Getting band members to practice...

[juancaminos]

I don't get why people join a band then don't come prepared to play the songs. In 50 plus years of playing I have never had that issue until recently. Our current BL tends to change the set list for every gig, and we gig a lot. The only original member left is the second guitar player/vocalist. So if we were given several songs to learn and he doesn't like one, he never even tries to learn it on his own. Then, at rehearsal, he just says "Oh I didn't get to that" Meanwhile I spend every night learning ALL the songs. Most of the songs he doesn't like, I don't either so it kind of works out...but.

Our last drummer could play pretty much anything. Rock , Country, Mexican, blues, dance. But he didn't feel the need to practice. Inevitably he would screw up new songs a few times live but eventually get it.

Our current drummer has only been with us since November. He is a great drummer but...he too won't learn songs he doesn't like. And honestly the rest of us are a bit relieved at some of them. One example is a live version of David Bowie singing Rebel Rebel. The beginning is just the guitar player singing with out the band. In the middle we come in but eventually stop while the guitar/vocals finish. The drummer claims this to be a waste because, in his opinion, people will be standing around on the dance floor waiting for the band to start. So he just won't learn it.

But, danm it, the BL sends out a list of songs and I'm gonna bust my ass to learn them. Argue about their merit at rehearsal, but I am still prepared. I just don't get it!

 

[Chrisk-K]

If they lack intrinsic motivation to play better, there's not much you can do to make them practice.

 

[BigBadBen67]

I have schizophrenia, which is relevant because I have trouble expressing my needs verbally. I tend to let my actions and playing do the talking. I am in a jazz combo, and nobody practices between rehearsals. Well, I do...a lot lol. But it's beginning to get frustrating. I was hoping for some tactful, assertive, and friendly ways to suggest this. Not sure if I ever will, but it will be good to have in my toolbox. Thanks in advance. BASS.

I have zero tolerance for folks who show up for rehearsal unprepared.

It reminds me of a story I heard once about how Prince insisted that rehearsals are not practice. Practice is what you do on your own time. Rehearsal is where you come together to polish the show. "Practicing" during rehearsal is disrespectful to everyone's time and shows a lack of professionalism.

I've been in that situation a number of times and have always just politely exited. You can't make people become more serious than they are.

 

[jimmydean]

This subject really ticks me off because while I play in a band that's played 400 plus gigs in 10 years , we have not practiced in 5 years . Everyone is playing in multi-bands except for me and half the guys feel there is no need , not even for new material , just be prepared . It's one thing for one person to sub and have to learn from records or charts which I have done a few times in the past , but I have lost count at less than perfect intro/endings from this band . BL is oblivious , the guitarist is good at making remarks onstage about flubs .....but not his own . Since there is no problem getting gigs......there is no problem......practice ?

 

[CaribooBass]

On the Worship teams I play on; if you do not know the music, you do not play.

So everybody practises.
That to us is the norm.
I take it from reading this thread that this is not very common?

Clayton

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I have schizophrenia, which is relevant because I have trouble expressing my needs verbally. I tend to let my actions and playing do the talking. I am in a jazz combo, and nobody practices between rehearsals. Well, I do...a lot lol. But it's beginning to get frustrating. I was hoping for some tactful, assertive, and friendly ways to suggest this. Not sure if I ever will, but it will be good to have in my toolbox. Thanks in advance. BASS.

If they don't make time to practice by themselves, nothing you can say will ever change that.

 

[Real Soon]

Hey man, good on ya for getting out there and taking on the chaos of live performance.

As for the band, it sounds like you're setting the standard for the group. There are some excellent suggestions in the thread, and one of my favorite for my primary group, which has a couple of members who don't often shed as they really should: me just mentioning spending time and working out passages/chord changes/ideas as if they didn't come easily (I mean, some do but moooost do not lol, I really do practice a lot) kind of kicks them in the butt and reminds them that what you can do *right now* on your instrument is nothing compared to what you can do when you focus your energy on skilling up.

I'm all for diplomacy when it's with a group of people you like and who have potential, though of course there's limits. But if you show & tell them how you shedding on, say, a certain song's ending, led you to know how to pull it off without effort, and say "Hey y'all, what if we did some collective homework on this ending so next rehearsal it's super tight?", who knows? Maybe they'll be inspired further. If they're not and nothing gets better, then you're right to keep that in mind when deciding if the group is the most valuable use of your time.

I hope they practice and grow due to your inspiring them!

 

[comatosedragon]

Getting band members to practice
Making a girl/guy like you
get your best friend to quit drinking

Sorry to say, some things are just not going to happen.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Some suggestions:

1. Don't practice either. Show up unprepared just like your bandmates.
2. Join a 2nd band that does practice and then spend your practice time on their material.

Best of both worlds! Good luck.

 

[Indiana Mike]

How many have one of those …
“ I’m good enough I don’t need to come to practice / rehearsal “

 

[Turnaround]

Not practising between rehearsals is an indication of lack of commitment. I have run into that and I just said "I've done my homework - call me for rehearsal when you're ready to rehearse, not practice." But then, I'm an old fart. I have waning patience. Time is running out.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I have schizophrenia, which is relevant because I have trouble expressing my needs verbally. I tend to let my actions and playing do the talking. I am in a jazz combo, and nobody practices between rehearsals. Well, I do...a lot lol. But it's beginning to get frustrating. I was hoping for some tactful, assertive, and friendly ways to suggest this. Not sure if I ever will, but it will be good to have in my toolbox. Thanks in advance. BASS.

They don't call jazz combo players "cats" for nothing. Something about herding issues...

 

[misterCRUSH]

They don't call jazz combo players "cats" for nothing. Something about herding issues...

HAHA!!

 

[Goatrope]

Not practising between rehearsals is an indication of lack of commitment. I have run into that and I just said "I've done my homework - call me for rehearsal when you're ready to rehearse, not practice." But then, I'm an old fart. I have waning patience. Time is running out.

Lol. Exactly this.

I’m in one band that’s been together playing frequently for 9 years. No trouble there.

I was asked to join a new project in Sept last year. In the following months we managed to get a list of songs agreed upon. Then we tried to schedule rehearsals after learning the top 15 songs.

Out came the delays and excuses, which persisted for months. When we finally were “ready” to rehearse, the project lead wasn’t ready for a third of the songs.

This happened twice before I told them “let me know when you guys are ready”, and I’m not pushing or trying to manage anyone through the process. If it happens it happens.

So my advice would be to not worry about this particular project. Just let them wander while you look for another, more serious group.

 

[Bassinthemudd]

Invite individuals in the band to come practice with you.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

...Turns out some people would rather just get high than play the songs.

I've been in "that" band more times than I care to divulge...I feel you on that.

 

[Nebadon2000]

It reminds me of a story I heard once about how Prince insisted that rehearsals are not practice. Practice is what you do on your own time. Rehearsal is where you come together to polish the show. "Practicing" during rehearsal is disrespectful to everyone's time and shows a lack of professionalism.

That should be redundant but unfortunately trying to find a Gig lately I have learned it is not.[especially Singers]

I don't even answer Ad's for Bass Player that mention we 'Practice' once a week

 

[micguy]

On the Worship teams I play on; if you do not know the music, you do not play.

So everybody practises.
That to us is the norm.
I take it from reading this thread that this is not very common?

Clayton

I live in the same world. It's a great place to be, aside from waking up at 5 AM on Sunday....

 

[BigBadBen67]

That should be redundant but unfortunately trying to find a Gig lately I have learned it is not.[especially Singers]

I don't even answer Ad's for Bass Player that mention we 'Practice' once a week

That should be redundant but unfortunately trying to find a Gig lately I have learned it is not.[especially Singers]

I don't even answer Ad's for Bass Player that mention we 'Practice' once a week

That tends to be guys who want to just hang out in their garage and jam. Totally fine if that's their thing. It's just not for me.

 

[Nebadon2000]

That tends to be guys who want to just hang out in their garage and jam. Totally fine if that's their thing. It's just not for me.

Yes that is exactly what I run into but in their ad's they pose as a Band wanting to Gig and need a Bass Player

Usually their set list has 15-25 'Fossil/Dead Horse Songs' that they have played for decades and when adding Song
that they haven't played; well you know what happens next get together [they only thing prepared is excuse]

The Last Band I was with when we wanted to add 4-6 songs to our Song List; we all did our homework [at home] got together in week or two 'Rehearsed ' for 30-45min top's then ordered Pizza. Played them next Gig

Not sure why lines through script but can't remove