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So I auditioned for a band today...
- Thread starter Brich
- Start date
Didn't read all the posts, but my thoughts are as follows:
1) Only you know whether you are comfortable with alcohol and drug use, and at what level. Personally, I don't give a rip about either of those things, what I care about is focus, ability, control and creativity. And interpersonal ability. I've been in bands where the smoke was thick and the beer cans deep, but everyone maintained control and didn't let it dominate. I've also been in bands with raging alcoholics who turned into different (bad) people and ruined everything every time they had a drink, to the extent that we had to move rehearsals to a school and ban drinking, and when that didn't work, fired them. FWIW I've also been in bands with both sober and really high people who sucked. And both sober and really high people who were great.
2) Keep in mind that if they are that liberal with alcohol and drugs at your first practice, you probably haven't seen the real level. That could be a red flag, or at least an orange one. I realize weed is legal in many places (like here in CA), and as I said above, I am completely cool with it. That said, I think respectful people would feel you out on your comfort level before turning the rehearsal into a scene from Pineapple Express. For example, the drummer in our band is an ambulance driver, and she is routinely drug tested. If I started blowing hits around her head, it could have real-world repercussions.
3) I don't think it's appropriate to make any judgment about someone being unemployed, especially if you don't know the story. People lose their jobs. People can't work for whatever reasons. Some people have to take care of kids, grandparents, whatever. Don't be judgey.
1) Only you know whether you are comfortable with alcohol and drug use, and at what level. Personally, I don't give a rip about either of those things, what I care about is focus, ability, control and creativity. And interpersonal ability. I've been in bands where the smoke was thick and the beer cans deep, but everyone maintained control and didn't let it dominate. I've also been in bands with raging alcoholics who turned into different (bad) people and ruined everything every time they had a drink, to the extent that we had to move rehearsals to a school and ban drinking, and when that didn't work, fired them. FWIW I've also been in bands with both sober and really high people who sucked. And both sober and really high people who were great.
2) Keep in mind that if they are that liberal with alcohol and drugs at your first practice, you probably haven't seen the real level. That could be a red flag, or at least an orange one. I realize weed is legal in many places (like here in CA), and as I said above, I am completely cool with it. That said, I think respectful people would feel you out on your comfort level before turning the rehearsal into a scene from Pineapple Express. For example, the drummer in our band is an ambulance driver, and she is routinely drug tested. If I started blowing hits around her head, it could have real-world repercussions.
3) I don't think it's appropriate to make any judgment about someone being unemployed, especially if you don't know the story. People lose their jobs. People can't work for whatever reasons. Some people have to take care of kids, grandparents, whatever. Don't be judgey.
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I was in a band with a guy who played some of the most inspired licks I have ever heard.....when he wasn't so drunk he couldn't stand. Great guy......but yes, it can be a real problem. Good luck....it could be worth a try if you click as musicians.....maybe no one is out of control.
"...However, there was pretty excessive alcohol use, Marijuana..." In my experience, this really limits the effectiveness of a rehearsal. In my band, the lead singer smokes weed, and I'm fine with it normally however there were a few practices where it did affect the productivity of the rehearsal.
The fact that you are questioning it now, tells me that long term it probably won't work.
Good Luck either way!
Not necessarily. While we never were horrible with these things in rehearsals, it was always important to us during auditions that our prospective members understood who we are so that they'd be comfortable with us moving forward. We'd had a couple of recovering alcoholics audition and we knew that was not going to be a good fit, so after that experience we made sure everyone knew there was probably going to be beer or wine there. No one "held back" to be on their best behavior because there was nothing to hold; our behavior was never bad. The fact that you see one or two beers doesn't imply you're going to see four or five beers later.
Fair enough, but IME it often does. In my current band, we started with coffee and now each have 2-3 beers. Totally manageable, but definitely more than coffee. I think if I knew a recovering alcoholic was auditioning, I would communicate openly in the same way, though.
I'd for sure be on the lookout for signs of excessive use on the first audition. People with an alcohol problem aren't going to control it just because there are strangers in the room.
Side take is that the people w/ the most substance problems tend to make the coolest music/riffs/lyrics/whatever in my experience. Now getting to show up is another thing, but for me, especially vocalists, the more jacked up they are the better they perform. Not for everyone obviously.
If it’s a party, then party.
If it’s a jam, then have some fun - as long as the music stays good. I’m not too keen on that personally. But that’s me. So again, if the music stays good then I suppose there’s no harm done.
If it’s an audition or rehearsal then show some class, take it seriously, and hold off on indulging in your little delicacies until after the work of the evening is finished.
If it’s a jam, then have some fun - as long as the music stays good. I’m not too keen on that personally. But that’s me. So again, if the music stays good then I suppose there’s no harm done.
If it’s an audition or rehearsal then show some class, take it seriously, and hold off on indulging in your little delicacies until after the work of the evening is finished.
So you had a great time, all the band members had their head in the game, apparently despite the "excessive" alcohol use and the pot smoking....
If the problem is with the consumption of alcohol and weed, at any level, then pass up the opportunity to play with them, but surely they couldn't have been wiped out if they "had their heads in the game" and had been organized enough to provide you with a song list, charts, or whatever so you could prep for the audition. They don't sound like a disorganized bunch of stoners and drunks to me. Maybe play a couple of rehearsals with them and then decide?
If the problem is with the consumption of alcohol and weed, at any level, then pass up the opportunity to play with them, but surely they couldn't have been wiped out if they "had their heads in the game" and had been organized enough to provide you with a song list, charts, or whatever so you could prep for the audition. They don't sound like a disorganized bunch of stoners and drunks to me. Maybe play a couple of rehearsals with them and then decide?
Man... if I judged MUSICIANS on whether or not they were EMPLOYED I'd have hardly ever worked with anyone at all. Ever.
A TON of the greatest, most dedicated musicians I've worked with/for were unemployed at the time. Life happens, but also don't forget how many people actually CHOOSE to be starving artists.... and that often will make them more serious about the band, not less reliable. At least here in Canada, musicians willing to be single and live in crap conditions can often find ways to live in assisted housing and get by fine, while dedicating their lives to their art. It's a choice for many. And for many others, it's NOT a choice - jobs get lost. Life happens.
I too was unemployed through much of my career as a full time musicians. I WAS employed - but not by an employer. I got cash or private cheques frequently from my music work and paid the bills that way.
A TON of the greatest, most dedicated musicians I've worked with/for were unemployed at the time. Life happens, but also don't forget how many people actually CHOOSE to be starving artists.... and that often will make them more serious about the band, not less reliable. At least here in Canada, musicians willing to be single and live in crap conditions can often find ways to live in assisted housing and get by fine, while dedicating their lives to their art. It's a choice for many. And for many others, it's NOT a choice - jobs get lost. Life happens.
I too was unemployed through much of my career as a full time musicians. I WAS employed - but not by an employer. I got cash or private cheques frequently from my music work and paid the bills that way.
Might be more true with alcohol than weed, but I hear you. However, I've been around enough alcoholics to know that, due to something in their physiology, they tend to change dramatically even with a couple of drinks. So to me, the issue is less about excess and more about how people mix with alcohol. That said, no one can play well IME if they've had way too much to drink, due to impaired motor skills. Weed is a harder thing - some tend to forget everything when high, but the real stoners *remember* everything when high, because they were high when they learned it!
I think it largely depends on if you would do those things too. It's not fun to be sober in a room full of people partying, and can be frustrating. But if you are joining in the fun then no issue.
To me its a matter of professionalism, as i feel like musicians who moderate their drugs and alcohol can be completely professional. I also one time switched off a guys amp in the middle of a show because he couldnt keep it together. Fyi, too wasted to notice for 5 songs, and he couldnt figure out what was wrong with it for the rest of the set. Or remember anything happened 10 minutes later.
I think it's fairly disrespectful to give credit to drugs for an art form that is uniquely African-American in roots.
I've been in 15 or so bands in my lifetime.
I have never had a problem with guys that did a doobie before a gig. However, alcohol has been the real killer IMO.
I have never had a problem with guys that did a doobie before a gig. However, alcohol has been the real killer IMO.
You're the only one bringing up race. Drugs have been used by musicians and artists of all colors shapes and sizes. You're welcome to feel disrespected by that being pointed out if you want to.. but you're making your own intent out of it. it's 2021.. over half the US has stopped demonizing marijuana. But.. okay..
I mean.. to each their own, but, the Grateful Dead were partying on stage every set. Some experiences likely a little more magical than others, and Jerry liked to lay down jazz licks.
Sometimes it comes with tragic ends but most of the biggest impacts in music history probably started with some dudes who enjoyed getting high and playing music.
It's not for everybody.. but it's not uncharted territory.
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Jazz was invented by African-Americans. Why does a historical fact make you uncomfortable?
I'm not African-American, so I don't "feel" disrespected. I also don't go around reducing an entire body of cultural work to the use of a substance, especially when that is exactly the sort of thing people did in the 1920s in an attempt to stop what was called "the Devil's Music"...and exactly the sort of attitude that prevailed in Germany during the 1930s.
Feel free to acknowledge that you probably shouldn't have said it, not knowing the history of the music, or go ahead and dig a deeper hole. Up to you.
