Very OT... playing sober.

[Bass Tees]

First and foremost I apologize for posting this in the Bass forum but it's something I wanted a lot of you to read. If I am way out of line, I ask that the moderator kill this post.

The life of a gigging musician has turned me into a pretty serious alcoholic and I have made the decision today to put the plug in the jug for good. Last night was the last straw for me. I drank about 6 beers before practice, 6 beers during practice and a couple more afterwards. That's actually pretty standard for me. I can't honestly say that my drinking has had a terribly negative effect on my playing ability. If anything, I am more energetic and enthused about my playing when I have a strong buzz going on. It does however make it difficult to remember things from previous practices, and all-in-all, I probably play better when sober. It's hard to say because it hardly ever happens.

I picked a tough day to start. My band has back to back gigs this weekend. But if I use that as an excuse, I'll never be able to quit.

Anyway, just thought maybe some of you had some stories to share about playing drunk/sober and the differences you've noticed. If there's any interest, I want to start a "Sober Bassist Club".

Thanks for reading. Again, if you all feel I should repost this somewhere else, I will gladly do so.

[Bass Below]

I may have one or two before or during a gig/rehearsal, and then party afterwards. I'm not very good to begin with, so there's no sense in inhibiting my limited abilities any more than necessary. Besides, I love the live experience so much, I want to clearly remember every second of it. If you perform well, chances are you're not going to have to pay for a single drink the rest of the night anyway!

[The Golden Boy]

Good luck and best wishes in this. People hit their "wall" and come to their decisions. If drinking was a problem in your life- be glad you didn't have to hit bottom to get to that decision.

Where are you playing this weekend?

[Baird6869]

Good for you!

I played a gig hammered a couple of weeks ago (first time in years) and embarrased myself by completely screwing up 2 songs that I know inside out. It won't happen again.

I am not a good enough musician to play drunk I have decided.

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Well done on the admission - knowing you've got a problem and need to do something about it is the first step to sorting it out. Admitting there's a problem is the hardest part.

Moderation is the key in all things - there are people who like a drink, and those who are alcoholics. There are those who like the occasional valium or spliff, and there are junkies. There's even people who like video games and those who are addicts!

I'm not going to patronise you and tell you to quit cold turkey or become a born-again teetotaler. It's obvious you like a drink. So have a drink. Maybe even 2 or 3. Just don't have 12! Just make sure to pace yourself, and know when to stop.

[Bass Tees]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

Good luck and best wishes in this. People hit their "wall" and come to their decisions. If drinking was a problem in your life- be glad you didn't have to hit bottom to get to that decision.

Where are you playing this weekend?

Thanks a lot for the encouraging words.

We're opening for a Swedish band called Outshine tonight in Cudahy, WI. Tomorrow we open for a band called Man Crush in Menomenee Falls. It's their demo release party. Should be a great time (except for the whole moving equipment thing).

[Nakedfish]

I wish you all the best Bass Tees.

I stopped drinking at gigs after getting into the habit of drinking bottles of wine before playing. One night I downed several bottles before going on stage and just lost the plot. The combination of a lot of hanging around plus boredom was a killer.

I never drink at gigs nowadays (except for the odd beer now and again) and enjoy them a LOT more.

Stay focussed & good luck to you.

[Bass Tees]

In regards to the whole "having 2 or 3" thing, believe me when I say that has been tried. I wish it could be that way but it's pretty much all or nothing for me. Probably true for most alcoholics.

[lovenotfear]

Originally Posted by Bass Tees

First and foremost I apologize for posting this in the Bass forum but it's something I wanted a lot of you to read. If I am way out of line, I ask that the moderator kill this post.

The life of a gigging musician has turned me into a pretty serious alcoholic and I have made the decision today to put the plug in the jug for good. Last night was the last straw for me. I drank about 6 beers before practice, 6 beers during practice and a couple more afterwards. That's actually pretty standard for me. I can't honestly say that my drinking has had a terribly negative effect on my playing ability. If anything, I am more energetic and enthused about my playing when I have a strong buzz going on. It does however make it difficult to remember things from previous practices, and all-in-all, I probably play better when sober. It's hard to say because it hardly ever happens.

I picked a tough day to start. My band has back to back gigs this weekend. But if I use that as an excuse, I'll never be able to quit.

Anyway, just thought maybe some of you had some stories to share about playing drunk/sober and the differences you've noticed. If there's any interest, I want to start a "Sober Bassist Club".

Thanks for reading. Again, if you all feel I should repost this somewhere else, I will gladly do so.

you can do it! that is awesome that you are making steps in the right direction, dont let anything rule you, you can have a happy life without it, you don't want to live in a haze, you want to be able to look back and actually remember the good times, not try to remember them because you were in a haze, i think it took guts for you to get on here and open your self up and be real, you never know how your honesty on here might help others, you overcoming this could set a good example for others to do the same, i am rooting for you, and i am sure others on here will do the same, the music industry has lost allot of good musicians because of substance abuse, we don't need to lose anymore, i pray the you will overcome this, i know you can do it.

[jdombrow]

If you are truly serious about quitting, I strongly recommend getting involved with AA. It's a bitch to try and quit on your own, and there is a great community out there who can help. Feel free to contact me via email or PM at anytime.

Jim D.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by Bass Tees

In regards to the whole "having 2 or 3" thing, believe me when I say that has been tried. I wish it could be that way but it's pretty much all or nothing for me. Probably true for most alcoholics.

Play tonight sober. You will have a blast!!!!!

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by Rusty Chainsaw

I'm not going to patronise you and tell you to quit cold turkey or become a born-again teetotaler. It's obvious you like a drink. So have a drink. Maybe even 2 or 3. Just don't have 12! Just make sure to pace yourself, and know when to stop.

Do you know any alcoholics? Having 2 or 3 isn't possible. Cold turkey is the only way it works.

To the OP, if you feel you are an alcoholic, then chances are that you are right. That's a big step in coming to that self-revelation. IME, with friends who've dealt with this, going into a situation with the attitude that you can have 1 or 2 drinks will doom you to failure every single time. You have to resolve within yourself before you even show up around the stuff that you will not touch it regardless of how you feel, good or bad, or how much fun everyone else is having. Some sober alcoholics struggle with becoming insecure in their old environment without alcohol. As a musician, that is a very typical feeling as you suddenly feel like you're in the spotlight without the relaxing effects of alcohol in your blood. It'll do numbers on your head. Or, you just won't be able to stand everyone else having so much fun.

Either way, absolute resistance is the only way you'll get over this if you are truly an alcoholic. Just decide for yourself today that this will be 100% alcohol-free weekend, and then be as strong as possible on those gigs to make it happen. If you can get through this weekend without a drop, then you'll likely have a confidence booster to do it again. Each success makes the next battle easier, but a single failure can prolongue your recover indefinitely.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can just have one or two! By your admission, you are an alcoholic, and you can not.

That's the sober truth! I wish you all the luck, and you'll have my prayers. I've seen this first hand many times, and I know what you are about to be going through.

[Bass Tees]

Originally Posted by lovenotfear

you can do it! that is awesome that you are making steps in the right direction, dont let anything rule you, you can have a happy life without it, you don't want to live in a haze, you want to be able to look back and actually remember the good times, not try to remember them because you were in a haze, i think it took guts for you to get on here and open your self up and be real, you never know how your honesty on here might help others, you overcoming this could set a good example for others to do the same, i am rooting for you, and i am sure others on here will do the same, the music industry has lost allot of good musicians because of substance abuse, we don't need to lose anymore, i pray the you will overcome this, i know you can do it.

Very kind... I will keep you updated.

[bwsailer79]

I really admire that you are being honest with yourself. It's a hard thing to do sometimes. I hope that whatever you end up doing works out for you.

I used to love getting hammered at shows... it just seemed to make sense for some reason. The last band I was in wasn't much of a drinking band and I ended up being at the point where I hardly drank at shows anymore. At first I thought it was a bummer, but it's really not that bad. Playing music is still fun sober.

I know some people say they play better when they've got a little buzz. I really don't think that's true. There are a lot of people who can still play (very well in fact) when drunk... but they'd still play better when sober. If they can't, then it's all in their head. It helps you get relaxed and with being more animated on the stage... but the playing is going to take a hit.

I had a friend who thought he was better and more creative when he was high... but in real life he would end up playing the most random and annoying $h*t during the show. It was so annoying.

Again... best of luck to you.

[sarcastro83]

Good call, dude. If you feel the need to quit, then go for it. If you're used to having a bottle or glass on top of your amp at shows, make it a bottle/glass of water. It might sound crazy, but when you reach for that drink, it'll only make you have to pee.

Stay strong man.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by Bass Tees

Thanks a lot for the encouraging words.

We're opening for a Swedish band called Outshine tonight in Cudahy, WI. Tomorrow we open for a band called Man Crush in Menomenee Falls. It's their demo release party. Should be a great time (except for the whole moving equipment thing).

It's always best to play sober in Cudahy. I'm always nervous about cops either on Layton or on the pretend freeway- and that's without a buzz on.

[Bass Tees]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

It's always best to play sober in Cudahy. I'm always nervous about cops either on Layton or on the pretend freeway- and that's without a buzz on.

Again, thanks to all for the support. That's the other thing about my alcohol consumption. I drove drunk all the time. Never got caught, but I have to believe it was going to happen soon. My girlfriend sometimes tells me she wishes I would get one (DUI) so I would learn my lesson. Don't think she really means it, but you get the idea...

[Drifta]

Good luck man, you're taking the right steps. I come from a long line of drunks and i've never allowed my self to get too much into drinking.

It's going to be tough for you man, but just remember that alcohol is a poisen and even though you may struggle in the beginning, and you may try to go back it --- that one day if you stick to this, you will thank your self, your body will thank you and everyone in your life will be grateful that you didn't head down the wrong path(alcoholism ruins families & lives in the long run). Good luck sir.

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Originally Posted by Eublet

Do you know any alcoholics? Having 2 or 3 isn't possible. Cold turkey is the only way it works.

Plenty. Including family members. That's kinda patronising.

They couldn't do the cold turkey thing because, frankly, it meant changing their lives too much, and they were unhappy all the time as their social lives were gone (back in the UK, the pub is pretty much the hub of all social activity). They all had a lot more success when they just cut down drastically, instead of completely quitting, plus they were a lot happier. This was under professional advice, too. The point of view is that there's no point quitting alcohol if you're only going to replace it with anti-depressants and possibly other drugs. The method was along the lines of drinking one vodka and orange, then two orange juices, then another vodka and orange, and so on, plus making sure your friends know that you're taking it easy.

[Bass Tees]

Originally Posted by Rusty Chainsaw

Plenty. Including family members. That's kinda patronising.

They couldn't do the cold turkey thing because, frankly, it meant changing their lives too much, and they were unhappy all the time as their social lives were gone (back in the UK, the pub is pretty much the hub of all social activity). They all had a lot more success when they just cut down drastically, instead of completely quitting, plus they were a lot happier. This was under professional advice, too. The point of view is that there's no point quitting alcohol if you're only going to replace it with anti-depressants and possibly other drugs. The method was along the lines of drinking one vodka and orange, then two orange juices, then another vodka and orange, and so on, plus making sure your friends know that you're taking it easy.

I think this is evidence of cultural differences. I know a lot of people in the states are familiar with the fact that alcoholics aren't supposed to drink anything... ever. Maybe they see things differently in the UK.