Ever have one of "those" practices?

Nov 1, 2013
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While I really do enjoy playing in my current band, our BL caught me a bit by surprise at our last practice. The band did a benefit gig for an annual party in my community (this is something I've put together bands for over the last 10 years) and in appreciation my wife made T-shirts for the band. When she was working on the design I suggested adding "Classic Rock and R&B" under the band logo, and I think they came out pretty nice. The band was very appreciative, as we were for everyone taking the time to support the event. Back to practice... one of our guitarists had to miss that event due another commitment and I brought his shirt to practice. Joking with the BL, I asked "should we give Jack his shirt since he missed the gig?" He said, might as well they are incorrect anyway... they should say "Classic and Prog Rock". Wasn't said with any malice, just matter of fact... Since I've joined the band, we've added a number of tunes from my old sets, beach band standards... never really thought that much about it, other than keeping the audience engaged. When practice started we focused on an ELP classic that we really hadn't learned yet for about an hour until I suggested we woodshed it a bit and hit it next practice. It had only been discussed the previous week and we had just downloaded the music. It's funny because we've been talking about doing a few more gigs, and in my former BL mind, long prog rock songs are not the first thing that comes to mind... for club gigs. Be it as it may, but the "Mustang Sally", "Gimmie some lovin'", and "Margaritaville" tunes seem to hold the audience verses the long artistic pieces... Don't get me wrong, there's room for both... after a year with this band, you would have thought I would have figured it out I was in "Prog rock" band... :laugh:
Anyway, after the first hour dragged out, the rest of the night kept on the same track... the few songs from our regular set never hit the groove and were mediocre at best. I thought it was just me, but going through the practice recording last night verified it. I really look forward to practice, but I guess they can't all be stellar.
Cheers
 
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I think sometimes the worst rehearsal/practices can be the best ones. We really see where there are things we thought we had down that we need to focus on and make better. I can't remember which song it was, but we had one that we tried it at rehearsal and just had all kinds of issues with it. Worked on it a week and still had some issues trying it out during a soundcheck. The next gig we had really been working on it, but were worried about trying it out live. We decided to go for it and we all nailed it. Kind of did surprised looks at each other after the song.

I know some folks don't like doing rehearsal/practices, but I wish we could do more. The gigs are busy and we have to set up and then we are just playing for hours. At the rehearsals and practices we can really take our time working on things and we have a good time as well. We usually end up getting a lot accomplished and we have had more than a few songs come together in rehearsal/practice that we did not even know we were going to do, just a simple noodle here or riff there sets off something. And yes, we have also had those practices where we leave thinking what in the heck did we do for the last four hours.
 
I'm not in a band anymore, but when I was and rehearsed regularly, we sometimes had off nights. They happen! But then we also had nights where everything just flowed perfectly, all the songs felt great, and we walked away on cloud nine feeling like the biggest rock stars in the world.

It's going to ebb and flow, don't let the off nights get you down or go to your head.
 
Worst I dealt with... had a list of 10 new songs we were going to go through... I thought it was promising that we had a list.... got to practice...everyone learned the songs that they had reccomended and nothing else... Me... I didn't recommend anything so I learned them all... Went around the room and got a lot of... "I didn't work that one up" on every one of the songs from at least two and some of the time, three of the other 4 band members...

I packed up, and told them to call me when they were ready for a practice. They thought I was the bad guy for wasting time.... things didn't get much better and I eventually looked for a better situation... the shame... I ended out in a band that had a hypoglycemic lead female that had to have the lights turn off when she was getting dizzy, and her alcoholic LG husband, but they did learn the music, and he hid the alcoholism well.
 
I've always loathed unorganized cover band rehearsals with no particular direction and the majority having not bothered to listen to the song when there is a given directive for the evening and having to hold their hand through the whole thing. Or worst of all is them getting bored because they haven't done their homework and trying to spin the rehearsal off into a why don't we pick at the scabs in Old Time Rock and Roll or Brown Eyed Girl again. Which, by the way, they have never learned correctly either! It's such a total disrespect for not only the time I'm giving up for that rehearsal, but the potential hours of my time put into learning my parts and vocals prior to that rehearsal. At one point I worked with horn players who would insist that we play a song that one of them wanted to sing and then inevitably refuse to perform it, because they weren't ready or thought we knew that they were just kidding. I stopped learning more than the basic structure of the song until I knew it was going to happen and would then go back and wood shed the tune.
 
The cool part is that we will get it and it will be tight, we just didn't have a heads up that it would be part of the practice this week, so no one was prepared except the BL who knew the song. I'm just not into spending practice time learning songs... it's just not a good use of band time. It's not like you can 1/3/5 an Emerson, Lake , and Palmer song... ok well except for "lucky Man"... ;)
 
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Once you have regular gigs, I don’t believe in rehearsals. Too many bands use rehearsals instead of doing their homework to learn their parts or the song structure. It’s a waste of time for the people who’ve learned their parts to have to cycle through a song while someone else learns it. Plus, people can bicker over irrelevant topics or lose interest. Knowing you need to play a new song at a gig really puts the pressure on everyone to learn their parts. Ideally, it helps you exercise your onstage communication. And, playing a new song that you’ve never practiced as a band is pretty thrilling. Do it well and it’s very satisfying - it’s great team building. My band gigs 1 or 2x each weekend. We’ve probably brought on 30 new songs this years - not 1 rehearsal. We’ve been voted top band in the city 2 out of the last 3 years so we’re not bad. Plus, band practice it takes a lot of time away from promoting the band. Instead of practicing 10 times, everyone could join up and go to venues asking for gigs. That allows everyone to appreciate the challenge of booking the band. You get the point.
 
Learn your part at home, that's practice. Getting together with the band to work new songs out is rehearsal. If one person in the band has the lousy and worn out excuse of, "I didn't have time", you may as well forget rehearsing new music everyone was supposed to have ready. One person can screw up a new song(s) rehearsal by not taking time to prepare. And, it's usually the same person. May as well have stayed home. Usually if this happens the band will revert to songs they already know. This equals boredom and a waste of time. Coming to a rehearsal not prepared is disrespectful of those that did their homework!

A rehearsal can be off for several reasons. Bad day altogether, tired, may not feel good, personal issues. One person on the downer train can make a rehearsal a drag. There are more, but. Plus, what I've mentioned above. IF everyone is prepared, things usually go great and a rehearsal can be fun, just like it's supposed to be.
 
In my old age, I've begun to prefer playing in bands that rehearse. However, that's with a strong stipulation, which is that the rehearsals have to serve a purpose, and be well managed. Among the bands that I play in:

One band uses rehearsals to work out original material. There's a lot of discussion about the structure of the arrangements, harmony, and so forth. The band gets good audience reaction from this material. People are disappointed that we don't have recordings to sell.

Another band has 19 members, and rehearses a constantly rotating repertoire of challenging jazz charts. Rehearsals allow us to be more adventuresome with our material, without each gig being a train wreck. Also, with 19 members, there are always a few subs at each gig, and rehearsals are a chance for them to get settled into the vibe of the band.

In both cases, the rehearsals are run by experienced bandleaders who take it seriously, and the players are familiar with rehearsal conduct.
 
I get asked to revise up the rocky set...which means not a great deal, so i don't stress it.
I expect the other guys to know it as they have been in the band so much longer so they need to drag me along.
Sure, people could make stuff easier by being more specific but if they don't, they get what they get.
Its still a very good band, but it makes me realise I'm just marking time until something better comes along... or I get fed up.
I'm in 2 regular bands and 2 other 'projects'.
If they start to conflict...decision time.
 
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I guess that this band could be considered "Prog Rock" as we cover some Traffic, Herbie Hancock/John Mayer, Procol Harum, and Steely Dan songs... and now ELP. While I tend to be more of a rock standards, or one off's ** playlist guy. I real find that playing in this band is fun and challenging, plus we play quite a it of good blues and classic rock tunes. And as most have said, not all practices are good due to many assorted reasons. I guess my main issue was spending "band" time on a song most of us had not practiced. But like most jobs, worker bee's are not always privy to management and I truly appreciate not having BL responsibilities. It's all good...

Cheers

** I really like "B" tunes from great records, recognizable but buried by the hit, think Joe Walsh's "Happy Ways" from the Smoker you drink album, it barely got any airplay verses "Rocky Mountain Way".