So... I got fired today (warning: long)

[BaltBass5]

I'm not going to say your input is wrong, but you're wrong. Why comment without reading in a forum? There's probably a TB bylaw about this.

He got fired...who needs to know the details.... it's not going to change the bands mind...and even if it did....would you want that gig?? Move on.

 

[Joe Nerve]

If you've read this far, I congratulate you! I know I'll bounce back and find another project - I'm working with a producer tomorrow and the rapper was happy to connect me with his main beat maker, as well.

I guess what I'm curious about is:

1. How do I learn from this to become a better player and avoid this scenario in the future?
2. Should I work with this artist again in the future, or is it like breaking up with an SO and things will never be the same?
3. What have you guys done when you've been canned?

Thanks for reading, I'd love to get your opinion and read other bassist's stories.

I made it that far. I congratulate you on having a great attitude about this, and expressing it all really well.

I guess I should note that I haven't yet read any responses as I didn't want to lose my thoughts... I'm sure lots of great things have been said.

I had an almost identical experience many years ago. I became a part of a band that I saw in a club once, and worshiped. The stars just happened to align one day and I answered an ad in The Village Voice (does that still even exist?) that happened to be this artist's ad (there was no name attached, came as a surprise when I got called). I put 250% into that band, did a bunch of east coast tours with them, felt on top of the world and then one fateful afternoon, after a year of great gigs I got a call like yours. Some weeks had passed without me hearing from them, so I had an inkling something was up... but anyhow, I was crushed. Their reason was that I was too R&R and what they had going on was a funkier, artsier Beck like sort of thing. I was pretty pissed that they discussed it among themselves and didn't include me. I was like play doh at the time - I'd have let them mold me into whatever they wanted. But their decision was made, and it was ironclad. It hurt. It took a long time to get over, but it didn't slow me down a single bit. I put all my energies into learning different styles, and just becoming the absolute best player I possibly could. I played with as many people as I possibly could, too... and that opened the door to many more great experiences. Some much better than the first.

And it happened again, with an even better band - but for different reasons that really made no sense whatsoever.

Bottom line is it happens. And for me, I can't lie - it's been tough. A big blow to the ego and all, but we keep putting one foot in front of the other. There are lots of awesome experiences ahead, so long as we keep our heads held high as from your post it seems you do.

RE your questions, I don't think you can do anything to avoid those situations aside from giving it 100% always. Some people close the door and move on from situations, I never do that. I like to stay on good terms with everyone I can. That's gotta be your call. I feel you've got nothing to lose by leaving the door open, but closing doors works just as well for some too.

Good luck and hang in there.

I'll read some more now and see how this has progressed .

 

[jive1]

I've been fired many times. I've quit many times. I've fired people more than I cared to.
IME, it gets easier with each time. You also practice how to do those situations well. I've done fill-ins for many bands I've quit or been fired from, and I'd like to think it's because I tried to take all situations in stride with a sense that there's plenty to go around to let the universal musical equilibrium do it's thing. People come and go in this business, and it's the nature of the biz. The higher up you go, the more this is the case. One thing I've learned about getting fired is that if you overthink it or dwell on it, it will drive you crazy. There are millions of reasons why you could be fired and it could have nothing to do with the reason they tell you it is. It's not an indictment of your playing, character, personality, etc. For some reason it's not a fit, and the reason could be the color of your shoes. Move on to the next thing, and take your experiences to your next project, but leave the baggage behind. No need to punish the next band for issues related to your previous band.

 

[beatnut]

13 years ago, I was fired by one of my best friends who's a professional musician. The only reason she'd fire me is that I wasn't good enough. (Your situation may have additional reasons)

She was right. I wasn't good enough. I had spent the previous 6 years with just one band and had become very specific to that and had let myself slip on fundamentals. I almost quit and switched to drums...

...instead, I started going to open jams every Saturday and playing with older guys. I helped form a cover band. I learned to sing and play at the same time. I worked at home, took refresher lessons and made myself available for one off fill in shows whenever asked.

No one had fired me since. Use what happened.

Couldn't agree more. Play all you can with all kinds of people to become the CEO, Feared Dictator and Grim Executioner of the bass - (we need these self-images since basically what we do is dum.....dum....dum ).

Seriously, though, concentrate on making other people sound good and feel good. To do this, you'll need to learn to listen and to be able to play what you hear in your mind's ear. Your aim is to see your bandmates relax into the welcoming safety of your groove and surprise themselves by what they can do.

Only other thing I can think of is if the BL asks you back, renegotiate the relationship to your satisfaction.

 

[TheJaguar]

Wow, thank you all for your feedback, both the pep talks and the tough love.

I've had time to process everything and thanks to the collective wisdom shared, I'm at peace with the decision. Whatever the reason may be, it doesn't change what I'm going to keep doing, and that's bringing the groove.

It was a great experience, I learned a ton and had fun, even got paid for the first time in my music career.

Maybe it turns out to be the best thing to happen to me, or maybe it would've been my ticket to the big leagues.

Either way, there's always a band missing a solid bass player somewhere.

 

[RyanKW]

Couldn't agree more. Play all you can with all kinds of people to become the CEO, Feared Dictator and Grim Executioner of the bass - (we need these self-images since basically what we do is dum.....dum....dum ).

Seriously, though, concentrate on making other people sound good and feel good. To do this, you'll need to learn to listen and to be able to play what you hear in your mind's ear. Your aim is to see your bandmates relax into the welcoming safety of your groove and surprise themselves by what they can do.

Only other thing I can think of is if the BL asks you back, renegotiate the relationship to your satisfaction.

Exactly. I'm legitimately a very solid bass player now. Smooth, simple mostly, but the backbone of the songs, with enough flair rationed out to get noticed when run up and down the neck very sparingly.

I've thanked my friend on multiple occasions for firing me.

 

[Chuck King]

I would bet a lot that whatever story the BL told you was pretext. There was, as many have opined, something else going on---maybe the guitarists' friend who he's trying to get into the band; maybe you don't fit their mental picture of themselves. If that's you in your avatar, you come across as a pretty un-hip-hop-looking dude. That can count for way more than you'd expect, or than it should.

 

[SlyFoxtrot]

Your aim is to see your bandmates relax into the welcoming safety of your groove and surprise themselves by what they can do.

If bass could have a mission statement it would be this. That's why this is the coolest instrument.

 

[swooch]

To me it sounds like he (or maybe actually the guitarist) had more of a problem with your style rather than your chops. Everyone perceives groove differently and to them you were not it.

Of course that could be a matter of not being diverse/skilled enough to provide them the sound they prefered.

And in answer to your questions:
1) The answer is always to practise more - and to practise different things.
2) I don't see why not work with him again.
3) I was canned after to rehersals. The two singers guitarists disagreed on this and the band split up and I was invited to a new band with one of them 2 weeks later.

 

[aborgman]

My experience has been that this is not at all how music works. I know it sucks to get kicked out of a band, and it's certainly happened to me, but the solution is to take it as motivation and start really practicing and learning your craft.

It's the way professionals work in all fields... it's just that about 99% of "professional" musicians, aren't.

 

[sears]

There are plenty of instances where a perfectly good player isn't the right one for the project. Also, maybe you're cute but they got tired of looking at you after a while.