Why Text every freakin' time to ask "Is practice still on for tonight?"

[socialleper]

Because you never know.

Musicians are famously flakey and unpredictable.

 

[51PRI]

This. They want an out.

Practice is ALWAYS on, unless you are advised otherwise.

Yes! Every Tuesday night is band practice UNLESS someone can't make it and texts to cancel. That's what adults do, right?

Probably past experience. Musicians tend to be flakes who cancel things last minute. Maybe bring it up at next rehearsal: "Guys, we are lucky to be in a band where everyone is dependable. We all show up at set rehearsal times and if there is a change it will be communicated promptly. There is no need to send messages checking if rehearsal has been cancelled." IF that is all true.

I've done that, almost word for word.

I have a 1 hour 15 minute drive, one way, in rush hour to get to my rehearsal.

I’m sending a text to make sure I don’t waste 2.5 hours of my night.

Stuff happens, people get busy, and if dealing with a family issue, the band might not be front of mind.

Well, maybe it SHOULD be. If someone signs up to be in a band then it should be as important and anything else in their live that they have committed to. IMO.

 

[Hummergeist]

I always check in the day before, whether I'm playing or teaching. 'Hey - all good for Tuesday at 6?' or whatever. Just lets everybody know what's up and takes away a last chance to make excuses.

 

[bigjames]

I honestly don't mind confirmation texts as I have had some frustrating experiences. What bugs me is calls the days before practice to talk about things that would be better talked about in person at practice. Sigh. I have decided it comes down to how much time people have to think about the band during the rest of the week.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

Yes, but the reasons you ask can be divulged because they are understandable.
If someone knows he asks for reasons that are detrimental to the band, then he will hide and avoid ruining the band motivation.

Also this seems contagious, sometime it's like some are hoping that somebody bails before them, so they can then not be the first one to bail, and can have an excuse like "it's not worth playing if there is no keys".

It's a long time since I was in a band but I saw things as almost a reverse of that situation. Even if there are just two people, there are things you can work out, things you might normally wish you had the time to do. If those that turn up make things work, those who don't soon want to be in on whatever is working when they aren't there. Either that, or they decide to leave, so either way you've made the best of it.

If someone just wants reassurance, it's worth giving it to them, because there may not be a real problem unless that isn't working. Or, they may not be worried about the date so much as whether their being there is going to work out ok. Assuring them it's on might help fix a deeper problem for them even if you don't know what it is.

 

[basseux]

What bugs me is calls the days before practice to talk about things that would be better talked about in person at practice. Sigh.

Works as well for stuff that could have been talked about before practice, like what song/version to learn.

 

[Super Bass]

I wish I was jamming tonight...

 

[Super Bass]

I wish I was jamming tomorrow night...

 

[BatBasstard]

I find it reassuring when my band mates check in on our Band WhatsApp about rehearsals.
I don’t see the problem

 

[levis76]

Because drummers.

Had one cancel a rehearsal/writing session AFTER I drove 30 min across town to pick him up. Didn’t even have the guts to come to the door, sent me a text after I knocked on the door for a few minutes, <sigh> some peoples kids, ya know?

 

[rashrader]

Yeah, the 15 seconds that it took to respond is quite painful, isn’t it? Lol.

I sent out a text today asking this exact question and everyone responded with the same answer….Yes.

Fifteen minutes later, the guitarist had to cancel.

 

[sears]

I'm that guy. I don't like driving out and nobody's there. It has happened in almost every band and after it happens, I'm that guy. If someone thinks I'm the one trying to flake they can SMD.

 

[ToddB1963]

Just venting. Why, when practice is set for say, tonight, does ONE person, and always the SAME person, text TODAY to see if practice is still on? Anal? I guess, but is there another explanation?

Jeez...

Things can change at short notice

A few weeks ago, I assumed our rehearsal was to be at the same venue it had been the previous week and the weeks before that. Further, I'd not heard from anyone to say otherwise before I jumped in the car to commence the half-hour drive in to the venue. Well, I arrived to find no-one there, unloaded my gear and waited. And waited. No one. Turns out the rest of the band had decided to change the venue without confirming with me before I drove in. If I'd texted beforehand, I'd have found out it was to be at the guitarist's place and wouldn't have suffered the inconvenience of having unloaded my gear, only to wait for 30 minutes to load all my gear again. Wasted an hour.

 

[gidbass]

or they've been burned by bands that canceled practice frequently and without much notice.

Its because of this that i'm now that guy that always confirms practice...

 

[klejst]

Just making sure...unless there has been a consistent history of cancellations?

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Well, maybe it SHOULD be. If someone signs up to be in a band then it should be as important and anything else in their live that they have committed to. IMO.

Sorry but this is more than a bit silly. You think that band practice should be more important, or at least as important, as a family emergency? So I'm in a bar band and I should prioritize it the same as when my dad is being checked into the hospital with a heart attack? (Happened with a practice a few months ago. Oddly they didn't seem mad that I hadn't told them I was missing that rehearsal.) If this is your job, that's one thing. If this is anything short of that...I'm sorry but it's not that important.

EDIT: Flakes suck and I'm not excusing those who bail for trivial reasons.

 

[kevindahl]

The confirmation text the day of by the same person is no where as bad as the same person flaking out all 2 hours before rehearsal. Now that would get irritating.

 

[jimmydean]

You know that feeling you get when you have your heart ripped out of your chest and it's like that when you arrive to practice and it's been cancelled ..........that's why some people always text .......Annoying ?

 

[5StringBlues]

common sense?

 

[mambo4]

I wouldn't have a problem with someone confirming plans.
Clear communication is better
assumptions about the underlying motivations are unnecessary