There's another kind of less invasive credit check that can be done for potential band members...it's called creepin' on the google. I recently had a deal on Reverb go not so great, and wish I'd done my due diligence with online research of the guy before I sent him $250 despite his 5 stars. (It all worked out)
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Credit score as proxy for bandmate reliability?
- Thread starter bobcruz
- Start date
- Status
Here is a really good article about credit that backs up training I had when I was a loan officer. I was referring to one factor of 5 that is 30% of your score. You are right in how complicated it is!
The 5 Biggest Factors That Affect Your Credit
You are living the dream my friend, the no-debt lifestyle. I will mention that if you do decide to buy a house, cash in a safe at home is considered unverifiable-ie, no papertrail. You would need to deposit the amount you would like to show for downpayment AND reserves 3-4 months before applying for the mortgage so the bank statement would show a history of the balance.
HAH! Totally. Dating websites should post credit scores along with height weight and job status LOL.
As a band manager who is currently auditioning for a couple of slots, I would not go to this length to determine a candidate's level of responsibility.
I myself have maxed out a line of credit with about $8,000.00 in CC debt having just purchased new P.A. and lights for my band. I doubt my credit score is all that high. Yet I am making a healthy payment monthly and I know I am using the credit wisely and responsibly. I wouldn't want anyone checking my credit score and jumping to the wrong conclusion. I live a very organized and structured life with all my "adult" responsibilities well-covered and ducks in a row.
However, I have other ways to determine where my candidates are in their personal and professional lives. My "want ads" on CL and Bandmix all contain the statement "Please have your personal and professional life sorted out," and in discussions I proceed to ask some pointed questions about their lifestyles to determine where they're at in that respect. You can tell a lot about a person without checking their credit score.
Now, a criminal history might be a better idea, especially if you get that funny feeling deep inside.
I myself have maxed out a line of credit with about $8,000.00 in CC debt having just purchased new P.A. and lights for my band. I doubt my credit score is all that high. Yet I am making a healthy payment monthly and I know I am using the credit wisely and responsibly. I wouldn't want anyone checking my credit score and jumping to the wrong conclusion. I live a very organized and structured life with all my "adult" responsibilities well-covered and ducks in a row.
However, I have other ways to determine where my candidates are in their personal and professional lives. My "want ads" on CL and Bandmix all contain the statement "Please have your personal and professional life sorted out," and in discussions I proceed to ask some pointed questions about their lifestyles to determine where they're at in that respect. You can tell a lot about a person without checking their credit score.
Now, a criminal history might be a better idea, especially if you get that funny feeling deep inside.
Not to mention a drug test. I refuse to play with people who use drugs of any kind or who can't hold their liquor.
I understand the implied correlation of credit score and responsibility, but I have also seen enough "high score" douches and "low score" honorable people to know to look at more than a corporate interpretation of their lives. If it's absolute, why do the different companies scores differ?
Having said that, if asked for my credit score for a band, I would demand scores for all the members in return, then tell them to pound sand.
Having said that, if asked for my credit score for a band, I would demand scores for all the members in return, then tell them to pound sand.
Most of the musicians I've ever played with have had less than stellar credit, often awful. My credit isn't pretty, either. I never ask about it up front, but it usually comes up on its own in conversations about personal responsibility and accountability. Ultimately, there has been no correlation whatsoever between their credit score and their musicianship, in my experience.
Employment, living arrangements, and their philosophies on playing music told me almost everything I needed to know that their chops could not.
In at least two instances, so did their significant others. I once fired a keyboardist because his wife was an absolute horror to deal with on tour, and it killed his focus at the gig. I had only met her twice before that tour, and she was chock full of red flags, but we had a policy of not judging our bandmates by the people they dated or were married to. After that tour, we seriously reconsidered that policy.
Employment, living arrangements, and their philosophies on playing music told me almost everything I needed to know that their chops could not.
In at least two instances, so did their significant others. I once fired a keyboardist because his wife was an absolute horror to deal with on tour, and it killed his focus at the gig. I had only met her twice before that tour, and she was chock full of red flags, but we had a policy of not judging our bandmates by the people they dated or were married to. After that tour, we seriously reconsidered that policy.
now that's downright unamerican right there. lol
op- maybe it would make a more long lasting band, maybe not, but remember- it's better to burn than to fade.
My 1996 Honda agrees.
I recently had to replace both rear brake calipers - and the $200 hurt... but that is less than ONE month payment on an old junker used car.
Not a fan of 'druggies' either but you do know alcohol is a drug? It's just the only commonly acceptable one. I'm enjoying some now at the airport with a bunch of other users : D
Low credits scores aren't causative... but there is a LOT of correlation between credit scores and many other things.
Higher credit scores correlate with (but there is no evidence credit scores are causative) - cardiovascular health, longer relationships, rudeness, higher likelihood of making insurance claims, and yes - even higher rates of alcoholism.
Yes, it is. The actuarial evidence shows that.
It isn't causative - but there is definitely a correlation.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
You have no problems judging drug users but you feel strongly enough for alcohol that you choose a picture of you holding a beer to represent you to the world.
If there are 100 people that can do the job, and I only need one - as long as the sorting system gets ONE of the good ones, it doesn't matter how many fall through the cracks.
As long as you don't have too many - false negatives aren't nearly the issue that false positives are.
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
It makes me wonder just how many of you folks up on that pedestal are actually in bands. Thank goodness no one ever asked me to provide a credit score before I could join a band, as I made some poor choices early on in life and would never get to play music as a result.
Then again, I'm pretty sure that we're being straight trolled here by a couple of concerned TBer's. It's all good though.
Then again, I'm pretty sure that we're being straight trolled here by a couple of concerned TBer's. It's all good though.
- Status
