Band Won't Practice

[thorplaysbass]

I'm new to leading a band in anyway, and this time the rest of the band basically told me to do it. I didn't think it could happen that way, but it did. ANYWAY this is a fairly new band and we've had about 3 practices so far. Most of the time we just sit there and talk, with our thumbs up our ***es.. But I don't know how to tell everybody to get playing without being rude about it. We also have a show near the end of october, and i don't want us to be awful. Any help?

[Motiff]

Find someone serious.

[MonkeyBass]

Say "let's get our thumbs our of our a**es and play some music." If they don't, find some new guys to play with.

[Evil Undead]

Originally Posted by Motiff

Find someone serious.

This.

[jmattbassplaya]

How old are you guys?

[JonahTheAmazing]

Tell it like it is. Talking about playing isn't playing. Be stern about it, and if it doesn't go your way, you're probably better off with different people.

[cableguy]

Originally Posted by MonkeyBass

Say "let's get our thumbs our of our a**es and play some music." If they don't, find some new guys to play with.

+1

You don't have to be an ass to expect your band to practice. If they don't want to......move on. Simple as that.

[steveksux]

"Not to be rude, but anybody want to actually go over the songs once before we do that gig coming up? For all I know, you guys don't even really own/play instruments. Just sayin..."

Randy

[winstonthecat]

Are you an originals band that is still writing songs? Are these practice sessions really songwriting seasons? Or do you have an agreed upon, fully developed set list?

My experience is with cover bands with all the song setlist decisions made, so this advice comes from that perspective.

I would write and distribute a practice set list before each practice, and then start the practice by doing a quick verbal review of the songlist for the night, and get immediately to playing each song. Play each song start to finish, discuss any issues (dynamics, changes, etc), run through those one more time, then move to the next song.

[LowEndMan2112]

Originally Posted by winstonthecat

Are you an originals band that is still writing songs? Are these practice sessions really songwriting seasons? Or do you have an agreed upon, fully developed set list?

This. When the band I'm in at the moment is rehearsing, we have songwriting sessions some days, and rehearsing days the others. If you're writing tunes, nobody expects there to be ideas flowing all the time, and some chat can help move the process along at times.

Then again, if you guys have written all your originals, have some covers too, and have a setlist you're practicing for a gig, you either need to get these guys playing, or find a new gig!

[CrashCarlisle]

Ideally, everybody should practice and home and come to band practice ready to go. I'm not a fan of being nice about band related issues...blunt direct talk gets results. You don't have to insult anyone...just say "Stop jawing and get your gear ready."

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by MonkeyBass

Say "let's get our thumbs our of our a**es and play some music." If they don't, find some new guys to play with.

+1

[Marko5657]

Originally Posted by thorplaysbass

I'm new to leading a band in anyway, and this time the rest of the band basically told me to do it. I didn't think it could happen that way, but it did. ANYWAY this is a fairly new band and we've had about 3 practices so far. Most of the time we just sit there and talk, with our thumbs up our ***es.. But I don't know how to tell everybody to get playing without being rude about it. We also have a show near the end of october, and i don't want us to be awful. Any help?

Maybe they see that nothing’s getting done, and recognizing that you want to progress, they’re looking to you to get them off their butts.

So that’s what you should do.

[mboogiemanusa]

Agree on a practice game plan / set list etc ahead of time. E-mails work great for that. Everybody learns/writes songs on their own and is prepared for practice or else its just a bull session. I personally like my bull sessions after I've jammed for a few hours not during my designated jam time.

[armywalaby]

Originally Posted by MonkeyBass

Say "let's get our thumbs our of our a**es and play some music." If they don't, find some new guys to play with.

This.

[warnergt]

Make a set list with two columns:
Left column - songs you want to play that need work,
Right column - songs that are ready to go.

Work on the songs in the left column to get them into the right
column. You should see progress at every practice. If your
bandmates aren't progressing, it should be immediately
obvious and an embarrassing wake-up call to them.

Assuming this is all working well, don't forget to continue to
practice those songs in the right column to keep them tight.

[MNAirHead]

book some gigs.. it's the easiest way to get folks to step up or out.

[Waffles and Scotch]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

book some gigs.. it's the easiest way to get folks to step up or out.

+1!

[jive1]

Decide on a warm-up tune that you begin every practice with. It can be a cover, original, or just a jam over a chord progression.

[bluewine]

Start assigning them songs to learn before the next rehearsal. If they are not on board, find new guys to play with.