Kinda what I thought would happen....

I tried something new this year regarding concert absences.  Got the idea from a friend of mine.
Any student who misses one of the major concerts because of illness, or is 'excused' by the administration can make up the performance points by participating in a "make-up concert."  The student in question has to show up to my room on the designated date at the designated time.  (after school) They have to bring two audience members.  We set up an impromptu performance space in the front of the room, as well as audience seating.  Every participating student will have to perform their parts in front of the assembled audience while the concert recording is played through the rooms audio system ( so that they are, in fact, performing with the group... kind of)  The students must stay until all of the make-up performances are done. I set the date and sent out the notifications to the students who were eligible.  I got replies.

Today was the day.  Not a single kid showed up.   One kid's dad and brother tried to be there as his 'audience'.... boy, was he pissed (fortunately, not at me).  That kid did finally appear... about an hour later after his father left, and I was locking up. 

I'm not sure how this is going to play out.  Administration may require me to give every kid who failed to show another chance, since their initial absence was 'excused'.    It might get messy over the next week or so - good thing finals week is actually kind of light for me. I have time to thresh it out.

It didn't quite work out this time, but I think I'll try this idea again for the next concert series.  When I announced what the 'make-up' would be for concerts, I seemed to get the reaction I was hoping for - no one wanted to do it.  It's more of a pain in the ass than the actual concert is, and not worth faking sick.