Bandmate not practicing....need to vent

[shoulderpet]

Hi all,
Not looking for answers here, I know the answer to this one, just needed to vent.
Have recently joined a covers band, we play around 20 tunes spanning quite a diverse range of songs, just had a guitarist leave a couple weeks ago as he was not pulling his weight, our drummer suggests someone I know who plays guitar as a replacement.
I messaged him and he accepted the offer, anyhow we told him the date of our first practice with him which was just under a week later, he said he had a busy week that week and would not be able to learn all of the songs, I told him that I dont expect him to learn all of the songs within a week but if he could learn half a dozen of the easier ones that would be much appreciated.
The date of the practice comes along, he does not know one song from the list, he played along with us and it was kind of painful to listen to at times, 4 days later we have our next practice, I asked the guitarist tactfully if he had found the time to practice any of the songs, he replied No, as you would expect this second practice session went painfully as well.
We have a short gig lined up at the weekend (5 songs), me and the drummer have decided to do this one as an accoustic duo

 

[Stumbo]

Hi all,
Not looking for answers here, I know the answer to this one, just needed to vent.
Have recently joined a covers band, we play around 20 tunes spanning quite a diverse range of songs, just had a guitarist leave a couple weeks ago as he was not pulling his weight, our drummer suggests someone I know who plays guitar as a replacement.
I messaged him and he accepted the offer, anyhow we told him the date of our first practice with him which was just under a week later, he said he had a busy week that week and would not be able to learn all of the songs, I told him that I dont expect him to learn all of the songs within a week but if he could learn half a dozen of the easier ones that would be much appreciated.
The date of the practice comes along, he does not know one song from the list, he played along with us and it was kind of painful to listen to at times, 4 days later we have our next practice, I asked the guitarist tactfully if he had found the time to practice any of the songs, he replied No, as you would expect this second practice session went painfully as well.
We have a short gig lined up at the weekend (5 songs), me and the drummer have decided to do this one as an accoustic duo

20 songs is not a lot.

I would have cancelled the second practice.

 

[two fingers]

Frustrating. Sounds like the guy just doesn't have time for a band right now.

 

[shoulderpet]

20 songs is not a lot.

I would have cancelled the second practice.

Yeah, I work full time and have very little free time and managed to learn half of them within 5 days during the week by the 2nd week I had learnt all 20

 

[PauFerro]

I was with a group years ago, and when someone showed up unprepared, the Band Leader shut down the practice and said it was a waste of time since no one was prepared. He rescheduled. It sent a clear message that you show up prepared.

And of course, you got the counsel, warn, terminate trilogy to use -- make sure you let the guy know he's on thin ice and what you expect of him before you can him. That's a fair use of power.

 

[MTN.bass72]

Yep, 20 isn't that bad in a weeks time.. at least to get a general idea of how they flow.
Last March, I got called to replace a bassist in a local band, I accepted, they sent the set list of 30-35 songs...
No problem... then they mentioned they had a scheduled gig... IN TWO DAYS..
sure I flubbed a couple of times, I'm human..
But, I'm a single dad of two, plus work fulltime and I still pulled it off.. even had several compliments

Maybe your friend just isn't interested in playing right now

 

[QORC]

Hi all,
Not looking for answers here, I know the answer to this one, just needed to vent.
Have recently joined a covers band, we play around 20 tunes spanning quite a diverse range of songs, just had a guitarist leave a couple weeks ago as he was not pulling his weight, our drummer suggests someone I know who plays guitar as a replacement.
I messaged him and he accepted the offer, anyhow we told him the date of our first practice with him which was just under a week later, he said he had a busy week that week and would not be able to learn all of the songs, I told him that I dont expect him to learn all of the songs within a week but if he could learn half a dozen of the easier ones that would be much appreciated.
The date of the practice comes along, he does not know one song from the list, he played along with us and it was kind of painful to listen to at times, 4 days later we have our next practice, I asked the guitarist tactfully if he had found the time to practice any of the songs, he replied No, as you would expect this second practice session went painfully as well.
We have a short gig lined up at the weekend (5 songs), me and the drummer have decided to do this one as an accoustic duo

first practice and had done nothing? Man, cut your losses. He is OUT of there. this is 'best behavior' time. Imagine what its like when you really find out who he is?

 

[QORC]

I learned 38 songs in 2 weeks. not to perfection, but well enough. it's possible. and yes, I have a full time job, kids, etc

 

[Oddly]

Sounds like he's not that interested in joining you.
Did he even try to explain why he had no time at all to learn even a few of the songs?
If he did that, I'd be inclined to cut some slack...sometimes real life, family, work, etc., gets on top of us and it can be tough to find time, especially if it's songs totally new to us.
Are they especially tricky ones?

And of course, us bassists have it so much easier learning new stuff, as everyone knows guitar parts are so much harder to learn*











* (Please don't take this too seriously, as it's in reference to a currently-running thread about which is easier...)

 

[hrodbert696]

That is frustrating, but it sounds like he did try to signal you that he wouldn't have much time to practice before the first rehearsal, and with the second just four days later... I have, like some here, had times I've crammed thirty songs in a week for a sub gig or something, but I also have weeks where the schedule goes haywire or I get sick or whatever and I don't touch my bass for a few days. It sounds like you need to have the follow-up conversation and say, "I get that you didn't have much time to prepare, but we need you to tell us when you WILL have time and if you're able to commit to learning this material."

 

[jive1]

I was with a group years ago, and when someone showed up unprepared, the Band Leader shut down the practice and said it was a waste of time since no one was prepared. He rescheduled. It sent a clear message that you show up prepared.

I have no problem cutting a rehearsal short if people are unprepared. I have also sent people home if they aren't prepared too.

IME, when you make it clear and tangible that you don't want to waste people's time, the professionalism and talent that you get to work with increases.

 

[jive1]

And of course, us bassists have it so much easier learning new stuff, as everyone knows guitar parts are so much harder to learn*

I know you're not serious, but it takes me less time to learn material on bass because I don't have to learn any solos. If it's not required me to play solos note-for-note, then it's not much difference.

 

[hrodbert696]

I know you're not serious, but it takes me less time to learn material on bass because I don't have to learn any solos. If it's not required me to play solos note-for-note, then it's not much difference.

Yeah, to be serious about it - there's music where that's true (that bass parts are easier to learn) and music where it's not...

 

[StatesideRambler]

When someone's that [insert pithy adjective here] he's no bandmate.

 

[interp]

Yet another illustration of the distinction between practice and rehearsal and what happens when someone doesn't understand it.

 

[DEMS854]

10 years ago I joined a band and had to learn 4 hours of music in 8 hours over two days.... granted they were most all blues... we were still able to run the gig like clockwork, that was a decent group of musicians.

I just joined a band, from meeting everyone to our first performance was 3 weeks and 5 practices... I made it work this time too, complicated original death metal tunes.

If this guy isn't putting in the effort, he probably isn't interested enough or just too busy with life to make it happen, no matter how much he wants to. It's a crappy situation.

Also, for my current band I have to drive two hours in heavy traffic to get to practice during a timeframe that works for everyone. It's a real pain... I work mid nights at my job specifically to avoid traffic.... if anyone were unprepared to practice with a show booked I might lose my damn mind.

 

[MrLenny1]

Tell him to call you when he knows the tunes.
You want to rehearse the band not him.
As always, good luck.

 

[guitarrophobe]

Not only have I been there, but I AM there. I think if a person doesn't even care to come up with a solid excuse then it's so disrespectful that I don't want to spend (or waste) time with them.

Just venting along. Sorry.

 

[dtripoli]

Been down that road more times than I care to admit.
The result of working with musicians that don't practice is; whatever skill level they are at, that's where they'll stay.
Musicians that use rehearsals to learn and practice songs, waste away the entire session and the band never rises to the next level.
You can spend an entire rehearsal learning songs with all the intros, breaks, chorus' etc. and go home thinking we'll
capitalize on this session and tackle new and better material next.
Reality is, due to not woodshedding or practicing between rehearsals, it takes the first half or more of the rehearsal just to get back to where you left off last time and the 2nd half to go over what you already did last time. Rinse and repeat. Net gain is zero.
A band is only as good as it's weakest player.

...Bands that don't woodshed usually play here

...and Bands that woodshed can easily play here

 

[Marley's Ghost]

I used to wake up at 5 a.m. so I can get a solid hour of practice before breakfast and having to leave for work because the evenings we're just too crazy when I had 3 young kids. If the guitarist wanted it bad enough he'd find time to practice.