Poaching Players

What are the members views on Poaching of players?

Is it legal, within RSPBA rules that is,#

Is it ethical, if so, when, close season etc,

What really constitutes poaching? for example, does the line ' if you fancy a change take a race down to us' is that a poach?

What about 'come to us and we'll give you drink and sexual favours' haha, or any other inducement, i think thats a definite, but is it wrong?

How far can, or should a band go to get the players they want or need?

I know one man, who was PM of a band walking off the circle, and was asked to come to another band, bit much that!

I have an ulterior motive, as I would like to know views, and I will tell a story that has happened to me, and has caused a bit of grief

I think it is the choice of the individual i.e personal preference whether they go to the other band or not. If they are happy in the band they are in then they wont move. How I see it is this, the band is not living that person's life, it is not that person's bread and butter and not breathing that person's oxygen so therefore it is the decision of the individual what they do in life and which band they play for. I would say it is wrong in the way you put it 'come to us and we'll give you a drink, etc' but as I say it is up to the individual to make the decision.

Well I personally don't think anybody is poached. You can twist their ear a little but at the end of the day they make the decision to go.

When I played for Bucksburn and District, Peter played for Tayside Police and they were at me to join them. Everything they said made sense... i.e. it would save on travelling, They are nearer to home etc. I actually left the day of the Scottish after I competed and joined Tayside Police maybe a bit cruel but hey. LoL

I have also done "the poaching" myself. One of my solo tenors I took for lessons in and outwith Arbroath Pipe Band (my old band who I taught in the past) had been competing with them for 8 years and I had seen how she was progressing and basically thought she was a big fish in a small pond. I called her up one night and asked her to come to Tayside which she did and is now playing in grade 1. But I have lost a few friends in Arbroath through it but hey life goes on eh.

I agree with most of what has been said, unless someone is totally desperate, surely as stated the final decision is up to the individual, If someone is happy in a band, they would not consider a move.
Whilst i suppose there is always the one that thinks they are better than anyone else, and will go anywhere for a few bob, a case "have Pipes/drum will travel"

Its a never ending question.
You dont get a salary from piping or drumming so i think its up to the individuals needs.
If there are talented young players in lower grade bands who dont know any better than the band they are in i.e thats all they see and dont know how to make the jump then perhaps they are doing the player a favour !!! its a natural progression and i have never agreed with the we have spent the time tutoring them, the player has spent far more time practising and i feel thats what has made the player better, ime not talking about G3 - G1 here its mainly the Gala bands to bottom of G4 jsut my thinking warped though it is !!

hey....it's just life. Might not seem nice....but that's the way it is.

It doesn't just happen in the pipe band world it happens all over.

I have been asked to quit my job and move to private sector jobs on several occasions and although I never made the jump I have many colleagues who have. I have heard other colleagues refer to these individuals as disloyal.....or whatever.....but in the end it's all about about quality of life for yourself and your family...and that's true whether it's a hobby or a career.

I have to confess however that's as maybe in the modern era, but I do have qualms about it. In days of yore, people stayed in pipe bands not only for years but for decades and it's something to look back upon as the good old days.

Maybe it's something to do with changes in society as whole, I don't know....is it for the better.....I doubt it.

I look forward to the views of others.

Ballycoan are experts at tappin' players up m8, ask the wee fat man.

I agree that people will go to what ever band offers what they need.

I only consider it poaching if 1) they approach someone secretly and want it kept a secret for whatever reason. Particularly if it's a young person. Not ethical in my books. Or 2) Bands, in lower grades, who refuse to offer any form of beginner instruction but watch other bands then make secret negotiations to recruit players they think are good enough. But as True pointed put it's the way of the world and nothing that can be done about it.
I would imagine that G1 & 2 would always be on the lookout for players that fit their requirements or that they can mentor.

Redneck wrote:Ballycoan are experts at tappin' players up m8, ask the wee fat man.

Oh you wee bitch

Okay everyone, thanks for the thoughts,

My own view is that its OK to ask others to your band, if you think they're good enough, and that they would fit in.

We all seem to agree, that the final deal is down to the person asked, do they want a change,? and would it be right for them at that time?

For example, if Drumlough had asked Redneck to come to them 25 years ago, i don't think he would have left RAMS, so peoples needs and wants change.

Theres a saying in business, 'talent follows the money' so bands must provide the needs of the individual, at that moment in time, if you don't do it, you may lose players, they are not 'poached' , which impies illegality, they are 'ripe for picking',

As most of you know, I changed bands at Christmas,

Now, a player phoned me up, telling me a tale of woe, about being fed up with the travelling, (about an hour each way) having issues within the band with other players, having issues with perceived favouritism from the PM, some get a bollocking for missing practise, others don't, that sort of thing. The same story was told to another band member,(My Band)

They tell me they are thinking of leaving, and don't know what to, just a general series of moans. and capped of with the line about leaving the band.

What do I do? I tell them if they want, come to our practise, and see what they think, and if they like it, join the band.

I see no problem with that.

However, somehow it came back to their PM, ( I think cold feet occured) and he was not happy, to the extent that I seem to be classed as the Great Satan of the pipe band world.

A great pity in my opinion, i'll never know the truth of it, some people reckon it was a set up, i really have no idea, but it does tell me, and all of you, to be careful in dealing with things like this.

cheers

janelle wrote:I agree that people will go to what ever band offers what they need.

I only consider it poaching if 1) they approach someone secretly and want it kept a secret for whatever reason. Particularly if it's a young person.

Correct, and this is how it happened, until I caught the other person from a certain band "cough" "cough" in full flow fillin' his head fulla crap.
IMO an other 2 yrs at the level he was woulda done him more good, but kids being kids want everything yesterday.
His choice, good luck to him, not the band...never liked that crowd ( not Gordy, he's an exception to the rule ), com' on the 'Backey.............