@Daojoan as a previous yout myself, we never listen because it's never cool until you lose whatever you had, then you beg and bargin for a FRACTION of what you had.

Protect your health kiddos, once it's gone, it's gone.

@Daojoan I was on the drum line in high school. "Too hardcore for earplugs." Hearing damage healed in time, and my hearing is actually quite good, but I have hypersensitivity to high-pitched sounds as a byproduct.

Also messed up my left wrist playing traditional grip

@Daojoan

I was fucked from the beginning, grew up around chainsaws and brush chippers. You can't screw up your ears at basement shows if your ears are already screwed up.

But seriously, for the sake of your future SOs wear some ear pro

@Daojoan

Here’s my take (the earplug advice bears out the drummer's point): People hear the saying, “Free advice is worth what you pay for it.” But the long version is “Free advice may be very valuable, but people often mistakenly gauge it’s value by what they pay for it.” Sometimes, we might dismiss good advice just because it didn't come with a price tag, overlooking its true worth.

Sorry, I was never a roady.

@Daojoan i got serious about ear plugs in my early 20s playing in bands and am lucky i did.

eventually i started being the "dad" that brought a jar of free ear plugs to all the shows we played.

some people did turn them down but many took them when offered.

@Daojoan Am reminded of that time I was going to an industrial music festival in a German bunker - the folks I was visiting all pulled out their custom earplugs and were very worried that I didn't have anything. But were relieved when I pulled out cheap foam earplugs.

My adulting todo: get custom earplugs

No clue how you do that, actually.

#maschinenfest

@Daojoan this!

I had been playing in metal, punk, and hardcore bands for a number of years before finally wearing ear plugs. They were good in-ear shooting-range devices. But by that time it was too late. I have tinnitus, which is a horrible thing to live with.

@Daojoan

Look for classical musician's earplugs. :D

They're designed to still let you hear the sounds, but reduce the level of impact on your eardrums.

Yes, the earplugs cost more as they are bespoke, but it's the same for all safety equipment. :D

The one thing that you should never skimp on, is the quality of safety equipment!

Get the best quality that you can afford!

Make no mistake, earplugs are safety protection for your ears. :D

@Daojoan
Anything that would have made you more likely to listen?

I can only imagine them giving you earplugs and telling you to wear them constantly for a few days.

Anything less is talking to a brick wall since the information (wear earplugs) isn’t accessible in that format (lectured by adults).

@Daojoan haha 22 year old me put on ear protection, when working next to a cherry stone cleaner drum at a confiture factory, but didn't wear it when cleaning, because the safety supervisors were not there anymore.

that machine is as loud as an airplane. and it really messed up my hearing...

@Daojoan

I offer the same advice to new motorcyclists. It's amazing how much damage wind noise in your helmet does. When I was young earplugs were only for weirdos. I wish I'd used them every ride.

They don't block noises you need to hear, just the incessant wind.