You Fired! LMAO!

DWBass · #1 04-06-2011, 10:21 AM

Well, for the first time ever in my 35 years of playing in bands, I have been relieved of my duties. Now don't feel bad for me! After a period of resentment and a bit of anger, I'm actually happy I'm done with them. Just wanted to quit on my own terms but they beat me to the punch! Had nothing to do with my playing. The band is doomed anyway. The singer and his wife, who literally took over what was initially a democratically run band, barely get by. The keyboardist has severe timing issues and zero funk. The drummer has attitude, identity and mental issues and is also a bully (not to me though! Homey don't play that!). The guitarist lacks outfrontness and funk chops! The drummer and keyboardist routinely screw up at every gig from missing parts to actually forgetting songs during performances.

Drummer misses kick and snare hits on every song which always prompted me to turn around to see whats up!

Male singer does not sing to the audience. Quite often is walking back and forth onstage singing to band members. Last gig, he was literally 8 inches away from my face singing to me! WTH?!?! Drummer and guitarist are always at each others throats!

Singers refuse to sing certain popular and in demand songs just to be different!

While the band continues to get booked, they just suck (I suspect an inside man, rumor is it's the keyboardist and his connects. He's a Doctor)! A mediocre band lumped into a pile of other mediocre bands. They don't have what it takes nor are they willing to do what it takes to be an A list band!

Reasons given: Not answering or returning calls. I admit I hate to be on the phone. Send me an e-mail or text. I don't need to talk to you every single frikkin' day! I still communicated by text and e-mail. He mentioned he thought I was mad over a keyboardist we auditioned (who was good) but HE decided not to use. I never thought twice about it!

The fact that I was playing with other folks (who I made it clear that my main band was my main band/the other band didn't have an issue??!!)

Also mentioned that I was hard to talk to! Really?!?! Really?!?!

I call BS!

Basically, I think he was pissed off that I was playing with other cats and actually enjoying myself playing music I like! And word got back to him that the band was smokin'! Jealous maybe? I think so. He just couldn't stand me being able to have my cake and eat it too! LOL!

So anyway, they get together this past Sunday with a new guy and have a wedding to play this coming Saturday in NC! One rehearsal! Hoo Boy, I forsee trainswrecks galore! Good luck dodo's!

I'm working with some cats now who know what it takes to be a killer band. The agents are already asking for a promo and are ready to start booking.

Word is out on the street regarding what they did and most of the folks who came back to me with it all know these cats and it seems they have done dirt in the past! They also feel the male singer is 'suspect' but that's a whole nutha thread! Not going there with that one! All in all, I put in a lot of time and effort to be the best I could be for these guys! But I see even 50 year old men still act like children! There was no meeting, no type of mediation in an attempt to resolve things. His mind was made up and he was not changing it! Oh, I forgot to mention he did this to the first guitarist we had. Really good player too. Way better than the current guy!

stflbn · #2 04-06-2011, 10:25 AM

Doesn't sound like you're relieved or beyond it. IMHO.

evilt70 · #3 04-06-2011, 10:26 AM

I t happens, used to be in a band where most of the others had "chemical dependancies" that would effect their playing quite often. As I was the odd man out, I was eventually replaced (told at the end of a thanksgiving eve gig that my services were no longer needed). I was pissed at first, but was in another band by that weekend. And that band is no longer around, after floundering another year and getting banned from playing many clubs. Eventually it will fizzle up and die. Be glad you got out when you did! I was!

gnjpowell · #4 04-06-2011, 10:27 AM

Sounds like the BEST thing that couldah happened, except mebbe if it happened yesterday....

jaywa · #5 04-06-2011, 10:46 AM

Can only mean a better situation for you is just around the corner. Possibly much better.

Edward G. · #6 04-06-2011, 10:48 AM

Let 'em go.

Time wounds all heels.

**pacojas** · #7 04-06-2011, 10:59 AM

you were ready to quit this band last year, cuz! (at least you hung in for their sake)

panama · #8 04-06-2011, 11:04 AM

It's weird that you remained in the band for any time at all despite all of the problems you listed.

DWBass · #9 04-06-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

Doesn't sound like you're relieved or beyond it. IMHO.

Oh I am. Just shocked by it!

DWBass · #10 04-06-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panama

It's weird that you remained in the band for any time at all despite all of the problems you listed.

Money was my motivating factor!

DWBass · #11 04-06-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

you were ready to quit this band last year, cuz! (at least you hung in for their sake)

I tried to hang in there and was ready to leave. I just wanted to do it on my own terms. They just beat me to the punch!

Nurb · #12 04-06-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

Doesn't sound like you're relieved or beyond it. IMHO.

Yeah, you do sound kind of bitter.

Lester4string · #13 04-06-2011, 11:33 AM

Before I got fired from a band I really cared about (5 years ago), I was a one project guy. I had one band, and I was all in. After I got fired I found that there were lots of projects out there for me to participate in. I started playing Musical Theatre and Opera, Jazz, Bluegrass, Funk, Techno and Rock and Roll. If I remained a one project guy, i would have never had all the wonderful opportunities i get to choose from now.

bluewine · #14 04-06-2011, 11:36 AM

Let the next band know a head of time you don't answer your phone.

DWBass · #15 04-06-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nurb

Yeah, you do sound kind of bitter.

I was. Took a day to get over it! Just wanted to share the story with you guys.

DWBass · #16 04-06-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

Let the next band know a head of time you don't answer your phone.

Already have!

The point was, the dude used to call me ALL the damn time to talk about nothing! I got tired of it.

bluewine · #17 04-06-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Already have!

The point was, the dude used to call me ALL the damn time to talk about nothing! I got tired of it.

Ok, good to know because I call one of my band mates daily for no reason. But, I think he likes to talk as much as me.

Edward G. · #18 04-06-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Already have!

The point was, the dude used to call me ALL the damn time to talk about nothing! I got tired of it.

You couldn't conceal your contempt any longer. lol Boy, is that tiresome, when someone you're not really friends with calls you up to chew your ear off.

Bromosapian · #19 04-07-2011, 09:25 AM

you lost me at "Singers refuse to sing certain popular and in demand songs just to be different!". Not to turn this into an argument, but couldn't it be that many people find the current trend to be pop trash that isn't worth playing, rather than some contrived attempt to appear different.

Edward G. · #20 04-07-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bromosapian

you lost me at "Singers refuse to sing certain popular and in demand songs just to be different!". Not to turn this into an argument, but couldn't it be that many people find the current trend to be pop trash that isn't worth playing, rather than some contrived attempt to appear different.

I agree wholeheartedly, but popular music IS popular music. I would feel totally wrong playing most of it. The challenge is to identify the best stuff and mix it in with the best stuff from other eras. Ninety-percent of EVERYTHING is crap, y'know.