Reasons for cancelling Band Practice.

[Nashrakh]

That's a good point. And I wonder if it's a lack of concentration, lack of interest, or overuse of substances. We you have 25 songs, and have been playing them for ~10 years, and they're original songs, and you can't remember them because "we haven't played them enough" then there is something else at play, IMO.

It could simply be a lack of opportunity to practice on their own. I'm sorry to bring up the "kids"-angle again, but one band I'm in is getting hit pretty hard by it right now. Half the band (2 out of 4) is pretty much full up with their job and their kids.

That's cool. But expecting anything resembling a productive rehearsal is wishful thinking. The band is 5 years old now, and we're playing the same 30 cover tunes, and the guys still need to read everything off a tablet. I'm the only one who does not go on stage with paper or a tablet in this band, ever. A lot of gigs have to be cancelled because they can't or won't make it.

It's a difficult position to be in. What are my options? Wait it out until the kids are old enough? That's a long game. I really like the guys, but we are getting nowhere FAST.

What is it with one member of the band who just will not text? Does every band have one of those?

Yes. And his excuses are the most awful ever, just a hair above "the dog ate my homework", too.

 

[tubedude]

“I opened the freezer and a frozen chicken fell out and broke my toe”

We heard that one. And yes, he was nicknamed chicken foot, of course.

Unless he's a drummer, no toe needed, rock on.

 

[LBS-bass]

If it were a band I were in, I'd tell them that I'm going to assume from now on no rehearsal unless otherwise informed. Go about your life and stop making time for them that they can't commit to. It's silly. If they feel like they need a rehearsal badly enough, they'll make time for it, otherwise it's just a stupid commitment that you're on the hook for that has no real purpose.

 

[51PRI]

If it were a band I were in, I'd tell them that I'm going to assume from now on no rehearsal unless otherwise informed...........

I like that. I've considered quitting, which would mean the end of the band. The other possibility would be to just let it die a slow death by not texting "you guys want to rehearse tonight?" at all and if there is any action on their part.