[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":260},["ShallowReactive",2],{"book-resource-reference-check-template":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":237,"extension":238,"meta":239,"navigation":255,"path":256,"seo":257,"stem":258,"__hash__":259},"bookResources\u002Facademy\u002Fbook-resources\u002Freference-check-template.md","Reference Check Template",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":219},"minimark",[9,13,19,24,28,35,38,42,45,48,52,55,58,62,65,68,72,78,83,88,93,98,102,105,109,114,117,121,130,134,137,141,144,148],[10,11,5],"h1",{"id":12},"reference-check-template",[14,15],"resource-download",{"description":16,"file":17,"label":18,"title":5},"Free editable Word guide you can copy, fill in, and share with your band. Also readable on this page.","\u002Fdownloads\u002Fbook-resources\u002Freference-check-template.docx","Download guide (DOCX)",[20,21,23],"h2",{"id":22},"how-to-use-this-guide","How to use this guide",[25,26,27],"p",{},"Template for checking references of potential members. You should end with a completed call log you can compare across candidates side by side.",[25,29,30,34],{},[31,32,33],"strong",{},"Suggested workflow:"," open a fresh log per candidate, record notes live during each call, and keep the filled pages in your private hiring file until the seat is settled.",[25,36,37],{},"References are where best-behavior auditions meet real history. A short, consistent template keeps calls professional and comparable across candidates.",[20,39,41],{"id":40},"when-to-call-and-whom-to-call","When to call and whom to call",[25,43,44],{},"Timing matters: run your calls after a strong audition but before offering a long trial or a permanent seat, and always with the applicant's consent. Two recent collaborators who actually shared stages and rehearsals outweigh five friendly names who only know the person from parties.",[25,46,47],{},"An applicant who cannot produce a single musical collaborator for a musical seat has already told you something worth hearing. Ask why directly; the answer, whether it is a burned bridge or simply a short history, shapes how much weight you put on the remaining calls.",[20,49,51],{"id":50},"what-good-calls-surface","What good calls surface",[25,53,54],{},"A useful fifteen-minute conversation uncovers how the person behaved under stress: whether call times were honored, how conflicts got repaired, whether money was handled honestly, and whether this bandmate would share a stage with them again. One concrete growth area, requested politely, separates real knowledge from polite avoidance.",[25,56,57],{},"Writing notes during the call, not from memory afterward, preserves the hesitations and careful phrasing that often carry more meaning than any superlative. A long pause before answering the rehire question is data, and it belongs in the log with the date attached.",[20,59,61],{"id":60},"weigh-patterns-not-gossip","Weigh patterns, not gossip",[25,63,64],{},"A single lukewarm report is a question to explore, while the same hesitation from two independent people is close to a verdict. Keep everything in a private leadership document rather than the scene's group chats, because rumor campaigns have a way of returning at the worst possible moment.",[25,66,67],{},"When something serious does surface, verify it carefully and then raise it with the applicant through a fair, direct conversation before deciding. People deserve a chance to explain old conflicts, and bands deserve a process they would be comfortable defending if the story ever got around town.",[20,69,71],{"id":70},"fill-in-reference-log","Fill-in: Reference log",[25,73,74,77],{},[31,75,76],{},"Candidate:"," ________",[25,79,80,77],{},[31,81,82],{},"Reference name\u002Frole:",[25,84,85,77],{},[31,86,87],{},"Reliability notes:",[25,89,90,77],{},[31,91,92],{},"Would rehire?:",[25,94,95,77],{},[31,96,97],{},"Concerns:",[20,99,101],{"id":100},"putting-it-into-practice","Putting it into practice",[25,103,104],{},"Call two references for your top candidate before offering a permanent seat.",[20,106,108],{"id":107},"faq","FAQ",[110,111,113],"h3",{"id":112},"when-in-the-hiring-process-should-we-run-reference-checks","When in the hiring process should we run reference checks?",[25,115,116],{},"After you are seriously interested and before you commit—typically after the final audition or trial rehearsal, not on day one of applications. Asking too early wastes references' time; asking never is how charming auditions become months of no-shows.",[110,118,120],{"id":119},"what-if-a-candidate-will-only-give-family-friends-or-a-teachernot-previous-bandmates","What if a candidate will only give family, friends, or a teacher—not previous bandmates?",[25,122,123,124,129],{},"Treat that as a signal. Prior bandmates and leaders are the gold standard for reliability and fit. If musical collaborators are unavailable, dig harder in behavioral interviews and a paid trial, and use the ",[125,126,128],"a",{"href":127},"\u002Facademy\u002Fbook-resources\u002Fred-flags-checklist\u002F","red flags checklist"," aggressively.",[110,131,133],{"id":132},"how-much-weight-should-one-lukewarm-or-bad-reference-carry","How much weight should one lukewarm or bad reference carry?",[25,135,136],{},"One mild concern can mean context; repeated hesitation, \"would not work with them again,\" or a story that contradicts the candidate's version is a pattern. Prefer multiple sources: if two independent people pause on the same reliability or conflict theme, believe the pattern over the candidate's spin.",[110,138,140],{"id":139},"are-these-questions-legal-advice-for-hiring-musicians","Are these questions legal advice for hiring musicians?",[25,142,143],{},"No. This is a practical hiring aid for bands, not employment-law counsel. Avoid discriminatory topics (protected classes, medical speculation, etc.) and consult a qualified professional in your jurisdiction if you run a formal business, payroll, or agency. Educational templates do not replace local law.",[20,145,147],{"id":146},"related-guides","Related guides",[149,150,151,158,163,169,175,181,187,193,199,205,211],"ul",{},[152,153,154],"li",{},[125,155,157],{"href":156},"\u002Facademy\u002Fbook-resources\u002Freference-questions\u002F","Reference questions",[152,159,160],{},[125,161,162],{"href":127},"Red flags checklist",[152,164,165],{},[125,166,168],{"href":167},"\u002Facademy\u002Fbook-resources\u002Fbehavioral-questions\u002F","Behavioral interview questions",[152,170,171],{},[125,172,174],{"href":173},"\u002Facademy\u002Fbook-resources\u002Faudition-structure\u002F","Audition structure",[152,176,177],{},[125,178,180],{"href":179},"\u002Facademy\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-perfect-audition-how-to-find-the-ideal-band-member\u002F","The perfect audition",[152,182,183],{},[125,184,186],{"href":185},"\u002Facademy\u002Farticles\u002Ffind-band-members\u002F","Find band members",[152,188,189],{},[125,190,192],{"href":191},"\u002Facademy\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-write-a-musician-wanted-ad\u002F","How to write a musician wanted ad",[152,194,195],{},[125,196,198],{"href":197},"\u002Facademy\u002Farticles\u002Ftips-for-finding-the-right-bandmates-a-guide-to-musical-success\u002F","Tips for finding the right bandmates",[152,200,201],{},[125,202,204],{"href":203},"\u002Facademy\u002Farticles\u002Fsession-musicians-how-to-hire-and-get-hired\u002F","Session musicians guide",[152,206,207],{},[125,208,210],{"href":209},"\u002Facademy\u002Ftopics\u002Fband-relationships\u002F","Band relationships topic",[152,212,213],{},[125,214,218],{"href":215,"rel":216},"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.bandmate.io\u002Fauth\u002Fsignup",[217],"nofollow","Free Bandmate account",{"title":220,"searchDepth":221,"depth":221,"links":222},"",2,[223,224,225,226,227,228,229,236],{"id":22,"depth":221,"text":23},{"id":40,"depth":221,"text":41},{"id":50,"depth":221,"text":51},{"id":60,"depth":221,"text":61},{"id":70,"depth":221,"text":71},{"id":100,"depth":221,"text":101},{"id":107,"depth":221,"text":108,"children":230},[231,233,234,235],{"id":112,"depth":232,"text":113},3,{"id":119,"depth":232,"text":120},{"id":132,"depth":232,"text":133},{"id":139,"depth":232,"text":140},{"id":146,"depth":221,"text":147},"Template for checking references of potential members","md",{"slug":12,"books":240,"chapters":242,"category":244,"topics":245,"format":248,"target_audience":249,"date":250,"published":251,"thumbnail":252,"headerImage":252,"metaTitle":253,"metaDescription":254},[241],"book2",[243],"book2-chapter4","personnel",[246,247],"band-relationships","band-management","Question template with evaluation guide","Bands evaluating candidates","2026-03-20","published","\u002Fimages\u002Fbook-resources\u002Freference-check-template-infographic.jpg","Reference Check Template | Free Download & Guide | Bandmate Academy","Template for checking references of potential members — free DOCX download plus multi-paragraph walkthrough for working bands.",true,"\u002Facademy\u002Fbook-resources\u002Freference-check-template",{"title":5,"description":237},"academy\u002Fbook-resources\u002Freference-check-template","Ph_EEyMQwtg0J6e6Kve0Ws5qifUV6dkS5iMIAYsDHmI",1789925000057]