The dude that borrows my stuff

  • Thread starter Thread starter MartyMcFly
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You know I am with you fully here. I like to think of myself as a nice guy, and I do what I can to lend a hand. But when it gets to a point that the only time I see certain folks is when they need something, I put my foot down. More than once I have had to say "dude you only call me when your computer is broken." or the"you only stop over to jam when you need new strings put on".
It's alarming that when I say this to these certain folks.... I get zero phone calls or stops from them. sort of clears up the value of friendship doesnt it? In a way it is sad to loose the friends, but then again were they actually friends?

There are three types of friends in the world...

1: those who are your friend as long as they gain from it. (loans, leech,repair)

2: those who scratch your back if you scratch theirs. (common pals that help one another).

3: he who would sincerly do anything for and with you. This is the rare gift we can call a true friend.
 
I love the loan process with people I trust. Items on loan: Rode NT2, Delta Omni 66, Octava MK-219, JBL M1 mains. Stuff Im borrowing: Handmade Spirit Acoustic (big bucks), Parker Fly, Roland jazz chorus. Stuff I wish my tightwad pal with too much money to blow would let me borrow: API 3124, Assorted Summitt pres, Avalon 737. You get the idea.


Justin
 
Of course it really boils down to what it is you're loaning and who you are loaning it to. If it was a Behringer 'something-or-rather', provided I knew the person wasn't a total dick, then probably okay. The other aspect is it only once or twice? If they are calling up every weekend to borrow something then it 's time to suggest the get their own.

As for my mics, unless we're talking Radio Shack gear then DON'T ASK unless you want to HIRE ME along with them!

Even people I trust don't get my Neumann unless I'm attached to it. Accidents can and do happen and having someone return a $3000 Neumann with a blown capsule saying... "Sorry man. There's something wrong your mic!"

Having them tell you they 'll pay to get it repaired is worth nothing when you tell them it's going to cost a $1000 to get the capsule rebuilt and they say... "You've GOT to be kidding!!"

In the end they offer maybe $50 and then wind up telling you to get fucked! So "NO!"... I don't loan my mics!

The same goes for my Neve 3115 and several other bits of gear that are either bordering on 'the irreplaceable' or would cost more than I would care to think about.

I had a guy wanting to 'borrow' my Neumann U77 to record his garage band over a weekend. These guys were a bunch of 'drug-fucked-unemployed-alcoholics' without their own transport who either have their girlfriends support them or live in shared rental squalor and always skip when the bills mount up.

When I said "Sure!... Just hand me over $3000 as a security deposit!"... He thought I was the biggest asshole on earth.

I've been in this situation with people like this before they couldn't give a stuff about anything or anyone else as long as they can get stoned, pissed and layed.

Hmmm.... come to think of it! ;)
 
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open your own rent an instrument business

I haven't tried this for anything in the music business, but when I worked construction this worked like a charm. Make yourself out to be very serious that yes, you are running a business now and you must charge a fee :). While your talking whip out the old invoice book...maybe even make up a price list for the guy, so when he coes over, there are no misconceptions.

>>>1: those who are your friend as long as they gain from it. (loans, leech,repair)

2: those who scratch your back if you scratch theirs. (common pals that help one another).

3: he who would sincerly do anything for and with you. This is the rare gift we can call a true friend.<<<

Well put. Where in there do stick the people you merely call "aquaintances" :D.

I'm no miser, and would certainly help out a friend in need...hehe. But some people have absolutely no respect in that regard, they just wanna borrow everything, and don't make an honest effort to obtain it themselves. Usually these kind of people spout lines of "ooo things are too exspensive"...and "ooo that costs too much"...and "ooo I don't make enough"...then I usually say "So when the fuck does that become MY problem?!?!?!"...I hate whiny people :D....
 
It's pretty easy for me.

I don't have any friends, so that takes care of that. :D :D :D


That was just a joke, by the way
 
mmm....

I've got two good friends I loan to...
I know they know how I like my stuff treated...

Everyone else knows not to ask...
 
I have three very good friends who really don't even have to ask, but they do out of courtesy. It goes both ways. We all swap gear around.
Anyone else, well, it depends on what they want and who they are. ;)

Basically, if you are not comfortable with your current arrangement, do something about it.
 
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