Doors Close, Windows Open: On Getting Fired

On getting the axe.

George Carlin was, if anything, a brilliant observer of our American culture and its quirky social trends. In this video, he makes some very pointed remarks about how Americans are afraid of harsh truth and prefer to soften it with euphemistic language rather than face it head on.

Check it out. Please note that this video contains graphic language. If you are easily offended, please do not watch this video.

Life as a musician has many ups and downs. On the up side, performing music can be immensly rewarding. On the down side, many musicians deal with loads of stress: negative attitudes from co-workers, narcissitic behaviors, performance anxiety, dealing with contract negotiations, and even job loss.

This video and recent events in regional orchestras – in Columbus, Shreveport and Miami – and in my own life, have gotten me thinking about that old expression, “when a door closes, a window opens.” This refers to a belief that with every misfortune a new opportunity will present itself.

In this routine, Carlin satirizes among other things, popular language referring to getting fired from a job. No longer are we “fired” or “canned” but rather we are “downsized” or “released.” In our music world, this translates as strikes being called “work stoppages,” a shutdown or lockdown referred to as “ceasing operations” and getting fired as “a contract has not been renewed.”

Having gone through my share of job loss, let me tell you that euphemistic language for getting fired is a load of crap. On this point, Carlin is spot on. Calling a turd a popsicle is frankly ridiculous. Not to mention that it still tastes like a turd no matter what you call it.

For example, until recently I taught for ten years at a music camp in the Midwest. Along with half of the faculty, I was fired under the premise of “contract non-renewal.”

Once that shock was over I became resolute that my life would go on. For myself, this summer I accepted a position at a technology center that is involved in a project funded by the National Science Foundation. My duty is to create a web site which supports that project and provides its instructional materials to university teachers. While I continue to keep my chops in shape and perform freelance gigs this new job – along with freelance web development on the weekends – is paying the bills.

It is very creative work that I am enjoying very much. I mention this point not to brag but rather to make a point. For anyone who has been given the pink slip, canned, downsized, outsourced, released, replaced or otherwise fired from a music gig, take hope in this quote from Hal Lancaster, a retired career reporter and bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal:

“Getting fired is nature’s way to telling you that you had the wrong job in the first place.”

While the door may be closing, keep your eyes open for windows opening. You might find that new and more rewarding opportunities will arise from the ashes.