Justin Ostrander: They fired me ON THE SPOT

0:00 A song I’m working on
1:53 Let’s talk about how PROs get fired
2:34 First firing story
7:17 Second firing story
10:00 Common denominator in these situations
11:26 That time I got FIRED
14:45 Amazing musicians fired for RANDOM reasons
15:30 justinostrander.com

In this video, professional musician Justin Ostrander shares insights on why talented players sometimes get fired unexpectedly and provides advice on how to navigate professional settings to avoid these pitfalls.

Key Stories and Lessons:The Live Sound Check Firing (2:34 - 7:17): A highly recommended musician lost a tour gig because they spent too much time complaining and adjusting their in-ear monitors during a rushed line check, leaving the artist with no time to prepare. The lesson: You are the help, and you must prioritize the artist's needs and roll with imperfect situations until you can address them later.
The Studio Session Firing (7:17 - 10:00): A drummer was let go after ignoring a producer's request to stop trying to replace perfectly good pre-existing drum loops. The lesson: If a producer or artist says they are happy with what they have, don't overstep by forcing your own ideas, as time is money in the studio.
The "Full-Time" Gig Misunderstanding (11:26 - 14:45): Justin shares a personal story of being fired early in his career for subbing out a gig to take other work. He learned that many artists expect you to treat their project as a full-time commitment, even if the schedule is sparse.

Common Denominator:In all these cases, the musicians lost their gigs because their expectations did not match reality, and they struggled to adapt or keep their ego in check (10:00 - 11:26).

Final Takeaways:Be professional: Learn to separate your personal identity from your work. If someone rejects a musical idea, it doesn't mean they hate you—it just means it wasn't right for the song (10:00 - 11:26).
Manage perceptions: Sometimes, musicians are let go for reasons beyond their control, such as personality clashes or off-stage perceptions by management or partners (14:45 - 15:30).

CHECK OUT https://justinostrander.com
They fired me ON THE SPOT