Early, on time or late?

[Pings Bass]

I thought this was about musical timing. If I don't watch myself, I push the beat a little sometimes. I show up early to rehearsals and gigs, and stay late to tear down.

 

[DirtDog]

if you're not early, you're late.
.

That's exactly what I had rammed into my noggin from an early age. The corollary of that is: "Hurry up and wait".

 

[DirtDog]

I spent the bulk of my life being early... then learned how to be "on time". Since then I've been preached to that if you're not early, you're late.

My response... if you're early... you're not on time.

yep - there IS such a thing as being TOO early.

 

[Breeze3]

If your not 10 minutes early ..... you're late.

 

[LBS-bass]

That's exactly what I had rammed into my noggin from an early age. The corollary of that is: "Hurry up and wait".

Yeah, in many instances, early is rude. Sometimes it's inconvenient. I give myself an extra ten minutes to deal with unexpected traffic and I try to get to any venue anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour ahead of downbeat. Sometimes this depends on the venue and the type of show, anticipations regarding soundcheck, etc. It takes me five minutes to set up my rig, another five if I have to set up a mic and stand. The rest of the time is for me to relax and destress and deal with any soundcheck needs.

But you will not catch me showing up at a rehearsal 10 minutes ahead of schedule, ever. If I arrive early I will wait in my car until it's time to actually show up.

 

[2saddleslab]

Early.

 

[Ruknrole]

I’m always early and usually have to wait on people.

 

[dave64o]

I voted on time since that's my tendency. However, for anything work related, whether it's my day job or my band, then I do make a point to override my tendencies and be early.

 

[Stumbo]

Never been late to a gig. Always early enough to setup and then help out everyone else. I had a van so I carried the PA too. Round up the Drive time to the hour plus 1/2 hour has worked pretty well for me.

 

[lokikallas]

I like to be early, but I’ll wait in my car until “on time”. I don’t like the anxiety of rushing to set up, and I want the breathing room if there is an issue. I can’t stand the feeling of running late.

 

[Ostie]

I always arrive early for gigs. I hate being rushed during set up, because that’s when you forget something. I like to scout the club if it’s new, check Out the stage if there is one, Check where the outlets are, talk to management. The last Acoustic band I was in, my two band mates would arrive 30 min early. Barely enough time to set, tune up, etc. I’d have most of the PA setup before they even got there.

 

[kevindahl]

Always early as well. I get so stressed out if I am late for anything. I always wondered if people who are habitually late feel the same stress for being early.

 

[bolophonic]

As far as music is concerned, I used to be early all the time. Which gave me a feeling of inner peace and all that, but it also meant that I was always waiting for someone who was late. So now I arrive on time, set up quickly, and then go for a walk and relax.

 

[grinx]

always early
always bring extra straps/cables/picks for 'those guys'

what is it with drummers?
the past 2. either 2 hours early 10% of the time or JUSTIN THYME to 20m late the other 90%. a justintime drummer still has to setup therefore JIT = late unless backline

 

[Killing Floor]

Early. Don't be late. I know there are factors you can't control so I try not to call out others unless it becomes a habit. But the whole "traffic" excuse is completely BS. If you live in a different building from where you rehearse and/or perform, you already know about the traffic so leaving late isn't because of traffic. If you live upstairs from the bar you play in, I guess you could get stuck in an elevator, that's probably forgivable. Don't walk in to a gig or rehearsal or your job and say "I had no idea there was traffic, this is my first time in a motor vehicle."

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Oh, I also carry extra batteries, guitar strings and drumsticks (why!) just in case. Of course, if a drummer ever actually needed sticks on the job, I don’t know whether I’d give them to him / her or not.

As a bassist, I feel my inner “ den mother” working at every gig and even at practices. Just me, I guess.

I Have No excuses. I'm sorry ,but Im usually Late, I hate waiting around. I know its not a good excuse, but I was in a band with a drummer who booked the gigs, who was habitually late! I was dealing with heavy Anxiety issues at that time & couldnt handle his behavior, It was hard for me to wait around nervously for him to show. I've dealt with it & worked on being on time, not LATE, late. I was never more than 15-20 min. delayed,but I at least called to let them know where I was at. I feel bad for not handling my issues better or respectfully, but I recovered.

 

[elberon]

Always really early. Speaking from experience from the more "legit" gigs I've played over the years like touring broadway musicals, orchestral rehearsals and performances etc. The kiss of death to getting followup gigs from musical contractors is to show up "on time" and have to lug all your sh## (including maybe an electric and double bass with amps...) over, between, and through people in an already tight pit orchestra or stage setup. It looks really bad and is disruptive. That's all beside and apart from actually being musically prepared and playing at a really high level which is assumed. If you're doing music for a living you've got to learn this lesson or starve because of lack of work.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I like getting to wildcard gigs where you don’t know the load in, parking, or venue really early. But I do strongly dislike waiting around to play. The quiet before a wedding or corporate gig is pleasant.

I like to get to band practice on time or five minutes late so that other band members can have their conversations beforehand. I have found myself at so many rehearsals where there seemed to be more desire to talk than to play. So I build in that time for the other people to get it off their chests.

Family events/parties are best to arrive late to so that you avoid the whole “uncomfortable chat with host while awaiting guest arrival” conversation. You also get turned into a roadie too if you are early.

 

[Guild B301]

I try to be on time.
As a musician I don’t show up at a studio early, because the artist with the time slot ahead of you won’t appreciate it. I’ll wait outside or go get a drink or something until it’s my time.
The same can be said for theaters and event centers or wherever you play. If you show up before your time, you are in the crews way. Wait until you were told to show up.
Sometimes that means leaving a day early, because of travel delays and then staying at your hotel until it’s time.
If your flying, I try to get to the town really early, and go to the event at my allotted time.
Speaking as someone who hosts parties and get togethers, I do not want people showing up before I have everything ready for things like that. It makes me unable to finish my job.

 

[arbiterusa]

My dad was Air Force and when he went to work for the airlines, if we wanted to take a trip, we were showing up three hours early at the airport everytime. For my first gig at a venue, I will too. Recon, figure out parking, bathrooms, food, staff, etc. Repeat gigs, if they're local, I'll show up about 10-30 minutes early. Further out, 30-45 minutes. Traffic's an issue here in SoCal.

My wife's dad, who worked for the same airline, was Navy. When they wanted to take a trip, they'd show up at the airport ten minutes before takeoff. For everything save work, she will be between 45 minutes to two hours late, with never an apology. We've had some pretty major fights about it. Now, if it involves me or people I know, I tell her to take her own car and meet me there.

If you were raised with the attitude that other people's time is valuable, you'll proceed as such. If you weren't, you won't care.