Commercial Music Ensemble (CME)
Built for the stage. Ready for the industry.The Commercial Music Ensemble (CME) brings today's music industry to life - from the world behind the scenes to the stage and everywhere in between. From pop and rock to Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) and beyond, CME students will work together to create performances that reflect everything that goes into being a part of the music industry. With the use of click tracks, backing tracks, in-ear monitors, marketing, lighting, and much more, CME dives into the full concert experience.
What makes this group unique is its all-access approach: performers, technicians, and managers all work together to build the shows from the ground up. Whether you're arranging the music, running the sound, or leading the advertising, CME gives you the experience that prepares you for real-world opportunities. CME provides on and off-campus opportunities, recording sessions, and other various opportunities. CME is where creativity meets collaboration to bring spectacular musical experiences to life!
Commercial Music Ensemble Auditions
Auditions for the Commercial Music Ensemble are open to all UIndy students, regardless of major.
Audition Date
Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center (CDFAC) 109
All People Auditioning
As this is a hands-on, tour-focused ensemble, all people auditioning will be asked to complete an assessment in spatial reasoning. These skills will be taught and reinforced as a part of the ensemble, but may be factored into selection for certain technical roles.
Performers
All performer auditions will include Superstition by Stevie Wonder (generic horn parts can be found here), as well as the specific items listed below.
- Play with a click/loop in varying popular styles, as indicated by the audition panel at the time of audition.
- Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist.
Please note: position will be filled based on need & availability
- Play with a click/loop in varying popular styles, as indicated by the audition panel at the time of audition.
- Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist.
- Walk a standard rock F or B flat blues with a click/loop, as provided by the audition panel.
- Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist.
Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist.
Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist.
Please note: position will be filled based on need & availability
Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist, transposing to your preferred register as needed.
Please note: position will be filled based on need & availability.
Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist, transposing to your preferred register as needed.
Perform one track from the audition tune list found below, employing techniques that reinforce the groove and stylings of the artist, transposing to your preferred register as needed.
Audition Tune List
- Barracuda by Heart
- Birds of a Feather by Billy Eilish
- Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson
- Get The Party Started by P!nk
- God is a Woman by Ariana Grande
- Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp
- No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age
- Roundabout by Yes!
- Single Ladies by Beyoncé
- Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson
- Viva La Vida by Coldplay
- Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
Crew
In addition to a short interview with the audition panel, crew members auditioning for the ensemble will complete the following specific tasks.
- Prepare in advance:
- An input list for seven piece ensemble (drums, bass, keys, 2 guitars, backing vocals, and lead vocals) playing Superstition by Stevie Wonder
- An appropriate Midas M32 show file for the above input list
- Complete and test a basic PA setup in a limited amount of time.
- Live mix two tracks (provided) in contrasting style.
Please note: position will be filled based on need & availability
- Complete and test a basic monitor setup in a limited amount of time.
- Create an appropriate monitor console Midas M32 show file for a given input list.
- Live mix monitors for a five monitor mix act.
- Click track
- Guide track providing two bars of notice to performers of upcoming song sections (e.g. “Bridge in 1.. 2… 1, 2, 3, 4”)
- Shaker or hi hat
- Synth pad (sustained notes)
- Horn sounds or similar to mimic or reinforce the horn parts
- A sub-bass to reinforce the bass line
Please note: position will be filled based on need & availability.
Prepare in advance a visualization of lighting for a six piece band (drums, bass, keys, 2 guitars, vocalist) performing Superstition by Stevie Wonder on a 24’ wide by 16’ deep stage. Create your visualization in a suitable lighting console environment (e.g. EOS on PC, MagicQ on PC), or draw or render graphics for looks to be used at specific times in the song. Include the following: Basic wash lighting (hung).
- Up to six moving lights (hung or ground mounted)
- Blinders/strobes (hung or ground mounted)
- Some ground packaged lighting
Please note: position will be filled based on need & availability.
Prepare in advance a production design for a six piece band (drums, bass, keys, 2 guitars, vocalist) performing Superstition by Stevie Wonder on a 24’ wide by 16’ deep stage including the following items:
- Stage design (assuming a free-standing stage which can be configured as you desire)
- Placement of ground package (lighting)
- Appropriate set pieces, backdrop, etc.
- Any costume ideas you see fit
- Any video elements you see fit
Prepare in advance:
- A résumé with relevant production experience
- A stage plot for a six piece band (drums, bass, keys, 2 guitars, vocalist) performing Superstition by Stevie Wonder on a 24’ wide by 16’ deep stage, including power drops
Please note: position will be filled based on need & availability.
Prepare in advance:
- A portfolio of music marketing materials
- A marketing plan for a seven piece traveling act touring central Indiana, with primary venues being high schools, community centers, and similar venues. The primary KPI should be concert attendance.
Prepare in advance:
- A full-day tour schedule for a band including seven members (drums, bass, keys, 2 guitars, 2 vocalists) and a crew of four (FOH mixer, lighting designer, stage manager, and yourself). Assume UIndy is the starting and ending destination for the day, so no hotels are needed. Include the following:
- Two 60-minute concerts (one morning, one afternoon) at venues that are 45 minutes drive-time apart
- All relevant setup and teardown time, assuming lighting, sound, and backline are all traveling with the act
- Soundchecks
- Drive times
- Necessary meals
- Breaks between soundchecks and shows
- Time for educational outreach (~45 minutes) at each show site
- A low-budget hospitality rider for the above tour with an approximate budget of $100-150; no full meals are needed.
