sandmangeck said:I tell the drummer who is always late, that practice is a half hour before it actually is. Works for me. The guitarist and I have an understanding
This.. Makes for lower stress gigs..
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punctuality- when to make an issue of it?
- Thread starter OriginalSnub
- Start date
This.. Makes for lower stress gigs..
Some professional bands assess penalties in the form of fine$ ... show up late without notice or cause, it comes out of your pay. Works for me. Coming from the corporate world I've learned that someone who is consistently late is telling everyone else "I'm too important to be held to account". Sometimes that is true, but usually, it's in the mind of the tardy one.
I'll take that a step further and say ALL humans are not renowned for punctuality LOL. Even at work, people always show up late for meetings, plus in social events when does anyone show up even close to the start time?
Yeah I overreacted but I probably wouldn't have been so mad if it weren't for the fact that we practice at the guitar player's house.
I too would have left.
A couple times with good excuses is acceptable but not more than that.
Not to me, not anymore anyways.
I'm too old for that s**t.
I have played for 31 years in dozens of bands and I can count on two hands (with digits left over) the number of musicians I have worked with who are consistently on time. Invariably it seems I am either the first or the second band member to arrive at the practice or the gig.
Ironically, the bandmates I have found to be the most professional in that regard are drummers. Guitarists, singers and horn guys seem to have a much bigger problem with punctuality.
Generally speaking, when I am given a start time for a rehearsal, I assume that's when everybody will not only be there, but be set up, plugged in, tuned up and ready to go to work. Nothing more aggravating than sitting around for 20 minutes while the guitarist takes his sweet time unpacking, connecting and testing his 14 pedals, etc.
Ironically, the bandmates I have found to be the most professional in that regard are drummers. Guitarists, singers and horn guys seem to have a much bigger problem with punctuality.
Generally speaking, when I am given a start time for a rehearsal, I assume that's when everybody will not only be there, but be set up, plugged in, tuned up and ready to go to work. Nothing more aggravating than sitting around for 20 minutes while the guitarist takes his sweet time unpacking, connecting and testing his 14 pedals, etc.
I'll probably start doing this although it hasn't helped in the past. I usually call them when I show up to gigs 10-15 minutes early. The last couple times they have said they are a couple minutes away they ended up being half an hour late.
I've had bandmates like this too. They say they're "on their way" well it winds up being "on their way" by way of a shower, the music store and McDonalds.
I am always early, mostly because I have a new pedal to tweak before the rest of the band gets there. We always practice in the morning on Saturdays, so sometimes there is the occasional late sleeper from a hangover or whatnot but the majority of the time, everyone is there on time.
Arranging things via email can prove to be a bit frustrating when no one answers though.
Arranging things via email can prove to be a bit frustrating when no one answers though.
I simply don't tolerate habitual tardiness any more. It's never a problem in the bands I'm in now as the problem gets resolved once it's ugly head pops up. Either we all agree to be there on time for rehearsal or I don't play in that band. Harsh? I don't think so. It's just a matter of respect and responsibility. If we can't get this right there's going to be other respect and responsibility issues forthcoming.
On pretty much everything else I'm easy-going. A saying I like goes like this... "You get what you expect".
On pretty much everything else I'm easy-going. A saying I like goes like this... "You get what you expect".
You are right to feel inconvenienced when those around you are late, and especially when they are late with any degree of regularity.
The issue always becomes, "how do we express our frustration in a healthy, productive way?"
Be sure to say it in first person, i.e., "When I have to wait for everyone to show up, it is really a waste of my time."
I was getting into a habit of showing up around 20 minutes late for rehearsal. I had an excuse, but it didn't really matter; I was still guilty of inconveniencing others. Finally, our lead singer said, "Well, I'm going to start showing up 30 minutes later, because we can't get started on time and there's no sense in me standing around."
I got the hint immediately and I've made an effort to leave the house a little earlier to deal with the traffic issues.
Be diplomatic. Remember: You are one of the team, you need them, they need you. Respect.
Disclaimer: I myself am almost never late. In fact, I am almost always 1/2 hour early. If I am running late, even by ten minutes, band gets a call.
Now, having said that...if this is some original band playing no-pay or extremely low-pay gigs...then I would cut them slack. People have jobs, kids, things happen....and I am not going to yell at someone for being 15 minutes late when I am not paying them.
But if this is a working covers band, then it is a job...and punctuality does matter.
Now, having said that...if this is some original band playing no-pay or extremely low-pay gigs...then I would cut them slack. People have jobs, kids, things happen....and I am not going to yell at someone for being 15 minutes late when I am not paying them.
But if this is a working covers band, then it is a job...and punctuality does matter.
My band tends to be the type that arrives just in the nick of time. How do I deal? At shows I make an effort to show up no later than 30 minutes before I am to start setting up. Im often the first one there so I talk to the manager/booker or whoever our contact is to let him know I'm there. I get myself a drink and wait. At practice, since I know everyone usually runs late, I make the effort to show up exactly on time, no earlier. I'll still be set up and ready to go before anyone else.
I tell the drummer who is always late, that practice is a half hour before it actually is. Works for me. The guitarist and I have an understanding
This too. Like when it comes to shows, I'll tell the usual suspects that load in is 30-60 minutes earlier than its supposed to be. In the event that they actually show up early I tell them the show is running behind.
unfortunately they tend to book most of the shows and I'm not the bandleader so telling them a different time to be there is impossible for me to do.
+1
and I live in a land where everyone is on "island time" which means "show up whenever you feel like it". I don't tolerate it.
Heck, half the band I'm in can't even count to 4 consistently.
The whole telling time thing could be a disaster : -)
The whole telling time thing could be a disaster : -)
I don't play with people I can't trust and rely on. If any of us is late or can't make it we call. It's just common courtesy.
In my younger days I put up with crap like that. Now I don't have the time or inclination.
In my younger days I put up with crap like that. Now I don't have the time or inclination.
There are only 2 acceptable excuses:
1.) "Bro, she's in labor right now..."
and
2.) "I'm stopping to get beer..."
other than that, how many times in your life have you honestly, truefully been late by no fault of your own?
Catching that last minute of Family Guy is usually the culprit.
1.) "Bro, she's in labor right now..."
and
2.) "I'm stopping to get beer..."
other than that, how many times in your life have you honestly, truefully been late by no fault of your own?
Catching that last minute of Family Guy is usually the culprit.
Funny to see this today. Last night I told everyone I'm sick of being on time and waiting 30 minute for people to show up, so I'm now coming 30 minutes late for every rehearsal. Their response was to push back the start time 30 minutes. I don't think they get it, but this will be fun to watch.
I was once in a band where a tardy member was required to listen to an entire side of a Yoko Ono record, with headphones, at full volume.
Come to think of it, no one was ever late...hmmm...
I've been gigging with a group where I am the only white person. That said, I made a comment one time about punctuality for rehearsal. Everybody but me were at least 30 minutes late to a rehearsal and I voiced my mild frustration. The singer responded, "... you are dealing with black people."
Is that some sort of a pass or something? What kind of an excuse is that? I have heard them refer to 'black people time" too like it is a cultural thing not to be on time.
I don't want this to turn in to a discussion of race. I just thought this was an interesting take on punctuality or lack there of. Peace.
Is that some sort of a pass or something? What kind of an excuse is that? I have heard them refer to 'black people time" too like it is a cultural thing not to be on time.
I don't want this to turn in to a discussion of race. I just thought this was an interesting take on punctuality or lack there of. Peace.
