[Harp-L] Re: Hearing yourself

[William Jennings <will@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Exposure to toxic work environments is a significant, often down-played 
hazard.
Industrial jobs have long subjected workers to life-diminishing and 
deadly consequences.
People who fly for a living are exposed to elevated UV rays and toxic, 
recycled cabin air.
Lead, asbestos, radioactive elements, textile lint, coal & grain dust, 
mercury,
and second-hand tobacco smoke...

Helen Keller, after overcoming extreme personal adversity, studied the 
leading causes
of blindness for the demographics of her time. The poor & the working 
classes suffered
exponentially high rates due to a variety of environmental and 
socio-political reasons.
The gist of her argument was that something could be done to change 
those conditions
such that fewer people would suffer. She was widely denounced by the 
powers that be
for being too radical.

Musicians face situations that they often cannot control, especially 
when relying upon
constant exposure to venue-related, toxic environs. Smoke-free clubs, a 
very recent
phenomena, are quite welcomed by many of us for reasons other than 
surface concerns.
Sure, I hate the stink it puts in my hair and clothing. But I fear the 
hurt it puts on my
heart and lungs. I've survived two heart attacks with little long-term 
effect. I'm not
anxious to test the Rule of Three.

Exposure to sound pressure levels, either acute or chronic, that 
damages and diminishes
one's hearing is serious. It gets downplayed because, unlike macular 
degeneration of eyesight,
it's not immediately noticeable to its victim...Xerox toner phenomena 
(or frog-in-pot-of-water-brought-slowly-to-boil).
And, the demographic hits hardest at the young...the folks who tend to 
think they are bullet-proof.

Industrial noise damage is rampant in industries that exploit laborers 
desperate for work.
Next time you see roving landscaping crews, count how many of those 
running leaf blowers
are actually provided with ear plugs....

Musicians should take a cue from Helen Keller. The damage is not fickle 
in its
distribution...it hits hardest at those who have little choice and 
those who think
the choice is irrelevant or a matter of personal style.

Our band has had its share of arguments about stage volume. In the past 
15 years
we've worked with our share of stone-deaf sound people. We once walked 
off a stage
at a large, outdoor event because the stage monitor volume made us all 
feel as if we
had ice picks tickling our ear drums. They did get it right and we came 
back to audience
applause....

When you have the power to make a sane choice, make it.
And be grateful that your paycheck and your family's survival doesn't
hinge on you bartering off body parts and functions to put food on the 
table.

-wjj