Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Do You Fear Getting Fired or Replaced?
- Thread starter jive1
- Start date
After 40+ years of casuals and "permanent" band situations, I guess I've pretty much seen it all.
The biggest issue isn't fear for me, but pride.
I guess I must be doing something right, as I've always been pretty busy. I've only been fired once, and flunked one audition.
However, no-one likes rejection.
The time I got fired, I had already made a firm decision to quit, but they beat me to the punch be about an hour. Strangely, I was deeply hurt. I knew why I wanted to quit, but it turned out that I wasn't really ready to hear their side of the story. I didn't make a fuss, but I was bummed.
The other one that bugged me, was being refused an audition because of age. I was talking to the bandleader on the phone, and he was clearly digging all my responses. Gear? Check. Transportation? Check. Skills? Check. Musical styles? Check.
We were getting on great, until a note of uncertainty crept into his voice, and he finally said "Gee, you seem to have been around... and you have... a... very... umm... mature-sounding voice... ...How old are you?".
As he put it, they were very serious about their music and wanted a record contract. They were all young, well-dressed and handsome, and there was no way they could hold the band back by considering someone my age.
I was 31 at the time!
The biggest issue isn't fear for me, but pride.
I guess I must be doing something right, as I've always been pretty busy. I've only been fired once, and flunked one audition.
However, no-one likes rejection.
The time I got fired, I had already made a firm decision to quit, but they beat me to the punch be about an hour. Strangely, I was deeply hurt. I knew why I wanted to quit, but it turned out that I wasn't really ready to hear their side of the story. I didn't make a fuss, but I was bummed.
The other one that bugged me, was being refused an audition because of age. I was talking to the bandleader on the phone, and he was clearly digging all my responses. Gear? Check. Transportation? Check. Skills? Check. Musical styles? Check.
We were getting on great, until a note of uncertainty crept into his voice, and he finally said "Gee, you seem to have been around... and you have... a... very... umm... mature-sounding voice... ...How old are you?".
As he put it, they were very serious about their music and wanted a record contract. They were all young, well-dressed and handsome, and there was no way they could hold the band back by considering someone my age.
I was 31 at the time!
steve_rolfeca said:
I'm in the same boat,I say pick your bands carefully. I show up on time and prepared for all rehearsals and gigs and I have booked a few gigs too.
I think most guys would or should know if there at risk of being replaced.
Oh, if the band is not gigging or generating revenue, you haven't been fired from anything.
Interesting thread...
I have thought about this before, and while it's possible for anyone to get fired or replaced, it's not something that keeps me up at night. For the most part, I'm pretty confident with my chops, and I conduct myself professionally. I have high-end gear; I show up to the gig on time; I'm not a prima-donna; I don't drink on the gigs or do drugs. My significant other doesn't bring drama to the gigs. I have stage presence and dress to impress. I'm also very reliable: I'm the only member in my band of nine years who has never asked for a date to be cancelled or moved on behalf nor have I ever used a sub because I had to miss a gig. In fact, I've only ever asked for two dates to be kept open for me for personal reasons. I even played a gig the night of my mother's funeral.
Of course, I have faults, just like any other player or person; but I know that all of those things make me a good commodity. Again, could I get fired now or in the future? Definitely, but as Mellow put it, if that's the case, then it wasn't the band for me in the first place.
I have thought about this before, and while it's possible for anyone to get fired or replaced, it's not something that keeps me up at night. For the most part, I'm pretty confident with my chops, and I conduct myself professionally. I have high-end gear; I show up to the gig on time; I'm not a prima-donna; I don't drink on the gigs or do drugs. My significant other doesn't bring drama to the gigs. I have stage presence and dress to impress. I'm also very reliable: I'm the only member in my band of nine years who has never asked for a date to be cancelled or moved on behalf nor have I ever used a sub because I had to miss a gig. In fact, I've only ever asked for two dates to be kept open for me for personal reasons. I even played a gig the night of my mother's funeral.
Of course, I have faults, just like any other player or person; but I know that all of those things make me a good commodity. Again, could I get fired now or in the future? Definitely, but as Mellow put it, if that's the case, then it wasn't the band for me in the first place.
I play in 2 bands - one with long time friends, who couldn't possibly fire or replace me otherwise I'd pull some Fatal Attraction stunt on them and throw their pet animals in boiling pans!! The other one, they...hm, well actually they could replace me but what the hell - they can't possibly fire me!! I'm the cool dude with the geddy lee, c'mon!!
It doesn't concern me. First off, I don't think my band leader would fire me. He might dissolve the band and form a new project, but if he does that it'll probably be for the best.
Besides, there's a big enough music scene in my town that I could find another band pretty quickly.
Besides, there's a big enough music scene in my town that I could find another band pretty quickly.
This can be so true. I found the answer to it though, never say anything bad about anyone, then you have a reputation as being a really nice guy, and people wouldn't believe if someone said you said something bad. Believe me though, this is way harder to accomplish in the real world, because there is always that person, that you are just think is an idiot.
A lot of this I learned from living in the UK, where as soon as you say something about someone, someone goes and tells them, but adds to the story. People talk **** about people, and then other people make it into a huge deal.
I don't find there to be as much of a problem with this in the US, but who knows.
But I definitely feel you, getting wrongly fired is terrifying. A while ago I worked in a bar, and I was blown away, because I got accused of stealing vodka and drinking on the job. And that I had no "social skills" and wouldn't talk to the guests. And I got accused of only ever having my friends come in to the bar, or people I know. Funny thing was, my friends only ever came in once, she just thought most of the customers were my friends because of the rapport I would create with them before she walked by. Kind of blew my mind. I'd never done anything but been respectful and nice to people there. I guess in the end I decided that I was better off not working there.
I was having a discussion with my wife the other day about some difficulties in one of the bands I work with, and she said she would feel bad for me if I wound up getting replaced. I realized at that moment, that my wife would feel worse if I had to leave a band than me. SHOCKER!
Anyway, I realized that being replaced just doesn't faze me like it used to. I'm not saying it won't make me feel bad, cause it probably would. But, over the years of being fired, rehired, used as a sub, etc, I find that it's just a part of the nature of the biz. I try to take something positive and learn something from any experience, be thankful for the opportunity, and figure out a way to use it for the future. Plus for some odd reason, I wind up keeping busy anyhow. As one gal who wouldn't audition me said, "I admire how you manage to work alot with what you have". Gee.....thanks.
Anyway, how about you? Do you fear getting fired or replaced?
Nope, not at all. I'm not a 'working' musician, though. I actually just put in notice that I'm leaving one of the two bands I'm in, and given that the BL of the other band called me up last night to vent about the drummer I'm not too worried about that one...
All that aside, I think it takes a healthy and robust ego to engage in artistic activity anyway so if I was fired I'd probably be a little irritated at first but I'd get over it very quickly. Thus far I've actually never been fired from a band (I've only been fired from one job in my life and it was really more of a mutual thing anyway).
I've played one really bad drunk gig and am still here. And I have never played that poorly before or afterward, so I don't think I'm going anywhere.
Besides, without me, how would they book shows and tours, organize merch orders and manage the money?
Besides, without me, how would they book shows and tours, organize merch orders and manage the money?
I was having a discussion with my wife the other day about some difficulties in one of the bands I work with, and she said she would feel bad for me if I wound up getting replaced. I realized at that moment, that my wife would feel worse if I had to leave a band than me. SHOCKER!
Anyway, I realized that being replaced just doesn't faze me like it used to. I'm not saying it won't make me feel bad, cause it probably would. But, over the years of being fired, rehired, used as a sub, etc, I find that it's just a part of the nature of the biz. I try to take something positive and learn something from any experience, be thankful for the opportunity, and figure out a way to use it for the future. Plus for some odd reason, I wind up keeping busy anyhow. As one gal who wouldn't audition me said, "I admire how you manage to work alot with what you have". Gee.....thanks.
Anyway, how about you? Do you fear getting fired or replaced?
No I don't. My philosophy is I never get fired from doing something I enjoy. So even if I'm dismissed from one situation (it's only happened once), it's just because I need to find something that better suits me.
No. I have been in enough projects to know if I am replaceable or not. I am also careful to never promise more than I can deliver, and I keep a good eye on the writing on the wall. There will ALWAYS be another great project down the road if the current one doesn't feel right.
I'd be bummed if I was replaced, but I'd be more bummed if I lost my real job. It pays well and the whole mortgage thing is important.
The thought has never really crossed my mind with my current band. We all get along great and everyone tells me they like my playing, so no worries!
There is only like 3 other bassists around my age in my town so I dont have to worry but if I was fired I would just start another one. Plus we are all good friends. We want to play music professionally but we also do it because we like hang out with each other
Not really.
I'm in 3 bands right now, playing a different instrument in each one.
Main band I play bass. The music is instrumental proggy funky fusiony jammy stuff, and a lot of it is based in large part on the bass lines I come up with during rehearsal jams. I'd actually like to move to mostly guitar and keys in that band, but the other guys are resistant because they like my bass playing too much (even though I'm not the greatest technically, but I come up with cool parts and have a good ear for arranging). The 4 of us are all pretty equal in terms of status in the band, we write democratically and all add to the final product so we're pretty much all irreplaceable (realistically). This one I'd be more worried about the keyboardist or drummer quitting. Actually the keyboardist basically did quit for a while (just too busy), and we worked ok as a 3 piece, but the music is a lot more 3 dimensional with keys and our writing has gotten a lot better since he's been back.
2nd band I play keys. There are no keyboard players in DC. Plus, since I play guitar too, I can contribute guitar ideas, and since I'm handy with sound engineering, I can make suggestions there too. And the singer is really into having me in the band and she's like the "co-captain". So I don't think I would be kicked out any time soon unless things drastically change.
The last band I just started, and I was the one who kind of had the idea and brought everyone together (all musicians I've played with in other bands, except the bassist, who plays with the drummer in another band currently). I play guitar, and we have the guitarist from the 1st band. So it's very unlikely that I'd get fired, at least for the foreseeable future. If we add a singer and somehow the band dynamic changes, I could see MAYBE getting forced out, but that seems unlikely because I'm friends with everybody and have been for a few years.
I'm in 3 bands right now, playing a different instrument in each one.
Main band I play bass. The music is instrumental proggy funky fusiony jammy stuff, and a lot of it is based in large part on the bass lines I come up with during rehearsal jams. I'd actually like to move to mostly guitar and keys in that band, but the other guys are resistant because they like my bass playing too much (even though I'm not the greatest technically, but I come up with cool parts and have a good ear for arranging). The 4 of us are all pretty equal in terms of status in the band, we write democratically and all add to the final product so we're pretty much all irreplaceable (realistically). This one I'd be more worried about the keyboardist or drummer quitting. Actually the keyboardist basically did quit for a while (just too busy), and we worked ok as a 3 piece, but the music is a lot more 3 dimensional with keys and our writing has gotten a lot better since he's been back.
2nd band I play keys. There are no keyboard players in DC. Plus, since I play guitar too, I can contribute guitar ideas, and since I'm handy with sound engineering, I can make suggestions there too. And the singer is really into having me in the band and she's like the "co-captain". So I don't think I would be kicked out any time soon unless things drastically change.
The last band I just started, and I was the one who kind of had the idea and brought everyone together (all musicians I've played with in other bands, except the bassist, who plays with the drummer in another band currently). I play guitar, and we have the guitarist from the 1st band. So it's very unlikely that I'd get fired, at least for the foreseeable future. If we add a singer and somehow the band dynamic changes, I could see MAYBE getting forced out, but that seems unlikely because I'm friends with everybody and have been for a few years.
I can't be fired or replaced in my band since I put the band together, I book all the gigs and run the business, play bass, sing lead and harmonies, own half the P.A. and a van. Basically, if I quit or somebody wanted to fire me, the plug would be pulled on the band.
Generally never.
I sing lead, play very solid bass, have (well, had in my younger days)a good look and presence on stage, first one to show up for the gig and last one to leave, no wierd personal issues, etc. etc. I've never been fired from a band.
The ONLY times I have "feared" being replaced was after I had given notice of a few months that I was leaving a band. One or two of those times I really needed the $$ from the gigs we had booked between the time I gave notice and the actual date I said I would be out. I was worried that if the right replacement came along but insisted on starting immediately, I would be out. luckily for me that never happened, but it was the only time I can recall being worried about me gig.
I sing lead, play very solid bass, have (well, had in my younger days)a good look and presence on stage, first one to show up for the gig and last one to leave, no wierd personal issues, etc. etc. I've never been fired from a band.
The ONLY times I have "feared" being replaced was after I had given notice of a few months that I was leaving a band. One or two of those times I really needed the $$ from the gigs we had booked between the time I gave notice and the actual date I said I would be out. I was worried that if the right replacement came along but insisted on starting immediately, I would be out. luckily for me that never happened, but it was the only time I can recall being worried about me gig.
I do not think about because I have been the frontman and lead singer in every band I played in most of my life. I've been told that bassplayers that can sing are very rare let alone hold down the frontman thing.
Have I been replaced or not picked for projects yes, but there is a cover for every pot, so we move on!
Love & peace!
Have I been replaced or not picked for projects yes, but there is a cover for every pot, so we move on!
Love & peace!
