Finding out you're being replaced... via Craigslist!

[Flabass]

New project? Why wouldn't he want you in the new project or at least talk to you about it? I go with the idea that he is trying to replace you. I would face him and ask him if he is starting a new project and hear his response. I personally wouldn't play with this guy because I want to have fun and not tension in a band. Left a country band quickly because of a guitar player that sounded like this guy's craigslist ad.

 

[ChrisB2]

People here, including the OP, are making assumptions.

No, I do not agree that the ad sounds like he's replacing members. Not even a little bit.

If you want to quit over an assumption, and a bad one at that, that's your decision. Me, I would just talk to him.

Of course, if he's a jerk and you want out anyway, then yeah, go ahead and quit...

 

[Session1969]

It's too coincidental for there to be a "misunderstanding" as to what he's trying to do. After all , you've seen his m.o. in the past concerning similar situations and this has taken place right after informing him that you already had plans. He's trippin' because you made plans on your B-day and he's acting like a baby,imo. If it was a showcase for V.I.P. record execs, that's one thing. Not even close to that by what I'm hearing.

When I realize that I can't trust someone it's soon after that I can't stand being around them.

 

[rojo412]

The birthday gig is actually at a small restaurant where they have to move a table for the band to set up. You may as well play unplugged, you have to be so quiet... and by that, I mean electric bass, not plugged in.

The more I think about it, the more I think it's for his Original project, not the cover band.
But to that point, if he's looking for full time dedication for the originals, he's going to let the covers go by the wayside.

More to come when I find out more...

 

[Kaa]

I was wondering if that was your gig.

 

[thetaxmiser]

Why don't you just nut up and talk to the guy? Why all the drama?

A couple of months ago there was a video making the internet rounds where some guy had a crappy job at a motel and hired a marching band to be with him when he quit. Most comments were that it was great. My thought: why let a d-bag employer take up that much space in your head. Use that energy to move on towards something positive.

Same in a band situation. Communicate: "Whats up with the ad dude?" Respond as appropriate to his response.

 

[mcnach]

The birthday gig is actually at a small restaurant where they have to move a table for the band to set up. You may as well play unplugged, you have to be so quiet... and by that, I mean electric bass, not plugged in.

The more I think about it, the more I think it's for his Original project, not the cover band.
But to that point, if he's looking for full time dedication for the originals, he's going to let the covers go by the wayside.

More to come when I find out more...

Well, he did say it was for his originals project... ;-)

I'm not sure what his plans are. If I were You and I were concerned... I would ask him instead of imagining possible scenarios. But I want to add that, in my opinion, It takes a lot less effort to have a covers band going than an originals one. Once you have build up a large enough list of songs you can do... do you really need to rehearse every week?

In the two bands i am in That do covers, we rehearse together maybe once a month, bringing a new song or two. It's easy. The originals one takes more time as it involves creating.

Even if he wants to wind down the covers, it does not mean he wants to stop gigging, maybe he has realised you don't need to rehearse so much anymore. That for me would sound great! More real action and less hassle, more income!

But... only he knows.

Ask him.

 

[Fat Steve]

Just talk to the guy. Don't be a drama llama.

This thread is stating to remind me of the one where the girl in NY had a friend who was going to hook her up with a band for a fee. I honestly couldn't tell if we were being trolled, or if the OP had/has major passive/aggressive tendencies.

 

[Double E]

No, it hasn't. He assummed based on what he thinks that guy wants.
The ad is The only objective truth. It does not imply anything but a NEW project.

If in doubt... ask the guy instead of freaking out. Simple.

It pays to stay calm and differentiate between assumptions and what we know for real.

Did you miss this?

I'm still not 100% sure of the intentions with the post. There's a lot of evidence that he's just trying to replace me for the original band, but keep me for the covers...
But he has done the same process for the guitarists we sorted through. If they were failing, he'd put out the feelers until he found a replacement.

 

[SalmonCubes]

The next gig you get, embarrass him in front of the whole audience, and leave.

 

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

The next gig you get, embarrass him in front of the whole audience, and leave.

What ever you do, don't do that

 

[rojo412]

What ever you do, don't do that

Yeah, I know... I don't want to be like HIM!

 

[two fingers]

Obviously, you reply to the add

This. YouTube video and all!

Screw them. Go get your gear FAST and leave them in the dust.

Whoever wrote that ad seems like a tool anyway.

 

[mcnach]

Did you miss this?

you mean if I missed how it was all assumptions? No, I did not miss that. Did you miss how the OP himself changed his tone a few posts later?

It's all assumptions and what if this and what if that. LOL

The only truth is that there is a post in Craigslist, from the singer, mentioning he is in a covers band and wants to do originals now.

Anything else is... imagination and assumptions. The OP has no "evidence" that he is being replaced, he just worries about it.

So... again... if in doubt: ASK the singer what his plans are.
We at TalkBass have no clue about his intentions
ONly that the post he put on Craigslist talks of a NEW project, and says nothing about his intentions for the old one. It's a new band.
You cannot replace someone in a band that has not even been formed yet.

The singer is free to start another band with anybody he chooses, or do you think you form a bond with your bandmates that means you have to play always with them and only with them?
The singer does sound like someone I would not like to play with, but the OP clearly wants to stay in the covers band for whatever reason, maybe it's just for money (that can be a good reason!). The OP states he does not think he is being replaced in the covers band. Cool. Then... what is exactly the problem?
On the one hand, the covers band is a band he has been wanting to quit for a while (for a while? it takes a second... ) but now he changed his mind as they are playing better gigs and this was his money-making band (fine, we all work with people we don't like sometimes). Then the same PITA singer is starting a new band, originals (unlikely to make any significant money for a while, and which will require a lot of work to get off the ground)... and the OP is hurt he has not been asked to join?
Is thsi really just an ego thing?
If he is a PITA and you only stay in the covers band as it's making money on decent gigs... why would you want to spend a lot of extra time on something that would not be gigging or making any significant money for a long time?
But hey, whatever, if the OP changes his mind and thinks he'd like to be involved... then all he has to do is ask the singer about his plans. Then he will know for sure whether the singer wants him in that project or not. All this drama is unnecessary, and all the people half reading things and making assumptions... too.

 

[NWB]

you mean if I missed how it was all assumptions? No, I did not miss that. Did you miss how the OP himself changed his tone a few posts later?

It's all assumptions and what if this and what if that. LOL

The only truth is that there is a post in Craigslist, from the singer, mentioning he is in a covers band and wants to do originals now.

Anything else is... imagination and assumptions. The OP has no "evidence" that he is being replaced, he just worries about it.

So... again... if in doubt: ASK the singer what his plans are.
We at TalkBass have no clue about his intentions
ONly that the post he put on Craigslist talks of a NEW project, and says nothing about his intentions for the old one. It's a new band.
You cannot replace someone in a band that has not even been formed yet.

The singer is free to start another band with anybody he chooses, or do you think you form a bond with your bandmates that means you have to play always with them and only with them?
The singer does sound like someone I would not like to play with, but the OP clearly wants to stay in the covers band for whatever reason, maybe it's just for money (that can be a good reason!). The OP states he does not think he is being replaced in the covers band. Cool. Then... what is exactly the problem?
On the one hand, the covers band is a band he has been wanting to quit for a while (for a while? it takes a second... ) but now he changed his mind as they are playing better gigs and this was his money-making band (fine, we all work with people we don't like sometimes). Then the same PITA singer is starting a new band, originals (unlikely to make any significant money for a while, and which will require a lot of work to get off the ground)... and the OP is hurt he has not been asked to join?
Is thsi really just an ego thing?
If he is a PITA and you only stay in the covers band as it's making money on decent gigs... why would you want to spend a lot of extra time on something that would not be gigging or making any significant money for a long time?
But hey, whatever, if the OP changes his mind and thinks he'd like to be involved... then all he has to do is ask the singer about his plans. Then he will know for sure whether the singer wants him in that project or not. All this drama is unnecessary, and all the people half reading things and making assumptions... too.

I agree with all this.

However, I do still think that someone needs to send the singer this YT video along with a dopey resume.

 

[pato1357]

This exact thing happened to me. At no point did they tell me whatever their problem was they just decided to go behind my back.

When I found out about the ad we had a gig about a week away, I didn't tell anyone I knew and went to the gig. I was very charming to them all and they were all joking with me as if nothing was going on.

We got on stage and I played the gig of my life, rocked out and afterwards all the band members were really happy about how we played.

I brought them all together and said I had an 'announcement' they all came over and they had no idea, and I gave them hell. Afterwards they were all embarrassed and speechless. I picked up my gear and walked out before they could say anything.

 

[Musiclogic]

A friend of mine alerted me to the fact that my "band" posted a want ad for a new lead guitarist and bass player via Craigslist.

I knew that they were looking for a sub, as they'd booked a gig on my birthday without asking me first and I had to bag it. So I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thinking he read it wrong.
NOPE!



I've never had this happen before. I'm stunned!
Now to be honest, I'd been trying to exit this band for some time, but it's just starting to pay off and I recently had a change of heart.
On the other hand, it's been a large waste of time, playing a load of covers I'm not a fan of. And I'm in 2 other bands, so I'm not desperate to play. This was my "money" band, though it never really earned me much after a bar tab was paid.

So... do I be the bigger man and talk about it with them?
Do I pretend I'm clueless?
Do I confront them and quit?
Or do I take a page from Eric B. and Rakim and "kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug and I jet"?

Take a print out of the CL ad to the next meeting/practice hand it to whomever posted it, say "thanks for the heads up" And walk out. Who needs the back stabbing?