Below, is a real-time account of how he won his current job with Dream Theater. Here is part of the actual audition.
Read about his audition history in the BIOGRAPHY.
Mike performed 3 of the band’s songs, an open jam and time signature playing tests with flawless execution. Contrary to interesting internet banter, he was not a “shoe-in” for the Dream Theater band member job. He did not get it given to him because of “connections,” “contracts” “offers,” where he lived, or for any other reason, like being from a state close to NY and teaching at a college that 3 DT attended for a year.
Those things do not relate in any way to playing mistake free at an audition and saying the right things.
More specifically, there were and are no “band exclusivity” contracts or any other having to do with the audition, or taking the job. Only a release form had to be signed by all auditioners for use of the audition footage. Nobody was offered this job by the entire band except Mike Mangini. That offer was caught on film.
Another fabricated internet narrative is that Mike’s “connections” to D.T. “won” him the job. His strongest connection to D.T. prior to the audition was Mike Portnoy, who months after Mangini won the audition, asked for his job back; a clear demonstration to unconnect, not connect Mike Mangini to a job that had to be won. Secondly, Mike recorded 3 albums for James LaBrie, who brought in his current solo band drummer Peter Wildoer to the audition mix, not Mike Mangini. Mike had no history with John, John or Jordan.
Many factors accounted for this successful audition. One factor is that Mike’s learning systems actually work.
Please read about them on: http://rhythmknowledge.com/
You can study the systems via: https://vimeo.com/mikemangini