Sometimes it's not "Just another gig"

[eSmith]

Consider this.

We are ALL Atheists. Every one of us.


Unless you believe in Zues, Thor, Neptune, Horus or any of the millions of gods in recorded history you know EXACTLY what it is to be an atheist.

You just get upset when someone goes one god further than you.

-eSmith.

 

[fenderhutz]

Consider this.

We are ALL Atheists. Every one of us.


Unless you believe in Zues, Thor, Neptune, Horus or any of the millions of gods in recorded history you know EXACTLY what it is to be an atheist.

You just get upset when someone goes one god further than you.

-eSmith.

Mythology is where all religions go to die

Yeah but you have to get back to the OP topic, getting sidetracked on beliefs will get this closed.

The Lobby is where all good threads go to die.

 

[billoetjen]

Good thread; intelligent question and problematic/personal issues at stake.

I say, fire the stinkin manager.
If this happened to me, I'd exact a very high price out of that guy's hide.

 

[jive1]

In all respect to everyone, if the topic can't be discussed without folks espousing their love/hate/criticism for religion, it should just get closed. Too bad, because it is a real and practical topic for band management.

 

[ChrisB2]

Here's how it appears, please tell me what part of this you have trouble with:

Religion, religious imagery, the concept of worshipping a deity, is very disturbing and troubling to many. It causes a negative emotional reaction.

KKK, Nazism, white supremacy, genocide, and the imagery that accompanies that, is very disturbing and troubling to many. It causes a negative emotional reaction.

I see them as analogous.

Well, they aren't. IMO. LOL. (Hey, you didn't say "IMO"!) Let me correct the statements:

Religion, religious imagery, the concept of worshipping a deity, is very disturbing and troubling to some. It causes a negative emotional reaction.

KKK, Nazism, white supremacy, genocide, and the imagery that accompanies that, is very disturbing and troubling to most. It causes a negative emotional reaction.

If you had said this, I would agree with it. However, within the difference between "some" and "most" lies that which nullifies the analogy. Like I been sayin'.

Having a great one buddy, thanks. And BACKATCHA!

 

[blues.bass]

A very interesting thread…
I find myself in a somewhat similar, or though certainly less severe, situation.

In a couple of weeks our blues band is booked for an hour performance slot at a very well attended and prestigious Food and Wine Festival.
The festival has entertainment performed by a handful different bands playing a broad range of styles, although the line-up this years has a definite Soul, R&B, Bluesy vibe to it.

One of the band members has asked a guest up to sing two or three numbers with us.
The guest is a fabulous vocalist from Chicago and primarily a Gospel singer.
We have jammed with her once before and played Wang Dang Doodle and Stormy Monday (from memory), but now this vocalist wants to perform Amen and If Anybody Asks Who I Am.
I said… no.
I am not comfortable performing those songs because I am not of Christian faith nor am I cheerleader and to use Tom’s phrase I feel they enter “the realm of implied endorsement”, and not representative of our band at all.

I’m hoping that we can find some common ground and we might suggest Can't Judge A Book By Looking At The Cover, I Can’t Stand The Rain and maybe This Little Light of Mine.

 

[eSmith]

Muslems on the planet far outnumber Christians.

Christianity holds no claim to MOST of anything.

-eSmith.

 

[ChrisB2]

Why not? Bad deeds aside, they all believe they are bettering the world in their own way. Some are just more accepted than others. It's NOT accepted however to criticize Christianity.

That's exactly my point. The nearly universal condemnation of the KKK (less accepted) is the reason it's a poor analogy to Christianity (more accepted).

Thanks dude.

 

[tZer]

In all respect to everyone, if the topic can't be discussed without folks espousing their love/hate/criticism for religion, it should just get closed. Too bad, because it is a real and practical topic for band management.

Agreed.

Some folks really need their moment and seem to take a scorched earth attitude when they're called out.

On topic and IMO, the manager seems to have cut off his nose to spite his face and the drummer may have opted out of a religiously benign opportunity. Both seemed to act hastily using "principles" and "soapboxes" as justification.

As with any job, I feel that if you play within the rules and give notice properly, you should be able to take a day off without explanation. Sometimes life requires that you adjust to accommodate unforeseen circumstances - bosses and employees alike. If you cannot bend, you're bound to break at some point.

 

[Rimshot]

Isn't there some rule about going off topic in a thread?

I thought this thread's OP was asking about the band manager firing a drummer for opting not to play an event.

 

[eSmith]

You forgot: "FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS" Rimshot.

It appears the topic means little to you, getting it shut down seems your goal.

Intolorance of simple conversation.

-eSmith.

 

[Rimshot]

We're a four piece C&W cover band who usually plays small bars, dance halls, and road houses. We were just informed by the manager (who's band it is) that the drummer has been fired for refusing to play a gig he lined up for us in a few weeks playing a church service.

Hmmm, can't seem to see where the OP says the drummer chose not to play for RELIGIOUS REASONS.

 

[Rimshot]

Intolorance of simple conversation.

-eSmith.

ad-hominem attacks. Nice...I take personal umbrage with your characterization.

You, sir, are out of line.

 

[tZer]

@eSmith, if you take the original topic at face value, there were *implied* religious reasons, none were initially stated other than a lack of 'comfort' on the drummer's part regarding playing in a church. While the drummer's reason for wanting to pass did include not wanting to play in a church, the ultimate point is that he should have been allowed to pass on a gig without repercussions as long as he did so in a professional manor. Professional INCLUDING his not necessarily having to explain why he wanted to pass. While it's pretty clear that the reason included the church in this case, THAT'S NOT THE POINT.

Removing all extraneous factors - this is a case of a band member needing to take a day off and a manager deciding to fire him as opposed to letting him do so and finding a sub. Had both parties stayed truly pro the drummer would have simply stated that he could not do the gig and the manager would not have asked why but done the professional thing and found a sub. No harm, no foul.

There may have been other circumstances at play - and I am inclined to believe that to be the case. I don't know who, but one, the other or both seem to be less than pro in their handling of this and it also appears that had it not been this event, it would have been another one soon after that resulted in these two parting ways.

You have conflated the issue to serve your own need for a soapbox and have proceeded to make incorrect assumption after incorrect assumption about other people's motives, education, knowledge, and religious affiliations. Rather than addressing the actual topic, you've opted to take a very small component of it and make it your own cause belli.

It's unfortunate, really. There are forums in the Lobby where you could discuss you feelings about religion and religious/non-religious people appropriately, yet you chose to fly in the face of the rules of conduct with apparent abandon. Why? (that's rhetorical - I really don't want an answer).

 

[David Wilson]

In all respect to everyone, if the topic can't be discussed without folks espousing their love/hate/criticism for religion, it should just get closed. Too bad, because it is a real and practical topic for band management.

exactly. I'm closing right now for review/edit. I might reopen