Was this an appropriate way to be fired?

[39-Bassist]

well just as others said...learning experience...also if nothing else message rest of band and say thank you for the time and if they ever need anything let you know.
Don't burn the bridges behind you. Some day you may meet up again and may there may be an opportunity.
Good luck with finding another band to play with.

 

[juggahnaught]

There's a lot of speculation in this thread. I'll address some actionable things for you.

1. What's done is done. Nothing to do but move forward.
2. In the future - even if you are a hired gun or you feel as though the "band vision" isn't in your hands - if your band plans to record and has any type of conversation with the recording engineer who will be tracking your parts, you MUST attend. Missing that was a mistake. Next time, hopefully, you won't make that mistake.
3. If you are wondering why your parts were lowered, or you want to find out more about your performance, don't talk to the band. Talk to the recording engineer to see what happened. This is a direct way to find the truth (about the recording situation, not the rest) and it might be a way to grow and improve. If he or she has time, the engineer might be able to not only tell you why the parts were lowered in the mix, but give you tips for success in a studio environment. (You also may be able to get your raw tracks outside of the full mix if the engineer still has them - unprocessed and processed - which is also a good learning tool. Best to ask, worst they can say is no, or you have to pay for it.)

The rest is moot, but these are actionable things that you can do in order to move forward. Sorry that happened to you. Good luck moving forward.

 

[FenderB]

Now at first, I was dissapointed, but I thought "Ah it's nothing out the ordinary. You win some, you lose some". But a family member kept reiterating that it was a real bad move. They said it's weird they've strung me along for six months, telling me that I'm great with the band and that we've got a good line up, only for them to drop me now.

Tell your family member to mind his/her own business.

 

[aprod]

I remember a year or two ago I was asked to audition for an original band and to learn like 4 or 5 of their songs. I did so, and went on over for the audition and meet the singer/guitarist and drummer. We discovered we had mutual friends and ended up chilling for an hour before even playing music.

When we finally got down to playing, we went through three songs, and they said they were impressed and didn’t even need to play through the rest if I wasn’t comfortable on them yet. I said let’s do it anyway and we played all the songs and it went very well according to them.

They asked me to come back in two weeks for a second set of songs to jam on. I came back after the second week with the songs learned and it was basically like a repeat of the initial audition. It seemed like everything went great. I think the only thing at all that happened the entire time was a single run he thought should be played with two fingers and I’m a Jamerson one finger kinda guy unless I absolutely have to summon my inner Adam Nitti chops. But I played it his way and all seemed fun. But besides that, there was nothing at all that indicated that these folks would completely ghost me.

.... and that’s what happened, I left after the second time and literally never heard from them again. Not one text or call and they never responded to me when I inquired as to the status of the position.

Needless to say I was a bit upset and disappointed, but the most frustrating thing was, the reason they even needed a bassist was their previous one had quit and ghosted them... they seemed to have not appreciated it; and then they did exactly that to me xD

One finger bassists are not in high demand.

 

[60bass]

So I was in this band for six months. They'd spent 4 years writing songs but hadn't done a gig yet. Said they wanted to perfect them and stuff. Fine...bit peculiar, but I could understand wanting a full set list under your belt before gig time.

Anyhow, we gelled like cookies 'n cream (or so I thought). They had a vision and were more than happy to point out when a bass part wasn't what they were looking for. They did compliment my bass parts what I pull out the bag and really like some stuff I do.

Anyhow, time comes around for studio work to record a single, plus one extra. All goes smoothly. There's no complaints. Parts that they changed their opinion on are changed around, and the studio guy is happy with my parts (I think). Says he really likes some ideas I play.

Roll on 2 weeks post studio, and we are all in lockdown. They seem a bit quiet but nothing seems particularly off. There's a video call with the studio guy that they do, but I don't participate. I was asked before about doing a band video call regarding a music video, and I didn't mind sitting out, since I'm not the one with the vision. These guys really knew what they wanted.

I take a listen to the raw mixes whilst they're calling. I don't know if it's the guy's style of mix in which he experimented with, but you could probably hear my bass less than Jason Newsted's on the Black Album. Except I wasn't downtuned, and I was playing a 5 string Squier Jazz, borrowed from the studio guy, strung with fresh rounds and ran through a DI, with an distortion simulator on it.

It was a far cry from my usual bass - 4 string short scale, strung with flats, but unfortunately that was in repairs. My other basses are in due need of repairs too. I discovered I'm not used to playing long scale 5 string basses.

I thought nothing of the mix. He'd gone down 1 or 2 directions with the mix prior, and the band didn't like his approach, so he changed it. No biggie.

Anyhow, I can't remember if it was the morning after, or 2 days later, but I get a message from the singer. Without the fluff of saying "you're a great guy and hope you got some experience from this", he says that I'm not the right bassist for them and that "it's the wrong time to be jamming with them" and that he's sorry but wishes me best of luck.

Now at first, I was dissapointed, but I thought "Ah it's nothing out the ordinary. You win some, you lose some". But a family member kept reiterating that it was a real bad move. They said it's weird they've strung me along for six months, telling me that I'm great with the band and that we've got a good line up, only for them to drop me now.

After sending a message to the singer saying I was dissapointed, but ultimately asking for the aspect they didn't like about my playing (to take away and improve on), I was left on read.

Furthermore, the other two band members didn't even wish me a farewell or a good luck or nothing. Not in the group chat. Not privately. I was removed from the studio chat we had overnight, but not from the band chat.

These reasons compounded made me warm to the idea that what they did wasn't that nice. Maybe it's me, but I'd be keen to know your experiences and opinions.

4 years and no gigs? Red flag number one on them. Your bass is broken and your others need repairs so you don't have a backup, What bass did you use at rehearsals? Red flag number two on you. Without exception every studio I've ever been in has more than one bass on hand. If by chance they do only have one bass, 99 % of the time it's a 4 string P bass. A bass anyone can play and a bass that any DECENT studio board-op can make sing in a studio environment. Red flag number 3 on the studio. You playing was lost in the mix? Red flag number 4 again on the studio.

The way things were stated to you by the singer tells me they just weren't happy with your level of playing, your style, tone or maybe all three. The hope you "gained experience" line tells me they felt like you weren't at the same level as they are (although 4 years and no gig is nothing to brag about). The lack of your bass being up with everyone else in the mix might be an indication of that. As far as the studio supplied fiver, if you don't play 5 that low B becomes a thumb rest and you play 4 just like any other bass.

It sounds to me like what they really wanted was a sideman to record with. They show you what to play, then rehearse and go record. If so they should have told you up front. If you're being a "sideman" you should be paid, walk in do the job, take your money and leave. If not and you're a full member with name credits on the final product then you should have a voice in every aspect of how your bass sounds in the final mix.

Don't obsess about it and move on. Take the experience and be happy. Consider this, If YOU didn't like the way your bass sounded on the recordings, would you REALLY want that out there for others to hear?

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Time wasters. And not even nice about it.

Forget them and move on with better people and better musicians.

Gigging should normally be happening all the time.

 

[red_rhino]

Why is everyone so focused on the OP's gear as being the primary reason for getting kicked? The bass he borrowed belonged to the engineer. It stands to reason that the engineer should have known how to get a good sound from his own bass. (At least, every time I've played in-house instruments or gear, the engineer knew how to get a good sound.)

Does it make sense that a band that has spent 4 years "perfecting" their sound would spend time and money on recording tracks where something as important as the bass wasn't to their liking? Who was producing? Shouldn't somebody have noticed and said "Hey, we have problem here. Let's fix this!" before investing all that effort?

Does it make sense that the OP was with them for 6 months without somebody noticing that it wasn't a good fit?

If they didn't notice the bad bass sound or the bad fit, then they're inept, and the OP dodged a bullet.

If they did notice the bad bass sound or bad fit, and decided to proceed anyway, then they are inept, and the OP dodged a bullet.

@TheIndieKid , either way you learned some valuable lessons here. Move on and find some people who have a clue.

 

[GBBSbassist]

Why is everyone so focused on the OP's gear as being the primary reason for getting kicked? The bass he borrowed belonged to the engineer. It stands to reason that the engineer should have known how to get a good sound from his own bass. (At least, every time I've played in-house instruments or gear, the engineer knew how to get a good sound.)

Does it make sense that a band that has spent 4 years "perfecting" their sound would spend time and money on recording tracks where something as important as the bass wasn't to their liking? Who was producing? Shouldn't somebody have noticed and said "Hey, we have problem here. Let's fix this!" before investing all that effort?

Does it make sense that the OP was with them for 6 months without somebody noticing that it wasn't a good fit?

If they didn't notice the bad bass sound or the bad fit, then they're inept, and the OP dodged a bullet.

If they did notice the bad bass sound or bad fit, and decided to proceed anyway, then they are inept, and the OP dodged a bullet.

@TheIndieKid , either way you learned some valuable lessons here. Move on and find some people who have a clue.

The whole situation is clearly a crap show, but I don't think many people in this thread are implying that the bass didn't sound audibly good because of the engineer's lack of skill. I think it's more that people are implying that the way OP played was the part that didn't please the rest of the band. As others have said, recording is where all your mistakes and flaws will be highlighted. Coupled with OP playing a long scale 5 string that he's not comfortable with? That's a recipe for a disaster.

 

[gln1955]

Why is everyone so focused on the OP's gear as being the primary reason for getting kicked? The bass he borrowed belonged to the engineer. It stands to reason that the engineer should have known how to get a good sound from his own bass. (At least, every time I've played in-house instruments or gear, the engineer knew how to get a good sound.)

I think people are focusing on his gear, because it seems this was an ongoing problem for him that he did not address. I can't imagine going into a recording session without my best bass AND a backup. For six months, the OP diddled with his gear. It's a sign to anyone that he wasn't taking his role in the band seriously enough. It may not be the reason he was fired, but it's something he needs to remedy or he won't be staying in too many bands for long.

 

[LuckyScott]

"my usual bass - 4 string short scale, strung with flats, but unfortunately that was in repairs. My other basses are in due need of repairs too. I discovered I'm not used to playing long scale 5 string basses."

Big difference between a 4 string short scale bass and a long scale 5 string. How could he possibly played well in a studio environment?

 

[lokikallas]

"They'd spent 4 years writing songs but hadn't done a gig yet." I'm sorry, I can't read anything past that sentence.

 

[Ewo]

That's a rough experience, OP. I've had a few disappointments, myself. Carry on, and keep playing the bass!

All I can figure is that there are a good number of BS artists in the music biz. Ya just gotta keep looking for the solid people.

Here's a modern cover of a classic soul tune; the O'Jays did the original.

 

[devnulljp]

Get all of your equipment working well before pursuing another gig.

This! I'm the guy with the spare everything, including extra cables, batteries, gaffa tape, capo and picks for the guitarist, couple of extra tuners, mics even though I don't sing much ... Did one recording session once where my bass crapped out at the beginning of the session, so since then I've made sure there's always a spare on hand. (Ended up doing that session on a fretless 5 string instead of a fretted 4, worked out fine in the end). Even have an electric upright in the car just in case something happens to the upright.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I think people are focusing on his gear, because it seems this was an ongoing problem for him that he did not address. I can't imagine going into a recording session without my best bass AND a backup. For six months, the OP diddled with his gear. It's a sign to anyone that he wasn't taking his role in the band seriously enough. It may not be the reason he was fired, but it's something he needs to remedy or he won't be staying in too many bands for long.

On Nov 2019 he made a thread "How do you write good bass lines?" It sounds like something was going on all along and then showing up without a bass for studio time was the final straw. On the upside, if they've been practicing for four years with no gigs, they're not a band, they're a hang.

 

[DWBass]

You're better off. To me....a band together for 4 years and never gigged, will probably never gig. I'm not trying to waste my time with that. 4 years is way too long not to have it together. How long does it take to write a frikkin' song?

 

[JamesNC]

4 years? you got 4 weeks buddy get it together

This! I'm the guy with the spare everything, including extra cables, batteries, gaffa tape, capo and picks for the guitarist, couple of extra tuners, mics even though I don't sing much ... Did one recording session once where my bass crapped out at the beginning of the session, so since then I've made sure there's always a spare on hand. (Ended up doing that session on a fretless 5 string instead of a fretted 4, worked out fine in the end). Even have an electric upright in the car just in case something happens to the upright.

To save the day by being the guy to produce a fresh 9v battery out of thin air in an otherwise dire situation... YES! Buy that man a beer.

And yet it’s usually the goofy forgetful F-up of the band who gets the chicks.

 

[fishdreams]

I've had issues with it over the course of the six months I was with them. They never mentioned anything. They were happy with me. They said my playing was fine. Don't you think that six months is a bit long to finally decide that I wasn't what they wanted? Especially after making it seem that I was doing okay...and they had no issues? Any problems present at the time of recording were always present.

The pattern I'm seeing is that you seem to have made your attitude and circumstances dependent on what you assumed was how they felt about you. When you join the next band : do not leave it up to them what the state of your gear is, whether the bass fits in the car or whatever. Because you owe it to yourself, and yourself only, to maintain certain standards of musicianship and gear upkeep. What they feel, or what you think they feel, does not matter, and is no excuse in the end. It is a matter of self-respect. You deserve it.

It's ok, I learned all this the hard way myself with a few bands that I was in back in the day. I've become a better and happier musician because of it. Good luck with your next project.

 

[JimmyM]

I could never take that type of inaction. Say sayonara and thank them for not wasting your time anymore.

 

[GIBrat51]

Appropriate? Well, obviously somebody thought so... In my opinion? No, it was not - not at all. But, as one of the characters in Atlas Shrugged says - repeatedly; "What can you expect, when you deal with people?" I'd just chalk it up to experience; consider it a somewhat...unpleasant...lesson learned; and move on. Life is full of stuff like this; it's too short to waste, worrying about this kind of thing, anyhow...

 

[rtslinger]

So were you a side guy or were you in the band? If you were a side guy you should have gotten things in writing like if things don't pan out they won't be able to use any songs or bass lines you have created. Though from what you have mentioned in your OP they aren't professional. 4 years to perfect songs is a joke and it seems to me they just needed someone to laid down some creative bass lines, because they weren't talented enough to do so on their own. My suggestion is if you are going to work with serious original projects in the future get yourself some dependable gear and find out where you stand member wise. Most pro projects have things in writing.