Double Bass Deciding to leave an orchestra

[sean_on_bass]

If you are not having fun, for whatever the reason, move on.
I apply this principle to pro and amateur playing.

Stink eye, silent treatment, unwelcome vibes directed at you?
Easy to solve.

This. Particularly in an unpaid situation, if it stops being enjoyable then it's time to go.

 

[martinez]

I think it was Jason Heath who articulated a pretty good way of analyzing these situations; you should check at least of two of three boxes - The money, the music or the hang.
If the money works and the music is good I can deal with jerks.
If the money works and the people are great, I can deal with music I don't like.

If there is no money, then the music AND the hang need to be pretty solid - Give notice. Move on.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Why not go for one rehearsal with the new orchestra? If it feels better, you have your easy answer.

 

[Drang22]

A man and his friend stopped at a newsstand outside the mans' office building. When the man politely asked for the day's paper, the attendant stared coldly at him, cursed under his breath, and tossed the paper toward him across the countertop.
As they walked away, the friend commented on the unfriendly treatment they had received.
"Oh, he's like that every day" replied the man.
"How can you continue to patronize someone who treats you with such contempt?" asked the friend in amazement.
"Why should I let that person have any sway over how I choose to spend my day?" Answered the man.

How others choose to treat you is their business. How you choose to let it affect you is your business.

When the orchestra director gives you the stink-eye, smile back, wave, and say "Good afternoon Sunshine!"

 

[ScatCat]

Thanks everyone. I did decide it was time to move on and handed in my folder. I just told them I couldn't fully commit this year and thanked them for the time I've spent with them. I didn't want to completely cut ties in case I do decide to go back at some point. Honestly, though, it's been a huge load off not to have that commitment, since I wasn't enjoying it anymore. Thanks for all the advice and support.

 

[Phil Smith]

Thanks everyone. I did decide it was time to move on and handed in my folder. I just told them I couldn't fully commit this year and thanked them for the time I've spent with them. I didn't want to completely cut ties in case I do decide to go back at some point. Honestly, though, it's been a huge load off not to have that commitment, since I wasn't enjoying it anymore. Thanks for all the advice and support.

Not burning bridges is a good move. In a situation where a community orchestra has no basses they will hire a few and they will show up 1 or 2 rehearsals before the performance. This also happens with percussionist. I've been in your shoes and also have been the person that gets paid to show up for 1 rehearsal and the performance. When you're playing for free there must be other factors that make you willing to put in the time and effort and bad attitudes and energy are not one of those factors.

 

[Lee Moses]

With regard to the side discussion in this thread on attending rehearsal, members of my community orchestra just received a related e-mail from our director/conductor:

Folks,

I will look forward to seeing you this upcoming Monday at 7. Since we have limited rehearsals between now and the 28th, we will need to plan on hitting everything every week until the concert.

A word regarding attendance… I was a little taken aback by the lessened turnout on Monday night. In moving forward, my expectation is that if you plan on participating with the group and are not able to attend a rehearsal, please contact me in advance about your absence. If I don’t see you without any notice, I will have to assume that you are no longer participating on this concert cycle. I understand that none of you are participating in this ensemble for any reason other than the love of playing, but it is important that we have as many folks as possible present in these rehearsals in order that we can further hone our collective music making together.

Thanks for reading! See you soon.​

We are all unpaid volunteers, but I thought this was very fair. An orchestra needs as many members present as possible every rehearsal if they want to have a good performance.

 

[LouisF]

This is absolutely none of my business, but since it's Talkbass - here I go:

Having sat in the bass section and on the boards of multiple orchestra, my instinct reading that email that both that orchestra and that conductor are on a collision course that will only end badly. Let me know what happens in 18 months. I doubt it will be good.

 

[Lee Moses]

This is absolutely none of my business, but since it's Talkbass - here I go:

Having sat in the bass section and on the boards of multiple orchestra, my instinct reading that email that both that orchestra and that conductor are on a collision course that will only end badly. Let me know what happens in 18 months. I doubt it will be good.

Thanks for your input. But I do think you are wrong on this one. I am quite confident that anyone who would be a part of the orchestra in 18 months anyway has no problem with anything said in that e-mail. If our orchestra should no longer exist at that time, it will be because of reasons unrelated to the e-mail, although the issues addressed in the e-mail could be a big part of it.

 

[LouisF]

Lee, I hope you are right.
Louis