Len_derby Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) I’m hoping to call on the experience of the great Basschat collective. The drummer in my covers band is very close to being accepted on to a policing degree course at the local university. It’s a dream-come-true for her and she only has to pass the physical test now. She’s 19, a drummer and milks cows for a living so I don’t think there’s much worry about passing that! From what I understand, once she has enrolled next March she will be regularly out training ‘on the job’ for part of the week, in uniform, with experienced officers. Consequently, she feels unable to commit to gigs after the March date because she doesn’t know which weekends she’ll be expected to work. Luckily, we have a deputy drummer lined up, especially as we are getting booking for post-March 2022. My question to anybody with relevant experience is, will she ever really be able to commit to gigs in the future? My two concerns are; would any officer know what their shift pattern will be in say 3 months time? Also, the risk of being called in at short-notice to cover staff shortages or major incidents/operations. She’s a great drummer and we’d love to keep her but I’m pessimistic about her ability to juggle it along with being in the police service. Wise thoughts and personal experience please! Edited November 11, 2021 by Len_derby Clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 No experience at all. Sounds like an honest conversation needs to take place. I would have the same doubts that you express, and the same pessimism. Good luck to her for her career choice. We need them more than drummers, it has to be said. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 1 minute ago, Steve Browning said: No experience at all. Sounds like an honest conversation needs to take place. I would have the same doubts that you express, and the same pessimism. Good luck to her for her career choice. We need them more than drummers, it has to be said. Cheers Steve. Luckily, as a band we’re pretty open in discussions. She’s very much ok with the dep idea. I think that over time, by default, she’ll become a non-active member of the band and we will recruit a replacement. As I said, it’s her dream to be in the police and we’re all happy for her. No dramatic sacking necessary. But wouldn’t it be great if we could make it work? Borrowing a ‘works van’ for the weekend - our parking and load-in worries would be over! 😆 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I would imagine the job comes first and shift patterns will be a reality. Finding a couple of good deps would be my suggestion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Can't help but my singer is depping tomorrow for a band who's vocalist us a police officer! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) Had a drummer previously in CID and the guitarist was a PC, never had any issues other than arranging practice/gigs around known shifts. Edited November 11, 2021 by Machines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) Allo, allo, allo, allo. Wots goin on ere then? No idea I’m afraid, I just wanted to say that. Surely it would be the same with anyone working shifts? Edited November 11, 2021 by ambient 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Shifts will definitely be a reality. From memory when my wife worked for the police, it was 2 early shifts, 2 late, 2 nights followed by 4 days off. It was pretty-much set in stone at least 12 months in advance, so diary management wasn't too much of an issue. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Shift working is not unique to the police. I've played in bands with doctors, retail and maintenance workers, all of who worked shifts. It can occasionally limit the band's ability to take last minute bookings, but it's not an insurmountable problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 My first band included three Lloyds Bank computer operators. It ended badly... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 3 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said: My first band included three Lloyds Bank computer operators. It ended badly... At Blackfriars Bridge? I stopped gigging when I started IT shift work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 3 minutes ago, chris_b said: At Blackfriars Bridge? I stopped gigging when I started IT shift work. Indeed! 1978-79... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Just tell her - can't stand losing you. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) Mrs Bassfinger was a copper, and had worked into CID and Major Crime before becoming ill and prematurely retiring. She still used to find time to run a Brownies group, go to piano lessons, etc. Just takes a little planning, is all, like any shift worker. Having said that, shes now head of year at a very large school, doesn't work shifts, earns more, does shorter hours, never does nights or weekends, isn't likely to be assaulted, so on reflection she feels that leaving ultimately worked to her benefit. The good news is your lass is statistically unlikely to be there for long. Turnover is so dire now that the level of service for the average police officer is now barely 5 years. Fair play to her though - I wouldn't do their job for 4 times what they get paid, and we're lucky to have people like your friend who are willing to make so many sacrifies to do something worthwhile. Fingers crossed it works out well for her. Edited November 11, 2021 by Bassfinger Tupingns wknfjoor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I know a drummer who is a a copper. He doesn't have any problems making gigs, as far as I can tell. Although he is a Chief Superintendent and the divisional commander for Edinburgh. He probably makes up his own shifts 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Core shift, she'll be up against it, a little. Once you get your 2yr probation out of the way you can specialise. It's easier on departments but frontline 999, either the band works around your availability or you get deps. Being a probationer, she'll need to get experience so there will be changes but she'll have an idea on availability. Once she is properly in, you'll have an idea of her shift pattern - that'd be the best time to have that conversation as realistically she won't know beforehand. In the nicest possible way, things change all the time and every force is different. There aren't a lot of 8-4 type jobs in the police but they do exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Probably means no more cheeky spliffs before the gig 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 10 minutes ago, MacDaddy said: Probably means no more cheeky spliffs before the gig 😉 When I first joined (what was then) Customs and Excise I was told about the Friday afternoon sessions drinking the seized booze while watching the seized films. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 15 minutes ago, MacDaddy said: Probably means no more cheeky spliffs before the gig 😉 Similar to what I was thinking....... What is the policy for such as the OP's drummer if for example someone in the support band is smoking weed during the load in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 32 minutes ago, MacDaddy said: Probably means no more cheeky spliffs before the gig 😉 Many years ago we had a Sunday night residency in a local pub. They also did a lock in after. I thought we were being raided when a dozen coppers came in via the back door. They'd just come in for their regular nightly beer!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Nail Soup said: Similar to what I was thinking....... What is the policy for such as the OP's drummer if for example someone in the support band is smoking weed during the load in? Luckily we’re a ‘clean’ band, certainly when on gigs or rehearsals, so it won’t be an issue. However, we did have a guitarist who regularly drove himself home after drinking. He’s gone now, so that dilemma has been avoided. As for what another band are doing, I don’t know. Surely even a seasoned copper can’t get involved with every misdemeanour they see while off-duty? Maybe what to do and when to do it is part of the training. I dunno, I’m definitely not one of life’s policemen. Edited November 11, 2021 by Len_derby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I was in a band with a Detective Sergeant on drums for a couple of years. It isn't the shifts that is the problem, you can plan around those. It is the unforeseen, totally unpredictable, last minute 'having to stay on duty' stuff where the officer gets sent to a job towards the end of the shift and can't be relieved. Unless you are unlucky it doesn't happen very often but when it does happen there is nothing that can be done about it. Having deps lined up that can manage last minute availability would be the only way forward. In our case she quit the band because she felt she was holding us back, which was a shame as she was a good drummer and a great laugh. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Edge Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Not police, but I had a drummer who was in the regular army. Well I say regular, he was a drummer in the Life Guards band. Never missed any gigs, even on the queens birthday. He liked a drink too, but fortunately that never affected his playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, Cat Burrito said: Core shift, she'll be up against it, a little. Once you get your 2yr probation out of the way you can specialise. It's easier on departments but frontline 999, either the band works around your availability or you get deps. Being a probationer, she'll need to get experience so there will be changes but she'll have an idea on availability. Once she is properly in, you'll have an idea of her shift pattern - that'd be the best time to have that conversation as realistically she won't know beforehand. In the nicest possible way, things change all the time and every force is different. There aren't a lot of 8-4 type jobs in the police but they do exist. Theres nothing in regulations that requires an officer to be confirmed in rank prior to specialising, and while not especially widespread it is becoming more common. (Source, Mrs Bassfinger, ex Major crime T/DCI, who still has a brother and a sister in the job). Its not so unusual now to see bobbies with a particular aptitude moving into other roles, CID in particular, well before being confirmed. Thanks the the Cabbage of Policing its now not possible to scratch your arriss and pass wind without being a qualified D, and this is causing a serious shortage of candidates in roles such as collision investigation, etc. Several forces are now taking officers straight into CID, although this didn't start well with the pilot when every single one of the Met's officers on the first intake, all 43 of them, failed the phyisical on the first day... I did briefly consider it when I left the Army, but I decided to buckle down and belatedly sort my eduction out instead. Edited November 11, 2021 by Bassfinger 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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