So I auditioned for a band today...

[P. Aaron]

I hope that dude got help. Not for the weed, but for the clear signs of depression or other mental illness. I still crawl under the covers to hide (it's a safe feeling). He didn't have a problem because he smoked weed, he smoked weed because he had a problem.

Mental illness has kept me from a lot of opportunities. I'm sorry his kept him from them too.

I gave up on it because of his parents enabled much of his behavior. They failed to set goals for him or demand he attain certain things or get cut off. I had convo’s with them (dancing around the subject) and they were as enamored with him as he was.

 

[CallMeAl]

If you like the hang and the tunes, you won’t get annoyed every time they crack a cold one, AND are OK with the possibility it won’t go further than the basement, then go for it.

I used to be in a funk band that would drink and puff at rehearsals. (Esp. The latter; but hey it’s a funk band.) very organized, driven, 3 hour rehearsals 2x a week. They’ve been playing the greater Seattle area venues and festivals for like 10 years (Pre-Co, of course.) doesn’t work for all bands , but it’s possible to party hard and draw crowds like this:

 

[Sixgunn]

Doesn't getting messed up and being in a Band go hand in hand? Haha. Just kidding. You shouldn't get messed up if it effects you performance. Some people can get messed up and still perform and some people can't. You just have to know how messed up you can get without letting it effect your performance. I've seen guys get fired from Bands cuz they can't play messed up while another guy in the Band is just as messed up, but it doesn't effect his performance, so he never gets fired. Example... Guns 'N Roses... Steven Adler gets fired cuz it's effecting his performance and no one else got fired cuz they could still perform and they were just as messed up as him. Slash would go behind a Marshall Stack and barf and them come back onstage and keep on going! Haha.

It's just SO sad that people HAVE to impair themselves.

 

[brianrost]

dudes can reef & be serious about their craft & business but, the more serious they are, the less reefin’ they do.

I once asked a friend what had happened to a guy he used to play drums with. There was all this hype and then he dropped off the face of the earth. He told me: "He got going on his star trip before doing the work to become a star".

 

[RichardW]

If your goal is to find a group of guys to party with while playing music, it sounds cool.

If your goal is to play music in a band that takes that job seriously, I'd say run the other direction.

 

[MordBass]

and honestly...it was great! Jammed 3 original tunes, had less than 36 hrs prep time. Everyone had their head in the right mindset (goal oriented, focused, driven, ect.) Plus they were around my age group and had relatable conversation. However, there was pretty excessive alcohol use, Marijuana and one of the guys wasn't employed. I mean he could be down on his luck, he was a great dude, but the substance abuse...first impressions go both ways just the same as a job interview. Should I stick it out, or duck out now?

For context: the previous bass player was a childhood friend who is having a baby and won't be returning, so they've begun their search for a replacement.

Did you see anything that would make the weed/booze a problem? Ive been in bands where we fired members for screwing up live due to drinking and missing rehearsals etc... but Ive also been in bands with hugely talented people that are baked 24/7 while being on time for everything and always having constructive input while acting professionally.

 

[Dimension]

Speaking from experience(s) with similar circumstances...they seem like nice people though other's substance abuse which can lead to erratic behavior is tiring to deal with over time. And I recommend not leaving gear at any of their houses or practice spaces. Lost several pieces of gear that way.

This is an interesting moral dilemma and topic. May I recommend asking your friend what they are like as bandmates.

 

[selowitch]

I choose not to be around smoking of any kind and I strongly dislike drinking at rehearsals, gigs, or recording sessions.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Considering it will be ages until gigs are a regular thing again, I say give them a few more weeks. Maybe openly say it’s a probationary trial period? Personally most bands I’ve been in have deliberately been a mix of play and party. For must/all of us (band mates and I) it’s the one time a week we can actually have any sort of socializing since COVID, so it’s nice to play for an hour or two, and hang out and jaw Jack over some brews for an hour or two more.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I don’t care what people do on their own time but if they are rehearsing or playing gigs intoxicated that’s a no for me. Also red flag if they were doing this and just met you...0

 

[sonojono]

Sounds like a fun jam band but if you’re looking to pursue this seriously, then don’t bother wasting your time. All we can do here is tell you our opinions but it’s ultimately yours at the end of the day.

 

[MordBass]

Not that this is the case here but I've always found it interesting how some musicians don't want a single beer opened or bowl smoked during rehearsal as if its like youre at work.... all while covering the songs of artists that were likely blasted while writing/arranging the songs in the first place.
Don't get me wrong... if you're in a regular working wedding band or a tribute act thats grossing six figures... then yea, it's work at that point.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

My equipment and its owner don't do those hard partying smoking gigs any more. My equipment and my body don't like that stuff. Back when I was in my teens and twenties did a lot. But since then the quality of equipment I use, don't go there. Just saying. Febreze can do only so much, and is not good for basses and cabinets.

 

[selowitch]

I guess I’m spoiled in that I’ve never been in a band that smoked or drank in each other’s company. I’m fifty-one and have been in about seven bands in my lifetime. So for me, it’s never been an issue. I was invited to join a band that was passable musically but which required a break for a bong hit seemingly after every song. Needless to say that was a hard “no” for me.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

Alright, I have no idea if this is going to hold under Talkbass's policies, but it's truthful, honest information.

Before my current band, I preferred to play completely sober. I played a few shows a month, earning about 50 bucks a show.

In my current band, I show up sober, and through the night on average I drink 2-8 shots of (free) liquor and consume 2-4 grams of state-legal medical-dispensary cannabis...

And I get paid 100 bucks a night, 2 nights a week, 4+ weeks a month.

Do not mistake the presence of drugs and alcohol for the absence of work.

Everyone had their head in the right mindset (goal oriented, focused, driven, etc.)... and had a relatable conversation

 

[mambo4]

I enjoy getting altered and jamming, but I never mistake it for serious preparation.
I have played good gigs where the entire percussion section would smoke up before showtime, but on balance I have noticed an inverse correlation between inebriated rehearsals and gigs booked.

 

[selowitch]

There are several obvious cases: If you’re in recovery, you probably don’t want to be around people who are actively using. Likewise, if you dislike cigarette smoke you shouldn’t be in a band that does a lot of smoking.

 

[Ric5]

and honestly...it was great! Jammed 3 original tunes, had less than 36 hrs prep time. Everyone had their head in the right mindset (goal oriented, focused, driven, ect.) Plus they were around my age group and had relatable conversation. However, there was pretty excessive alcohol use, Marijuana and one of the guys wasn't employed. I mean he could be down on his luck, he was a great dude, but the substance abuse...first impressions go both ways just the same as a job interview. Should I stick it out, or duck out now?

For context: the previous bass player was a childhood friend who is having a baby and won't be returning, so they've begun their search for a replacement.

I quit my last band because the guitar player got sloppy drunk every rehearsal

 

[Chicken Wing]

I'd be out.

 

[Panek]

Should I stick it out, or duck out now?

Hell yeah man, stick it out! Sounds like fun