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Dipping my toes back in the water

#21
The smoke would be a non-starter for me. Grew up around smokers, my mom smoked, and up until NC banned it indoors in 2007 or so, I played way too many smoky gigs that I hated. You shouldn't have to choose between your health and making music.

3 choices regarding the volume: either ask them to turn down, get really good earplugs (possibly foam ones depending on which frequencies are really poking thru and causing discomfort), or move on. You shouldn't go deaf because they don't give a crap.

One thing I will not tolerate at all is playing too loud for the sake of playing loud - especially in a rehearsal space. That goes for relatively 'quiet' jazz too. The cumulative effect of being next to a ride and crash cymbal all night even at 'low' volumes is pretty gnarly.
 
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#22
Rfan said:
Started playing again, easing back into it. Played with a couple of older guys today, mostly 60's. It went okay except for two things. A very smoky environment, not my ideal environment. And excessive volume. Note the peak dB reading on the left. That was taken in the middle of the room. Here's the kicker, the guitar player said I could be a little louder as he was having trouble hearing me. Nice guys but I can't do that.
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How did you hook up with these people? Did you know anything about them, and were there any expectations of what this get-together might lead to?
I always have ear plugs with me, so the volume thing would not be an issue. But the smoking? I would have just stopped, explained that you couldn't handle it, packed up, and split. If they would ridicule you or whatever, that's on them. They are the A's.
If it was a potential band situation, you don't need to be in that band, so continuing with the session would be pointless. They are addicts, and their behavior wouldn't change. Even if they could manage not smoking for a period, cigarette breaks would be disruptively constant, plus the residual stench afterwards.
 
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#23
I had hearing protection thank goodness. I found them via C list. Talked to the BL. They are kind of in the same place I am as far as gigging etc.(not overly interested)They have a fully equipped rehearsal space . Four piece kit, Fender blues deville, peavey mini max 600, with a 15 and a 4x10, heavy duty pa with two 15 inch mains and two 12 inch floor monitors. It was a lot for a 20x20 space.
 
#25
The real rub is that I've never heard a really loud band that sounded good, it's usually just a wall of mud as the band members gradually crank the volume to be heard above each other, or a really loud drummer. The record breaker in my experience was a Santana concert in a basketball auditorium at UMASS Amherst, the volume was so high it was literally painful to be in the room, and remaining would almost certainly damage your hearing. it was so loud, the PA system was clipping, which was like having nails driven into your eardrums. I walked out with around 2/3 of the audience 1/2 hour in, and still had ringing ears for days. Audiences do NOT want to hear a band they have to scream over, or stuff toilet paper into their ears to withstand. Thank god they don't allow smoking in bars anymore, smokers are free to destroy their own lungs, but they have no right to destroy mine.
 
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#28
Gilmourisgod said:
The real rub is that I've never heard a really loud band that sounded good, it's usually just a wall of mud as the band members gradually crank the volume to be heard above each other, or a really loud drummer. The record breaker in my experience was a Santana concert in a basketball auditorium at UMASS Amherst, the volume was so high it was literally painful to be in the room, and remaining would almost certainly damage your hearing. it was so loud, the PA system was clipping, which was like having nails driven into your eardrums. I walked out with around 2/3 of the audience 1/2 hour in, and still had ringing ears for days. Audiences do NOT want to hear a band they have to scream over, or stuff toilet paper into their ears to withstand. Thank god they don't allow smoking in bars anymore, smokers are free to destroy their own lungs, but they have no right to destroy mine.
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We have a room locally which hosts pretty major level bands. I've played shows in the room when it was during the week and local bands could get gigs. I saw 311 there about 15 years ago, and even with almost 40db reducing foam earplugs, it hurt to experience the concert.... and it was pure mud. It ruined the show for me, and I had waited years to hear them. As a paying customer, if a show is too loud to be enjoyed safely even with earplugs, I feel cheated out of my money. As a performer, I don't want to know that's happening out front if I am performing either. Louder isn't better. It's just wasted energy, and once your hearing is gone, it's never coming back. I've done everything possible to preserve my hearing since the day I started playing. The first jam session I ever did at 17 or 18 in a small basement room with a loud drummer and guitarist, it felt like knives being stabbed in my ears. I had to stuff toilet paper in them to get through the 'session.' After that, I never played in any situation without at least having earplugs handy. After almost 30 years of playing, recording, and performing, my hearing is still pretty much intact. Don't mess up - plug up.
 
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#31
Jeff Scott said:
I was in a psycho-delic-proggy-jam band last decade that was incredibly loud. I brought my old Realistic sound level meter one rehearsal to fine the band averaging around 115-118 dB! Didn't stay long after I learned that. All the guys in the band were in the their late '50s to mid '60s at the time (2013 - 2014).
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Geez. I hope you had ear plugs the brief time you were there. :oops:
 
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#32
Smooth_bass88 said:
You can wear earplugs but being around people smoking tobacco in your presence is absolutely unacceptable. Not worth it, not for any amount of money.
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I agree on the ear plugs. Regarding cigarettes.
More than a few bands I've declined because of the they smoked during practice. Can't tolerate it anymore.
 
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#33
roccobass said:
I agree on the ear plugs. Regarding cigarettes.
More than a few bands I've declined because of the they smoked during practice. Can't tolerate it anymore.
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I've flat-out told people right to their faces: "could you please not smoke around me? Thanks". Even at outdoor gigs.
 
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#36
WHAT?

I keep ear plugs (the foam kind from the machine shop) in every instrument case and several pair in each car.

This, boys and girls, is one of the reasons I just walked away from rock and roll. While it is certainly POSSIBLE to play rock and roll at rational volumes, almost nobody does. The ego-macho thing gets involved, the desire to show that you're still young and vibrant gets involved, I'm not involved.

Besides that most of these old guys still trying to rock out at painfully loud volumes aren't very good.
 
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#39
I was out to dinner with my friend and husband several years ago, looked up, and saw that X was playing that night at the local theater. Had to go. It was the loudest situation I've ever been in by far, and I've seen a lot of shows. I didn't have my earplugs and had to hold my ears closed during the entire show. I am grateful I got to see X, but those guys must be deaf as all get out.

I was in a band where the singer decided to share lead guitar duties. After that, practice was very loud. The keyboardist, rhythm guitarist and I spoke up, but it never changed. They thought their years of power tools and music hadn't taken a toll on their hearing, but they were wrong. Never going to be in a band where members can't detect appropriate volume for the room.
 

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