Uh, who has never been kicked out of a band?

BWB · #1 10-15-2008, 11:04 AM

Reading all of this "here's how you fire someone from your band" threadage made me realize -- every ex-band of mine has either disintegrated as a unit or I've told them I've had enough and headed for the door on my own. I've been in bands for more than 25 years off and on and I've never been fired from a band gig.
I've participated in kicking other people out of bands, but never been on the receiving end of it.

And, you know, I'm not a people person or everyone's best friend either. But I show up on time, I know my bass lines, and don't get in anyone's face. Is that the secret?

CapnSev · #2 10-15-2008, 11:11 AM

I'm in the same boat as you. It's either been a total band implosion, or me leaving on my own.

chaosMK · #3 10-15-2008, 11:13 AM

I quit once when I was a youngster and the band fell apart shorly after. Was on the verge of being fired all the time with one band (for no reason, I'd be a few minutes late to rehearsal). I ended up moving on and filling out their last few shows. They had constant lineup changes after that. I practiced a few times with an "Indie Progressive" type band and did a show with them. I thought my background in tech metal would make it an easy gig, but their songs had about a million changes in them and it was hard to keep track. After the show, I got fired.

agreatheight · #4 10-15-2008, 11:14 AM

I've never been fired, but I have quit and made people in the band very happy.

lamonica78 · #5 10-15-2008, 11:16 AM

I've never been fired from any bands I've been in....granted, I've only been in two proper bands, but still

I left my first one and the band fell completely apart. I did all of the business stuff in the band (booking, promotion, etc) and they just completely imploded once they didn't have me doing all of the leg work.

phatbass · #6 10-15-2008, 11:40 AM

In 30 years I've never been fired from a band. Mind you, the last 13 years I've been mainly a gig-whore so if things didn't work out they'd just have to not call me back. Even so just about every group that's hired me has hired me back again.

stflbn · #7 10-15-2008, 11:42 AM

Never been fired from a band. Been playing in bands for 29 years.

Earthquake · #8 10-15-2008, 11:44 AM

Never been fired, but I think I got "laid off" recently.

bassplayertom77 · #9 10-15-2008, 12:14 PM

I've quit bands who said they fired me. I just don't get it.

RTL · #10 10-15-2008, 12:25 PM

Never been fired, but that's kind of the way it is here in Austin. There seems to be a big shortage of good bassists, so if you want work badly enough and are halfway proficient on your instrument, you'll be offered more work than you have time for.

Not saying I suck or anything

Phalex · #11 10-15-2008, 12:31 PM

I quit bands like I used to break up with girlfriends. I'm a jackass until they tell me to hit the road. I quit by getting fired.

GerManson · #12 10-15-2008, 12:33 PM

Never been fired

xshawnxearthx · #13 10-15-2008, 12:37 PM

i wish i would be fired from my main project. in fact, i wish i could get fired without being a total douche bag to them.

actually, i'm giving my 2 week notice on monday.

bassbrad · #14 10-15-2008, 12:39 PM

I've been fired, but usually it was the excuse of a band reorganizing or trying a new direction. Usually I have been replaced by a singing bass player with less talent/skill/ego or in one case a really hot chick. It never really bothered me because I usually have several irons in the fire and move my attentions to another band.

jsingles · #15 10-15-2008, 12:43 PM

i did the kicking, and then the whole band imploded

canshaker · #16 10-15-2008, 12:44 PM

I got fired once MANY years ago. The band had a development deal with Warner Bros. (anyone else remember when labels used to DEVELOP bands???) The label made the band rehire me. I lasted 3 months before I quit for good.
They broke up shortly thereafter.

Calebmundy · #17 10-15-2008, 12:45 PM

I've been fired. I was playing in a blues-rock trio with a guy I went to school with. Not exactly a permament band with a "band name", but the guy had done a lot of work in his hometown, which is only 2 hours from Nashville, so I was looking forward to a lot of shows. He fired me because I overplayed under his solos, and because I didn't always stick to the root in places where he really needed the root. I admire the guy for calling me and giving it to me straight up. He was calm and very straightforward. I still feel like an ass for bone-ing that one up.

I've also been "queitly replaced" from some sidework I was doing, but I'm not really sure what happened there.

LP75 · #18 10-15-2008, 12:45 PM

I have never been asked to leave a band.
On the contrary, I have often been in the position of having more than one band requesting my participation, as has been the case for the past year. I only have time for full membership in just one band, but it feels good to know that there are others who value what I do.

davetakis · #19 10-15-2008, 12:48 PM

i was a tech for a group where the bassist, over 50, sexually harrased a friend of mine,19, whose bf worked for me. i had him pinned against the wall. he was drunk as a skunk. the band fired me, which i didnt even react to. i just said "ok". that made them even madder. they kept calling me to get a rise out of me. i just kept going "ok", ok, ok ok. man they were pissed off at me for months because i just simply didnt care.

Ben B · #20 10-15-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I'm in the same boat as you. It's either been a total band implosion, or me leaving on my own.

same here.