Same thing here. New director, 1A school, inherited issues from predecessor...even though he was successful. Most of the band has been at rehearsals regularly...a few have been absent some due to their summer work schedule, but they spoke with me in advance. There are about 4 that I have not heard from or seen. Rest of the band told me that these four have bad attitudes, and are unreliable. I asked what the previous director did, and they said that he just let things slide, put them in the show anyway, and they just walked all over him (didn't show up for rehearsal, etc.); really pulling the progress of the show down.

This year, those 4 are alternates, period. Even if I need them to plug a hole...nope...I'm going to march the hole. I will not let the band be held hostage by bad attitudes, poor work ethic, unreliability, and the mentality that we can't live without them.