. The song I'd been working up was exactly the way I'd played it, with a few minor changes. (One lyric I kept "messing up", in the sense that I sung it with a lead in (multiple notes for the first syllable) whereas the music first word on paper began on a single downbeat. Turns out the demo was sung with the lead in I'd been adding but I'd finally stopped singing it that way! ) The casting agent set me up with a partner because it should be on videotape as a duo. The group before me was doing the same song of the three, so they hooked me up with one of the two guys. It was a blessing in disguise. The guy (Ryan) they hooked my up with hadn't known from his agent to bring a guitar. His buddy had one, and I loaned him mine. For my audition he had his buddy's guitar and I had mine, but he hadn't practiced the song. So here we are performing, me playing rhythm and singing and him trying to pick out some lead lines and toss in "responses" to the lyrics. (Which was on the cd.) Can you say "trainwreck"? In addition to his noodling (which I didn't even hear.), they had the lyrics written in large print on a flipchart with chord letters. I say "chord letters" because that's all that was written. Not "Amin". Just "A". And the tune is filled with maj7th's and min7th's, maj7th 3rd inversions and more. So when I looked up at the lyrics (which were difficult to ignore) I lost my train of thought on the chords. But I did manage to hit most of it and sing well. We finished and the casting agent was excited. What I heard was, "trainwreck". What he heard and saw was, "Smothers Brothers"! Cool. So now we're running through it again, and Ryan's supposed to noodle around a la Tommy Smothers while I give him, "the look". The casting agent wanted me to get upset and scold him at the end. When we finished that take I turned to Ryan and said, "If you want to play solos, play so low nobody can hear you!" Then it was a take of just me so I could play and sing without distraction. Keep in mind this was all the casting agent's idea, not a complaint from me. Very cool. He sounded very encouraging about submitting my audition though, in my mind, I definitely kerfocked a bit of it. The best part was that, as the last audtiion of the day there was no hurry to finish, very little pressure, and while this may amount to nothing, mine was the last impression he had of today's applicants. They have another day of auditions tomorrow, and I know he's seen some talented guys including a number of Music Row powerhouses. If nothing else it was a good experience to put my foot in the door. And who knows? Someone's going to get this ad... why not me? It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kramer Ferrington III. Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Originally posted by fantasticsound: And who knows? Someone's going to get this ad... why not me? Why not indeed? Best of luck! Band MySpace My snazzy t-shirt empire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashback Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Ha ha, Smothers Brothers! Now thats a blast from the past! Go getm Neil; wed love to see you on television When i get big i'm gonn'a get an electric guitar... When i get real big... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tone Taster Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Congrats, again Neil. It's always cool to hear that there are still real gigs out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 GO for it, dude, and muy bueno fortuna. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 Thanks guys! I'll certainly let you know if it comes through. Originally posted by Caputo: Congrats, again Neil. It's always cool to hear that there are still real gigs out there Real corny gigs! Of course, it will be for real money, so I'm not complaining! It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tone Taster Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Originally posted by fantasticsound: Thanks guys! I'll certainly let you know if it comes through. Originally posted by Caputo: Congrats, again Neil. It's always cool to hear that there are still real gigs out there Real corny gigs! Of course, it will be for real money, so I'm not complaining! Well, that's what I alluded to. There seems to be a real infrastructure w/ the casting crew, auditions, etc . . . Instead of these fly by night whorehouse situations i have been scarred by Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackpine Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 What a riot. Go get 'em , Neil. www.relayerstudios.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mass Effect Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Neil, Congratulations on such an exciting opportunity. Good luck to you. quote:Originally posted by mdrs: It's pure B.S., and obvioulsy inaccurate. I suspect it is posted for effect, not for accuracy. John Petrucci > Johnny Winter The Edge > Ted Nugent Guitar One Mag > Guitarplayer Slash > Carlton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 OH NO! We'll never hear the end of it when you get the gig Neil. Go get 'em. Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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