I guess it all comes down to the question of what any given band is.  Is it essentially a performance arts collective just trying to cover its costs or a business just trying to maximize profits.  All bands fall somewhere on that spectrum, and the answer to who is part of the band depends on where they fall on that spectrum.<p><i>firing a Tour Manager or Lawyer is not the same as replacing a drummer, it just isn&#x27;t.</i><p>No, and replacing your CFO is not the same as firing an administrative assistant.  But they&#x27;re both part of the company.<p><i>in a rough analogy, just because a waiter brings you food doesn&#x27;t mean they had a hand in making it in the kitchen.</i><p>No but they are crucial to the whole restaurant experience and thus the success of the business.  A bad front of house can completely wreck the best of intentions that the kitchen might have, and a great front of house can save the day if the kitchen fumbles the ball.