[TPIN] Difficult Band Member

[BMMAWeb at comcast.net]

OK, here's my suggestion (which has worked in a non-music situation that was similar) IF appeals to the director are not successful in stopping the behavior, you can't convince the guy to save the comments for the break, he is not  suffering from Tourette's Syndrome, and/or completely ignoring the guy is not an option:

1) Develop a set up cues among the players that are annoyed (like signs in basseball) and assign a "manager."
2) When the guy makes a crack, the "Manager" says, "What?" until the guy responds then still pretends not to understand for a while.
3) The guy will get frustrated after a couple of "What, Huh?" and stop (because it is "obvious" that the "Manager" is completely devoid of intelligence, talent, aesthetic sensibility, etc).  The "Manager" then "cues" the next player to take up the "What?" routine.
4) When the guy makes another crack, the new player picks up until he quits.  The "Manager" cues the next player.
4 a) Players can, if they choose, deliberately "mess with the music" if they desire.
5) At some point the guy will either: quit making cracks because it is obvious that you are all dolts or quit the band.  Either way, the sanity of the group is preserved.

This works best if the "players" can maintain their composure and the "Whaters" do it with a genuine look of confusion.

This is a last resort (because it is somewhat juvenile and passive-aggressive" and should be used if less aggressive but more "assertive" options (asking the guy to shut-up) are not effective.

Of course, you could start a pool to see how many cracks he makes in a night:-)

Art LaMan, III