It happens every time

[tbdana]

Sure enough. We stop to address an issue, and the leader/conductor says, "Okay, let's start at bar 152," or some such. And then, no matter how much time was given or how many times bar 152 was announced, someone will pipe up in the middle of the count-off, and ask, "Where?"

Every.

Damned.

Time.

[Posaunus]

100%

[AtomicClock]

The leader speaks too softly.

[tbdana]

The leader speaks too softly.

Or it's something that could happen to anyone who wasn't paying attention.

[AtomicClock]

I'm sorry. What?

[Bach5G]

Maybe it’s my hearing going but there’s always someone talking, coughing, sneezing, dropping their bow etc.

[EriKon]

162?

[tbdana]

[JohnL]

The gentleman who sits next to me in one band is somewhat hard of hearing. One of my responsibilities is to make sure he knows where we're starting. The conductor is aware of the situation and makes allowances for it.

[officermayo]

The gentleman who sits next to me in one band is somewhat hard of hearing. One of my responsibilities is to make sure he knows where we're starting. The conductor is aware of the situation and makes allowances for it.

My 3rd and 4th bones in big band are both deaf. Not only do they constantly say, "Huh? What'd he say?", but they're ALWAYS out of tune. As founding members of a 35 year old community group, they cannot be shown the door, therefore we all suffer.

[hyperbolica]

You know, this happens to me, and I'm one of the most diligent listeners there is. It happens usually because the percussionists are constantly talking louder than the conductor, and of course they are much closer. And because we're in the back row, often the conductor doesn't even see our raised hands. Or miss us when we miss our entrance, or when she cuts the orchestra off right before we would have come in.

Not that I'm bitter about not being noticed. Oh, yeah, I forgot. I stopped playing with that group for a reason.

[harrisonreed]

That is really, really funny

[AndrewMeronek]

I feel this pain.

[Lastbone]

And the light is always in someone's eyes. And it's too dark in the back row...

[mgladdish]

I've noticed it gets more common the older the musician. I've had the pleasure of playing with some of the best in the business who are now in their eighties. It's stunning they're still here, never mind playing so well at that age, but it takes about 6 attempts to get them to start from a specific bar number.

And don't get me started on the talking, never mind widdling, between stopping and trying something again. Even if the chat's about something else in someone else's part, shut the f' up and listen, it may well affect how you play your part. If nothing else, talking, or even worse playing, over the top of others is astonishingly rude. I don't know any other business where this is tolerated.

[boneagain]

You know, this happens to me, and I'm one of the most diligent listeners there is. It happens usually because the percussionists are constantly talking louder than the conductor, and of course they are much closer. And because we're in the back row, often the conductor doesn't even see our raised hands. Or miss us when we miss our entrance, or when she cuts the orchestra off right before we would have come in.

Not that I'm bitter about not being noticed. Oh, yeah, I forgot. I stopped playing with that group for a reason.

... and then the conductor says:

Trombones... you're too loud there!!

[blast]

I've noticed it gets more common the older the musician. I've had the pleasure of playing with some of the best in the business who are now in their eighties. It's stunning they're still here, never mind playing so well at that age, but it takes about 6 attempts to get them to start from a specific bar number.

And don't get me started on the talking, never mind widdling, between stopping and trying something again. Even if the chat's about something else in someone else's part, shut the f' up and listen, it may well affect how you play your part. If nothing else, talking, or even worse playing, over the top of others is astonishingly rude. I don't know any other business where this is tolerated.

It's our string section that talks and plays whilst the conductor is speaking. We have to ask where we are going from quite often.

[Fidbone]

……..And then thee are the rude gits that can’t leave their cell phones alone during rehearsal

[blast]

……..And then thee are the rude gits that can’t leave their cell phones alone during rehearsal

You don't do a lot of opera Chris

[Fidbone]

……..And then thee are the rude gits that can’t leave their cell phones alone during rehearsal

You don't do a lot of opera Chris

Dorset Opera, but I prefer to play the trombone

[ghmerrill]

I've noticed it gets more common the older the musician. I've had the pleasure of playing with some of the best in the business who are now in their eighties. It's stunning they're still here, never mind playing so well at that age, but it takes about 6 attempts to get them to start from a specific bar number.

True, and as an old person myself I can't deny the issues about both hearing, listening, and playing in tune. But it's not confined to old people or to the percussion or back row. Often in the (quite good) band I'm playing in now, it's the front row woodwinds who are chattering. Then there are the younger people (and not so young people) who sit with their phones accessible so they can monitor their email, check on their children, or watch the ongoing Cubs game. But yeah, I finally left one band I'd played on and off with for many years because the intonation, organization, and level of music to which it had sunk became just intolerable. If you get to the point where you can say "I was in a much better musical group in 7th grade," you need to make a change.