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

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by hdracer

That is so wrong in so many ways and shows their stupidity.
I would have packed up and left.
For one, they don't know you. You could be a cop or informant.
I don't want to practice or rehearse with a bunch of gumbys. I see it the same as if they all did a bunch of jager bombs and then wanted to play.

If they can not make it through a practice or two while feeling you out they have no respect for you or their music.

I have no problem with having some drinks or some smoke AFTER practice is over.
It just shows their lack of professionalism.

Yeah, I'm with you on that, and believe me, I've smoked my share. Do that kind of stuff on your own time, man. Musicians have enough problems concentrating on anything without adding to it.

I've been down all those roads, but I went down them myself. I am NOT letting anyone drag me back down them. That would be an absolute dealbreaker for me.

[DJ Bebop]

I think they should have asked first. That was rude and, this is coming from a toker.

[mellowinman]

I also want to add that there is no alcohol at our practices, either. And when we play, you really don't need to be drinking. I saw Aerosmith six times while they were using, and quite a few after they were sober.

There is no comparison. Sober Aerosmith is one of the coolest bands ever. Wasted Aerosmith sounds like poop.

[nortonrider]

It's legal in Colorado now, so the whole "against the law" argument
doesn't fly around here anymore.

I really wouldn't care if they lit up or not. I've never had a problem with
the herb.
I smoked a whole lot of it, but then just kinda grew out of it. I haven't
partook in probably 10 years, but I am not the ganja Nazi.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
If it becomes an issue, I'll let you know.

[Kmonk]

Originally Posted by Luke19Boarder

I think that was a given after reading your first paragraph

I don't have a problem with what people do on their own time. If they want to smoke pot, drink heavily, do drugs it's really none of my business. I won't criticize them for it but I don't want to deal with it at rehearsal either.

[Luke19Boarder]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

I don't have a problem with what people do on their own time. If they want to smoke pot, drink heavily, do drugs it's really none of my business. I won't criticize them for it but I don't want to deal with it at rehearsal either.

I was mostly joking - as I mentioned before, everyone has a different perception of the stuff.

[Mushroo]

Also nobody has stated the obvious that the OP was a guest in this band's home/rehearsal space. Nobody tells me what I can and can't smoke, drink, say, or do in my own home, sorry. (That being said, don't get the wrong idea of my personality--I am a gracious host so I try to make sure my guests are comfortable )

This was an audition and the band went through their normal uncensored routine so the OP could make an informed decision whether or not to join. It's kind of like my philosophy on dating: I'd rather fart on the 1st date than hold it in until the wedding night.

[Shadi]

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

[bass81800]

I saw a Craigslist ad recently where the person looking for a band wrote 'not at all 420 friendly.' Maybe that is how you need to word it. As mentioned before, maybe they did not think your not being into drugs was related to 420.

Anyway, I think it was kind of rude, and I would not want to be in that band. My experience with 420 was a cover band where the drummer used to smoke after the 1st set. From that point on, the keyboard player and I had to work extra hard to hold things together. It just did not enhance the band.

And, no, there is nothing wrong with you being bothered by this. Wondering if you are going to continue with this band.

[Keyser Soze]

re: "I don't have a problem with what people do on their own time. If they want to smoke pot, drink heavily, do drugs it's really none of my business. I won't criticize them for it but I don't want to deal with it at rehearsal either."

As Mushroo pointed out above, the toking WAS ON THEIR (THE BAND'S) OWN TIME. The OP was auditioning to join THEIR BAND at THEIR FACILITY. He was visiting the band's natural habitat.

If he dug it, great. If not, thanks for coming.

[kjpollo]

Personally, I'd have done the audition and left...never to be seen again. Mind you, i'm NOT anti-420, I grew up in the 70s! If you want to do it, fine, just dont expect me to be around. I'd tell them thanks for the audition but weed wasnt my thing and I dont want to be around it.

I'm married with a family and I dont want to get back from rehearsal smelling like I fell out of Jeff Spicoli's van. Thats no way to set a good example for your kids.

Heck, I gave up smoking cigars after my daughter was born- if I wanted to hold the baby, I didnt want to have to change clothes first.

[LiquidMidnight]

I'm not anti-420, but I agree with Blue: To toke up right at the beginning of rehearsal seems "high school" to me, particuarly if we're dealing with middle-aged dudes. My initial thought would be, "Oh great, burn outs!" Not everyone who smokes is a burn out, but if someone feels the need to smoke up during every rehearsal, my spidey senses are gonna go off. It seems like their priorities aren't straight. I feel the same way about someone who would get drunk at a rehearsal.

It was definitely poor social intelligence on their part. Not everyone is "hip," even if they are musicians.

[bassinplace]

That would be a deal breaker for me. The fact that they made such a ceremonious point about it and didn't consult with you and literally blew it in your face tells me they're way into smoking. The display was borderline passive aggressive favoring the aggressive side, imo. I'm not into that, so I'd take it for what it was and walk. But obviously, that's your call.

[boristhespider9]

Originally Posted by Mushroo

Also nobody has stated the obvious that the OP was a guest in this band's home/rehearsal space. Nobody tells me what I can and can't smoke, drink, say, or do in my own home, sorry. (That being said, don't get the wrong idea of my personality--I am a gracious host so I try to make sure my guests are comfortable )

This was an audition and the band went through their normal uncensored routine so the OP could make an informed decision whether or not to join. It's kind of like my philosophy on dating: I'd rather fart on the 1st date than hold it in until the wedding night.

Yea, their normal routine is to do something illegal (regardless of your view on it) and the guest should just grin and bear it because it's such an honor to audition in their castle! Same if they were doing hard drugs, right? That's nonsense. Both sides should have communicated about this before he even showed-up. Even though those who smoke always claim it's no big deal, being around it can have real implications for people in their jobs, personal life, and for other reasons. Simple example...you now have the smell all over you even though you didn't partake, you get pulled over on the way home for a burned out tail light or the like and the cop smells it on you. Now you have to convince the law that you didn't do anything (something they've heard a million times before) as they pull you out to test you and search your car...

There are plenty of other scenarios that can occur just from hanging around guys who engage in illegal activity as those above point out. Some of you are cool with that, and some of you aren't. But, these guys shouldn't have just imposed that situation on him (and OP should have also asked about it before he auditioned).

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

Sober Aerosmith is one of the coolest bands ever. Wasted Aerosmith sounds like poop.

Wasted Aerosmith wrote better songs, though.

[Keyser Soze]

There's the door....

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

I also want to add that there is no alcohol at our practices, either. And when we play, you really don't need to be drinking. I saw Aerosmith six times while they were using, and quite a few after they were sober.

There is no comparison. Sober Aerosmith is one of the coolest bands ever. Wasted Aerosmith sounds like poop.

I saw Aerosmith in 1977 when "Draw the Line" album came out. They sucked bad. Joe Perry could barely stand up and Tyler couldn't sing. The best part of the concert was the opening band. I had never heard of them until then. It was AC/DC with Bon Scott. They kicked ass and did two encores.

[guymanndude1]

I will never forget I was flipping thru an old encyclopedia once and I saw an entry on weed and it said that sometimes musicians have been known to use the substance because they think it makes them play better. Then it says it doesn't, they just think it does. I laughed for twenty minutes, the book was from the sixties, still true today.

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

There's the door....

I don't think anyone's denying that. Bert wasn't saying that he was planning on joining with the intent of changing the band members. It's just a discussion about being in what could be an awkward social situation such as this.

Like I said, I'm not anti-420, but I would find the whole thing offputting. I'm not anti-porn either, but I'd raise an eyebrow if I met someone for the first time and the first thing they did was put a copy of Backdoor Betties Vol. 32: The Bum Rush in the DVD player, regardless if I were in their home or not.

[Mushroo]

Maybe they all have glaucoma, let's not be so quick to judge.

Seriously though, attitude on this does vary quite a bit state-to-state. I will stop giving the OP a hard time because I see he's in NH, which has not yet decriminalized.