How (and Why) to Fire Someone From Your Band

How (and Why) to Fire Someone From Your gruppeHow (and Why) to Fire Someone From Your musikgruppeFiring a band member is a tough proposition. First, you have to be sure you even have the right to fire someone from the band and continue on using the same name and material. Dont assume this is the case, because there may be legal issues involved. As much as no one likes to fire a co-worker or bandmate,sometimes it has to be done. Theres little you can do to make it sound like great nachrichtensendung to the person getting the boot, but there are things you can do to lessen the fallout and protect yourself and the band.? Before you take the step, make sure its worth it. Is the person leid showing up for rehearsals? Is their behavior toxic to the rest of the group? Maybe theyre not up to the job musically, or, perhaps its just a personality conflict that cant be resolved. 1. They Dont Show Up for Practice Bands have different approaches to practice depending on their schedules and m usic goals. The important thing is that youre all on the same page with how things are done in your band. If the rest of you are absolutely committed to making regularly scheduled rehearsals and working hard while youre there, but your bandmate isnt, then youve got a problem on your hands. Their lack of commitment to practice is likely to spill into other areas of your music. 2. Their Behavior Is an Issue Do you have someone in your band who is forever picking fights at venues, showing up late to important appointments, and overindulging in music biz excesses at the expense of the work youre doing? This kind of bad behavior may seem very rock and roll to them, but in reality, theyre making you look bad and giving your band a reputation that could impact your chances of getting new shows, attractingmanagersandagents, and so on. If youre getting kicked out of every venue youre showing up to play, its time for a little damage control. 3. Your Band Is Their Side Project When you re getting started as a band, its not uncommon to bring in musicians who have other projects going on. Thats fine, but that sort of relationship has its way of running its course. This band member may get so excited about your music that your band becomes their main thing, or they may be already so committed to another act that youre always going to be second fiddle. If things start happening for your band - like getting big touring opportunities or a deal - then you need someone who can be on motherboard with the project all the way. If youve got someone who just cant, youre going to need to find someone to fill their shoes, no matter how big. 4. Theyre Not Up to the Job Not every musician is a fit for every band. If youve got someone in your band who isnt musically up to snuff when it comes to playing your songs or who simply excels at things your band doesnt really need, theyd probably be happier playing with a different group - and youd be happier with a different musician playing your tunes. 5. You Just Dont Work Well Together You may think that you can tolerate someone because oftheir skill, but in the long run, skill isnt enough for a band to succeed. It takes commitment to the band and each other. It takes mutual respect. If youre a new band building your music career together, you dont have to do it with people you cant stand. Now is the time to build a band you can go on this journey with, and its just easier if you all like each other and support each other. Its not going to get easier to get along once deals and money and big decisions start entering the picture. Things to Do Before You Fire a Band Mate Once you know that youre readyto part ways and let your bandmate go, there are a few things you need to know before you have the talk. Make Sure You Have the AuthorityIn most cases, you cant just show someone the door. Depending which member of the band is being fired, the rest of the group might not be able to continue using the same n ame and songs. If the person youre getting rid of has some claim of ownership of the band, a founding member, for instance,you may be looking at more of a band break-up scenario than a straightforward firing. Youd be free to continue on with the rest of the band, but you may be playing under a different name and with new material. You cant continue to use someone elses creative work while cutting them out of it unless its clearly spelled out under a band contract. Check Your Band ContractIf you have a contract, it almost certainly deals with situations like firings and acceptable reasons for termination from the band. If youve got the agreement, you have to abide by it, but the contract may allow you to fire a so-called key person for a cause stated in the contract and continue using the name and the music- with the requisite compensation, of course.Check Your Record DealIf you have a record dealand the person you want to fire person is specified as a key member in that record deal, you risk the label dropping you. The label believes this member isso important that losing them would result in a different band from the one they signed. This is usually the case with a lead singer. For example, if U2 fired Bono, they would definitely have a label problem. But a key member can be any band member that your label views as critical to your project and public image. How to Make the Firing ritterlich Financially The financial complexity of firing a band member depends on where you are in your career when the firing takes place. If theres no money coming in and no deals about to be signed that this musician helped you obtain through their talent, work, or connections, then it may simply come down to putting down a little good faith cash if, say, the departing member was the one who always paid for the beer. On the other hand, if youve got a record deal, albums that are being sold, licensing income being generated on songs this musician helped write, then things can get messy. If youve got a contract, youll know exactly how to deal with the situation. But if you dont,discuss the issues and hammer out an agreement in writing. This is especially Ditto if this person invested a lot of money in the band and should be paid back. If it gets too complex or too contentious, get a mediator or lawyer involved to help you come to an agreement. Its easier to deal with this now than have it become something way messier down the line, like a lawsuit. Plus, its fair. How to Make the Firing Fair Personally Firing someone does not typically endear you to them. In a perfect world, the musician being let go will agree that this just isnt working out for anyone and move on- but that doesnt always happen. Try to convince the person youre letting go that its in both of your best interests to keep this whole affair as professional as possible. If you can, come to an agreement on how youll all address the questions that will come up. After the dust settles- and i t will eventually- what people will remember is the grace you showed in the situation. It will make you more attractive to work with. Treat the outgoing band member with as much respect as possible. If you owe them money, see that they get it. If they bought some stuff for the band, make sure they get it back. If you know of a gig that might be just right for them, pass it along. Do the Deed and Wrap It Up Dont prolong the firing process. Sit down, have the discussion and make sure youre clear about how any loose ends will be tied up. You may need to negotiate some things. If you do, put it all in writing. Thats the best and fairest thing for all parties, and it will let you both get on with pursuing your musical ambitions a lot quicker.