Phone call?

[Michael B]

I have trouble meeting new people only when I have zero connection to them. Like in a business networking event and you have to make contact with people who seem to all be conversing easily already.

But a setup phone call is not like that. You have a reason for the call and a reason to talk.

We are trying to teach our kids to use the phone. It's amazing how awkward they are with it. We grew up answering the home phone.

Do the call. It is a good learning experience and not the last time you'll need the phone.

 

[lfmn16]

I wouldn't consider meetings someone I hadn't talked to on the phone - too many flakes. I don't understand why someone would want to schlep all their equipment over to someone's house that they've never even talked to, but given the amount of band drama on TB, I don't think people do a very good job of screening via phone, email or in person.

 

[Fat Freddy]

I make as few phone call as possible in the U.S......I'm English and almost nobody can understand a word I say!!!:***:....

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Clearly an age thing.
I'm 50, quite comfortable with emails, texting, setting up rehearsals with strangers through Facebook and I honestly can't imagine taking a phone call being an issue, but I showed this to my 21-yr-old son and he got the OP's reaction immediately.
Sometimes it's sad, getting old...

Sometimes it's sad being young.
I work with college students and most of them are great, but then there are those who I really worry about making it through the day, let alone life.

 

[gln1955]

I get what the OP is saying. I've never liked talking on the phone. I'd rather meet up face to face or just use email for most exchanges. Texting is not good for something like this because people tend to be too brief, so there's lots of room for miscommunication. If I meet up in a bar or something like that, I can tell in two minutes if the other person is someone I could work with. I have a harder time reading people on the phone. I'm 60, so it's not necessarily a generational thing.

 

[SkinCoffin]

Clearly an age thing.
I'm 50, quite comfortable with emails, texting, setting up rehearsals with strangers through Facebook and I honestly can't imagine taking a phone call being an issue, but I showed this to my 21-yr-old son and he got the OP's reaction immediately.
Sometimes it's sad, getting old...

Well, your son being almost the same age and not being keen really isn't conclusive so I wouldn't say "clearly" an age thing.

There are a lot of variables that factor in to whether people like speaking on the phone or not.

Personally, I hate it. Being 22 has nothing to do with it. I've always hated talking on the phone. I have friends my age who ALWAYS want to chat via phone and hate emailing.

I think it boils down to an introverted nature, I just don't like talking about personal things over the phone. I get uncomfortable getting too personal in phone calls.

I'm extremely good at public speaking/conversing with important people on the phone at work and have actually been commended many times for my phone manner & phone communication ability. I do it at work because it's work, it's business, it's not personal. Bands however are personal, so I'd prefer to just message then meet in person.

 

[Pork_Chop]

I'm 46 and the opposite. I hate texting.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Well, your son being almost the same age and not being keen really isn't conclusive so I wouldn't say "clearly" an age thing.

There are a lot of variables that factor in to whether people like speaking on the phone or not.

Personally, I hate it. Being 22 has nothing to do with it. I've always hated talking on the phone. I have friends my age who ALWAYS want to chat via phone and hate emailing.

I think it boils down to an introverted nature, I just don't like talking about personal things over the phone. I get uncomfortable getting too personal in phone calls.

I'm extremely good at public speaking/conversing with important people on the phone at work and have actually been commended many times for my phone manner & phone communication ability. I do it at work because it's work, it's business, it's not personal. Bands however are personal, so I'd prefer to just message then meet in person.

Being a telemarketer or customer service rep is not having a conversation. You are trained what to say and how to say it. Public speaking is also not relavant because it is not a two way conversation.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I'm 46 and the opposite. I hate texting.

Yet here u r, grats.

 

[davegt666]

I'm the kind of guy that would rather talk on the phone with his girl for 5 mins than be texting back and forth for an hour or 2.

If conducting business, I'd rather do it on the phone.

You wanna find out quickly if someone's free that day, I'll call you on the phone 3 times til you pickup.

We have things to do, and things get done much faster on the phone. Learn to use the phone people, embrace it. It is your friend.

I am also 22.

 

[SkinCoffin]

Being a telemarketer or customer service rep is not having a conversation. You are trained what to say and how to say it. Public speaking is also not relavant because it is not a two way conversation.

I'm not either of those things haha.

 

[Stevorebob]

I see no issues with a call. You’ll both learn something about the other that just can’t be covered in email. It’s standard practice in job interviews; why would it not be okay with a band audition? One might be suspicious why you’re adverse to a call.

 

[catcauphonic]

I know i'm acting like a little punk about this but phone calls make me nervous and a lot of times I have no idea what people are saying. It confuses me sometimes, like i get disoriented on it. Weird, i know.

It's unnatural ... like flying in a plane

 

[desertrider71]

Learn to use the phone people, embrace it.

Good on ya'.....you will likely be more successful than your peers. Every other generation insists on use of the phone, especially in business. Until your generation is "in power," you are doing well to embrace it.

 

[alembicguy]

I can get a better read off of a person through a phone call more so than a text message. I can make my decision whether or not I want to take it farther. I'd rather say no thanks over the phone than get out of my house.

 

[Mugre]

There's a time and a place for all mediums of communication. I text my kids all the time. I also work on the phone all day as a customer service rep. Heck, I wrote a letter last year; sent it in an envelope and everything. The ONE thing I do really dislike is using drive up speakers to order food. I find it awkward, dehumanizing, demeaning even. I virtually always walk in and order face to face. On offshoot of this is I don't like automated check-outs. Maybe I'm too old (58) but I always seem to get into a "fight" with the stupid thing about whether or not there's an unauthorized item in the bagging area even though it seemed to scan okay and had the right name on the screen.

We've been taking apps for another CSR position. Without a doubt (oral) communication skills in young people is eroding. Another thing we're seeing is college graduates that are flummoxed by long division and simple percentage problems. One guy today simply skipped, 1.383 times 3. He had no idea how to do it on paper though I have no doubt he knows how to get google to do it for him. Again, I'm talking about people who graduated college in the last 5 years.

 

[aaronious]

How old are you?

My thoughts also. At 22 I get it though. No one that age talks on the phone.

 

[john_g]

My thoughts also. At 22 I get it though. No one that age talks on the phone.

Kind of true, but I remember when 22 wasnt a "kid". A 22 year old nowadays is about equivalent to a 16 year old was when I was younger (im 45 and thats IMO of course). I dont want to knock the OP but, your life is going to be very rough if you cant at least have a basic phone call with someone that knows you are going to call and why. Sure, you can text your friends but probably not your boss, or clients, or coworkers.

 

[aaronious]

Kind of true, but I remember when 22 wasnt a "kid". A 22 year old nowadays is about equivalent to a 16 year old was when I was younger (im 45 and thats IMO of course). I dont want to knock the OP but, your life is going to be very rough if you cant at least have a basic phone call with someone that knows you are going to call and why. Sure, you can text your friends but probably not your boss, or clients, or coworkers.

That's pretty much what I was getting at. I'm just didn't want to sound like a jackass. You did well though.

 

[sleeplessknight]

I'm in my 30s, and also hate talking on the phone. I'm very comfortable with, and prefer, email or other forms of electronic info. when I'm getting paid, I'll use whatever comms method the payor wants. When I'm doing the paying, I default to email.