Single again...

[Bassman Sam]

Go to the gig, do the soundcheck and when they start the first number, unplugged you bass and strip down you rig and walk out. Good luck for the future BB.

[BrunoBass]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

Good point. Did they give you any specific reason. ?

As mentioned previously me and the drummer had a bit of a difference of opinion a few months ago. I was getting a bit frustrated with his sloppy playing, a tendency to speed up / slow down, and a reluctance to try to improve. I ‘dared’ to mention it, which he took exception to, and this began a chain of events that led to him verbally abusing me and the frontman in the street after a gig and racing off in his car. I was ready to walk that night, but he later apologised and we moved on. Or so I thought. I don’t think he’s ever let it go and I think it’s been seething away inside him. He has limited ability as a drummer, he knows it, and he’s hyper sensitive to any criticism for the greater good, no matter how diplomatically the subject was broached. None of that was given as a reason for sacking me, but that’s the crux of the decision, I think.
 

Instead he came out with a load of stuff like ‘we’ve drifted apart as people’ (we’ve never been anything more than colleagues), ‘we want to play original material and you don’t’ (playing original material was mentioned vaguely once, maybe two years ago, and I said I didn’t think a Saturday night pub crowd wanted to hear original material, and loads of other random nonsense too. It’s as if he has racked his exiguous brain to dredge up anything, however inconsequential, as a lame reason to fire me.

Lots of stuff makes sense now; for instance I was storing some of their gear, various drums, PA speakers etc as I have a storage unit. I had the gear for ages, and then suddenly a couple of weeks ago they both decided they wanted their stuff back, as ‘we want to sell it’. I should’ve seen it coming...

[BreadBin]

F**k 'em. They don't deserve you 👍

[BrunoBass]

2 minutes ago, Bassman Sam said:

Go to the gig, do the soundcheck and when they start the first number, unplugged you bass and strip down you rig and walk out. Good luck for the future BB.

Cheers. 
 

Talking to a mate of mine in the pub earlier  who suggested this: 

‘Buy a cheap bass off eBay and do the gig with just that bass. No pedals, no amp, just turn up with the cheap bass and go straight into the venue PA. Last song, smash the bass to pieces, give them both the middle finger, jump off the stage and exit the building through the middle of the crowd.’

I wouldn’t do that, but what a defiant FU gesture that would be!

 

[Pseudonym]

10 minutes ago, BrunoBass said:

As mentioned previously me and the drummer had a bit of a difference of opinion a few months ago. I was getting a bit frustrated with his sloppy playing, a tendency to speed up / slow down, and a reluctance to try to improve. I ‘dared’ to mention it, which he took exception to, and this began a chain of events that led to him verbally abusing me and the frontman in the street after a gig and racing off in his car. I was ready to walk that night, but he later apologised and we moved on. Or so I thought. I don’t think he’s ever let it go and I think it’s been seething away inside him. He has limited ability as a drummer, he knows it, and he’s hyper sensitive to any criticism for the greater good, no matter how diplomatically the subject was broached. None of that was given as a reason for sacking me, but that’s the crux of the decision, I think.
 

Instead he came out with a load of stuff like ‘we’ve drifted apart as people’ (we’ve never been anything more than colleagues), ‘we want to play original material and you don’t’ (playing original material was mentioned vaguely once, maybe two years ago, and I said I didn’t think a Saturday night pub crowd wanted to hear original material, and loads of other random nonsense too. It’s as if he has racked his exiguous brain to dredge up anything, however inconsequential, as a lame reason to fire me.

Lots of stuff makes sense now; for instance I was storing some of their gear, various drums, PA speakers etc as I have a storage unit. I had the gear for ages, and then suddenly a couple of weeks ago they both decided they wanted their stuff back, as ‘we want to sell it’. I should’ve seen it coming...

"Lame" is one word for it. There are others.

It sounds like these people are rather spineless as well as inept. It's always scant consolation to say that you are better off without them, but in this case is is surely true. Good luck to you and best wishes for a better match with some real musicians who are as competent and professional as you.

[PatrickJ]

What was the band called?

[mrtcat]

21 minutes ago, BrunoBass said:

sloppy playing, a tendency to speed up / slow down, and a reluctance to try to improve.

He has limited ability as a drummer, he knows it, and he’s hyper sensitive to any criticism for the greater good, no matter how diplomatically the subject was broached.

"we want to play original material"

Amazed you lasted long enough to get sacked. I couldn't live with any of the above in a pub band. Best off out of it.

[ambient]

There’s absolutely no way I’d do the gig.

[SH73]

22 hours ago, BrunoBass said:

I like it. And for an encore an avant-garde atonal bass solo dedicated to Antonín Zápotocký,

Or Gustav Husak

[Teebs]

37 minutes ago, BrunoBass said:

Cheers. 
 

Talking to a mate of mine in the pub earlier  who suggested this: 

‘Buy a cheap bass off eBay and do the gig with just that bass. No pedals, no amp, just turn up with the cheap bass and go straight into the venue PA. Last song, smash the bass to pieces, give them both the middle finger, jump off the stage and exit the building through the middle of the crowd.’

I wouldn’t do that, but what a defiant FU gesture that would be!

 

I would pay cold, hard cash to see that.

And I would watch the footage back every day.

[BrunoBass]

8 minutes ago, Teebs said:

I would pay cold, hard cash to see that.

And I would watch the footage back every day.

The more I think about it the more tempted I am 😂

[dmccombe7]

If he fell out with you then the frontman can expect the same thing as he argued with both of you.

Sounds like an overgrown bairn that needs a good slap.

Rest of the band come across as spineless jerks to say the least. If he's not a good drummer based on your description you'd think they would just replace him if he's the main problem. Does he own the PA. ?

You're best out of it now i reckon and move on.

Dave

[martin8708]

Similar thing happened to me , I was "released " from a band that still had one large gig to play , rather than throw my toys out the pram , I just sucked it up and played the gig and took the money and run .

I'm in a new band now , but more importantly ,I m still very good friends with one of the previous band members , who is a great singer / guitarist who has helped me out by recommending me to other musicians looking for a bass player .

[lemonstar]

I haven't read every reply but I'm surprised by the apparently unanimous advice to not do the gig. I really wouldn't do that - what's going to look better on your CV/track record - leaving them in the lurch or doing the gig under upsetting circumstances? Plus - you never know what might happen in the very near future - they may want you back if they can't find a replacement or the right replacement - it depends what you want - are you upset because of the rejection or the way they did it or because you really want to stay in "this" band?

I think someone else said - well - maybe it is a chance of a new start. If it's a gig with other bands there - isn't this the perfect opportunity to showcase both your playing and your professionalism and a whole host of other qualities?

Maybe there is something you need to reflect on - maybe not - I don't know all the details. If something wasn't right that couldn't be fixed maybe this is for the best anyway. Why didn't you socialise with the other 2 members - I can't picture being in a band where everyone didn't hang out on some level with everyone else.

Even if the drummer and the rest of the band as a whole have gone about this is bad way and even if you're upset about it - I still think you should try to salvage as much that is positive as you can from a situation you didn't want or expect to be in. What's the best way for "you" to gain something? I think you'd be wrong to think you'll gain from the satisfaction of screwing things up for them. What story might they put round about you letting them down at the last minute if you did that? I'd try and get your name and contact details round at the gig - approach a band you like and drop your details off - you never know - someone might need you to step in.

It sounds like it would be hard for you to do the gig.

Good luck with whatever you do - look ahead - in a months time it might seem like a storm in a teacup and things might work out better than you imagine.

Edited December 15, 2019 by lemonstar

[Woodinblack]

2 hours ago, lemonstar said:

I haven't read every reply but I'm surprised by the apparently unanimous advice to not do the gig. I really wouldn't do that - what's going to look better on your CV/track record - leaving them in the lurch or doing the gig under upsetting circumstances?

I disagree. As you say, CV - It is like any other job. If you decide to leave then it is good to give them notice and cover things that need covering. However, if they kick you out, they kick you out. it is up to them to sort out arrangements afterwards.

[Scales]

I still think you shouldn't do the gig especially after how they've treated you, taking back their gear and just expecting you to play. The drummer sounds like an idiot, as above the rythum section should be close and he is clearly a nob. Just move on, leave them to it and find a better band next year.

[Fozza]

5 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

What sort of person fires a band member and says can you do the next gig? He’s got a flipping screw loose hasn’t he?

The Beatles did it with Pete Best.

He didn't play the gig(s) either and they had to get a dep in for a couple of days until Ringo could join.

[FinnDave]

Just read this right through, I don't get the people saying 'do the gig, it looks good on your CV' - we're talking about a pub band here, not some corporate entity. 

I absolutely wouldn't play the gig in your position, nor would I communicate that to them - they've kicked you out, you don't them any consideration. If they haven't got a replacement lined up, then they're going to look pretty silly if they arrive at the gig without a bass player. Well, they should have thought of that before they did the dirty on you. 

Walk away and forget them. Some people aren't worth remembering.

[BreadBin]

26 minutes ago, FinnDave said:

Just read this right through, I don't get the people saying 'do the gig, it looks good on your CV' - we're talking about a pub band here, not some corporate entity. 

I absolutely wouldn't play the gig in your position, nor would I communicate that to them - they've kicked you out, you don't them any consideration. If they haven't got a replacement lined up, then they're going to look pretty silly if they arrive at the gig without a bass player. Well, they should have thought of that before they did the dirty on you. 

Walk away and forget them. Some people aren't worth remembering.

That's a far more eloquent way of expressing my sentiments 👍

[PatrickJ]

59 minutes ago, Fozza said:

The Beatles did it with Pete Best.

He didn't play the gig(s) either and they had to get a dep in for a couple of days until Ringo could join.

And look how it turned out for those losers 😕

[Frank Blank]

59 minutes ago, BreadBin said:

That's a far more eloquent way of expressing my sentiments 👍

I far prefer yours.

[BrunoBass]

7 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

What sort of person fires a band member and says can you do the next gig? He’s got a flipping screw loose hasn’t he?

It is indeed very strange. 

[BrunoBass]

1 hour ago, FinnDave said:

Just read this right through, I don't get the people saying 'do the gig, it looks good on your CV' - we're talking about a pub band here, not some corporate entity. 

I absolutely wouldn't play the gig in your position, nor would I communicate that to them - they've kicked you out, you don't them any consideration. If they haven't got a replacement lined up, then they're going to look pretty silly if they arrive at the gig without a bass player. Well, they should have thought of that before they did the dirty on you. 

Walk away and forget them. Some people aren't worth remembering.

Spot on Dave.

[Fozza]

41 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

That doesn’t make it OK. 

I didn't say it was OK, did I?

I've been in the same situation as the OP and it hurts. There's no way I'd do the gig and would definitely screw them over in some way. They deserve no less.

[Guest]

What is it about a certain class of musician who is limited in their ability but cannot take any criticism - constructive it otherwise? If they played a pro audition they’d be out the door before the first number hit the chorus. It does seem to highlight that many bands contain at least one dominant overbearing personality who likes to control others. It’s worth remembering that it’s (with the greatest of respect) just an amateur pub gig band - it should be fun, should entertain the punters and if there’s a bit of money in it, great. Life is far too short to get precious about it. As for playing the gig - no way, you were asked to leave, there’s nothing to be gained from it and it sounded like they were taking advantage of you anyway. There is no “CV” to be polished in this situation - if they were top players with connections all over or were involved in lots of potential future bookings elsewhere then maybe... but they’re not!