I only worry if is a well paid gig otherwise i don't give a rats ass, i am a very good solid player with good gear that does't come by easily in my neck of the woods
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Do You Fear Getting Fired or Replaced?
- Thread starter jive1
- Start date
Nah, I've learned a bunch over the last years and one of them is, no matter what handle it with class and control...no, it won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Running my own band I guess I don't have to worry about it...well, there have been some nights where I wanted to can my sorry a$$..
I've literally never had this concern. Reliable, sane, and competent musicians are difficult to find.
Typically it's the way people go about it that get the uproar. I was recently replaced in a band I was w/ for a long time. It was a logical move, and one I would have agreed too, albeit still been disappointed by, but the decision was made and took effect w/o so much as a phone call.
I know this is a crazy business. I also know people need to look out for themselves. But part and parcel of being a band leader, friend, human is having to own up to your decisions and treat people properly.
/rant
I don't worry about it though. Sometimes healthy competition drives me to be better, and that's cool. I'm confident in what I can do, and that's all I can be . . .
I know this is a crazy business. I also know people need to look out for themselves. But part and parcel of being a band leader, friend, human is having to own up to your decisions and treat people properly.
/rant
I don't worry about it though. Sometimes healthy competition drives me to be better, and that's cool. I'm confident in what I can do, and that's all I can be . . .
Nowadays, I go into band situations knowing that I could be replaced and that people can quit at any time. Not that I hope that it happens, but it does for all kinds of reasons, and once in a while they make sense.
Often there's another opportunity around the corner, and sometimes taking a break isn't a bad thing.
I live in the world of causal gigs, one-nighters, etc. There are two "fears" with this type of work, but you are not necessarily "fired" in either case.
1. The phone stops ringing (somebody didn't like your playing last time, or there's a new player in town, etc.)
2. When the phone rings, you turn the gig down because of another commitment. You do this a few times to the same person, and then, the phone stops ringing...
1. The phone stops ringing (somebody didn't like your playing last time, or there's a new player in town, etc.)
2. When the phone rings, you turn the gig down because of another commitment. You do this a few times to the same person, and then, the phone stops ringing...
If they did get a "new guy", he would have to bring a lot to the table. Make yourself irreplaceable and that won't happen.
Unless, of course, they call the new guy because of reason #2 in my previous post! But, yes, I agree with you...reliable, good players continue to get called.
Sometimes it's just too much work to be irreplaceable. There's been times I'd rather have been fired than having to deal with lugging the PA, promoting the band, booking gigs, etc.
Nah, the lead guitarist was just afraid you'd steal all his spotlight....
Sometimes, it doesn't have to do with your playing or your personality. It's a matter of fit, schedules aligning, priorities, politics, etc. Sometimes there's no logic to it at all. I've worked with a bandleader once who seemed to just like replacing people.
But I agree on being a good band member. I think that's why as a fledgling guitar player I'm able to gig pretty consistently even though I lack chops and experience. I'd like to think it's from hearing things from a bass players perspective for so long that makes me different from others. Or it's because of my stunning good looks.
Not really because all the bands and groups I have been in are usually just a hobby or I guess you could say side "job." I still make my money working my 9-5 job during the week and live life.
I am in my mid-20's and was actually just released from my band about a month ago. It sucked and was a surprise, but since then I have been able to do other things and still live my comfortable life. I got over it and that band was going no where and we never made any money from it anyways. Found out later they pretty much replaced me behind the scenes, so needless to say after the pretty much stab in the back that there maintaining friendship thing went out the window as well. I still play and I always keep my eyes open for my next band/members.
I am in my mid-20's and was actually just released from my band about a month ago. It sucked and was a surprise, but since then I have been able to do other things and still live my comfortable life. I got over it and that band was going no where and we never made any money from it anyways. Found out later they pretty much replaced me behind the scenes, so needless to say after the pretty much stab in the back that there maintaining friendship thing went out the window as well. I still play and I always keep my eyes open for my next band/members.
I think if you work in an environment like this, where people more often come and go, you get over the getting fired/replaced/etc. thing.
But it does suck when the calls stop coming in, and often they won't tell you why, and when they do, it's not always the real reason. Since no-one wants to burn bridges in this realm, it's harder to get honest feedback.
I have to say that 'fear' doesn't really enter in to it. A current band is dying a slow death, due mainly to trying to schedule a bunch of very talented and very busy musicians. I wish it wasn't so, because we sound great and work so well together, but that's life.
Frankly, I have just about as much on call work as I can handle right now anyway. The committment to weekly rehearsals with a project is tough. Like Jive, I try hard not to turn down requests, so I get some steady calls.
It's a really good position to be in, so no complaints from me! (Except I have a few more years before I can ditch the day job!)
Frankly, I have just about as much on call work as I can handle right now anyway. The committment to weekly rehearsals with a project is tough. Like Jive, I try hard not to turn down requests, so I get some steady calls.
It's a really good position to be in, so no complaints from me! (Except I have a few more years before I can ditch the day job!)
I've been in the same band for 8 years. That is pretty rare and there have been many issues that we have worked through but, only because it was worth it. When you have a certain chemistry and a following, things go flat pretty quick if you try to get a sub for any of the origional guys. Usually groups who cycle through members like you are describing sound boring to me. There is no flavor, no grit, no character. Just going through the motions for a paycheck. Thats lame. If you are getting replaced all the time, is it you or the players that you are dealing with? If I left my band today it would colapse because I take care of all the little things that make it great, that the other guys take for granted. They know it too. I could play in another band tomorow and, this is an area that is hurting for musicians. I wouldn't want to though. The whole lame, no character thing.
I won't say I fear it, but that definitely is an issue everyone faces in all walks of life. I documented a personal case of this awhile back in this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/im-really-beginning-dislike-my-guitarist-865865/
At that time, my guitarist was somewhat gun-ho about kicking me out of the two bands we both were in, and I believe he did this to try and solidify the deal. Fortunately....
...this proved to be the case. The guitarist tried, and succeeded, to get our singer to side with him, but our drummer stepped in and basically made the case that I was worth too much to be let go. He (the drummer) knows about ever bassist in town, and he said that it'd be impossible to find another bassist as skilled, dedicated, consistent, easy to work with, and professional as me for either of those bands. The singer quickly switched positions, and my role was solidified.
Not at all. My frontman constantly brags about how he has the best rhythm section in Florida. He'd do anything to keep me around.
Huge +1 to this.
Some band members will expect others to bend over backwards if they want to keep their place in a band. I know this might go slightly against what I just said in my last post, but this is one issue I have in my band.
My bandmates never seem too worried if our drummer can't make a 'needed' rehearsal before a huge gig, but god forbid if I have other plans already made and have to skip a just-for-fun jam session with the band just once. This is one issue I can't understand, as it's almost as if each band member is ranked into a different class. Of course, I don't see him as a lesser, but I don't see him as being any better either. All bandmates should be on the same level.
I do a large percentage of the booking, internet presence, and general business of the band, and yet I get crap like that from time to time. Our drummer, OTOH, is just a drummer. Granted, he is VERY talented, but to me musical talent < booking gigs talent.
