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Yes I know, fire the drummer. But how?

#21
JRA said:
- "glad we made it through our november gig together...turns out it was your last one. thanks for your service"
- "we appreciate all that you've done for the band. we don't appreciate all that you haven't done for the band, even more."
- "as the BL pro tem, i'm finding it difficult to express this appropriately, but you're out."
- "best of luck with your other band --- your luck with this one just ran out."
:laugh:

seriously: "we're going to find a different drummer and move on without you" is sufficient. good luck! :thumbsup:
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That just made my day :D
 
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#22
The first time someone finds out there's a problem should not be when they're getting fired. You should communicate your issues (granted, the distance from where you guys live is not really solveable) and your expectations. Cancelling practice with little or no notice, not learning the songs, putting in more effort, etc. Give him some time to address these issues. Best case your friend steps up his game and you don't need a new drummer. Second best case is that he agrees that his commitment level hasn't been high but he can't change that, and you agree to part ways amicably.
 
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#23
JRA said:
i am a consistent proponent of being honest and forthright about band issues and/or with problematic members, however: i'm not getting the posted sentiments regarding the timing of the discourse/disclosure --- i think it's fine to play the gig and then let the dumber go. if the timing of this transaction was based on the 'truthful/honest' experience of the other members = he'd already be gone! there's no shame/dishonesty in playing the gig and then dealing with the future. actually: it's a good plan! ;)


- "glad we made it through our november gig together...turns out it was your last one. thanks for your service"
- "we appreciate all that you've done for the band. we don't appreciate all that you haven't done for the band, even more."
- "as the BL pro tem, i'm finding it difficult to express this appropriately, but you're out."
- "best of luck with your other band --- your luck with this one just ran out."
:laugh:

seriously: "we're going to find a different drummer and move on without you" is sufficient. good luck! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

My issue is that it sounds like OP already knows the drummer is gone, but he doesn't want to give up his cushy rehearsal space until after their big gig - they are just stringing the drummer along until then. IF the gig wasn't on the horizon, the guy would be gone now. I find that unethical.
 
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#24
buldog5151bass said:
My issue is that it sounds like OP already knows the drummer is gone, but he doesn't want to give up his cushy rehearsal space until after their big gig - they are just stringing the drummer along until then. IF the gig wasn't on the horizon, the guy would be gone now. I find that unethical.
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we disagree about what the OP's ethics should look like: no biggie. ;)
 
#25
One piece of advice (this is from experience) that's a bit off the main line here:

If you're going to fire your drummer, don't do it while the band's gear is in his garage. Or basement, or....you get the point. In my case, it was the drummer's girlfriend's basement, but the end result is the same....awkward. The fact that we were paying her rent for the use of her basement meant ALL our gear was held hostage until EVERYONE paid up, which took a while.
 
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#30
Hypocrite said:
To clarify, we play originals, brutal techdeath, and to be fair, it's pretty demanding. Three months is "worst case scenario" for actually finding a new drummer, finding a new rehearsel space (two things not easily done in our city) and THEN getting the new drummer ready.
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To clarify your clarification, I actually meant that weekly rehearsals for a band (which includes current drummer) that won’t gig until November was overkill.

I have no issue with a 90 day timeline to bring a new member up to speed in an originals outfit.
 
#31
micguy said:
One piece of advice (this is from experience) that's a bit off the main line here:

If you're going to fire your drummer, don't do it while the band's gear is in his garage. Or basement, or....you get the point. In my case, it was the drummer's girlfriend's basement, but the end result is the same....awkward. The fact that we were paying her rent for the use of her basement meant ALL our gear was held hostage until EVERYONE paid up, which took a while.
Click to expand...

This is fantastic advice. Get your gear FIRST. Then cut him loose.
 
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#32
terminate_with .jpg
 
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#34
Drucifer said:
The first time someone finds out there's a problem should not be when they're getting fired. You should communicate your issues (granted, the distance from where you guys live is not really solveable) and your expectations. Cancelling practice with little or no notice, not learning the songs, putting in more effort, etc. Give him some time to address these issues. Best case your friend steps up his game and you don't need a new drummer. Second best case is that he agrees that his commitment level hasn't been high but he can't change that, and you agree to part ways amicably.
Click to expand...
the OP didn't ask "what to do?" --- he asked, "how to do it?"

i would generally agree with your take, but in this case, it seems to be 'too late' for your suggestion. if you're suggesting that better (honest/forthright) communication should have taken place before now = i'd agree...but we don't have those details, and FWIW: it just doesn't matter now. it's not prudent for the OP to give the cat 'another chance to prove himself and change' at this juncture because the band agrees, apparently, that the cat has to go. the OP is concerned about how to ax the cat, not how to get a better performance out of him.

also: what works (and what is expected and/or required) in the workplace doesn't always translate to a band which gigs every few months or so. they want a different drummer --- i hope they are successful getting one!
 
#36
Grow up and have a discussion with him man. You and your mates are going to use this guy to carry you for a few more months, use his space and car and basically tell everyone online except him that he's on the way out. Put yourself in his shoes. I'd probably want him out too, but if he's not working for you guys tell him so and move on.
 
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#40
start at the root of the problem by recording a practice, end to end and giving everyone the recording to listen to. Have people listen to their parts, everybody else's parts and how much time is spent yakking in between songs. :-)

Then sit down as a group and have a self criticism session - that is, what can I do to improve the music? Then each member ask for input from the other players, not just slams but praise, too. Then see what the drummer says. It goes a long way when the band learns to work as a unit and resolve its problems as a unit.
 

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