Musicians and the Environment

[THOA]

There have been plenty of news and articles coming about recently about global warming, and how it is directly and indirectly affecting us. We see how drastic climate changes and the need for fuel resources are driving basic neccessities short and prices up.

There have also been plenty of drive for awareness on how we can take steps to improve this. As musicians, we speak the language of music, so we use music to spread the message of awareness through holding massive concerts, writing songs, celevbrity musicians endorsing environmentally friendly organisations, products, companies etc.

But all the message spreading comes to naught if we don't accompany it with action. So I want to pose this question to fellow Softies:

As musicians, any suggestions on what steps we can take to help the ailing planet? I am talking really in the musician sense of things, like:

- turn off your amp/studio equipment when not in use.

- recycling old/broken guitar strings, string packets, 9v batteries, drumsticks etc

- using alternative amps like PODs through headsets, micro amps, battery powered amps etc Purely for practice

- reducing the use of amps altogether and practice unplugged more

- buying second hand goods off the buy/sell forum, heh :mrgreen:

- reducing the use of paper for publicity materials/tickets etc for gigs.

- not littering at gig/concert venues

... and the list goes on.

Your thoughts, please.

 

[doggieshaman]

welllllll.... how many more trees die each year from unnecessary paperwork from government organisations than all the guitars made in the world altogether in the same period of time?

but then again, those power conserving things are really something we ought to be looking out for... everytime I go to studios the amps seem to always be on "standby" or simply have their master volumes turned down for the ultimate convenience of "avoid having to press the on switch again". Which raeally waste alot of electricity as well, so I agree with you on that!

haha i am curious though what can you recycle strings for? and string packets can't actually fit anything else yaknow

 

[THOA]

Lol, I am not looking to argue about how many trees are cut down to make guitars and all that. Those are things beyond our control. We can go as far as boycotting, but would you not want a Gibson if the opportunity arises?

I am talking more about the little things; the things we CAN do... as musicians.

And recycling doesn't have to mean taking something and using it for something else. It could just mean collecting them into a substantial amount and sending them to recycling plants, or sell to karang guni for kachings $$

And out of total coincidence, I went to Subversion's blog and saw his entry about collecting guitar string packets for recycling.

Yes, that's a pretty good idea to turn off the amps in jamming studios when you KNOW noone is gonna be using that studio after you.

 

[subversion]

- recycling old/broken guitar strings, string packets, 9v batteries, drumsticks etc...

had been thinking about environmantal issues/ recycling myself: http://theguitaraddict.blogspot.com/2008/06/environmental-guitarist.html

 

[Aki S. Ian]

sub
thoa just said
"And out of total coincidence, I went to Subversion's blog and saw his entry about collecting guitar string packets for recycling."

hmm, well, this may sound cheapskate.

but me and my band dont really go to jamming studio unless we really have to? we stick to acoustic under the block routine. the drummer doing air drums.

we dont usually change our strings unless the string breaks..

we dont buy stuff we dont really need, we share our gears whenever we can..

does that count as conserving, and reduction?

 

[wylde]

hmm...your drummer does air drums? studios these days are quite affordable right?
And what if the strings are very rusty?do you guys stiill wait for it to break then change it?
just asking

 

[subversion]

sub
thoa just said
"And out of total coincidence, I went to Subversion's blog and saw his entry about collecting guitar string packets for recycling."

yup- not saying i'm not aware/ didn't note, but just providing a direct link.

on another note... anyone here knows which organization accepts used string/ have any use for used strings?

i asked the karung guni man the other day whether he accepts these used metal- he has no market for it...

 

[subversion]

And what if the strings are very rusty?do you guys stiill wait for it to break then change it?
just asking

string breakage isn't the exclusive legitimate reason to replace strings, they should be replaced promptly IMO; imagine getting cut by them...

 

[sshaz-ni]

Good way in raising one's awareness. Respect.
All mortal beings will die eventually. What matters most is what one did to help other beings and the environment in this case, before perish.

I sense a lot of positivity from the thread starter. Ups.

 

[wylde]

string breakage isn't the exclusive legitimate reason to replace strings, they should be replaced promptly IMO; imagine getting cut by them...

so you see Aki S.Ian..
you have to change the strings when they are rusty..i always have spare strings.be it for gigs or jamming... if my strings have slight rust,i would change them.
you can`t be risking cutting your fingers to stop global warming now,right?haha

 

[Aki S. Ian]

haha but you see, me and the guys all use NYLON strings..
and yes the drummer air drums. he doesnt really care much. he just plans his move theorically in his mind and put it into action when comes the time at the studio.

true, jamming studios are affordable nowadays.
and we are working adults.
but we dont really see the need to go to jamming studios.
unless we are trying to coordinate our tone. (to see if it blends)

plus this thread is about going green.
and i am doing my part.
like i said call me cheap if you want. but i am doing my part

 

[THOA]

on another note... anyone here knows which organization accepts used string/ have any use for used strings?

i asked the karung guni man the other day whether he accepts these used metal- he has no market for it...

I was wondering about that myself. Will let you know if I can find any.

Problem with karang guni is that they will only take stuff that they themselves can make money from. They are not really doing it for the environment, although their job helps in a way. Metal nowadays are pretty cheap, so it's hard to make a profit out of it.

Hey, maybe we can start something? Collect old strings for recycling, use Soft as the platform and if the press covers this, Soft and the local music scene can get some well deserved publicity?

 

[THOA]

Here's something that may be of interest:

http://www.recyclingpoint.com.sg/

"It currently collects waste papers, used computers, used printers, used printed circuit boards, used original empty toner cartridges, used carpets, used office furniture, used office chairs, used air-conditional units, used computers, used refrigerators, used washing machines, used shoes, used Nyatoh doors, and used metal & wire scraps for recycling."

 

[Aki S. Ian]

hmm oh well, back in my old workplace it wasnt really an issue for recycling.
since we recycle almost everything...

 

[kdash]

Metal nowadays are pretty cheap, so it's hard to make a profit out of it.

hmm actually i beg to differ. being in the construction industry, i can say that metal prices are going skyhigh. construction companies dealing with metalworks are making losses and have to cut costs to stay competitive. there are even spates of cases where people steal metal railings, gratings etc to sell.

but that's besides the point. i think this is a great initiative, and we should all do our part to save the environment whenever we can

 

[fgl]

I KNOW!

recycle your set lists .. RG is guilty of changing set lists every gig - 3 pages per gig according to set X 6 members ...

....

U guys do print out set list dont cha?

 

[Donaldsps]

I KNOW!

recycle your set lists .. RG is guilty of changing set lists every gig - 3 pages per gig according to set X 6 members ...

....

U guys do print out set list dont cha?

There are bands that uses post it pads as their set lists.

 

[Donaldsps]

I rember last year I was at Earshot Cafe for Allura's first acoustic set and they were selling their mechs and shirts and they uses used magazines pages as their wrapping and packaging for the tshirts,instead of plastic bags.

 

[THOA]

hmm actually i beg to differ. being in the construction industry, i can say that metal prices are going skyhigh.

Really? Hmm.. I had a misconception then, owing to the fact that COPPER from stripped wires fetches a higher price than iron when selling to the karang guni, heh.

I wish that:

1) I can be a regular at soft gatherings (so far have to give them a miss cos I work on Saturdays till 6 pm :?)

2) Have license and transportation of my own (so that all the collected recyclables can be transported)

cos that is probably a good opportunity to gather those strings, package, drumsticks etc into a convenient bulk for disposal.

 

[THOA]

I KNOW!

recycle your set lists .. RG is guilty of changing set lists every gig - 3 pages per gig according to set X 6 members ...

Wah! That's alot sia, lol.