HOW TO SACK YOUR BAND MATE! 

Well, my band had to go through such a situation about 3 months ago. We kicked out our guitarist (also my best friend). Boy, did it go messy...

I'm a solo artist but my bandmates are: -fear of failure -doubt -bad time management I'm finna fire these fools.

my bandmates: I don't wanna be part of the writing process and I want you to tab down all of my parts that you've written for me and then teach me also my bandmates: You aren't including me into the songwriting process and I don't like the parts you've written for me, and I don't want to practice, I want to "have fun I had all the talks that were suggested in the video months ago with these dudes but they haven't changed, they were just always trying to appease me with shit like "look, I really like you and I really wanna be in this band and I will work harder I promise". That's been going on for 1.5 years. I really liked those guys too but I quit the band today.

Weird to watch this after getting the boot myself for a problem that I thought was no problem at all because they kept telling me it’s alright when I expressed concerns. Well, they sacked me by mysteriously writing in our group chat that I had to give the bassist a call when he’s out of work and once I called, he basically threw that “we’re looking for another guitarist, you’re out” phrase into my face, and, best part, that I shouldn’t be sad about it. lol. Told him “ok, that’s a shame. Good Bye” and hung up. Felt like Dave Mustaine when I thought about how I was given no warning whatsoever. I thought it was lame of them to handle it through a phone call. I was mad as sh*t. In retrospect, I’m glad I’m no longer with them, it was a blessing in disguise.

Hey Damian, your videos are seriously helping at the minute. Really helpful!

Mad respect Damo! Great content as always!

I appreciate your videos alot!! Very advisable

I was sacked from a band once many years ago . It was really horrible at the time ... But not too long after that I put my own band together and it was very successful ! I learnt to move on . The funny thing is that many years after that happened . I ended up working with one of the muso’s from the band I was sacked from 😂🤣👍

Great video Damian. Thank you.

Your videos are a valuable resource. Thanks man.

Got a guy in my band who's been quite ignorant and rude lately (to me specifically). He used to be our lead guitarist but through changes to band positions he's now the bassist. It's been quite hard to work with seeing as he doesn't answer texts, he's late when it's his turn to drive to practice (we carpool to the drummer's house) and he puts me down as a guitarist and as a person in general. We'd discussed kicking him a couple months ago and decided to wait and see if things got better, he rarely showed up and now when he does it's with this narcissistic attitude towards the rest of us. It's gotten old fast but I don't know how to give him the boot. Our lead singer suggested waiting to see if he starts putting in effort but I doubt he will. None of us are really close with him which makes it hard to meet with him to discuss this, so we were considering telling him at practice (if he shows up) we've already recorded three songs without him because he's never around. I know what I have to do but I know it's not gonna be easy. Thanks for the tips!

Have been Sacked 2 times in different groups in my career. Still playing live and have a career :)

A great video...depends on the maturity of everyone too! Back in the late 80s our band had a fall out, the drummer left, I was in two minds...until I found out I was going to be fired in the middle of a European tour and left to fend for myself, never gave them the opportunity to be horrible! Best to follow your guide here before it gets to the immature stage!

That's Never happened to me cause NOBODY WANTS TO PLAY WITH ME. Ha ha!

I would agree like hear each other out not like speak out from another band mate is not kool or what other mates are doing we all have to work it out and stil be happy and that's why I practcie and go over my band materials songs.

This advice is salient for business relationships as well.

ugh i can relate to this bro i had to cut so many people off i thought they was really apart of my band all they was really wan looking for a handout it feel like i was buying friendship it was really eating my alive so i had no choice but to cut them off:(

Man I wish I'd seen this video years ago. I was supposedly in a bad with a friend of mine who was a rather great guitarist and I even moved back across the country for the sole reason of doing that. However, the guy was like a wheelbarrow, where if I wasn't picking him up and pushing him, he wouldn't move forward and just dig his heels in where he was. I kept giving him chance after chance after chance for way longer than I'm willing to admit in this comment. Yet the time I finally got him like "Is this fucking happening or what???" he hit me back with "I feel like if you actually had a job, you'd understand how I don't have time." Yes, he worked a job with regular hours and for two weeks, I'd been between jobs at the moment. Yet it's funny how he completely glossed over the fact that when I was working nine hour days, six days a week, while also going to school full time, I was STILL on his ass, like "What's up, we're still doing this, right?" and things of that nature. That being said, it's funny how despite his statement, he had more than enough time to chase and date girls (or go on a two week trip to South America), but not enough to put toward making his dream/s come true.

Can we send them this video? Or even better you should make a "you're fired" video we can all use to fire someone!

So you are telling me when my bandmate has the football if I break through the o line and tackle him that would be considered a sack. NOICE.

We had to let bass player go today . Was over playing all the songs. Makes me a bit sad but I think it’s best in the long run. Cheers vid helped

Is there a code of conduct for a band and how fast should a singer be able to learn 14 songs lyrics

i had to get rid of one of my best friends from the band about a month ago, I absolutely hated it but it had to be done

Thanks for this video Damian mate, a wise man once said “you are only as strong as your weakest link”

We call this an Action Plan. And it works.

The old version of this video is how I discovered you :D

I do it all myself, but i have been thinking of firing me lately. I'm Just not good enough to be in My band.

I know a Swansea accent when I hear one!

Help! My problem, I got guys that play in other bands, can you say conflict of interest?

Ah, always a rough situation. Thanks for the advice, Damian!

As a bass player myself in a pub/ party/ wedding rock/pop covers band my mantra is be reliable, know your capabilities, know your strengths and how you can contribute to the bands overall progress. Be true to the song but have room to change endings / links that benefit the set. If you have something to say don't be scared but put your case forward in a positive way. Know your shit before you criticise others. Be realistic though, your not playing Knebworth! And enjoy it!

From reading most of the responses, I would say to the person who is getting the boot, ("The Sack")... Look, this is a business and we're doing what's best for the band! We don't want anyone to be offended because it's not a personal issue. It's a business and we need to take care of business to stay in the money!

Damian, to get you personal advise - do you do some skype advise sessions? (salaried) best wishes, marco

Sacking a bandmate tn , he’s been w us for 7 years, and i just realized he’s been holding us back for years

Well I wish I saw this video 3 months ago when I had to do just that 😂. Thanks youtube algorithm

well of my band that i just joined i wasn't what my band they were looking for

Good video dude. Thanks

i just got let go after a couple days i was practicing a lot i played bass for em i wasnt fhe right guy

I have one band mate who just does take things seriously, and one who just argues all the time and can't learn songs

468 Thanks Damian. Bet wishes.

I’ve just been kicked out of my band for trying to promote the band and get the single out...

I hate that I’ve watched this video many times to can two members. One last year and one this year. Both vocalists. 🙄

Me and my bandmates can't agree about genre. Some want to maje nirvana/ green day ish and others wanna make more Avenged Sevenfold inspired. Can you make a video about this?

Been sacked before batter up

You throw their luggage out of the bus and leave them on the side of the road...Classic Metal way to do it.

I have a dude atm, hes a great guitar player and a nice lad, but for a week we all agreed we have learned a list of songs to jam, and everyone, me, drummer, bassman, and the other guitarist have learned our parts.. come to jam yesterday and he didnt learn any of them and is more than happy enough to just solo over everything we play, i think he played about 3 chords yesterday, and whenever i come to play some lead guitar he would just start playing lead aswell and not give me a chance, hes got till the next jam to book his ideas up, learn the songs we agreed on and stay in his lane.. ill give him one chance but next weekend if he hasn't bothered to learn anything hes out man idc what the other lads say, i want this to be a serious thing.. not some bs loose jams

What if their just shit?

no dislikes good job

I got sacked .3 weeks later i got hired back minus the "leader:" that sacked me.Another time I got sacked.2 hours later rehired (I was only one showed up for rehearsal for the road trip in 2 days later)

how di I fire someone if I am not the band manager?

Years ago I audtioned for a band because their vocalist just stopped showing up. Long story short, I got the spot. About a month later, he shows back up and they kick me out. Hilarious experience! Not that I was great to begin with. 😂

If I ever don't meet band expectations, I hope the manager watched this video.

Well I see 2 people are still mad about being kicked out of their bands due to the Dislike ratio.

All my bandmates want to do is party. Zero professionalism.

I've had to do this a few times in my life and every time it was different. One person got totally pissed and still won't talk to me. One person was pretty chill about it and we've remained friends. And I've found myself in this situation again. My guitar player has been slacking off lately. He's always late, and he just drags his feet during setup. He'll set his guitar rig up and then sit on his phone instead of help with lights or PA or something (which we provide ourselves because you have to around here.) He's also lately been getting drunk during the show and then afterwords when we tear down he's even more useless than he was during setup. He also just basically refuses to learn new songs that I ask him to, and the only way he will is if you sit with him 1 on 1 and show him note for note how to play it, but he won't practice on his own ever, even when our drummer and bassist already know the song, so all he's got to do is learn the chords/riff and we're ready to play it, he just won't do it. It's been a steady decline in effort over the last 7 years I've been playing with him, which is also a shame that we've been together that long so it's a shame to break it off after that much time together, but he's lately gotten so complacent that I feel like he thinks he can get away with it with no consequences. He's an excellent performer and really fun to play with while we're on stage, but it's all the things outside that wear us down and I'm getting toward the end of what I'm willing to put up with.

My advice honestly is to try join and already established band rather than kick members. This way you know from the jump these guys are committed. Unless your band is established and rather commuted itself this is the move ^

I'm a loner,some would say a something else 😄 nobody's sacking me ,but I give myself right bollockings occasionally 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🎤🎸 I tell myself too piss off , try it,it works.😠😀

Or do as the greatest band did, get the manager to do it.

Strangely enough I am in that situation with my current drummer.

James and Lars could’ve used this advice before they canned Mustaine

Welcome to dumpsville.. Population - you..

Nope !!! This was 100% Clown Shoes.

I totally disagree with calling a meeting. Its a simple process. The band leader meets the person being let go. Public place like a coffee shop. Settle any debts. Be direct honest and compassionate.

I asked Damian for his opinion recently about the fact that I was cut from a band after a horse-riding accident. His response was something like, Sorry for your accident but you took that risk. The show must go on. I will be honest and say I was deeply hurt by the reply. I’ve spoken to many many musicians about my situation and have learned that bands will cut you if you: 1. Come down with lung cancer. 2. Get rear-ended by another vehicle and wind up in the hospital. 3. Have anything happen to you, period. To which I reply, why would I waste another minute of my time, money and energy on a group of people who could care less what happens to me? As for Damian, I was seeking a more compassionate point of view, which would help me stay in music. I think he only confirmed what I already thought, which is that musicians are self-serving people engaged in a relationship of utility in which their only concern is their ability to “use” you like a piece of furniture.

Yeah, well, James Brown and Buddy Rich weren't this nice.