Odd reasons you didn't get the gig or were fired

[spade2you]

Post 'em!

One time I was talking to a band and they wanted me there at 5pm sharp. I told 'em I couldn't make it until 5:30...because I have a life outside of music, ya know. That morning he called and made sure I was still on for 5. Again, I told him that I couldn't make it until 5:30. "That's not good enough!!!" "Sorry dude, I have stuff going on." So I call at 5 to get directions, no answer. I called back a week later, "sorry, the position has been filled (click)." He also deleted me from his friends list.

A lonnnnng time ago I showed up for a cover band gig with my nice new (at the time) Peavey from the custom shop. They kept asking me if I was aware that Peavey only made junk guitars and basses and if I was sure mine was a good bass. No call back (naturally). When I gave 'em a courtesy e-mail to see what was up they told me that I sounded good but to come back when I get a Fender.

[rfclef]

This is not directly bass related, but I interviewed for an assistant band director job at a school with the Head Band director whose name was Mr. Bean... It was not til a few years later that I suspected I might be the victim of discrimination when I figured he may not have wanted our names announced together... You do the math.

True story.

[the_fonz]

Originally Posted by rfclef

This is not directly bass related, but I interviewed for an assistant band director job at a school with the Head Band director whose name was Mr. Bean... It was not til a few years later that I suspected I might be the victim of discrimination when I figured he may not have wanted our names announced together... You do the math.

True story.

ha
you win

[Bhuti]

Well, when a lead singer dosen't know anything, people can get fired. Lead singer couldn't vocalize that he wants me to play with a low B. I played a 4 string jazz because it sounds better for his music. So he took 5 minutes of hmmming and hawwing to tell me that he doesn't think it'll work out, over the phone, after i've delivered on his gigs....

He's a sad piece of work who had some good music...

[jckmcgrth]

because all the metal bands refused to play with a pop-punk band

[daofktr]

i have been playing with the same band for closing in on two years. we sound good together. (see link in my sig, re: youtube vid.)
the band has rotating personnel so no matter who can or can't make the gig, there is coverage. no probs so far.

the front man, who is blameless for this incident, btw, acquired a promo/booking person to market him. (he does 'hired gun' stuff, solo stuff, duos, the gamut.) lori, the booking person, loves our stuff and said that she would find us a regular gig.

we did a month run at one place, we sound good, no probs.

the place decides they prefer more of a dance band that stays later than we tend to like, so, no more gig. don't like it, but no prob. lori says she'll get something else. no prob.

...

weeks go by, i hear nothing. i message john (the front man), to see if there is any progress.
problem.

she is working on a mexican restaurant gig, but...since she saw a keyboard player with an active left hand, she wants the gig to be: geet, drums, keys.


see the problem?

i told john that i hold him blameless, since he, like me, follows the money. i also know we will gig together again, but this burns my ass.

on top of that, the last time i gigged with the band (john wasn't even there...previous engagement), someone i really wanted to audition with came to hear me. he messaged me the same day as john to let me know i didn't get the gig with him, partially because i was gigging with someone else!

soooooo...right now, i have no gigs, and damned few solid prospects, at this writing.

i could vent more, but...i'm not the only one that gets shat upon, as this thread attests to.

[fernandino]

Originally Posted by jckmcgrth

because all the metal bands refused to play with a pop-punk band

because all the pop-punk bands refused to play with a metal band.

[heytrid]

because the other band was afraid of us.

[Crash907]

"I think you're too good for us. You make us feel bad."

[gweimer]

I almost got the job for The Shadows of Knight reunion in the early '80s. The reason I didn't get the call was because the guy they chose had a rehearsal place. And you think all this stuff ends after you're 16?

[Jackson E]

The one gig I auditioned for and didn't get was because my left arm is tattooed. F%#^@$ disney channel.

[BassmanAd]

Originally Posted by spade2you

Post 'em!


A lonnnnng time ago I showed up for a cover band gig with my nice new (at the time) Peavey from the custom shop. They kept asking me if I was aware that Peavey only made junk guitars and basses and if I was sure mine was a good bass. No call back (naturally). When I gave 'em a courtesy e-mail to see what was up they told me that I sounded good but to come back when I get a Fender.

Interesting that your choice of equipment should be an issue with prospective bands...

A few years ago I was doing some tracks for a reasonably prolific producer and he was unhappy with my choice of amp and hired something else in, whilst making some fuss. Later on during a break the engineer explained to me that a while previously the producer had physically thrown another bassist out of a studio for turning up with a Warwick bass and Trace Elliott combo so I reckon I got off fairly light there ....

I ended up doing the session on a Fender Jazz through a B-15 and made sure that's what I brought in the future

[rockwarnick]

Originally Posted by jckmcgrth

because all the metal bands refused to play with a pop-punk band

ha my band used to love the pop-punk bands cause we would demolish them

Originally Posted by Crash907

"I think you're too good for us. You make us feel bad."

ive gotten that before

[Woodchuck]

Years ago, I joined an acid jazz type band that was interested in "going to the top". We picked some tunes by Jamiroquai, Incognito, etc. to start out with. Every time practice rolled around, noone knew the songs but me and the 2 horn players, which I'll admit, burns me up to no end. After the 3rd or 4th time, I let the band have it. Later I got a call saying that the band wanted to get another bass player, because obviously, I took this way too serious, and "it's just music. So what if noone else knew the tunes, that's what rehearsals are for. We're in it to have fun." Fair enough, but when they asked me to join, they wanted to "go to the top". God, I hate that phrase!

[Dave Muscato]

Almost lost a session once for not having a Fender. I was able to convince the producer that my Variax sounded just as good. I had to show him this thread to prove it, but I kept the gig Now I own a P, although it barely qualifies, being 5 strings, 18v 3-band active, humbucker in the bridge, and 22 frets with an ash body

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by Jackson E

The one gig I auditioned for and didn't get was because my left arm is tattooed. F%#^@$ disney channel.

couldn't you of just worn long sleeves?

[The Owl]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

Almost lost a session once for not having a Fender. I was able to convince the producer that my Variax sounded just as good. I had to show him this thread to prove it, but I kept the gig Now I own a P, although it barely qualifies, being 5 strings, 18v 3-band active, humbucker in the bridge, and 22 frets with an ash body

Man, that just kills me how STILL in this day and age, some people can be so anal with that "Fender is the ONLY bass that has any right to exist" mentality! It's probably yet ANOTHER reason I'll NEVER own or play a Fender (besides the fact that I just hate the way they play, period but that's another discussion). You and spade2you have my heartfelt empathy. I'll just never understand how some of these folks can be so small-minded and controlling.

[jsingles]

i too have lost a position in a band because they feared I was too good and would take too much control in the direction of the band and leadership.... lol???

[Jackson E]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

couldn't you of just worn long sleeves?

You would think right??

[invader3k]

One of the first times I auditioned for another band, it was with an already established hard rock cover band. I got the audition because a singer I had jammed with before had just joined them, and they needed a new bass player. It was kind of weird when I got to the drummer's house...the old bass player was there moving some of his stuff out. Apparently they'd had some kind of falling out and the bass player already had another band lined up. There didn't seem to be any major animosity, it was just kind of weird.

Anyway, the audition went pretty well. I basically nailed all the songs we rehearsed. I played with them and left. They had a second bass player come in after me to audition. I sent a follow up e-mail the next day. You know, typical "Thanks for letting me play with you guys, would love to get together again, etc." Anyway, about a week later I found out they went with the other guy. OK, it happens...singer sends me an e-mail saying "Yeah, we figured his schedule and availability worked a little more for us." OK...but I didn't really have any schedule conflicts with them. I figure he's just being nice and they liked his playing better.

Shortly after this, I notice the singer has already left their group to start another project. This seems odd, and also removed any interest I would have had in playing with them, since the singer was really talented, both vocally and as a guitarist.

Anyway, months go by, and I get an e-mail from the singer saying basically, "I owe you an explanation...you were the better bass player, and nailed the audition. The drummer wanted to go with the other guy because he knows some hot chicks, or some crap." Seems to jive with the general maturity level I had seen from the drummer (30 something guy with a kid and been divorce, kept going on about scoring after gigs).

So I guess the moral of the story is that next time I want to be in a band, I'll have to be sure to mention that I know "plenty of hot chicks."