The simplest explanation is they found another bassist. Keep improving, as you would do in any event. Assess what was missing in the package that you offer as a bassist. Find another band.
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Was this an appropriate way to be fired?
- Thread starter TheIndieKid
- Start date
Yeah, see what they have in another 4 years
ATST, 4 years of trying to get their song together, the "band" wasn't taking its role seriously either.
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Thanks for all the replies guys. Some of you have been a bit harsh, but this is the internet, and sometimes we say things that come across blunter than expected.
Anyhow, there seems to be two sides developing here. Either the band is in the right or they're in the wrong.
The gear issue: I set up my own gear. I can fix everything that's not a poorly cut nut, electronics problem or serious fault. My backup bass was broken because it required a new bridge, shipped from the US. I'm in the UK. It took a while to get here. In that time, I thought "Heck it" and I got a new bass, because I did have a lot of issues with my backup. The bridge came, but didn't have it fitted just yet because I thought that I might just get lucky with the new one. I was wrong. That was a mistake on my part.
The new bass had issues that meant it was replaced three times and then spent time in Fender (this was just before and during studio work).
As for the long scales I don't play - one was a beat up cheap Fender Starcaster Jazz, which can't be adjusted because the are pickup and saddle screws are stripped. It was bought like that second hand. My first bass.
The other is a Fender Mustang with a possible high fret. Unfathomable buzz.
Then there's a thunderbird which is just too uncomfortable. I'm only short, so it's not a dream to play, I'll say that for sure.
I should have sold these, I agree. Dread to think of the resale value though.
As for transportation? There's no excuses for them. I told them prior to joining that I left the last band because they were making it vocal that it was a hassle getting me to gigs - even though I gave petrol money. They said it's fine and they'll do their best to get me to places with them.
It's also worth mentioning I lived on the route the singer would take to go home. So he could drop me no problem. I made my way to rehearsals, but he'd just drop me home. Transportation wasn't an issue for them at the time.
I'm 20. As one of you mentioned, some younger people don't drive. I had medical reasons why I can't yet. Plus, as much as I wish I could just head down to the music store and buy a bass to play while I'm in studio, it's not economically viable at my age.
They were older than me. By a fair bit.
Anyhow, there seems to be two sides developing here. Either the band is in the right or they're in the wrong.
The gear issue: I set up my own gear. I can fix everything that's not a poorly cut nut, electronics problem or serious fault. My backup bass was broken because it required a new bridge, shipped from the US. I'm in the UK. It took a while to get here. In that time, I thought "Heck it" and I got a new bass, because I did have a lot of issues with my backup. The bridge came, but didn't have it fitted just yet because I thought that I might just get lucky with the new one. I was wrong. That was a mistake on my part.
The new bass had issues that meant it was replaced three times and then spent time in Fender (this was just before and during studio work).
As for the long scales I don't play - one was a beat up cheap Fender Starcaster Jazz, which can't be adjusted because the are pickup and saddle screws are stripped. It was bought like that second hand. My first bass.
The other is a Fender Mustang with a possible high fret. Unfathomable buzz.
Then there's a thunderbird which is just too uncomfortable. I'm only short, so it's not a dream to play, I'll say that for sure.
I should have sold these, I agree. Dread to think of the resale value though.
As for transportation? There's no excuses for them. I told them prior to joining that I left the last band because they were making it vocal that it was a hassle getting me to gigs - even though I gave petrol money. They said it's fine and they'll do their best to get me to places with them.
It's also worth mentioning I lived on the route the singer would take to go home. So he could drop me no problem. I made my way to rehearsals, but he'd just drop me home. Transportation wasn't an issue for them at the time.
I'm 20. As one of you mentioned, some younger people don't drive. I had medical reasons why I can't yet. Plus, as much as I wish I could just head down to the music store and buy a bass to play while I'm in studio, it's not economically viable at my age.
They were older than me. By a fair bit.
It's also worth mentioning that I've been in repair shops THAT MANY times, that part of me doesn't really want to show me face again, even though it's inevitable. I can only imagine the faces when I bring in 3 basses.
Everything else aside, I find it pretty important to not put much stock in the opinions of my family (and non musical friends) regarding anything in my profession, both the business and artistic aspects. It’s generally pretty ignorant, albeit well-meaning, and it’s always pretty biased in your favor; this is not helpful.
20 years old and you've already been in a studio and involved with a recording project.
Good on you OP, I'd keep it positive and keep it moving.
And keep playing that bass guitar.
No better way to get over the last band than to move on to the next one, kind of like an ex girlfriend. Maybe try to find an already-gigging band looking for a bass player (Craigslist, Facebook, etc..), and learn their songs fast so you can get out and play.
Sorry for your bad experience, people can be selfish. Originals or not, 4 years without a gig, no way, unless I was playing in other gigging bands simultaneously! Gigging is where the fun is, IMHO.
Peace
. Maybe try to find an already-gigging band looking for a bass player (Craigslist, Facebook, etc..), and learn their songs fast so you can get out and play.Sorry for your bad experience, people can be selfish. Originals or not, 4 years without a gig, no way, unless I was playing in other gigging bands simultaneously! Gigging is where the fun is, IMHO.
Peace
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F*** 'em. 50% of musicians are s***s due to egos or unknown causes. Keep playing. Keep moving forward.
Just one guy’s opinion but you lucked out. You avoided drama and saved time. Start looking for the next situation if you have not already.
Shoots, I don't even spend money on studio time unless I've recorded the band a few times at home. And after evaluating that, see if it's worth going any further. A song will stand or fall on its own either if it has the best
production in the world or if it's just a guitar and a voice.
If we ever get back to normal life, I've got a project going like this. Four songs co-written by a singer and a guitarist that I know. They recruited me in for studio work and also the drummer I work with. We've had two rehearsals in my studio to go over the material; I recorded those sessions and now have scratch recordings I can play along with to refine what I'm going to do.
I really do not like going into the studio cold and being asked to work magic on a song I've never heard, but I sure as shoot do not need four years to get it right
.
Plus, if your studio is adequate enough you may not have to go to another studio. Maybe just a mixdown, mastering suiteIf we ever get back to normal life, I've got a project going like this. Four songs co-written by a singer and a guitarist that I know. They recruited me in for studio work and also the drummer I work with. We've had two rehearsals in my studio to go over the material; I recorded those sessions and now have scratch recordings I can play along with to refine what I'm going to do.
I really do not like going into the studio cold and being asked to work magic on a song I've never heard, but I sure as shoot do not need four years to get it right
She's already paid for the studio time elsewhere, just isn't scheduled yet. I did suggest recording my tracks at home and flying them over there, which would be optimal for me since I can do as many takes as I want without worrying about wasting her money. But we'll see if that's needed.Plus, if your studio is adequate enough you may not have to go to another studio. Maybe just a mixdown, mastering suite
+1.Yeah, see what they have in another 4 years
Learning experience for op. He shouldn’t have any regrets unless the new bass player is Ringo.
"She's already paid for the studio time"
Music to my ears
I like your thinking of recording yourself and flying over the tracks, sweet
Yeah, before all this hit she was doing pretty well in her regular job and not shy about spending to get quality, so hopefully she'll still have budget for all this when we're through this crisis. Nice to have clients like that."She's already paid for the studio time"
Music to my ears
I like your thinking of recording yourself and flying over the tracks, sweet
So, you actually just had an experience that mostly everybody has around your age or a little later...but it's an inevitable experience. You had a cultural difference in the band (age difference) so you didn't have the inside line on what the "vision" (ha-ha) was, and you got cut out, arguments don't matter and they were just 100% clumsy in handling it. Too polite maybe? My own first firing experience involved a slick salesman drummer/producer with dreams and a band name already: "Nirvana". This was in 1978 in Massachusetts and the band didn't ever get a gig...(last time I joined a band led by a drummer) all rejections hurt a little, learn to move on.
