"I had a good time jamming with them."

Says it all. Besides, if you're like any of us, you have some family around. Chances are at least one doesn't agree with your politics. You can't escape it. Don't let that stop you from having fun.

If it stops being fun, quit. It isn't a marriage you know.

Serenarules

If it stops being fun, quit. It isn't a marriage you know.

... or want to be in!

sharke
My only worry about joining a band now - and it's been almost 15 years - is perhaps damaging my ears. I hate to say it but I'd be pricing out those fancy fitted earplugs.

I have the same concern. The guitarist was wearing earplugs for last week's practice. I hate playing with earplugs! It throws off your ability to gauge balance and tone and significantly degrades the overall experience. But at my age the last thing I want is to accelerate my hearing loss.
 
If anybody has experiences with earplugs on stage, I'd sure like to hear about them. I know there are products that claim to not warp frequency perception too badly, but they're rather expensive.
 
[EDIT]
I found this great document regarding musicians' ear protectors. Worth a read if you're thinking about starting to use them, or re-evaluating the ones you currently use. I now understand why I've hated earplugs in the past, and how I can get much better results by spending just a little bit more on them. The author places tiny microphones close to the eardrum to measure sound levels and frequency response. He determined that even a solo violinist needs protection to avoid music-induced hearing loss while practicing! Holy crap, what does that say about the rest of us?

These earplugs claim to be "high fidelity" and are only $25 for the universal fit ones....
 
http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/er20xs-uf.html
 
Or there's these cheaper ones on Amazon which seem to get good reviews:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Ety...Earplugs/dp/B0044DEESS
 
And then there are these for $40
 
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-EAR-M1M?src=Y0802G00SRCHCAPN&gclid=CIiBnr7zqcsCFQZkhgod9bkJpw
 
 

Wow! Even I. Old and decreped as I Am got a call to go play with a band yesterday. It was from a drummer I did a gig with 3 years ago. He couldn't understand a word I said to him. I tried to tell him I required a nurse, probably an intravenous hookup, a body sized dolly, transportation, coffee, and a pick, depending on what style music they played. After I tried to tell him all that he said "Great! I'll get back with you." And hung up.  I don't know for Shure but I may be in a band and retired before I got started .....somehow 

sharke
These earplugs claim to be "high fidelity" and are only $25 for the universal fit ones....
http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/er20xs-uf.html

Just ordered these. $28.89 with shipping (why the hell does it cost $6.50 to ship a pair of earplugs via standard mail???).
 
Crossing my fingers that they fit, as I've had trouble with IEMs that were too large. Small ear canal, apparently. Maybe that's why my high-frequency hearing is still good for my age.
 
Just occurred to me that this band is so far a money-losing proposition, between gas to drive to rehearsals and now this purchase. The gigs had better pay well.
 

what type of music?  Portland has a pretty thriving (paying) musician economy.  You have to be very good, especially if it's jazz, lots of competition.

bitflipper

sharke
These earplugs claim to be "high fidelity" and are only $25 for the universal fit ones....
http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/er20xs-uf.html

Just ordered these. $28.89 with shipping (why the hell does it cost $6.50 to ship a pair of earplugs via standard mail???).
 
Crossing my fingers that they fit, as I've had trouble with IEMs that were too large. Small ear canal, apparently. Maybe that's why my high-frequency hearing is still good for my age.
 
Just occurred to me that this band is so far a money-losing proposition, between gas to drive to rehearsals and now this purchase. The gigs had better pay well.

I think as long as they aren't made in Asia you'll be fine....I once read, for example,  that the reason why so many people in the West have trouble with ear buds fitting is because many of them were designed for Asian ears. Personally I have never found a set of ear buds that stayed in my ears. Even when they come with a few different sizes none of them work out for me. I spend the whole time screwing them back in and then feeling the bass get weaker as they start edging their way out again...mind you, ear plugs are different. They're generally designed to expand in the ears to create a snug fit. 

Be thankful. Some people do not get the luxury. Like me, living in the middle of the woods.

bitflipper

sharke
These earplugs claim to be "high fidelity" and are only $25 for the universal fit ones....
http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/er20xs-uf.html

Just ordered these. $28.89 with shipping (why the hell does it cost $6.50 to ship a pair of earplugs via standard mail???).
 
Crossing my fingers that they fit, as I've had trouble with IEMs that were too large. Small ear canal, apparently. Maybe that's why my high-frequency hearing is still good for my age.
 
Just occurred to me that this band is so far a money-losing proposition, between gas to drive to rehearsals and now this purchase. The gigs had better pay well.
 

Good Lord ...how loud do these people play ?
Dang for 3 bucks I would have gone to Wally World and picked up a pack of ear plugs for the shooting range ..
the orange soft squishy ones that will fit any sized ear ...
if that didn't cut it I would seriously consider a game of blindfolded William Tell at the shooting range w a couple of the loudest band members 
Kenny