Fired...because of vacation plans?

Bassic83 · #1 08-20-2008, 05:56 AM

So I'm at home last nite, cooking dinner with my wife, and I get a call from the guitarist of the band I was in...

"Hey Junior, what's up?"

"Hey man, I'm making some changes in the band- I'm tired of having to schedule gigs around people's schedules...and we aren't learning new material, haven't had a practice in a while now. We're just stagnating. You're a great player, I don't have a problem with your playing, but I'm gonna have to let you go. I just can't make gig plans around schedules."

"Um, OK..."

"I'm gonna call Mark (the other guitarist) in a minute and let him know too...gotta go now, man."

Click.

OK, I told him a month ago that I bought tickets for the weekend of Sept. 19-20 to go to my dad's, and in January that my wife had bought cruise tickets for Dec 14-21...so that's two weekends I can't play- out of 52 possible weekends. I reminded him last weekend of my upcoming trip, but he looked kind of miffed that I'd be gone. When I joined this band, it was a 2-weekend-a-month band, everyone had day jobs and families to juggle, so it was nice not having the stress of playing every week. Our bookings have been tapering off lately, though, and I got us a corporate gig a few weeks ago that paid handsomely. Obviously, something's afoot here, but I can't figure out what.

So I'm out of playing again for a while...

Time to sell off most of my gear, I guess.

QORC · #2 08-20-2008, 06:24 AM

couple reactions

#1 Just because one band fires you, why would you sell your gear? If you really love playing and you're at least average, you'll find another band.

#2 I doubt they fired you over vacation plans, if you have characterized the situation accurately. I mean, if your band isn't even practicing there has to be a reason unrelated to your two vacations. Usually cowardly musicians get rid of people for a reason different than they state. Other issues going on there that either you're not saying or you're not aware of. Or they have someone else in mind and they'd rather have him in the band than you.

Either way, you need to pick yourself up and move on.

I was fired by 2 bands inside of one year. Now I'm playing in one of the most popular cover bands in my State and have played multiple gigs in front of literally thousands of people. Those previous two bands? They are plodding along playing the same 3 crappy restaurants they were playing when I was with them.

There is justice.

Bassorama57 · #3 08-20-2008, 06:35 AM

Hence the Ben Folds song, "Army.." quoting, "The band broke up in May/ and reformed in June without me/ but they got a different name." Happens. Keep your gear, find better sidemen.

Bassic83 · #4 08-20-2008, 06:35 AM

If I am not playing, I can't justify having the gear I have now- ten or so basses, three Schroeders, a couple MarkBass heads, a QSC/BBE rack, etc...besides, gotta build up my GAS fund!

I'm not torn up over it, not mad or hurt or anything. I've been playing for way too long to have this hurt my feelings. I've been fired from bands before- who hasn't?- so this isn't my first time around this block. I've been playing bass since 84, and keys since 67, so it's not like my musical ability is suspect. It's not. I'm a good player. I just thought it was odd...

Bassorama57 · #5 08-20-2008, 07:28 AM

Cheesey, or at least "un-manly."

lamarjones · #6 08-20-2008, 07:50 AM

a) they sound like amatuers.

b) your gear list sounds out of control regardless of what band you are in. Doesn't sound like you need to sell your gear cause you aren't playing, sounds like you have gear that doesn't get played anyways.

c) don't sweat the amatuers, or if you are one, being one. People decide on their own that somehow things need to be more 'serious', but rarely is it because circumstances require them to be more serious. It's usually one day after coming out of the crapper, all of a sudden they are 'serious'. sounds like that here, which is all in their heads.

jomahu · #7 08-20-2008, 07:56 AM

don't sell your stuff!!!! unless you're sick and tired of it all.

i got fired from a band and didn't even know it.

Dbassmon · #8 08-20-2008, 08:07 AM

My question is this, is the reason you play is so you can be in this band?

If the answer is yes, then sell your gear. If the answer is no, then then why would consider such a notion. Unless it's to thin the herd of unplayed axes.

If this gig isn't your main source of income, these guys have no business making demands on your time that requires you to be "on call". That guy is a control freak.

Get back in touch with the reason you play. Maybe take some lessons. Try to remember what made you excited about music. If you are not tied up with those losers, you now have free time to get back into the bass in a pure sense.

Everything happens for a reason. You have been given a gift. Use your time wisely.

jaywa · #9 08-20-2008, 08:13 AM

So, a month ago when you told him would have been mid-July, and your conflicts were for mid-September and December. That is PLENTY of lead time (unless this is one of those hack bands that never really markets themselves but just picks up whatever gigs they can at the last minute), and asking for two weekends a year "off" is definitely not out of line, especially for what is clearly a "hobby band" (they may they're more than a hobby band, but if they never practice that's really what they are).

I'm with the others here, the bandleader had no grounds to fire you based on "unreasonable" scheduling requests. There must be something else. In any event though it may be hard now, if you are any kind of player at all I'm sure something better is just around the corner. Hang in there.

FWIW my hobby band has an "open substitution" policy, i.e. if one of us can't make a gig but the rest of the guys can do it and want to, the band can go ahead and play that gig with a sub. We have done this a couple times with the lead guitarist and a few times with the drummer and while it's certainly not as good a band with the subs, at least the rest of the band isn't missing out on a night's pay just cause one of us can't make it. If it gets to where two of the guys can't do it (we're a 5-piece), then we pass on the gig.

Tenma4 · #10 08-20-2008, 08:16 AM

In the words of the great Bugs Bunny. "What a maroon!" Seriously, don't even worry about it. Giving dates that will be a conflict far in advance is called being professional. Firing someone because they interact with reality, thereby endangering one's inflated dream for rockstardom by a non-practicing, infrequent gigging want-to-be band merely demonstrates a band leader whose self-worth is floating by it's contents much like the substance my dog just released from his back side with a "ppppssssssss" sound. Any questions?

txbasschik · #11 08-20-2008, 10:05 AM

Are you sure he didn't call up my old band for a List Of Lame Excuses To Fire The Bassist? Sounds like he is full of b.s., and there is some behind-the-scenes reason why he's getting rid of you and the guitarist. He's probably found someone else he thinks he wants to work with, and is using your schedules as an excuse.

If you feel you must sell your gear, don't sell it all, man. Keep your faves around, and find another band to work with. You *are* a good bassist, you have plenty of experience, and there's someone out there who truly wants to work with you!

Remember when I was all depressed and thinking of selling my gear? You were one of those who talked me out of it and kept me going. So...Don't you sell your gear and get out of music, laddie-buck!!! Get with another band and then turn around and SMOKE that loser who fired you! Make him wish he'd never done it!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS!!!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Cherie

Deacon_Blues · #12 08-20-2008, 10:33 AM

Sell some of your gear if you have too much of it, but don't sell it all. You can use some of the money to fund an even nicer vacation than you were planning. I bet your wife wouldn't have anything against it.

EDIT: I'd perhaps buy one of your markbass heads if you'd decide to sell.. the dollar is low now compared to the euro..

Bassic83 · #13 08-20-2008, 10:49 AM

I think I am going to down-size somewhat, but I have about 3-4 basses I can't get rid of...my Dean B2-5, which was played by and signed by Brian Bromberg, the Squier Active Deluxe 5 my wife bought me for Christmas, and the white Jazz I built from parts (it's in my avatar pic). Everything else I could part with for a price

. My 310212r Schroeder is just too big for my car, so it's up on the block this weekend for starters. My 6 may go away too, and I have a bunch of other stuff that I might have to part with. So stay tuned on that front.

On another front, I talked at length to the other guitarist, and he seems to think Junior was wanting to get his old bass player back, and possibly go three-piece like back in the old days. He was saying he was getting tired of having to check with everyone and their wives/families, especially when gigs come up all of a sudden.

We also discussed the real possibility that he and I might both be "ex band members" very soon, and we are very tight vocally, so much so that people have actually asked if we were brothers! So, if he comes up missing on their roster, we'll likely start up our own band. We have enough material to do a night's worth now, between the two of us, and it'd just be a matter of finding a drummer to get us started, we'd like a keyboard player to be onboard as well, and they're quite scarce around these parts. I could do that part as well on some stuff, but it makes my head hurt to play two different instruments and sing.

Anyway, they have a gig this weekend in Galveston, should I show up to watch them struggle?

Bassic83 · #14 08-20-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

EDIT: I'd perhaps buy one of your markbass heads if you'd decide to sell.. the dollar is low now compared to the euro..

buzzbass · #15 08-20-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassic83

So I'm at home last nite, cooking dinner with my wife, and I get a call from the guitarist of the band I was in...

"Hey Junior, what's up?"

"Hey man, I'm making some changes in the band- I'm tired of having to schedule gigs around people's schedules...and we aren't learning new material, haven't had a practice in a while now. We're just stagnating. You're a great player, I don't have a problem with your playing, but I'm gonna have to let you go. I just can't make gig plans around schedules."

"Um, OK..."

"I'm gonna call Mark (the other guitarist) in a minute and let him know too...gotta go now, man."

Click.

OK, I told him a month ago that I bought tickets for the weekend of Sept. 19-20 to go to my dad's, and in January that my wife had bought cruise tickets for Dec 14-21...so that's two weekends I can't play- out of 52 possible weekends. I reminded him last weekend of my upcoming trip, but he looked kind of miffed that I'd be gone. When I joined this band, it was a 2-weekend-a-month band, everyone had day jobs and families to juggle, so it was nice not having the stress of playing every week. Our bookings have been tapering off lately, though, and I got us a corporate gig a few weeks ago that paid handsomely. Obviously, something's afoot here, but I can't figure out what.

So I'm out of playing again for a while...

Time to sell off most of my gear, I guess.

you're right that something is up. and, if I were you, I'd pull the plug on that corporate gig

buzzbass · #16 08-20-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassic83

If I am not playing, I can't justify having the gear I have now- ten or so basses, three Schroeders, a couple MarkBass heads, a QSC/BBE rack, etc...besides, gotta build up my GAS fund!

I'm not torn up over it, not mad or hurt or anything. I've been playing for way too long to have this hurt my feelings. I've been fired from bands before- who hasn't?- so this isn't my first time around this block. I've been playing bass since 84, and keys since 67, so it's not like my musical ability is suspect. It's not. I'm a good player. I just thought it was odd...

It's all paid for, isn't it ? You don't NEED to justify a thing, to anyone.

Bassic83 · #17 08-20-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzbass

It's all paid for, isn't it ? You don't NEED to justify a thing, to anyone.

No, I don't. But I can't justify having this much gear, I can only play two, maybe three, basses at one time.

Bassic83 · #18 08-20-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzbass

you're right that something is up. and, if I were you, I'd pull the plug on that corporate gig

Too late. I already signed the contract. I also got paid. And we already played the gig.

kesslari · #19 08-20-2008, 11:03 AM

Bro,

Getting fired hurts the ego, for sure. Like getting dumped when you were single.

But as Lurch, I mean QORC said, it's likely gonna work out for the best for you.

You're a bass player. You can get gigs. Bands want you. Chicks dig you.
Deal with it. Revel in it.

Oh, and about the gear - gigging or not, you can't *justify* 10+ basses.
You can enjoy having them.
or not.
They weren't making you that much money, compared to your day gig.
If you like 'em, keep 'em. You'll play 'em, and you'll gig with them again soon.

Looking forward to your post, in a couple of months, about how rocking your new band is, and how the old a**holes are still looking...

stflbn · #20 08-20-2008, 11:06 AM

You definitely have gear that you don't use.

I've made myself standardize on one rig, and anything that's bought is followed by the other being sold. Keeps me somewhat 'honest'.