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Firing a band member...

emart

emart

Sep 2, 2009
395
242
SF Bay Area
#1
Did some searching before posting and couldn't find anything on point.

For a variety of the usual reasons that really aren't the point of this post, my band is going to fire our drummer and move forward with a replacement. In brief, the drummer has significant timing issues that he has been unable and unwilling to address, despite months of effort on our part. The sticking point is that we have four gigs booked in July/August, and if we let him go now and can't find a suitable replacement in time (about a month), then we will need to cancel the shows.

We are considering working ahead to interview and audition prospective drummers without letting the current drummer know what we are doing. This seems really distasteful to me, but if we want to have a chance to keep the gigs it seems like that's the only course. We are virtually certain that if we are straight with him and tell him what we're up to, he'll quit on the spot.

Any comments welcome. Seems like a pretty low thing to do to another musician. What's more important, handling the drummer respectfully or holding onto the gigs? Gigs aren't easy to get around here.
 
#2
There is no good way to fire a band member that won't cause any awkwardness or possible resentment. This is coming from a drummer who has been fired from a few bands myself for various reasons. The only other thing you could possibly do is do the gigs with him, don't book any more afterwards and then let him go. Look for someone else then and then continue booking. But if he's having major problems and playing those gigs with him isn't a good idea, then the best option is to do what you're doing. Find someone else and then let him know afterwards and deal with however he takes it.
 
#6
I agree that secret auditions/rehearsals is distasteful. If he has major timing issues, you may not be well-served by playing out with him in any case. Do you know any drummers who could at least get you through the upcoming gigs on an interim basis while you search for a permanent replacement? Under these circumstances, it sounds like a decent substitute may be no worse than playing with your regular guy, anyway.
 
#7
1. Does the drummer know/acknowledge the issue, or does he think everything is fine?
2. I don't know what kind of music you play, but we have done cover gigs with a sub drummer even without a rehearsal if the guy was good, and just kept breaks simple. Originals are a different animal.
 
#14
Drummers are the easiest players to have as subs. They don't need to know the key or the chord changes. And if your drummer's timing is that bad, how bad could a sub be?

You'd be able to fulfill your gig commitments, then take your time finding the Right replacement and you won't have to screw over your current drummer by trying to pull something behind his back.

As unpleasant as being fired is, its a lot worse if you know you were played by your bandmates and then fired.
 
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#16
I went through something similar once, years ago. A friend of mine, living in a town on the other side of the state (Michigan), asked me to audition for his band. It would have required me to relocate, find another place to live, etc. A major decision.

I agreed to go along. I went with him for the 3-4 hour drive, then stayed at his house for the week to check things out. Once we arrived - and not until then - my friend mentioned a key little detail that he had somehow "neglected" to mention before then: The current bassist was still in the band...and didn't know that he was about to be fired. I was asked to tag along to all the gigs & rehearsals scheduled for that week in order to observe and listen - but without letting on that I was possibly to be his replacement. Talk about awkward! Yeesh!

I think the guy caught on as soon as he noticed that I was constantly underfoot. But he never confronted me about it; never even struck up a conversation with me. I was simply trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. But by the end of the week, even I was disgusted with the way things were being handled. Moreover, I quickly realized that if I were ever in the other bassist's shoes, the guys in the band would not hesitate to treat me in the very same manner. Besides, they didn't even sound all that hot to me. Certainly not enough to get me all excited about the musical possibilities that might lay ahead of me.

At week's end, I told my friend: "Thanks, but no thanks". I then went back home...and never felt better about a decision in my (at that time relatively brief) life.

MM
 
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#18
I've been in that position before. Lots of gigs on the horizon, a guy in place that can't cut the music, and a need to groom someone new.

That's why I believe that most positions should have a sub in the wings. Personally, if you have gigs on the horizon, now is a really good time to find a drummer who can cram through the gigs. With that much money on the horizon, a new drummer will be motivated to learn all the songs. Hopefully you have playing covers that are wel Youtubed so you can orient a drummer quickly. I agree that drummers are the easiest to replace as well.

I have subs for every position in a jazz band I started years ago, except a sax player, and lately I've learned I need a sub for his position as well given his decision to straddle our current band and another band he's thinking of leaving us for. Problem is, he's always available for gigs so to sub him out would bother him.

If I were you, I'd pull out all the stops to get a new drummer oriented for the upcoming gigs. It might mean sacrifice, but you can orient him with only one other band member to play the changes, belt out even a bad version of the vocals, and get him literate in the repertoire. I've done that before with drummers and its worked. Share the pain by passing it around the band members that are left.

Bands with gigs on the horizon have an easier time getting members than bands with an empty schedule, so although it's hard to get a new drummer oriented quick, now's a good time to attract a good player.

By the way, I don't have an ethical problem grooming someone new for a position that is already filled. I did this once in another band, but one other guy in the band had a huge problem with it. It's one of those things that polarize band members, and usually, the people who have a problem with it win because they see it as a character issue if they participate in it.
 
#20
live and act in spiritual principles. Honesty is honesty no matter how you look at it. Fear tells you that youll loose gigs etc and that you have to do something shifty. If you have to act shifty to get an outcome out of any situation, then its not worth it to do. Its tough tho. maybe be honest, let him know and see if hes open to either changing or hanging in there til you get a replacement
 

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