Yes I know, fire the drummer. But how?

[Marc DLarosa]

Just forward this thread to him...

 

[chaosMK]

Tell him the news in a straightforward no-nonsense fashion, chug a beer, smash it on your forehead, toss it, walk out, fart.

 

[arbiterusa]

But what to say to him? We're using these next three months as a kind of "trial" to see if he gets better, but should we let him know? How long until after the gig in November should we wait to make it seem like we're not just using him? I realise how weird that sounds considering he's our drummer, but knowing him, that's how he would feel.

I'm going to seriously go against the grain of most of the comments here and recommend that you not say anything, wait and see if he gets better (he won't) and then fire him the day after the "big gig". Yeah, it's crappy. That's business.

 

[DrMole]

Maybe this reply should be in the band leader thread but...

Our band leader was our drummer. His skills at his best were truly clinician-level. His set, mics and cases probably ran $20k+ in 1990. He also REALLY liked weed. Seemed like a plus for first year then we figured that all the "extra expenses" were BS and he was financing purchases with band money and the other 4 guys were being shorted- yet always with supply...

He got busted driving with a QP. Lost license (again) and really started manipulating band finances to serve his legal needs
" If i can't play Nobody makes money"
Wrong.

That led to a covert operation with the booking agent where a short week had our only 2 nighter cancelled by us, but unknown to drummer. All our equipment was removed from truck in middle of night, we left 50%of band-owned equipment with his truck. Of course left all his stuff.

Agent put us up for 2 weeks at band house for club he owned that was down for 2 weeks for renovations- 2 weeks, daily 10-12 hours of practice. Back on the road. Best move we ever made.

That was an effed up situation far different from the OPs but in our case, openness and honesty may have resulted in never seeing our personal gear again.

Would echo what others have said : let him know first if you plan on playing in November. Hanging on just to play gig then dump unceremoniously, regardless of how much he deserves it seems less than forthcoming.
Apologies if this has been addressed and I missed it.

 

[Hypocrite]

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.

The rehearsal space is very barebones, it's only just acceptable, but I get what you mean. And despite everything, we really do want it to work out. I don't feel like we're stringing him along; we know all about his personal situation and we've given him a chance to better himself, because we really do want it to work in the long run. Getting rid of him is absolutely not a decision we can make lightly, every outcome has to be weighed, regardless of the upcoming gig.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The rehearsal space is very barebones, it's only just acceptable, but I get what you mean. And despite everything, we really do want it to work out. I don't feel like we're stringing him along; we know all about his personal situation and we've given him a chance to better himself, because we really do want it to work in the long run. Getting rid of him is absolutely not a decision we can make lightly, every outcome has to be weighed, regardless of the upcoming gig.

You don't feel like you are stringing him along, but you haven't said anything to him yet, and the band is "all in agreement, he has to go, but after the gig"...

If keep him until after the gig and then spring it on him (and have already decided it now), I think it is a bush league move. As I said, how would you feel if someone pulled that on you?

 

[LowActionHero]

Back when I was playing drums regularly I got approached by a band that lost their drummer 2 weeks before a scheduled gig. I learned 12(?) original songs in 2 weeks, cuz I WANTED to do it. They gave me a tape of the songs, and 2 to 3 practices a week and the gig went smooth. If you find the right drummer, (or any pro caliber fill in) 3 months is PLENTY of time.

 

[Bodeanly]

Didn’t read entire thread, but my initial reaction is: he doesn’t want to be your drummer in the first place. Speaking from experience. He doesn’t want to be the dick that leaves and you don’t want to be the dick that fires him. Marriages often do not end when they’re over for this same reason. Good luck.

 

[Stumbo]

You don't feel like you are stringing him along, but you haven't said anything to him yet, and the band is "all in agreement, he has to go, but after the gig"...

If keep him until after the gig and then spring it on him (and have already decided it now), I think it is a bush league move. As I said, how would you feel if someone pulled that on you?

It's normal in the corporate business world.

 

[Kerplunk]

Be upfront. At the next practice, before you start, setting up, whatever, when the whole band is there, announce there's a problem that needs to be sorted before going any further. Spill the beans. He may need time to digest what has happened, and decide if he's going to appease your demands. If he can't or wont, then cut him loose.

The sooner it's done the better. Your next priority may be to cancel your gig. If you do, the sooner the better. They need time to book another band. So you lost a gig. Better not to do it than do it half hearted.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Here's the thing, I'm in a great band right now, playing music I love, selling lots of merch at gigs, just having a good time. The problem is our drummer, the weak link.
He's an alright drummer, but very barebones, has a bit of a "that's good enough" attitude.
He converted his garage into a rehearsel room. It's small, has terrible acoustics, the layout is all wrong, but it's ours. Problem is he lives half an hours drive from the city the rest of us live in, and since the rest of us are students, he's the only one with a car. Any one of us can cancel for any reason and the rest can go rehearse, but if he cancels, that's it. And he cancels a lot. We try to rehearse once a week, but realistically it averages out to twice a month. What really gets me though is how he cancels the night before, because he "just remembered" he has made other plans. He also rarely checks his messages which makes it frustratingly hard to make plans.

Now I would be quite happy cutting him loose right now, but we've got a major gig coming up in November, and finding a new rehearsel space, a new drummer, and getting him up to speed with the material in time just isn't going to happen. I've taken the role as de facto BL in lieu of anyone else, and have "gone behind the drummer's back" to see if anyone feels the same, and we're all in agreement, he has to go, but after the gig.

But what to say to him? We're using these next three months as a kind of "trial" to see if he gets better, but should we let him know? How long until after the gig in November should we wait to make it seem like we're not just using him? I realise how weird that sounds considering he's our drummer, but knowing him, that's how he would feel.

It's obvious his first priority is his other band, and that's fine, we're all good friends and have played countless gigs together, but I'm afraid letting him go will sour relations with the rest of his other band. So what's the most diplomatic way of telling him to jog on?

First off, i never hire thise who "negatively plan" their schedule. By this I mean, we are going to rehearse Thursday night from 6-9:00pm. I expect everyone to put that on their schedule if we have all agreed.

I do not want to hear, something else came up unless it involves a wake or a hospital visit.

Apparently some people are fine with saying okay but if something else comes up your date is cancelled. Unfortunately they don't tell you that initially, you have to suss that out yourself.

Heaven forbid you commit and work the rest of your schedule to fit.

Fire these morons.

You can't break in a drummer by November, seriously?

Don't let him know its a trial, he'll ditch you anyways.

Tell him why you are dumping him, in detailed form.

See what he says, he might not be willing to change, but expecting him to get better without telling him is folly.

Be ready to replace him, immediately.

Seriously, November? You have 2 plus months plus for getting a competent drummer.

 

[Hypocrite]

First off, i never hire thise who "negatively plan" their schedule. By this I mean, we are going to rehearse Thursday night from 6-9:00pm. I expect everyone to put that on their schedule if we have all agreed.

I do not want to hear, something else came up unless it involves a wake or a hospital visit.

Apparently some people are fine with saying okay but if something else comes up your date is cancelled. Unfortunately they don't tell you that initially, you have to suss that out yourself.

Heaven forbid you commit and work the rest of your schedule to fit.

Fire these morons.

You can't break in a drummer by November, seriously?

Don't let him know its a trial, he'll ditch you anyways.

Tell him why you are dumping him, in detailed form.

See what he says, he might not be willing to change, but expecting him to get better without telling him is folly.

Be ready to replace him, immediately.

Seriously, November? You have 2 plus months plus for getting a competent drummer.

The three months are also for finding said drummer and a new rehearsal space, much easier said than done

 

[Boundary Effect]

A detail I think is overlooked. This drummer has the rehearsal space and is the only one with a car.

 

[singlemalt]

Ever get fired from a job and feel waves of relief turn into bubbling giddiness?

 

[ezra1]

Get your gear out of his place.
Tell him it isn't working out.
Cancel the gig and start over.
Maybe harsh but reality.