You're Fired!

[Richard Prowse]

Okay, we've all seen The Apprentice - that show where the guy with the ultimate comb over utters the famous words,
"You're fired!"
as he pokes his finger at the screen.
This thread is about being fired from bands - believe it or not that's happened to me a few times. No true, it has!
So, fellow bass players, have any of you ever been fired from a band?
Let's hear your story.

[Anselm Hauke]

i once tried to play in a bluegrass band.
i was very proud because i just bought a 39er kay.
they praticed once a week. i started playing with them in september.
then in october my main gig-season started. i could not come to the rehearsal for three months. then i january i got an email, they wrote they don´t want me anymore.
:o

[Richard Prowse]

i once tried to play in a bluegrass band.
i was very proud because i just bought a 39er kay.
they praticed once a week. i started playing with them in september.
then in october my main gig-season started. i could not come to the rehearsal for three months. then i january i got an email, they wrote they don´t want me anymore.
:o
Anselm, my friend, what a sad way to start this thread! I was once fired from a bluegrass band too.

[Richard Prowse]

Anselm, my friend, what a sad way to start this thread! I was once fired from a bluegrass band too.
...a band run by one of my brothers. I asked for a solo at a concert.

[Oren Hudson]

Sorry guys - I won't be able to participate.

I do the firing. :)

[Richard Prowse]

Sorry guys - I won't be able to participate.

I do the firing. :)
Oren, my confident friend, no one's too important to be fired. Why even Ken got fired from TalkBass.

[Dave Martin]

Sure, I've been fired. My favorite was the artist's manager/husband called me in to the office and said, "We're making a change in the organization; you're the change."

[Oren Hudson]

Oren, my confident friend, no one's too important to be fired. Why even Ken got fired from TalkBass.

Sorry my most honored friend. I did some studying on the subject and I did manage to recall the one time that this fired business may apply. At age 12, I'd had my first bass guitar for probably 3 weeks when one of my uncles told me that he knew of a teenage band that was looking for a bass player. So he took me to the house where they practiced. I had no amp, so I plugged into one of the guitar players channels on his Silvertone. I was pretty excited to actually hear the bass. Problem is, I sorta knew Wipe Out and maybe a line or two of Louie Louie and that was about it. So after the first break, my uncle told me that they didn't want me - so we left. Oh well. :(

On the other hand, a couple of years later, the band that I had started participated in a Battle of the Bands, a popular thing then, along with several other area bands, including the one that didn't want me in their band a couple of years earlier. Wanna guess which band won and which band didn't even place? :D

Submitted with most humbleness.

Side note 2 = I'm guessing that the biggest reason for the firing situation for me is that 75% of the bands that I've played in have been founded or co-founded by me.

[Oren Hudson]

Sure, I've been fired. My favorite was the artist's manager/husband called me in to the office and said, "We're making a change in the organization; you're the change."

Hey cousin Dave. Remember to let me know when you're back in the Carolinas. I think you said March. Enjoyed our chat a few weeks ago.

To keep on topic, my request is pursuant to you're not being fired! ;)

[Richard Prowse]

Thanks, brothers Dave and Oren, for those touching stories.
I've been fired many times.
Here's one story.
A trio I was playing in scored a regular gig at an up market Italian restaurant. We decided to add a sax player to the lineup. The sax player spent most of the night chatting up the customers and, near the end of the gig, disappeared upstairs with the management. When we turned up for the gig a week later, the sax player had already set up his own duo and was doing the gig.
No one actually said,
"You're fired."
but we got the message and went home without a fuss.
Ah, Italian food is overrated! It's just stuff mixed with tomato and garlic.

[Oren Hudson]

Thanks, brothers Dave and Oren, for those touching stories.
I've been fired many times.
Here's one story.
A trio I was playing in scored a regular gig at an up market Italian restaurant. We decided to add a sax player to the lineup. The sax player spent most of the night chatting up the customers and, near the end of the gig, disappeared upstairs with the management. When we turned up for the gig a week later, the sax player had already set up his own duo and was doing the gig.
No one actually said,
"You're fired."
but we got the message and went home without a fuss.
Ah, Italian food is overrated! It's just stuff mixed with tomato and garlic.

Musicians can be so devious, can't they?

[Richard Prowse]

In more recent times I got fired from a gypsy jazz band, but I've told you that story already.

[Oren Hudson]

In more recent times I got fired from a gypsy jazz band, but I've told you that story already.


Was that the one with Gypsy Rose Lee and The Rosetones?

If I remember correctly, Gypsy was wandering around the upper region of the lower half and stumbled (literally) into the only pub in town. A rough looking place called The Do Drop In. This was were a long standing relationship was about to begin with Axel Rose, Hank Lansing, Stepin Wolf and Gypsy. I think that you got involved two or three years down the road from that point. Is this the correct story? If so, I do remember some of it. :)

[Richard Prowse]

Was that the gypsy jazz band that was playing up Majoribanks Street, in that trendy French restaurant in Wellington? Was that the time that the guitarist thought that your unamplified bass was too loud? The same band that had the classical violinist reading all her solos? If I'm correct, you raised your voice during the break because you thought they were being unfair, and that the guitarist should get his sh1t together. Then they got all protective about their precious little band. The next day you got an email telling you that you were a bad person and no longer needed. Then, months later, they apologised and asked you back - probably realising that the band suffered by your forced departure. You swallowed your pride and did another gig, but you never heard from them again. Ah, some people!
Yes, my friend, you're on the button as usual. You have a great memory!

[Dave Martin]

Hey cousin Dave. Remember to let me know when you're back in the Carolinas. I think you said March. Enjoyed our chat a few weeks ago.

To keep on topic, my request is pursuant to you're not being fired! ;)

Hey, Oren - we go to Sanford, NC on Monday the 8th for a show that opens Wednesday the 10th at the Temple Theater there. We'll be there Thursday-Sunday for 3 weeks. To keep this an appropriate comment for this board, I'll be playing my Juzek. And to keep this on topic, if I don't show up for the run, I'll be fired...

[Oren Hudson]

Hey, Oren - we go to Sanford, NC on Monday the 8th for a show that opens Wednesday the 10th at the Temple Theater there. We'll be there Thursday-Sunday for 3 weeks. To keep this an appropriate comment for this board, I'll be playing my Juzek. And to keep this on topic, if I don't show up for the run, I'll be fired...

Hey cousin Dave. If you don't get fired, let me know if ya'll get close to Charlotte. :)

[Dave Martin]

Hey cousin Dave. If you don't get fired, let me know if ya'll get close to Charlotte. :)
I'll do it, but it looks like (based on google maps) we won't get any closer than Sanford on the drive...