420 at practice - at what point do you tell somebody? - Page 6

zachoff · #**101** 01-08-2013, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by portpc

if your goal is to work & succeed I'd say get out of that situation..

420 = lethargy

If the vocalists are participants even more of a reason, why would you destroy your instrument?..

Yeah, The Grateful Dead could have had way more material had they not smoked all that weed.

**Ric5** · #**102** 01-08-2013, 03:01 PM

I do not play in bands with potsmokers. Music is my Hobby. I have a career where I could get fired for failing a urine test. I make good money at my day job. Also there are a lot of good musicians who don't have substance abuse problems so those are the kind of guys that I play in a band with.

RDUB · #**103** 01-08-2013, 03:11 PM

If you want to kick it with your Bros, get stoned and or drunk and make noise on your instruments, more power to ya. If you're already a wealthy rock star, you can pretty much do what you want, as far as I'm concerned.

If you want to work with me, at the level I expect you to, then you'll have to show up and stay sober. If you're telling me you need a buzz to play, then sorry, you're just not up to the calibre of professionals I work with. No hard feelings, and best of luck in all of your future endeavours.

musicman666 · #**104** 01-08-2013, 03:20 PM

I'm sorry what are we all talking about here?........I am sooooo baked man.......

CraigTB · #**105** 01-08-2013, 03:23 PM

I'm with the "no big deal, it's just weed" crowd here.

Maybe it's a geographic thing or even a generational thing, but it's just not that big a deal. I look at it pretty similarly to drinking, though to be honest people who abuse drink are more likely to be a bigger pain in the ass than the guy/gal who smokes too much.

The ideas that you're going to fail a drug test from a secondhand whiff of smoke, or that the SWAT team is going to swoop in and arrest everyone just isn't realistic at all to me.

If I showed up to a new band and they were cutting lines of coke or shooting up, I'd have the sort of reaction you had. I'd be amazed they just assumed I was cool with it and I sure wouldn't be comfortable being around it.

But weed to me just isn't a big deal. If I was you, I wouldn't be too surprised that they didn't warn me, and then I'd decide if going forward them smoking is a deal-breaker or not.

jmattbassplaya · #**106** 01-08-2013, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDUB

If you want to kick it with your Bros, get stoned and or drunk and make noise on your instruments, more power to ya. If you're already a wealthy rock star, you can pretty much do what you want, as far as I'm concerned.

If you want to work with me, at the level I expect you to, then you'll have to show up and stay sober. If you're telling me you need a buzz to play, then sorry, you're just not up to the calibre of professionals I work with. No hard feelings, and best of luck in all of your future endeavours.

I think you're taking your stance to an extreme. Many people can have a few beers or a couple puffs and be no worse than they are sober. Not everyone is looking to get smashed beyond belief when they take a substance. Sometimes people just want a little to help loosen the gears a bit so that they can actually stop worrying about their day job and can focus on their music.

musicman666 · #**107** 01-08-2013, 03:26 PM

I'm hungry............

dDaddybass · #**108** 01-08-2013, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDUB

If you want to kick it with your Bros, get stoned and or drunk and make noise on your instruments, more power to ya. If you're already a wealthy rock star, you can pretty much do what you want, as far as I'm concerned.

If you want to work with me, at the level I expect you to, then you'll have to show up and stay sober. If you're telling me you need a buzz to play, then sorry, you're just not up to the calibre of professionals I work with. No hard feelings, and best of luck in all of your future endeavours.

I agree. Don't waste my time.

pacojas · #**109** 01-08-2013, 03:43 PM

this thread is Smokin!

i love both sides of this argument. i smoke from day to day and find it extremely easy to function normally. living in Cali, weed is damn near legal and damn near free. our band is 100% "420" users and we get alot of work. maybe, because we live our art and never pretend. the only thing going against us is one guitarist that drinks more than he should.

TigerInATrance · #**110** 01-08-2013, 03:50 PM

I get a good laugh out of everyone who thinks that smoking a bit of herb is "abuse", and the undoing of everything society needs to function...

If some of you all with those attitudes knew what was really going on, you'd lock yourselves in your house and never leave...

Geroi Asfalta · #**111** 01-08-2013, 03:52 PM

Problem with 420 at practice? Start practice at 5

I'm a stoner, and my guitarist will occasionaly join in. The drummer doesn't but he doesn't mind if we smoke a little joint on a break. We don't stop to get stoned, we get a little change during the break. The drummer has a beer or two, and we'll split a bowl.

But, then again, I get the OPs point. Not quite a fair comparison, but a year ago I tried out for a local punk/ska group. Half way through the drummer pulls out a meth pipe and everybody starts tweaking....I passed. I don't go harder than weed and I never drink. I gathered my gear and left shortly thereafter.

I figure as long a my bandmates are responsible with their weed/alcohol there won't be any problems. I smoke a little before practice, and I never bring any with me. Sometimes the band next to us offers, ill take. I make sure I can comprehend everything around me, but still relax and play. I've been able to increase my seed be toking a small bowl and loosening up on the bass and g****r

Downunderwonder · #**112** 01-08-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmoore1

My brother was formerly a probation officer; and unless you are in a 4x4 ventless room, it is impossible to fail a drug test via second hand smoke.

Never been room stoned?

Floyd Eye · #**113** 01-08-2013, 06:54 PM

I don't care who smokes or who doesn't. As long as it doesn't affect your playing, why would I? That said, my guitarist/singer is about useless when he is stoned, so he is not allowed to get high before or during a gig or at practice. And under no circumstance is anyone doing it with me in the room because I have a real good job that drug tests randomly.

michael_atw · #**114** 01-08-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmoore1

A lot of people view smoking as something very simple and not noteworthy. Something as simple as say, drinking a beer.

IMHO, I would avoid these types of people.

Luke19Boarder · #**115** 01-08-2013, 07:14 PM

As I'm sure others have said ... it's really up to you and your comfort level around the stuff. People are different. Some people chief all day, others once in a while, some don't but are around it so much that it isn't a big deal, and others will call the cops if they know someone is doing it. Where do you fall on the spectrum there?

Sure, it was probably awkward in the situation you mentioned, (I certainly wouldn't have handled it like they did ... but personally wouldn't judge them for it) , but how did it play out? Some people get weird when they smoke and have a hard time functioning/socializing ... and with others, the only way you can tell they're heavy chillin' is by the color of their eyes.

I dunno. I guess my point is that you have to weigh how good the musical situation vs. how awkward it is for you to be around the stuff. Stay or go, I find either choice reasonable.

Kmonk · #**116** 01-08-2013, 07:24 PM

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.

vishuddha · #**117** 01-08-2013, 07:32 PM

Unfortunately for OP, marijuana use has become very socially acceptable. Honestly, they probably had no idea they were upsetting you. It's equivalent to drinking a beer these days.

And chances are, if you come into the band and start telling everyone they can't smoke and enjoy themselves in a band setting, which they are probably in for entertainment, they might not like you. Even the nicest guys in the world aren't going to be happy about you putting a stop to their break time... I mean, it is a pretty arbitrary thing. It's pretty much a victimless crime... or as victimless as anything else in America.

Maybe you could bring a couple of beers to practice and when they start smoking, you can pop one open. Not enough to get you drunk, but a nice little buzz while they are relaxing isn't necessarily a bad thing, and you might come to enjoy the smoke time as much as they do.

I'd like to make the point that I am not one to drink or smoke at any band practice. But all my other bandmates do, and it's never bothered me much.

Luke19Boarder · #**118** 01-08-2013, 07:38 PM

Quote:

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 think that was a given after reading your first paragraph

lunarpollen · #**119** 01-08-2013, 07:38 PM

If they just lit up and started smoking with you in a room without any real warning, that is extremely rude and inconsiderate of them. It doesn't matter what it is, cigars, cigarettes, pot, or whatever. Most people don't want to breathe secondhand smoke or have their clothing, hair, gear, etc. stunk up by it. And plenty of people have allergies to smoke, some quite severe. I wouldn't even light incense in an enclosed space with others present unless I got everyone's consent first (actually, I don't light incense at all anymore, as it makes me sick).

Mushroo · #**120** 01-08-2013, 07:38 PM

When you are joining an established band, you are joining an established culture. This band's culture and habits were clearly on display at the audition so you could make an informed decision whether you want to "hang" with them. I see no problem with this, no wrongdoing by either side. Frankly I am shocked that some of you are shocked by musicians smoking pot recreationally in the year 2013. What's next, rock n roll musicians wiggling their pelvis on TV?