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Do We or Don't We? Mexico? Too Dangerous???

#81
RadioMasterDude said:
not EVERYBODY who comes gets killed
Click to expand...

Phew!


Seriously though, and I don't know the personal lives of your reluctant bandmates, but I have a family. If there was any concern on my wife or kids part about me going to a very dangerous place (percieved or actual) for a $1000 gig I would not go. The adventurous rock and rollers could call me a wussie all they want, but they aren't going to step in and raise my kids god forbid something DID happen to me.
 
#82
Just more reasoning that since I am not involved in the drug wars, I probably wouldn't be harmed. And I know I am saying probably. But I'm probably not going to get killed on my way to work tomorrow. Probably.

I'm thinking about hiring three subs. Anyone wanna learn some Bon Jovi songs on guitar, drums, or keys? We've got our Jon Bon Jovi and me...

Anybody down for a trip to Mehico???
:bassist:
 
#86
I got invited to go live in southern Italy long time ago. Had I taken seriously news clips and warnings from people about "DON'T GO, the Mafia's gonna kill you. the Mafia's gonna kill you...ad nauseum, I would have never mastered a third language or enjoyed a beautiful culture.

Almost always those drug-cartel people only target those who are also mixed up in the rackets. I say GO! You'll learn a lot.
 
#88
invader3k said:
Did you read that article? I think the situation there is a little bit more serious than some would have liked to believe.
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I think this may be the article you were talking about it. I ended up editing and and now I'm re-posting it. This is a new article about Monterrey from the Wall Street Journal which essentially says the city is in a stage of siege at the moment.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704557704575437762646209270.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
 
#90
guitardefector said:
I got invited to go live in southern Italy long time ago. Had I taken seriously news clips and warnings from people about "DON'T GO, the Mafia's gonna kill you. the Mafia's gonna kill you...ad nauseum, I would have never mastered a third language or enjoyed a beautiful culture.

Almost always those drug-cartel people only target those who are also mixed up in the rackets. I say GO! You'll learn a lot.
Click to expand...

The point isn't to never go into danger. All of us have to do things which may be dangerous sometimes. That's just the way life is. The point is Monterrey at this stage is a special case. Certainly, if someone gave me the chance to go live in Southern Italy, I'd go. No doubt about it. I'd love to live in Italy and try to learn some Italian. Furthermore, if someone gave me the chance, for instance, to go live in Mexico City, I'd love to do that, too, and learn some Spanish. But it's doubtful I'd want to go to Monterrey right now. That's really all I have to say. Certainly, doing something like this is just an individual choice, just like many other things in life.
 
#91
Right, not being funny, but MAN UP! I'm English, yeah. I've been to over 23 countries in the last 17 years. They vary in danger from the SUPERsafe Lady Elliot Island in Australia, which has less than 10 permanent residents, to the pretty damn dangerous. I spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica, the drugs run from South America to North. I'm pretty world wise. In Costa I was in San José for a lot of the time. The capital city. This is a city where ALL windows are barred. ALL of them. And the majority of houses/businesses/banks have men with shotguns, or assault rifles on 24hr watch, but no armed forces. Yet, at no point in my life, have I ever felt afraid. I've wandered through Chang-mai in Thailand looking for the source of live Jazz music I could hear. I've been cautious, yes, on alert, yes, but NEVER have I feared for my life. Just be careful and I have no doubt you'll be fine! Just eyes open.

My band'd be behind me all the way.
 
#92
the point no one has talked about is that while there are always areas near you that are dangerous and should be avoided, the difference is when you get into some bad sh*t in your own country, there's a greater chance of having a support network to rely upon. if you're in an area where you don't know anybody, even just getting lost on accident can be a scary, weird thing.

that said, i would totally do this show. but i don't have any kids. and my wife and i travel as much as we can, so i'm used to being careful when i'm out of my comfort area.

i went to Mexico for the first time this year, and it was beautiful. we stayed mostly in Mexico City and Oaxaca, and there was a huge festival in Mexico City that was fine. there WERE a lot of cops though.

f**k it, only thing i can play is bass, so if you want to scoot over to another instrument i'll go with you. sounds like an awesome time!
 
#94
I go to Mexico all the time & play there as well. We usually go to Yucatan & not the border area. Nothing could make me play near the border. I'm not aware of the situation in Monterrey, but in Yucatan it's not much of a problem. You may be dealing with other family members chiming in on this deal & scaring your band mates.
 
#97
I would suggest getting all the info like venue,hotel, travel itinerary. All of the when, where's and how's. Confirm everything. Is this a promoter you work with all of the time?
I just came back from three weeks in Bolivia and can't wait to o back. Wonderful country and people. I did all my homework before hand and had a great trip. Anyway just my two cents.
 
#98
See how many people are killed re: dope dealers/crooks, vs regular joe's on vacation. Probably mostly due to dope, and millions of folks go through there without issues.

Check up on what to avoid, where not to go, don't drink the water, brush your teeth with bottled water, don't do drugs over there, you'll probably be fine.

I remember reading if you take out all the murders where the people have a beef with/know each others, drugs, domestics, etc, Detroit's murder rate is < 100 a year. Out of nearly a million. Not so bad, just got to know who you're messing with, and don't mess with them.

Randy
 
#99
I haven't read the entire thread. But my girlfriend is from Monterrey, I have a lot of friends there and I visit the city 3 times a year. Personally, I would love to play a couple of gigs there. It's not ciudad Juarez.

The times I've been there I have never been robbed, I have never been offered drugs, I have never seen people do drugs, I have never witnessed any crime except for the usual Mexican traffic violations. Drug-related violence is usually limited to people who are involved with drugs, be it dealers or police.

Monterrey is one of the most prosperous cities in Mexico so I would assume the people there are less eager to take advantage of gringos. You would notice the difference if you go to Mexico city though.

How much personal gear will you bring? If you are just gonna bring your own instrument you don't risk losing too much, right?

I must say however, that all the times I've been there I have been amongst mexicans. It could be different if you enter the city without anybody from the "scene" to guide you around. People might be more prone to take advantage of you if they see your bunch solely consists of "güeros".

It's your call, for 5k I would do it. Drink some bohemias!
 
#100
A different Monterey



My guitarist has not left our state in many years let alone go to Mexico. He complains when we play a run down area in our own town or a town 50 miles away. As much as you want to do the gig, I always say anytime you even have to question something like this and have doubts, it's probably not worth it.
 

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