worst week but smw in the guardian today! ::: « Ghosts & Shadows

26Mar/108

worst week but smw in the guardian today! :::

Photo by Jonny Hughes

It's been a pretty bad week, all in all, kicking off with being fired from my shiny new session job (more on that shortly) and ending last night with my house being burgled while I was out performing at LDNtwestival - thank you Twitter buddies for watching me play, Twitpiccing me and sending me lovely messages post-burglary. You're the best.

They took all my really important filming gear (Canon XH A1 plus Rode NTG2 mic, batteries etc), my Canon 50D, some lenses and my Macbook Pro, which thankfully I backed up really recently - very unlike me. I am insured, so fingers tightly crossed there aren't any problems replacing the stuff. What upset me was that my dog Benji was home, and when I couldn't get in because the chain was over the front door I had to wait for the police to come and force their way in before I could give him a big cuddle. He was really upset but not harmed, and today he's bounced right back.

There's a nice end to the week though, with She Makes War getting its very first mention in the national press. Jude Rogers wrote an awesome article for the Guardian about angry women in music and I get a mention alongside luminaries like Kristin Hersh, Kathleen Hanna and Joan Jett. This is a girlhood dream come true for me!

I feel very privileged, but I need to clarify my statement a little: the comment I made about problems as a female session musician comes from an experience I had a few years ago when I was booked in to audition for Alesha Dixon's band. The audition got cancelled at the last minute and I was told it was because her management were "not interested in female musicians". This Monday I was let go from my job with the other female singer mentioned in the article and was told it was because she wanted an all-male band. So, on Monday I made sure the Guardian knew that I was no longer playing in the band so they wouldn't call me "Laura Kidd of [said band]". I have since been told there were also other reasons for the sacking, and as there are a zillion reasons, spurious and non-spurious, that session musicians can be fired on the spot AND as there are no proper agreements, contracts or severance payment schemes (yes, ouch!) there's little else I can do about the situation except to make it clear that I am unhappy with being told I'm fired for being a woman. I am certainly not courting publicity on the back of it, to be honest I just can't wait for this week to be over.

Funnily enough, that comment about Dixon was a very tiny part of a largely upbeat and breezy set of answers to the interview questions. When I wrote the responses a week and a half ago I was feeling really good about being a woman working in the music biz - if I was answering them this week my answers would be quite different.

But hey, in the spirit of focussing on the good things, I'll leave you with a bit of last night's Twestival performance, filmed by @b33god - I'm off to file some insurance claims.

Filed under: Feminism, Gigs, Music, News, Photo Post, Serious Shit, She Makes War, Video Leave a comment

Comments (8) Trackbacks (2) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Guitartim
March 26th, 2010 - 11:25

Fired for being female? Apart from the whole sex discrimation angle, did they not notice you were female when you auditioned? Some people need their eyes testing! Reminds of me of getting dumped by a girl for “being too old” after several months, it wasn’t like I’d suddenly gained 5yrs overnight or anything. People, eh?
masonic boom
March 26th, 2010 - 11:30

Saw you namedropped in the Guardian article and was pleased as punch and proud as hell!

I have a lot else to say about the article, but that’ll have to wait for mine own blog.

Alls I really want to say is that hearing “pop stars” or pop star wannabees who don’t want women in their backing band are pretty much shooting themselves in the foot as far as actually attracting a female fanbase, but I guess we’re not seen as the lucrative market or some bullshit like that. I don’t get it.

It’s a shame, really, how far things seem to have gone the other direction. Back when I was a session bassist (this is now nearly 2 decades ago, mind you) my femaleness was often seen as a kind of gimmick or selling point. I mean, perhaps that wasn’t good in itself when you’re seen as a bit of totty – but I never had female artists reject for me for being female – if anything, it seemed a plus, as the artists were happy to have another girl in the van for solidarity.

Anyway, just wanted to say well done you for the press mention!
warriorgrrl
March 26th, 2010 - 12:00

Tim: I was told in the firing email that was the reason and that it was through no fault of my own (i.e. playing and singing were fine) then later told there were other reasons…whatever, I just need to figure out how to get more work and get on with She Makes War stuff. Maybe I’m not cut out for bands anyway!

MB: I agree – it seems crazy to cut off half your audience by eschewing girls, but I’m finding it’s the female chauvinist pigs that are the worst…
Guitartim
March 26th, 2010 - 12:40

Fired _by email_?!?! a) How kind and considerate of them b) How foolish of them to give you written evidence that sex discrimination is indeed the issue!
Christian Yorke
March 26th, 2010 - 15:13

Very sorry to hear about your horrendous week. Sometimes everything can seem gloomy, but when you hit the next high you’ll enjoy it all the more. I really hope those insurers do the right thing so you can replace all your kit!

I thought that the gig clip was very cool by the way.

Also, you must be excited about your album and Hal/Young Punx new release featuring your good self…

Best wishes,

CY
Kat
March 26th, 2010 - 15:14

Really sorry to hear about your bad week
Hope things pick up soon.

I get unspeakably angry about the idea that people in bands should be a certain gender – surely you want to person who fits with your sound and style, regardless of whether they are male or female?

their loss, anyway. Onwards and upwards with your own ventures…
Alison Smith
March 26th, 2010 - 15:33

Hi,
I’m sending best wishes whilst you sort out aftermath of being burgled. I was at the Brumtwestival last night.

I really feel for you as we had same experience in 2008 got burgled on what was the first big night of my work as Artistic Producer of a DaDaFest 2008 a 4 day art festival in Liverpool (disability arts deaf arts festival). I live in Telford so had to leave and drive back home sort the chaos out (chase the non existent police more interested in the bank robbery that happened same day) go back to Liverpool the next day.

You’ll be in shock and having to do all the horrible sorting out everything that comes with such a bloody awful experience (never mind the other stuff you were already dealing with) and the emotional firefighting.

I got the Guardian this morning and read the article – great you are mentioned in there and sending best wishes for you new single. Check out the Glee Club as a venue (Birmingham one is a fab space to perform in).

Look after yourself and get good people round you in support.

Take good good care.

best wishes
Alison
p.s. no need to publish my email
warriorgrrl
March 28th, 2010 - 12:31

Thanks all for your kind comments.

CY: Yes, am very pleased to be part of the new Punx album – it’s a great piece of work. Funny, after all that’s happened this week Monday’s release seems like it was months ago… Fingers crossed the insurance goes through quickly, I need that gear to work!

Kat: So do I! I love being a woman and I love writing songs from a female perspective, and despite all that’s happened to me over the years I try not to have a chip on my shoulder about being discriminated against because of my gender. That’s what makes it so shocking when it happens, and when it comes from other women I become absolutely lost for words (very unlike me). Thankfully there are good people around who know what utter bollocks this all is and can offer support, like your lovely self – THANK YOU.

Alison: Thanks so much for commenting on my blog, it’s very sweet of you to be so supportive and I appreciate it A LOT. I hope Brumtwestival was fun – London was ace but a little dark and noisy to properly meet people. Sorry to hear you have been burgled too, it’s a crappy experience (and this is my second go around).