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I hate musicians!

#61
engedi1 said:
Now I could care less what my musicians do on their free time, but anyone who shows up stoned, or gets drunk during the gig is gone. Or, if I am hired by guys who roll smoke, I won't take their gigs anymore. That is my personal decision. Of course the problem, is not truly the drug use, it is the immaturity that underlies it. The drugs take away the inhibitions, and then all their dbagness comes out. Maybe some people like yourself can handle it and still act like an adult, but you are the exception. I am sick of guys yelling random crap into the mic, forgetting arrangements, cussing out patrons or other stuff because they can't handle it.
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That. I'm totally fed up with the immature ones too.
 
#62
placedesjardins said:
Read through the three pages. Interesting. Hind sight is 20/20 so I guess it would have been good to get some referral as to his performance and professionalism. You probably could have found a starving drummer on a drummer forum who would have traveled for that gig. On your last night when you know he's lighting up, you could always call up the cops . Tell the dispatcher you smell marijuana in room ### at the <motel/hotel> on <street number and name>. They'll pay a visit. Hopefully, it would turn into a misdemeanor marijuana possension arrest which would drain some of his earnings. Laissez les bon temps roulez.
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Well, the thing is he's actually a good drummer, and he had quite a few YouTube videos demonstrating good technique and timing. On the phone he was eager for the gig and as I said claimed to be already familiar with most of the material. The problem is he just didn't show up prepared, and yeah, the weed doesn't help.

And calling the cops did occur to me, but all the places we're playing have band houses, no hotels. And if we were in a hotel he'd be sharing a room with the guitarist, and I wouldn't want him to get popped also.
 
#63
placedesjardins said:
On your last night when you know he's lighting up, you could always call up the cops . Tell the dispatcher you smell marijuana in room ### at the <motel/hotel> on <street number and name>. They'll pay a visit. Hopefully, it would turn into a misdemeanor marijuana possension arrest which would drain some of his earnings. Laissez les bon temps roulez.
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Dude what planet are you from? Where I come from musicians don't narc on other musicians. If you don't like his habits or his work ethic then you just disassociate yourself from working with him at the earliest convenience. It's just that simple.
 
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#65
As for weed being less addicative than caffeine and/or not as bad for you, take that empty argument to the courts. Bottoms line is its illegal. Period.

Narc'ing on someone for using? Personal choice. But if a bar owner/employee decides they don't like you and wants to create an issue, ALL of you will get searched and hassled.
Let him have some in YOUR van and in his bag. YOU can be held accountable for it. All he has to do is say its not his bag. Guess who's on the hook? You.

This is pretty much been a standing rule for me:
Where there are illegal drugs, there are problems/drama. Every time.
And the harder the drug, the harder the problems.

I don't like drama or problems.

The mailman wants to smoke on his time off? Great.
drummer wants to burn on his time off. Great.
Either one do it while at work where it can affect their performance,.....not great.
 
#66
lowfreq33 said:
And calling the cops did occur to me, but all the places we're playing have band houses, no hotels.
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I don't have any feedback on the issue at hand, just wanted to comment that I am surprised to hear there are still places that a cover band can go on "tour" and be provided band houses for what seems like week long gigs. That used to be the case down here in Florida but years ago, not like that any more. Do you mind telling me where the general area of the country (or Canada?) you are playing?
 
#67
I can understand the frustration of fellow musicians work ethics and carelessness, I have been there as I am sure most of us have. Just have to weed (no pun intended) the flakes and lesser to find those fellow musicians who just seem to click with you and everybody and everything else. Hope your regular drummer is doing fine.
 
#74
placedesjardins said:
Read through the three pages. Interesting. Hind sight is 20/20 so I guess it would have been good to get some referral as to his performance and professionalism. You probably could have found a starving drummer on a drummer forum who would have traveled for that gig. On your last night when you know he's lighting up, you could always call up the cops . Tell the dispatcher you smell marijuana in room ### at the <motel/hotel> on <street number and name>. They'll pay a visit. Hopefully, it would turn into a misdemeanor marijuana possension arrest which would drain some of his earnings. Laissez les bon temps roulez.
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Wow I am glad the OP isn't as awful a person as you. You would honestly destroy this guy's entire life because he chooses to do something you don't like? How you could do that to another person is absolutely appalling and should really the criminal action. Do you stop the cops and tell them every time you've been speeding? Morality is absolute, so since your so quick to judge a pot smoker you should be so quick to judge yourself. The fact that marijuana is illegal is a crock of spit anyways, as I stated earlier, there are more harmful effects from caffeine (which IS more addictive than cocaine or heroin) nicotine, and alcohol. In fact marijuana even has medicinal benefits, to the point that if somebody walked out of the forest today with a plant that possesses the medical benefits of marijuana but it doesn't have the stigmata that christian America put on marijuana, people would hail such a plant as a godsend. Drugs were not illegal until white christian pilgrim America decided the world should make drugs illegal, ironically at the same time they were shipping tobacco across the globe and slave trading.

I have gotten way off topic and am going to stop now, but that comment really irked me.

Seriously though, OP, you sound like a great BL, I wish more people who hold up on their promises, especially with pay involved. I bet you paid for that metronome out of your own pocket too.

Sounds like his mess ups are the type the band notices though, not the crowd, you guy still getting good crowd feedback? Sounds like the clubs enjoyed you so you will be coming back. Most crowds have no idea on screw ups, you guys have it harder because you are covers, people recognize these songs.
 
#76
DiabolusInMusic said:
Wow I am glad the OP isn't as awful a person as you. You would honestly destroy this guy's entire life because he chooses to do something you don't like? How you could do that to another person is absolutely appalling and should really the criminal action. Do you stop the cops and tell them every time you've been speeding? Morality is absolute, so since your so quick to judge a pot smoker you should be so quick to judge yourself. The fact that marijuana is illegal is a crock of spit anyways, as I stated earlier, there are more harmful effects from caffeine (which IS more addictive than cocaine or heroin) nicotine, and alcohol. In fact marijuana even has medicinal benefits, to the point that if somebody walked out of the forest today with a plant that possesses the medical benefits of marijuana but it doesn't have the stigmata that christian America put on marijuana, people would hail such a plant as a godsend. Drugs were not illegal until white christian pilgrim America decided the world should make drugs illegal, ironically at the same time they were shipping tobacco across the globe and slave trading.

I have gotten way off topic and am going to stop now, but that comment really irked me.

Seriously though, OP, you sound like a great BL, I wish more people who hold up on their promises, especially with pay involved. I bet you paid for that metronome out of your own pocket too.

Sounds like his mess ups are the type the band notices though, not the crowd, you guy still getting good crowd feedback? Sounds like the clubs enjoyed you so you will be coming back. Most crowds have no idea on screw ups, you guys have it harder because you are covers, people recognize these songs.
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Misdemeanor marijuana possession conviction doesn't destroy a guy's entire life. Most of the time, it is zero jail time and there are court fees and a fine. Heavy users have already destroyed their own life and it takes either jail time or an intervention to make it a reality.

And in this particular case, he has ruined multiple performances and the credibility of the rest of the band who has had to cover up for his lack of professionalism and poor musicianship. On top of that, the drummer's performances could have cost them the gig and possible future gigs. Zero liability. What a total loser. Read all three pages.
 
#77
Not sure what the audition process was but this falls squarely in the lap of who ever hired this moron.

Referrals from the highest trusted sources only, everyone else, show up at a rehearsal and play down the hardest charts.

Pros listen to the material, make little charts and cheat sheets and sound like they have been with the band forever. That is the only talking I want to hear.

Make some calls, there is someone out there that can nail this. Lots of players, few gigs.
 
#78
DiabolusInMusic said:
Drugs were not illegal until white christian pilgrim America decided the world should make drugs illegal, ironically at the same time they were shipping tobacco across the globe and slave trading.
.
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Actually, this is almost as ignorant. Drugs were not illegal until the early 20th century. You could get Cocaine, and buy morphine in the form of laudanum from any drugstore until the 50's. I am pretty sure America (even the evil white Christians) had stopped slave trading by then. Not that America lacks for hypocrisy but your statements are simply ridiculous my friend. Without those white pilgrims that you obviously hate, there would be NO America, you should respect the badasses who founded this country. Also, guess what, non-white countries, such as Japan, most South or Central American countries, many African countries, and so forth, maybe 100% of middle eastern countries, outlaw most narcotics. Many of these countries are NOT majority Christian and none are majority white. You need to take your racist and bigoted arguments elsewhere.
 
#79
To the OP, you are clearly a wonderful band leader. almost too good. Again, You don't need any of our advice but I had to chime in RE. a previous post.
In 2002 my band of four years bought a van and moved to the west coast to hunt and club our fame/ fortune. While traveling through a no tolerance state we were stopped for a routine traffic issue. (bad tail light on a borrowed trailer) pretty minor. but one of our members (damn drummers!) UN-proffessional behavior ended up with all of us being arrested and individually charged with possession. This not only ruined our trip, killed the band and depleted 4 months of my personal savings, I had everything on the line. I even had to move back to living with my parents at 25 years old adding considerable embarrassment.. All could have been avoided easily if he wasn't adamant about traveling with drugs across state lines, or I had stood my ground.
For the record, I have no issue with ganj smoking or much else till it totally derails my life.
You are clearly more experienced than I was but this is trouble your band doesn't need.
Narc-ing on someone is the worst idea Ive ever heard of. truly sad those ideas are out there.

RANT OVER. Ahh, that felt good.
 

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