Getting band members to practice...

[BeMoreFrench]

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.

Some people have a different life, the jazz pianist I've been working with for years was also a surgeon, he was very often phoned when we were rehearsing to go to the surgical room for emergency surgeries. When it's a trio and the guy his the solist, you adapt and play the repertoire he already knows without having to practice. So it was ok to me. You can't tell a surgeon he's got a lack of commitment when he has to save lives at any time of the day.

The problem was when the drummer started finding excuses for not praticing but had a 9 to 5 job only without any stand-by nights or week-ends. Yeah in that case, NOT OK AT ALL.

 

[lomo]

I was playing with a group like this last year. In the end I simply told them, without hard feelings, that it had become evident to me that I was "looking for something different" from the other band members, who would show up unprepared most of the time, resulting in what I frankly perceived as a waste of all of our time. My choice was between leaving or accepting the situation as it was. Nobody was at fault.

 

[CaribooBass]

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

.
Yes 5 am comes early. Been stuck in the snow in the parking lot, minus thirty outside cold enough I had to warm up my bass so it would stay in tune.

Played with the building full of smoke during the Wildfires and broke bread with those who lost their homes the same day.
Yes 5 am comes early. Still would not want to be anywhere else.

 

[ShadowGroover]

You are in the wrong band.

Yep, there it is. They don't practice because they don't care, think they are better than they are, or both. Find some bandmates that share your values. Keep woodshedding until you find them. Consider that you might not find them if you stick with your current crew.