420 at practice - at what point do you tell somebody?

[rainbownorth]

Also, I honestly dont think it's an issue of morality or legality. It's illegal where I am. I condone it, my wife doesnt, so I respect her wishes and dont do it. I understand both sides of the argument, and I think both for and against try too hard to push their argument most of the time. For me the real issue is whether it's affecting the music.

Yeah, they should've let you know before you turned up. Maybe not in the advertisement, thats a bit daft, but over the phone maybe. That way if youre not interested you can bow out without wasting anyones time. Ideally that's what shouldve happened, 20/20 hindsight and all.

Maybe your way forward for the future is to just see how things go and if it's clearly getting in the way, just split.

[nashvillebill]

No matter what our own personal opinion on pot, we must recognize that to some people, pot smoking is not cool (and that may include the law enforcement in that area).

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by rainbownorth

It really does depend on the degree to which it affects their ability to play, IMO. If they're a trainwreck afterwards, I'd cut and run. I've cut and run from that exact scenario in the past. And not cause I'm a prude, I've partaken plenty before. I just try and keep it subdued at practice, and not at all on gigs.

I just think, bare minimum, give yourself at least an hour to warm up before you get baked, or there's no point in turning up at all. Once my old band was well on their way, they'd get through a couple songs (only just), start noodling, and all of a sudden everyone is playing something different at once, to the degree where you cant even yell out "shut the hell up, lets all play something at once", because noone can hear over the guitarists stack or the drummer bashing away. And the worst is when you see yourself doing it and think "good god, what a waste of my time."

Anyway, if youre cool with youre cool with it, youre not and youre not, I dont care either way, it takes all sorts to make a world. If youre happy in the band otherwise, make them set a couple of acceptable rules like, one joint a night, practice for an hour THEN smoke it. Otherwise it's just an obstacle to getting anything achieved.

I heard the Grateful Dead had a band rule about never arriving to practice stoned. And never leaving sober.

I wouldn't want to play with people who play like crap regardless of the reason, smoking would not offer any cover. It would be a waste of time and personally I think it should be left out of practice altogether. Maybe one last parting jam if everyone is into it but otherwise it eats time because you have to do everything twice before it sticks. Practice time is too valuable.

[Bert Slide]

As to smoking a little(or a lot) deteriorating your playing I have one thing to say:

Reality is for people who can't handle drugs.

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

I understand. I still say they are total dorks.
"Huh-huh..... we smoke weed, man... huh-huh......... We're all cool and stuff..... huh-huh.......... Are you cool, man?.......... Cool like us?..... Huh-huh-huh......"
Dorks.

Really? Do you really think people that partake actually act like that? Real life ain't a movie, man. The majority take it in stride like chewing gum.

[N.F.A.]

Has the OP said where things stand with the band?

[rainbownorth]

Originally Posted by Big Brother

I heard the Grateful Dead had a band rule about never arriving to practice stoned. And never leaving sober.

I wouldn't want to play with people who play like crap regardless of the reason, smoking would not offer any cover. It would be a waste of time and personally I think it should be left out of practice altogether. Maybe one last parting jam if everyone is into it but otherwise it eats time because you have to do everything twice before it sticks. Practice time is too valuable.

Absolutely practice time is too valuable. Probably 90% at a guess of TB'ers have day jobs as well as playing. If my practice time is a waste of time, I'm out regardless of the reasons why, my life is way too busy otherwise.

I actually like playing round a bit when I'm smoking, you can come up with some cool stuff. It's more of an "off the clock" sort of thing though, if you got songs to learn you gotta be dedicated.

[dbd1963]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

Really? Do you really think people that partake actually act like that? Real life ain't a movie, man. The majority take it in stride like chewing gum.

That seems misguided unless you live in Colorado or Washington state, since:

Penalties for Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana

Maximum of one year in jail
$2,000 fine
Suspended driver's license of persons convicted of this offense for up to 90 days
Penalties for Felony Possession of Marijuana

Prison sentence of one year and a day to ten years
Maximum fine of up to $5,000

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

I will not play with anyone who smokes pot or does any drugs before or during rehearsal. In fact, my doesn't even drink at rehearsals. In my opinion, rehearsals are a time to work on songs and get better as a band. Not a time to get drunk or high. I used to play with a guitar player who smoked pot. I could always tell when he did it because we would be on stage and he would lean toward me and ask what song we were playing.

For the record, I do not do drugs of any kind and never have. When I was younger, I did a lot of drinking and driving. Now I only have a few beers on the weekend and only at home, never anywhere when I have to drive.

I truly think your guitarist was on a "combo-buzz". Probably weed & pills. I just ain't NEVER, EVER seen anyone that wrecked smoking herb. Weed just doesn't do that to you.

[heckraiser]

Originally Posted by jaxstarke

I'm to the point now where I'd be surprised if no one DIDN'T light up at every rehearsal/jam/practice.

So true!

Originally Posted by jaxstarke

Hasn't and probably never will bother me all that much. I don't smoke weed or drink but if other people do then it's fine with me. If anything I think it helps most drummers I've known keep a beat.

Amen to that! I've seen it slow down hyperactive drummers to a respectable speed.

[Mushroo]

Telling people they should feel shame for something they're not ashamed of seldom ends well.

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by Shadi

I think you should call the cops on them during the next practice.

Snitch

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

Really? Do you really think people that partake actually act like that? Real life ain't a movie, man. The majority take it in stride like chewing gum.

No. Most don't act like that. Regarding the ones auditioning the OP....they THINK like that.

[Bert Slide]

Dock Ellis and the LSD NoNo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUhSYLRw14

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by millsbass5
Really? Do you really think people that partake actually act like that? Real life ain't a movie, man. The majority take it in stride like chewing gum.
______________________________________________

Originally Posted by dbd1963

That seems misguided unless you live in Colorado or Washington state, since:

Penalties for Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana

Maximum of one year in jail
$2,000 fine
Suspended driver's license of persons convicted of this offense for up to 90 days
Penalties for Felony Possession of Marijuana

Prison sentence of one year and a day to ten years
Maximum fine of up to $5,000

How does your answer even pertain to what I was referring to? It makes no sense whatsoever. Are you smokin'?

[millsbass5]

I'm really not trying to be all uptight but it was stupid for the band guys not to say something before whipping it out. You don't just pull the ol' soldier out and start jerking it in front of everyone, do ya? There's just certain "rules of etiquette" that need to be followed.-QUOTE

Don't you know the old saying?

"A friend with weed is a friend indeed."

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

What I DID ask was what people thought the protocols should be for TELLING a new or auditioning band member that pot gets smoked at your rehearsals. Is it something you should mention in a CL ad, something you mention in emails or phone calls beforehand, or (as was my experience) do you just pull it out and light up with no prior mention of it?

My opinion is that it should be mentioned somewhere in between the scenarios you brought up. It might be too early to mention it on the phone before someone arrives to an audition, but it also should just be pulled out and lit up in front of a stranger. Id say they should have said something before they pulled it out.

Originally Posted by Bert Slide

I must be from a different era, scene, location or something because I've never been around musicians who objected to a little weed smoking whether they partook or not.

I have. My first band, the drummer and I were tokers, and our guitarist was not. We'd usually smoke before he showed up to practice at my house. Most times he never knew so he had no problem, but if he knew that we had smoked he'd take issue thinking that we were going to be useless as far as rehearsal goes. Funny enough, when he didnt know, he thought we were doing great (even if we were stoned). I think there is a lot of misconception on the part of those who dont smoke pot as to the effects it has on those who do.

Originally Posted by Big Brother

Given the sense of outrage about it, I think it is more about morality than legality.

I would find that odd, as there is nothing inherently immoral about the usage of marijuana.

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I would find that odd, as there is nothing inherently immoral about the usage of marijuana.

Agreed, but that doesn't stop many from seeing it in those terms. I lived in Utah as a little kid and when I'd come visit California I used to be shocked that liquor was sold in supermarkets and people kissed in public. I can relate to how others often see it even if I don't agree.

Social taboos are powerful in some places, the one thing I notice that is different about California is that there are so many sub-cultures and ways of living that few can find time to judge them all, so most don't bother and just worry about themselves.

Some other places I lived though had basically two ways to live, the good way and the wayside. There was little ground between the two and everyone was watching to see what side you fell on, so the social fear of association is a lot stronger in some places and I kind of understand the 'get it away from me' reaction.

Sometimes I forget how powerful the social association game is in small towns. Thank God.

[boristhespider9]

Just remember, in most places it's illegal in to some degree (and of course illegal under Federal law). Hanging around people engaging in illegal activities can often ensnare the non-participants in one way or another.

Lots of folks here want to just brush it off as no big deal. But some of us have future ambitions it could affect or are at a stage in life where we perhaps have more to lose or more at risk. Some of our jobs are licensed professions, subject to ongoing background checks, polygraphs, drug tests, and "morality clauses." For young musicians who may eventually want to go into law enforcement, certain government work, or other positions requiring polygraphs, one question you may get asked is whether you've hung around people who've used drugs even if you didn't partake yourself? If so, why didn't you leave when you saw them engaging in the activity instead of accept it by staying around? Further, as others have mentioned, you can be in a practice space or driving to a gig with one of your user band mates and law enforcement comes along and finds it on his person or in his gig bag in your car or home. Don't necessarily think you're walking because it's not yours. (By the way, that doesn't happen with speeding or some of the other silly inapplicable examples above where only the perpetrator can be held responsible.) Plus, while it may appear that your bandmates have it just for personal use, you just never know if they are engaged in something bigger.

So, yes, some of us are more sensitive to it than others. Like it or not, agree with it or not, being around someone using or holding 420 can have legal implications as well as create major problems to a current or desired career. I think a lot musicians don't have that on their radar because they don't have as much at stake, don't look far enough ahead at the potential consequences, and don't have the desire to (or know a lot of people who) work in fields where this can be a barrier. Further, a lot of younger guys don't have families yet and that can (and probably should) change your perspective on everything including your tolerance for unnecessary risk.

[GlassOnion]

Yep you are right. Smoking a joint implies that we are meth dealers.

For the record, there is no law that says, stand next to a guy with a joint and you go to jail. Again, if you do not like it, just leave.