Early, on time or late?

[TheReceder]

Bewildering thread.

If the appointment is 18.00 pm, I will be there at 18.00 pm.
If an event requires to be there ahead of time I'll be there with enough time "to make it".
Life (cinema, theatre, concerts, restaurant reservations, flights and trains, ceremonies, medical treatment etc.) waits for noone.

If something happens that prevents me from being on time (= 18:00 pm in the example above), and if I am able to, I will notify the people involved or do my best to make sure they are notified.

There were times when there were no mobile phones.
I had accidents which kept me from being on time as well as running for a phone - shoot me.
I also was involved in other people's accidents and gave first aid which resulted in me being late - again, shoot me.

I regard private appointments to be -5/+10 minutes.
As a host I loathe people arriving more early than 10 minutes.

Rehearsals: it depends on what is agreed upon.
If we agree on starting to play at 19:00, I will show up between 18:30 and 18:45.
More than enough time to switch on the amp, the PA, etc. to get going.

I was half an hour late "for a gig" once - a nightmare.
The car broke down in the middle of nowhere. But this meant, I arrived half an hour later than we agreed to meet at the club. So I was there 2,5 hours time before the doors opened and 3 h before showtime.
2 hours for setup and soundcheck were more than enough.

All this Army/Navy talk of being on time means being late - well, I'm a civilian.

For the record... I'm retired military, and agree with you. On time means being on time. Early is early, and late is late.Nothing wrong with wanting to be that person that's early... I just don't like spending my gig money sitting around drinking beer, eating burgers, or just hanging' out before a gig. I get there, set up, play and get out.

 

[Nick Mc Noise]

@TheReceder
For the record: I don't have any general objetions against military people.

I just believe nonsense remains nonsense no matter how many people repeat this nonsense and no matter how often they do.

I also think that having been or being military or having been raised by miitary people is lame excuse for talking nonsense.
If someone is really in doubt what the phrase "on time" means, well, check a serious dictionary.
Over and out.

 

[TheReceder]

@TheReceder
For the record: I don't have any general objetions against military people.

I just believe nonsense remains nonsense no matter how many people repeat this nonsense and no matter how often they do.

I also think that having been or being military or having been raised by miitary people is lame excuse for talking nonsense.
If someone is really in doubt what the phrase "on time" means, well, check a serious dictionary.
Over and out.

Just commenting that being early isn't really a military thing. To a degree, if you've been in the military long enough you learn that doing things early can bite you in the butt.

Early = Early
On time = On time
Late = Late

If people want people someplace earlier... tell them. Schedule it that way.

Nick.. I didn't take your post as any objection to the military... Having been in the military for so long I got to witness a lot of stupidity. I just didn't want the concept that being early = on time to be another thing thrown into the mix.

BTW... I have been known to talk nonsense on a very frequent basis... please don't attribute that to my military service... it's probably genetic... so you'd have to put that on my parents.

 

[LBS-bass]

There's a reason people have told you if you're not early, you're late. In LA, there are at least 8 other guys who can do that gig as well as you. (maybe better) If you're not ready to play at the start time

Ready to play at the start time means you were on time. If you are not ready to play, you were late.

Is everyone confusing "on time" with getting there at downbeat or something? No, that's late, like, super late. That is not on time. "On time" doesn't mean getting there at the last minute, it means you are there with enough time to do your job.

The real reason people tell you this is that too many of us are habitually late for everything, so people make up little sayings to try to get people to behave properly. I'd rather just tell them a time that's earlier than I want them there. If I know someone is always 15 minutes late and I want him there at 6:30 I tell him to be there at 6:15. It's easier and saves a lot of wasted breath

 

[Nick Mc Noise]

@TheReceder
Everything's allringht between the two us, as far as I'm concerned.

I got a little angry about this early=on time nonsense but I sure wasn't angry with you.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Early unless missus is involved, then all bets are off. I hate being late and I try to be early because life.

I neglected to say when my wife comes to gigs she drives on her own to avoid set up and teardown.

But yes, there should be a "mrs law" in that anytime our brides are involved time is a relative concern.

 

[dalkowski]

I neglected to say when my wife comes to gigs she drives on her own to avoid set up and teardown.

But yes, there should be a "mrs law" in that anytime our brides are involved time is a relative concern.

I should have been more specific. Missus never drives (more accurately, drove) with me to gigs. In general, she's horrible at managing travel times and getting out the door. I'm convinced it's genetic if you know what I mean.

 

[Selta]

I was curious how long it'd take for this thread to sexist.

 

[B String]

Ready to play at the start time means you were on time. If you are not ready to play, you were late.

Is everyone confusing "on time" with getting there at downbeat or something? No, that's late, like, super late. That is not on time. "On time" doesn't mean getting there at the last minute, it means you are there with enough time to do your job.

The real reason people tell you this is that too many of us are habitually late for everything, so people make up little sayings to try to get people to behave properly. I'd rather just tell them a time that's earlier than I want them there. If I know someone is always 15 minutes late and I want him there at 6:30 I tell him to be there at 6:15. It's easier and saves a lot of wasted breath

Not to be contentious, but are you dealing with children or professional musicians. Some musicians have an easy setup, some don't. I've seen it happen MANY times where a musician gets there in just enough time to put the gear up and start. But something goes wrong with the amp or instrument. Stuff happens we can't always control. That's only one reason to arrive early enough to deal with things. I've been fortunate enough to play with some fantastic professional musicians. With only a few exceptions EVERYBODY learns how early they have to get to work in order to be successful. Some of the biggest "name" musicians I've been able to work with have also been some of the most responsible in this regard. Learning from their example has only helped me. Your experience may be different than mine. Its not only a comfort factor for you, but the other players on the session or gig as well. jmho

 

[B String]

Bewildering thread.

If the appointment is 18.00 pm, I will be there at 18.00 pm.
If an event requires to be there ahead of time I'll be there with enough time "to make it".
Life (cinema, theatre, concerts, restaurant reservations, flights and trains, ceremonies, medical treatment etc.) waits for noone.

If something happens that prevents me from being on time (= 18:00 pm in the example above), and if I am able to, I will notify the people involved or do my best to make sure they are notified.

There were times when there were no mobile phones.
I had accidents which kept me from being on time as well as running for a phone - shoot me.
I also was involved in other people's accidents and gave first aid which resulted in me being late - again, shoot me.

I regard private appointments to be -5/+10 minutes.
As a host I loathe people arriving more early than 10 minutes.

Rehearsals: it depends on what is agreed upon.
If we agree on starting to play at 19:00, I will show up between 18:30 and 18:45.
More than enough time to switch on the amp, the PA, etc. to get going.

I was half an hour late "for a gig" once - a nightmare.
The car broke down in the middle of nowhere. But this meant, I arrived half an hour later than we agreed to meet at the club. So I was there 2,5 hours time before the doors opened and 3 h before showtime.
2 hours for setup and soundcheck were more than enough.

All this Army/Navy talk of being on time means being late - well, I'm a civilian.

 

[B String]

I don't think we're talking about a party at your house, at least I'm not. I'm talking about things you don't learn in music school, (for the most part) like how to be a successful "professional" musician.

 

[B String]

1. I'm not in LA. Don't want to be. I'll let those other 8 guys worry about wasting their lives chasing the hands of the clock.
2. If the start time is X. I don't show up at X. I start at X.
3. Being ready to play on time... doesn't mean being there early. It means being ready to play on time.
4. Part of being a leader means knowing who you lead. If you have to worry about whether you can trust those who you picked to follow you, you failed at being a leader.

I don't really think of what I do as "wasting my life chasing the hands of the clock". I'm simply doing what I need to do in order to make a living playing music at the highest level I can. Being able to play music is my drug. I want to do the best drugs I can.

 

[Jammons1]

I think It's mostly in our personality to be early. Bass Players are supportive, prepared, and considerate. I never wanted the spotlight, but always want my band to sound their best

 

[TheReceder]

Not to be contentious, but are you dealing with children or professional musicians. Some musicians have an easy setup, some don't. I've seen it happen MANY times where a musician gets there in just enough time to put the gear up and start.
But something goes wrong with the amp or instrument. Stuff happens we can't always control. That's only one reason to arrive early enough to deal with things.

They were either late or ill prepared to adapt.

I've been fortunate enough to play with some fantastic professional musicians. With only a few exceptions EVERYBODY learns how early they have to get to work in order to be successful. Some of the biggest "name" musicians I've been able to work with have also been some of the most responsible in this regard. Learning from their example has only helped me. Your experience may be different than mine. Its not only a comfort factor for you, but the other players on the session or gig as well. jmho

Being on time is being on time. That means knowing your gear, ensuring it's in working order, and in the event there's a failure you can adapt in a minimal amount of time.

For me, I can swap a head, a speaker or a bass in seconds. In the event I'm providing production I can troubleshoot any malfunction, and adapt in the event of broke gear in minutes, and have taught my bandmates to do the same. On time to me means the show starts on time, sound check is done on time, (Admittedly I ensure we're not one of those bands that is doing sound check up until start time.) and the show ends ends on time. Set's are scheduled to end within 30-45 seconds of the scheduled times. Not early... not late. On time.

When we say show at X... that doesn't mean show up at 15 minutes to X.

If you're able to do all that without having to show "early" so you can stare at an empty stage, IMHO... you're doing your job as a professional musician.