the way i see it you really have no choice.....either the drummer is unhappy or all y'all are unhappy........you can try to keep a friendly relationship but ultimately its up to him to deal with his demons
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Sigh. Drummer trouble.
- Thread starter txbasschik
- Start date
Well I was a bit drunk for a start.
You knew what you had to do before you even started the thread
We may have to fire our drummer.
The recording we did last fall is unusable. His tracks are bad. Really bad. He's not keeping the groove. He is, like, tapping out the melody. Even on the kick! Our guitarist, who writes the originals and who put up the money to record, is *not* happy, and I don't blame him one bit.
We have our "magic moments" where we totally click, but they are few and far between. And becoming fewer and farther. He's ok on covers, but on originals...man, I don't know what he's trying to do there. He won't give me that good, strong kick, and his snare is too "tap tap tap" and no consistency. I'm willing to try to work with him some more, but the guitarist is getting tired of this, and is upset over losing so much money on the recording with not much hope of being able to get a new, good one.
Drummer is holding us back. We've both tried to get him to work on his weaknesses, but he isn't making progress. Sticking to the beat, waiting to add fills until the groove is solid, he perceives as "dumbing down" the part.
He's a good man. I like him very much. He's also rather delicate, emotionally, and I strongly suspect that he's depressed. He's also given me some verbal clues that he's got/developing a drinking problem. Things like, "I'll try and make it to the jam if I'm not already too drunk." This conversation was held at about 10:30 a.m., by phone. He also seems to be more emotionally attached to me than he should be.
I am *worried* about the guy, but we can't record with him, and we can't use a sub to record without hurting his feelings. We have several other interested drummers.
Man, I hate this. I really think we will have to get someone else, but I'm afraid of what it will do to our current guy.
No worries about him reading this. He doesn't use the web. So...your thoughts?
Cherie
I've been in the almost identical situation, except instead of a drinking problem, the drummer had a "jealous of the band" girlfriend problem. He just kept getting worse and worse over time, and left us no choice but to fire him. It was really difficult, as he was (and still is) a good friend, but it had to be done.
You really have no other choice, short of breaking the band up, but to fire him and get someone, who can play, in.
Good luck.
Cheers!
Sorry, couldn't help it:
Q.How can you tell when a drummer is knocking at your door?..................................A. The knocking speeds up.
Q.How can you tell when a drummer is knocking at your door?..................................A. The knocking speeds up.
Lots of people post similar threads. I ain't the Lone Ranger here. People post threads like this because, as I am sure you know, it is a truly sucky thing to have to fire someone, and some of us need reinforcement or confirmation. No one else seems to have had much problem with providing that.
I had held out hope of finding some way to fix the problem. That's who I am. I always prefer to try to fix a problem. Its the way God made me, and that ain't fixin' to change. I went for advice to people who have more experience with this than I do, and they set me straight. You seem to feel I should not have even asked. I disagree.
I had a wonderful teacher back in grade school. She was an Iron Lady, but a very, very good teacher, and we respected her. She always said there was no such thing as a stupid question, and we should never in our lives be afraid to ask our questions. I subscribe to that philosophy, and have done since the 4th grade. So...if I need to ask a question, or seek out advice, I will do so, any day of the week, any time of the day. People can choose to answer, or not. Free will is a wonderful thing.
Cherie
I had a wonderful teacher back in grade school. She was an Iron Lady, but a very, very good teacher, and we respected her. She always said there was no such thing as a stupid question, and we should never in our lives be afraid to ask our questions. I subscribe to that philosophy, and have done since the 4th grade. So...if I need to ask a question, or seek out advice, I will do so, any day of the week, any time of the day. People can choose to answer, or not. Free will is a wonderful thing.
Cherie
Plus, your predicament is an interesting read for the rest of us.
On a humorous note, I saw Mr. Garrison (teacher on South Park) wearing a shirt that said "There are no stupid questions, only stupid people".
Its really not difficult to release a band member. You listed reasons in the thread why he must go. All you have to do is tell him he's out and list the reasons that you gave us. Pretty simple actually.
Maybe for you. For me...if I had to do it very often, I'd have ulcers. Just the way I'm wired. I know this has to happen, but it still makes me nauseated.
Its tonight. I'll cowgirl up and be there, and then I'll probably throw up when I get home.
Cherie
You go girl! Im with you 100%. Thats what this awesome website is all about, asking, learning,teaching. Sometimes you just have to consider sources.Lots of people post similar threads. I ain't the Lone Ranger here. People post threads like this because, as I am sure you know, it is a truly sucky thing to have to fire someone, and some of us need reinforcement or confirmation. No one else seems to have had much problem with providing that.
I had held out hope of finding some way to fix the problem. That's who I am. I always prefer to try to fix a problem. Its the way God made me, and that ain't fixin' to change. I went for advice to people who have more experience with this than I do, and they set me straight. You seem to feel I should not have even asked. I disagree.
I had a wonderful teacher back in grade school. She was an Iron Lady, but a very, very good teacher, and we respected her. She always said there was no such thing as a stupid question, and we should never in our lives be afraid to ask our questions. I subscribe to that philosophy, and have done since the 4th grade. So...if I need to ask a question, or seek out advice, I will do so, any day of the week, any time of the day. People can choose to answer, or not. Free will is a wonderful thing.
Cherie
So, if you were at a gig and you were a bit drunk, or jamming with a friend and you were a bit drunk, or doing ANYTHING that involved your level of concern for someone else and you were a bit drunk, and you did something like that, wouldn't you apologize? Sheesh.
You're going to majorly diss a friend and fellow band mate in the worst way possible by firing him...of course you feel bad,that means you're a decent person with a conscience, and that could make you my friend any day of the week! Id feel the same horrible way. Nonetheless, it has to be done. Let us know how he takes it.
Whoa, I feel for you and your mates. I have had the displeasure of releasing a variety of people from their jobs (much different profession) over the last 15 years for various reasons and it never gets any easier. As long as you have done what you feel you could to try and improve the situation you have done your part. At this point it may be time to say goodbye. Sometimes the hardest/tougest (which may be the best) solutions are the ones that never get made. Good luck and have failth that in the end this is what is right for ALL involved.
You know, I can't even begin to count all the things I have learned, tangible and intangible, in TB. I come in here more than anyplace else online, except maybe my e-mail. Maybe.
Even if I don't post, I still come in and read. Sometimes my questions or concerns are answered in someone else's thread, and I don't need to post. I can just learn from them.Best place ever!
Cherie
Thanks to all of you! I'll let you know how it goes. I hope the story of that happening will be dull as dust, I really, really do. "Eventful" is not what we want.
Still...ugh!!!
Cherie
Still...ugh!!!
Cherie
Good luck Cherie. I know it's a tough thing to do.
I think you've already come to this conclusion, but I'd definitely recommend home-recording the tracks to a click track before going into the pro studio. That process will help you pick out a lot of the little details that are wrong prior to going in and thus save you some cash in studio time.
I think you've already come to this conclusion, but I'd definitely recommend home-recording the tracks to a click track before going into the pro studio. That process will help you pick out a lot of the little details that are wrong prior to going in and thus save you some cash in studio time.
Oh I LOVE this one!!!!
But I also feel 4 U Bass chick. I've had to do the same thing a cuppla times & it's NOT nice & IS hard. One was a sax player friend-OLD friend- but his sax playing wasn't up to scratch & the newer saxophinist was great & didn't wanna play with my mate.
Bottom line is- he's STILL my friend- tho he was distant for a while- & the great sax playa is still with us with a quality band that is STILL playing 10 yrs on.Another was a drummer, who lagged a bit in his timing(I played w/ a drum machine for YEARS in the 80's & 90's & have GOOD timing) & we had MANY great drummer "lining up" to play w/ us. This particular drummer took it badly- didn't invite me to his wedding(soon after) but is now a friend -again!
Sad, but true- U HAVE to do whats BEST for the band -IF U want the band to do well & continue to do so.
Best of Luck.
I believe a "randomer" is someone/something that is more random than random. Thus, if I was random, you would be randomer than I.
lol
That is exactly what I've been wanting to do. Guitarist thinks we need to go to a pro studio, but I disagree. It just seems more sensible to me. You get a demo out of that, get some more work, write more songs, get tighter...*then* go spend the money in a pro studio! But, that's not what we did.
C'est la vie, c'est la guerre, I suppose.
Cherie
Well, it was a non-event, in that he wasn't home, he wasn't at his buddy's place, he wasn't at either of the bars he hangs out in, and he didn't answer his cell.
So, Guitarist will go back tonight and tell him. I have my jam house band obligation, so I have to go do that. Guitarist doesn't want to wait any longer...clean break. It would be better if I were there, but...
Cherie
So, Guitarist will go back tonight and tell him. I have my jam house band obligation, so I have to go do that. Guitarist doesn't want to wait any longer...clean break. It would be better if I were there, but...
Cherie
