Texting before every Band Rehearsal...why?

[LBS-bass]

As much as I want to join the pile on here, can you imagine a job where your co workers text every morning to ask if there's work today? I know the analogy is imperfect, but really, can't a group of adults make a standing schedule and stick to it without asking for reassurance every time? I get it.

That said, standing band practice is a special level of hell.

See my post below yours. This is decidedly NOT that.

 

[LBS-bass]

For most situations, I live by the rule: "If I'm not fifteen minutes early, I'm late."

I hate this rule with all my being and if you show up to my house fifteen minutes early you are sitting in your car until I decide to let you in. If it's really hot I'm going to let you in but I'm going back to my dining room to finish my dinner and you can do whatever you want.

What has happened to etiquette in our society? Fifteen minutes early is a burden on your host, who is planning to see you at the appointed time, not the appointed time minus fifteen.

 

[Nine-and-three-Quarters]

Why would you be upset at someone asking if there's still rehearsal? That's a good thing! Afterall, anything could happen. What if someone's family memeber got into an accident or they themselves were sick or car broke down, for example? A text might save you even more frustration from showing up to a rehearsal and learning then that your not rehearsing. Furthermore, sometimes life gets busy and people do need reminding, I know I've forgotten sometimes within a hectic week. Has nothing to do with being an adult. Point is, life changes and what you plan today may not happen tomorrow or a whole week from now.

 

[jtg]

See my post below yours. This is decidedly NOT that.

Your experience may or may not be that, but it's not clear that the analogy fails as to OP's experience. OPs description reminds me of an old band where each song was precipitated by multiple band members wanting to be reassured verbally of the next song - which was in large print on a set list on the floor. Insufferable.

 

[jtg]

I hate this rule with all my being and if you show up to my house fifteen minutes early you are sitting in your car until I decide to let you in. If it's really hot I'm going to let you in but I'm going back to my dining room to finish my dinner and you can do whatever you want.

What has happened to etiquette in our society? Fifteen minutes early is a burden on your host, who is planning to see you at the appointed time, not the appointed time minus fifteen.

There's no like button sufficient to express my agreement with this.

 

[Real Soon]

I get this with an artist I'm doing production work on a project with, like clockwork. It's kind of adorable actually. lol

As for the band(s), we're usually discussing things like upcoming rehearsal goals in group texts enough that we seldom make it a day without talking about what's coming next. If I were in a group that's silent six days a week, frankly... I'd probably be THAT guy.

But, maybe wording it differently like "Hey I hope you crazy kids are ready because WE'RE GOING TO CLUB THIS BABY SEAL TONIGHT [editor's note: Real Soon does not club baby seals or condone clubbing baby seals]"

 

[devnulljp]

Why does it bug me so much and how can I get him to stop doing it?

I don't know, and why don't you ask them and not us?

 

[ELG60]

Please don’t take this the wrong way but you seem to have a lot of complaints about every band that you play with. Maybe I’m not seeing a lot of your posts but it seems like every thread of yours that ends up on the front page is about something that annoys you about a band that you play with or a musician that you’ve interacted with.

At some point, it might be worth considering if the problem is you…? Just my $0.05.

^^^^^^^^^^
A year's worth of irritainment.

 

[gazzatriumph]

OP sounds a joy to be in a band with.

 

[pepj]

I'd let this go and file under 'unnecessary' but at least its participation and response.
No biggie to reply 'yes' imv

 

[prowla]

I get the strangest feeling of Deja Vu

You can say that again!

 

[gazzatriumph]

Hopefully they don’t forget to text you when you get fired

Best reply

 

[sgiacomo]

Bahahaha… So many great responses in this thread. OP: I recommend reevaluating your perspective on this situation. It’s not a big deal at all.

 

[DwaynieAD]

With the attitude youre showing in this thread he's probably hoping you'll say no

 

[chadds]

Last week I showed up for rehearsal, didn't send my usual text asking for confirmation,and the guitar player broke 3 toes and cancelled practice! Guess they forgot to text me....so it happens

He plays with his toes?

 

[sunbeast]

In my last serious band I tended to hold our weekly rehearsal nights as holy too, but after a handful of times getting burned (which meant loading up and driving through Los Angeles traffic for 30+ minutes only to receive a text on the road 10-15 minutes before our scheduled time that someone was cancelling) I became "that guy" that always initiated this text conversation at least an hour before rehearsal. Not sure what's un-adult about giving a simple confirmation that plans are in fact on

 

[Dirtnap]

It's like when your spouse asks you every morning "Are you SURE we shouldn't get divorced today?" It's so professional to just "make sure" all the time. Especially if you have zero trust in your partner's response.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Our start-up band has been rehearsing on the same night of the week since we started it. We all know it and we discuss it at the end of each rehearsal. Even so, one member of the band will always text on the day of practice "Are we still practicing tonight?" We're all adults and all should know and remember about band practice. It bugs me that he keeps doing this. Why does it bug me so much and how can I get him to stop doing it?

(I know a lot of you don't rehearse but that isn't the topic here, okay?)

I kinda get it as we've all been saddled over the years with at least one band member where attendance is something that "may happen". If glaringly absent, it's usually accompanied by "...I meant to call you". Consider the text a preemptive / precautionary measure.

Riis

 

[Alexis Duntov]

Our start-up band has been rehearsing on the same night of the week since we started it. We all know it and we discuss it at the end of each rehearsal. Even so, one member of the band will always text on the day of practice "Are we still practicing tonight?" We're all adults and all should know and remember about band practice. It bugs me that he keeps doing this. Why does it bug me so much and how can I get him to stop doing it?

(I know a lot of you don't rehearse but that isn't the topic here, okay?)

Interesting that you say a lot of TB members “don’t rehearse”. That would be unusual for musicians who play with other musicians, unless you are implying that many people on here are just bedroom musicians who obsess about gear but don’t actually play with other pe….. oh wait.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Interesting that you say a lot of TB members “don’t rehearse”. That would be unusual for musicians who play with other musicians, unless you are implying that many people on here are just bedroom musicians who obsess about gear but don’t actually play with other pe….. oh wait.

I think where he was going is a lot of people practice on their own and rarely rehearse with their band because they're ... you know ... professionals and tend to make sure people know they think people who bother to rehearse are "less than".