.

[quinterbourne]

I am very often confronted by those who aren't pleasant to work with.

I would never play in a community band with such people. I would tell the conductor (or board) that I will not play with that group until that individual changes his attitude or is removed from the group... or just resign.

If this happened in a mandatory group (ie school ensemble) I would mention it to the conductor, but otherwise ignore it.

If it was a professional paid group I would do nothing. Take your money and go.

It becomes more complicated when you are working with a chamber group (ie brass quintet) and someone is being a jerk.

[winston]

.

[tubeast]

It always takes more than people in order for one of them being a jerk. Who is or is not a jerk usually is defined by the majority of an ensemble. In professional ensembles, the musician who is NOT a jerk will be the one to get the next gig, provided both jerks and non-jerks can pull it off musically.

In amateur groups it´s simple, too: go find a new trumpet (or trombone, or tuba, or french horn, or whatever) who won´t mess up the group and still is able to take *fill in jerk here*´s chair, and (then) tell someone to leave.
We did that some time ago in community band, but sadly forgot about the first half of the process, so it´ll take some time for the talented kid who´s working hard right now until that chair will be properly inhabited again.

This was preceeded, of course, by a long time during which the whole board and many others in band made up their mind that this was the right thing to do.

Just be careful if YOU are the ONLY one having problems with a particular "jerk". Chances are you´ll be on the receiving end of aforementioned self-cleaning process in the longrun.

[Rick Denney]

Occasionally, just occasionally, an otherwise nice and cooperative performer will feel like he or she has been singled out for attack by the conductor. A show of rebellion often occurs, sometimes with a really entertaining confrontation.

Hey, people are people.

If the good-will bank account is strongly positive, just let it go. The guy just probably let himself get pushed too far on one occasion.

It happens to most everyone, especially those in leadership roles who are accustomed to projecting their personalities. It has happened to me, and to many people for whom I have great respect. Sometimes the rebellion is loud and public, and sometimes it ferments in the background. I'd rather have the confrontational kind just because it gets the issue aired.

It just might be that the conductor was leaning a little too hard on one group. In community groups, this happens, and often the leanees earned the prodding. But we have to remember that it's a community group, and community groups succeed by what they do together, not solely by their product.

Beyond that, I agree with Chuck. If the conductor has an issue with it, it's up to him along with the group's leadership to sort it out. If the person's good-will account is positive, it's possible nothing is needed other than a private chat between the combatants. if the good-will account is consistently overdrawn, then it's time for a removal, which must rest with the leadership of the band (and preferably not the conductor if it's a community group). But the second condition cannot be evaluated on the basis of one rebellious episode.

Rick "counseling calm" Denney

[quinterbourne]

Considering that this is an amateur situation:

I would tell the conductor (or board) that I will not play with that group until that individual changes his attitude or is removed from the group... or just resign.

= nope

= yup

No need to draw attention to ourselves nor to
offer ourselves forth as gossip fodder, when we are not the ones committing any offenses.

Depends on the kind of working relationship you have with the director. Also, how you say it is more important than what you say. I would comment on my concern about another member's behaviour, then allude to the possibility that I won't be able to put up with it for too much longer.

[quinterbourne]

Amen to Rick Denney's comments. Sometimes we all do something we would like to take back, we're human. It's those repeat offenders that are the problem.

I subbed in a community band rehearsal one time a few years back. The cell phone of one of the trumpet player's rang. He actually answered it and was talking to the other person in the room (as he was walking out). We could hear him talking on the phone while he was in the hallway.

When he returned, the director confronted him about it. The trumpet player did not apoligize (I believe that if he did, this upcoming messy situation would not have happened). He defended himself claiming that he is an on-call teacher and he needs to take these calls.

The conductor politely asked the player to leave the rehearsal. The player refused, continuing to defend his actions. At this point, almost the entire band shouted at him to "get out." I had never seen such a group hostility towards an individual in my life.

After the rehearsal, I questioned one of my friends, with whom I was close to, about the incident. She said that this individual had been a problem player in the past, that there has always been attitude and behaviour problems. Apparently this action of his was the straw that broke the camel's back.

[windshieldbug]

He defended himself claiming that he is an on-call teacher and he needs to take these calls.

While that may be true for a lot of professions, that's why they make cell-phones with a "vibrate" feature...

(although many trumpet players seem incapable of understanding how a rehearsal could concievably take place without THEM)

[Captain Sousie]

I've been in the arse-hole seat here. I know how easy it is to let a bad atitude get in the way. I had a bang-up after-rehearsal argument with one conductor and it was the stupidest thing I have ever done professionally. I had thought that he was the one being more of a bunghole but I, on refletion that afternoon, figured out the error of my ways. I realized my out-of-line behavior and had to do some painful grovelling to show how sorry I was. After a few months of both of us showing true professionalism, the conductor and I became good friends and we still respect each other.

If this player is a younger one, he might not have this one figured out yet. He may even be salvageable.

Sou