Taiko Meantime is looking for a few special people. To be a performer in Taiko Meantime requires single-minded determination, lots of your time and self motivation. As well as drummers, we need talented flute players, or better still, players of the Japanese ‘yoko-bue’. Have a good look at this important list of questions below to get a feel for whether Taiko Meantime is right for you.

YOUR TIME

• Can you make Wednesday evening every week in South London from roughly 19:00 to 22:30 to practise?
• Are you willing to load and unload drums at very unsociable hours?
• Can you take occasional time off work, if necessary, to do performances on weekdays and weekends?
• Are you organised and dedicated enough to commit to and stick to performance dates months (and sometimes over a year in the case of theatrical performances) in advance?
• Do you have internet and email access at least once a day?

YOUR AMBITIONS

• Is your aim to perform a high standard of Taiko with a professional-standard group?
• Is developing and improving as a musician and a performer at the forefront of your priorities?

YOUR CHARACTER

• Are you a strong individual, but happy to work in a team, on and off stage?
• Have you got the discipline, time and initiative to practise by yourself between group rehearsals?
• Do you pay attention to detail – musical and physical?
• Are you a reliable and clear communicator?
• Can you take constructive criticism without feeling insulted?
• Are you able to think on your feet in a musical environment with changing circumstances and maintain a cool head under pressure?
• Do you get satisfaction from giving 100% to the task in hand?
• If you’ve learnt Taiko or any percussion before, can you put aside your own style to fit in with the style of Taiko Meantime?
• Group rehearsals are NOT Taiko classes. So, are you good at learning by example?
• Are you ahead of the game in a learning situation rather than waiting to be taught?
• Do you have a ‘the show must go on’ attitude?

YOUR MUSICAL ABILITY

• Are you passionate about music?
• Are you critical of music, and do you know good players when you see or hear them?
• Have you got a natural sense of rhythm?
• Can you count?
• Do you know the meaning of the questions, “Can you count?” and “Where’s the 1?”?!
• Do you understand the basics of music theory?
• Are you adept at learning and remembering rhythms and music?
• Are you musically able enough to deal with last minute changes to rhythm/song arrangements?
• Does the idea of musical spontaneity in a live concert situation excite you?!

YOUR BACKGROUND

• Do you have a good knowledge of the UK taiko scene?
• Do you play a musical instrument or have experience of a martial art?
• Have you given a stage performance of any kind?
• Do you consider yourself to be a performer?
• Do you have an interest in Japan and Japanese music?
• Are you physically fit and have general year-round good physical health?
• Is fitness a way of life for you?

IS ALL THIS REALLY YOUR IDEA OF FUN?!!!

Please ask yourself these questions, and if all the answers are ‘YES’, we’d love to meet you for an audition. Email auditions@taikomeantime.com and tell us about yourself.