Frustrating First Rehearsal

[Skokiaan]

I just had the first rehearsal with a new band. The band is made up of:

Male Singer
Female Singer
Male Guitarist/Sax/Singer
Me: bass (duh)
Drummer
Lead Guitarist

The three singers have all known each other for years and are in another band together.
I've played with the drummer for nearly 20 years in four different bands. We did not know the singers.
The guitarist didn't know any of us prior to auditioning.

The singers held an audition a few weeks ago with this lineup. Everything sounded good and all got along well. The first actual rehearsal was last night. Based on the audition, it should be a walk in the park.

But...

None of the singers were prepared!

They didn't have phrasing down. They didn't even know when to come in on several songs. They certainly didn't know the words (though I will excuse reading lyrics in early rehearsals). Guitarist/Singer was reading internet charts (lyrics with chord names at the changes - oh, so reliable) on simple three/four/five chord songs. He played OK, but clearly hadn't woodshedded enough.

There were virtually no backing vocals prepared.

Guitarist, drummer and I all showed up prepared. No notes or charts. The three of us went out for a beer after rehearsal and talked. We decided to give them one more chance to show up prepared before airing our grievance.

Next rehearsal is Sunday. I have two rehearsals that day. I will be ready for both.

 

[Oddly]

I'm hoping that, while deciding to give the others one more chance, you did actually all discuss this...not just the 3 of you that came in prepared, but including the others in setting out what is expected of them?

Some of us know that rehearsal is just that, rehearsing the parts we've worked on at home...but others may think of it as practice.

Better to make it crystal clear beforehand that everyone is expected to show up prepared.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Ouch. That sounds like one of those rehearsals where you just want to pack it in early and try again another time. I'm pretty flexible with how much you know the material, but there is a definite limit before it becomes impossible to even rehearse something since only one person really knows the tune.

 

[Stumbo]

Cancel the Sunday rehearsal and don't rehearse until the vocalists are prepared.

Alternatively, on Sunday, have a vocal practice for a couple of hours and then a band practice.

Also ask them what their normal process is for getting the vocals set.
Maybe they had a gig the night before or whatever.

Let them know that you'll only rehearse songs that they have down.

Also, when's the first gig? If the vocalists are in another band, what is their goal for this band? Which band gets priority?

Time to put all the cards on the table. Who's the BL?

 

[Spidey2112]

I bet the singer's knew they jacked it up... hopefully, they recognize you guys came to play, and will put in a better effort, next time.

 

[briandavismurph]

Cancel the Sunday rehearsal and don't rehearse until the vocalists are prepared.

Alternatively, on Sunday, have a vocal practice for a couple of hours and then a band practice.

Also ask them what their normal process is for getting the vocals set.
Maybe they had a gig the night before or whatever.

Let them know that you'll only rehearse songs that they have down.

Also, when's the first gig? If the vocalists are in another band, what is their goal for this band? Which band gets priority?

Time to put all the cards on the table. Who's the BL?

agree 100%, I am going through similar situation now and it's frustrating

 

[Oddly]

I bet the singer's knew they jacked it up... hopefully, they recognize you guys came to play, and will put in a better effort, next time.

Why rely on a 'hopefully', though?
Why not just all discuss it together, either in person or via whatsapp or group text or whatever, and lay out your expectations clearly?
At least then everyone's on the same page, and there's no room for excuses.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If it were me, I would give the next rehearsal about 3 songs, then talk time.

After the first rehearsal, did you all discuss what you would have ready for the next rehearsal?

 

[Tony In Philly]

Maybe narrow it down to a few tunes that they seem to be more familiar with and have another go it at it. This way you will be able to judge their level of competency. If they still don't cut it maybe the rest of you should consider singing.

 

[mcarp555]

Fire the drummer.

 

[gumtown]

Good honest direct and open communication is the key, don't do the "us and them" thing, as that will start a rift before you have started.
You all have to lay the cards on the table from the start and discuss the amount of effort and preparation each is going to put in.

 

[Skybone]

Guitarist, drummer and I all showed up prepared. No notes or charts. The three of us went out for a beer after rehearsal and talked. We decided to give them one more chance to show up prepared before airing our grievance.

I think you're right with this approach.

After the next rehearsal, if, after the 2nd rehearsal, you do have to air your grievances, give them one more chance to come in prepared.

On the third rehearsal, if they're not prepared, then discuss walking away.

 

[Mr.Ace]

Darn singers

 

[Jay Corwin]

Said it a million times - practice is where YOU learn the songs, and rehearsal is where the band puts them together. Can't stand people showing up to rehearsal having never played the tune. If you're good enough to pull it off then fine, but most people who take that approach are not.

 

[SmokinJoe992]

I have never understood this. To me the vocalist has the easiest job when it comes to learning new songs, especially if they are not also playing an instrument. However, I have been in several bands where the singer constantly used lyric sheets and was generally the one holding practice up.
This is probably what drove me to start my own band, and to start singing.

 

[Spidey2112]

Why rely on a 'hopefully', though?
Why not just all discuss it together, either in person or via whatsapp or group text or whatever, and lay out your expectations clearly?
At least then everyone's on the same page, and there's no room for excuses.

@Oddly, you're right. I'm just going off what @Skokiaan had originally offered... not sure whether to treat each situation differently, or all the same...? I know we gave one guitarist 3 weeks to learn two songs for an audition ('Cross Eyed Mary', by Tull and 'Airblower', by Beck)... actually, the same two songs both the drummer and I performed (and passed) for our audition... he failed miserably. It was like he had heard of the songs, and was trying to perform them from memory, having never really learned them... I couldn't even give him the benefit of the doubt for being nervous...

... he didn't get a second chance.

 

[MyMusic]

Start your own band. No singers!!!!!!!!

 

[two fingers]

You're on the right track. No jerking knees.

Get a few songs into the next rehearsal. If they are unprepared, it's time to talk.

I had to corral one band recently into having a plan for each rehearsal. That's a big part of it. I require a list for each rehearsal. No showing up wondering what we're gonna play. Forget that.

Good luck with it.

 

[shwabilly]

Hopefully that situation was a one time thing and they get it together. With all three singers working together previously, you would think so.

The way my band works, is we learn our own parts on our own time and show up to rehearsal to put it all together.

My two lead singers do have a tablet in front of them during rehearsal which i find perfectly exceptable, given that we go through a lot of songs.

The one thing with my singers, which I am not one, that always impresses me is that they can throw in all these harmonies together without having rehearsed the song together at all.

 

[40Hz]

If the three vocalists are already in another band they may just be cruising on their past accomplishments and came in underprepared and overconfident because of that.

If they've been in the other band for awhile they may also have forgotten just how much preparation and work is required to put an entirely new band together.

If they're pros they'll have realized that after that first "rehearsal" and your next one will be better. If it's a repeat of the first then it's time to have that little chat about commitment and expectations. Most people have good intentions. Not everyone has the time or energy to see them through. And nobody likes to see their time wasted unnecessarily.

The singers all have prior band experience. So they already know what's involved in being in one. I'd go into the next rehearsal with an open mind and think of the first one as a wake up call. If it's a repeat of the first, then I'd have a chat about what the problem is. The only problem I'd have with a discussion like that is that it shouldn't be necessary. These people already have experience and are doing it elsewhere. So it's not like they're new to it.

If the second rehearsal is more up to what it should be, I'd let the first one go. If a "discussion" becomes necessary during the upcoming one I'd be wary because the singers already have a band. So there's no downside for them. They have a place to go if your nascent band doesn't gell. And there's always the possibility they're really not up for what's required to take on the workload and responsibilities of being in another band.

Plan for the worst, and hope for the best, and you'll never be disappointed.

Luck!