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UPDATE When is it time to move on?

Tomusk

Tomusk

Nov 21, 2016
38
82
#1
I took some of y'all's advice and said I wanted a to take a break. I sent a well thought out email, sent to a friend to have him take a look at and add his advice and critiques. I slept on it, sent the next morning.
I saw a couple responses and didn't want to read too soon and ruin my holiday weekend.
I read one response from the drummer, it was short and heartfelt.
I saw a long (single paragraph) response from the guitarist and wanted to let it lie for a while.
After putting it off for a couple days I read the email and turns out I got fired by speaking my mind.
Honestly it's a relief, but I can't help but feel they wanted me out and were waiting for me to make the move.
I guess it's a win win because I'm out of a band I'm no longer passionate about and get 1/5 of the band fund.

Merry Christmas!!
 
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#2
Tomusk said:
I guess it's a win win because I'm out of a band I'm no longer passionate about and get 1/5 of the band fund.
Click to expand...

I was gonna say something snarky about getting a "retirement bonus" being better than getting a gold watch, but I won't.:D I've never played in a band that had a fund for anything beyond buying a new tip jar...maybe I've been doing it wrong all these years?
 
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#4
Bunk McNulty said:
I was gonna say something snarky about getting a "retirement bonus" being better than getting a gold watch, but I won't.:D I've never played in a band that had a fund for anything beyond buying a new tip jar...maybe I've been doing it wrong all these years?
Click to expand...

I don't know ... going back to the eighties (I know the music business has changed a lot since then), we had a band fund for studio time. Would that count?
 
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#5
Tomusk said:
I took some of y'all's advice and said I wanted a to take a break. I sent a well thought out email, sent to a friend to have him take a look at and add his advice and critiques. I slept on it, sent the next morning.
I saw a couple responses and didn't want to read too soon and ruin my holiday weekend.
I read one response from the drummer, it was short and heartfelt.
I saw a long (single paragraph) response from the guitarist and wanted to let it lie for a while.
After putting it off for a couple days I read the email and turns out I got fired by speaking my mind.
Honestly it's a relief, but I can't help but feel they wanted me out and were waiting for me to make the move.
I guess it's a win win because I'm out of a band I'm no longer passionate about and get 1/5 of the band fund.

Merry Christmas!!
Click to expand...

I guess I'm sort of happy for you. It's a shame it couldn't have worked out differently, though.

I had a semi-similar situation where I was in a band where I loved the music, but we never got out of the rehearsal stage. I asked about working with another band (and that one) that was gigging so I could make some money and one of the guitar players launched a horrible tirade at me.

Kind of like you, I was glad to be walking.
 
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#6
Michael Stanley 2112 said:
I don't know ... going back to the eighties (I know the music business has changed a lot since then), we had a band fund for studio time. Would that count?
Click to expand...

You've heard this story before: Back in the way long ago, I would have set up a band fund for our one and only EP, except we never made nearly enough money to start one. So I invested a couple grand into the project. And it still didn't make any money...and that's the reason for "I'm not an artist. I'm in the service business.";)
 
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#9
I had a similar experience a few years back - I didn't really know I wanted to quit until they let me go. They cited poor attitude on stage (which was caused by idiocy of another member). After they axed me, I realized that I didn't really care.

Funny that they didn't see irony in asking me to sub while they were working out my replacement.

It's all good now - they ended up going in a completely new direction (actually only one guy left under the brand now) and I've been busier than ever.
 
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#10
We would have usable band funds in the 80s and 90's because we got paid about the same number of dollars bands seem to get now and they were worth more then. And people still bought cassettes/7" records/CDs at shows then.

now, for lots of bands, including mine in much of the 2000's there would be no point in trying.
 
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#12
I've been fired twice in my life. Once from a band with terrible humans, another time from a job that treated humans terribly.
They were two of the best things that ever happened to me.

I can only hope you're as lucky as I was. I suspect if you take the time to look at the situation, you'll find the happiness I've found.

I return your wish of a Merry Christmas, and I suspect you will have a happier New Year.
 
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#13
Sometimes we all need a break. I go in waves. I'll be all about it for like a month and than have 2 weeks where I just go to band practice. Honestly I could play bass all day with a band but it's the writing lyrics/singing/booking/social media that really burns me out. Good for you though! Go figure out what's makes you feel that passion man. I'm honestly impressed you got part of the band fund. Maybe they just did it that way because they understand and want what's best for everyone. I guess if I ever fired a pro I would offer some band fund but usually people either quit or they deserved to be fired.
 
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#14
I left a band that had a band fund, for studio time and merch. I was able to take some merch on the way out, including some CD's I was on so that was cool. Best decision I made in hindsight. It was a real rut and shook up my musical journey in a good way. Good luck on your journey.
 
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#19
I've been fired from one band. When I joined I told them that I had a three week travel vacation coming up (my only three week vacation, ever). They said no problem. A few months later and upon my return from said vacation I was fired for leaving them hanging. They asked how I felt about it. I told them that I felt great!
 
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