Drinking Before Playing?

[Haysoochreesto]

I do this. I don't get Jim Morrison, falling down, blasted out of my gourd but I like a few drinks before playing a gig--2 or 3 or 4 beers. I'll also have one or two between sets for maintenance. I seem to have a firmly established window--there's a difference between being loose and relaxed and enjoying everything I'm doing as opposed to feeling all fumble fingered and uncoordinated. I know about the latter from my younger days and yeah, at our sax/keyboard's going away party in his backyard last month we all got a little too loose for comfort, but that was a really informal gig and in the end we still sounded pretty alright.

I know there's guys who are very serious and won't ever touch anything before playing and that's cool. But I've never noticed a difference in the quality of my playing from the recordings we've made at rehearsal and live shows.

Anyone else imbibe a little bit before playing?

[BigOldHarry]

I drink, but never before playing. Learned the hard way that I need to be 100% sober to bring my "A" game.

[Ric5]

I start with water then a beer then a water then a beer then a water ... then I am done ... that way I never get drunk because the most I drink is usually 2 beers spaced out over several hours.

[MMcC]

It's a must for me. I have to have at least a couple before I can achieve my A game. I'll have one onstage with me too for appearance's sake.

[jaywa]

3 or 4 beers before you play a note is a bit much, IMHO. I'll often have one about 10 minutes before I go on just to take the edge off. Then keep myself strictly to one beer per set, and try to match water for beer ounce for ounce. I don't drink at all after the show is done cause that's load-out time and I'm tired enough by then the way it is.

[JulienJeff]

I drink a few beers before gigs. Sometimes? I drink too much then it sucks
but must of times, 4 or 5 beers and it's perfect

[baba]

1 or 2 beers before I play is the norm. Usually another at set break.

[J. Montgomery]

I keep a drink with me up on stage, and I'll get a refresher for the 2nd set. Over the course of a typical bar gig I'll usually have 3-4 drinks spread out over ~5hr time period. For me, the hardest part is not having to pee in the middle of a 2hr set. Sometimes I just have to end a song and run for the bathroom

[BluesWalker]

I usually wait until the night is over and I am packed up before I have a beer.

[Matt Dean]

I start with water then a beer then a water then a beer then a water ... then I am done ... that way I never get drunk because the most I drink is usually 2 beers spaced out over several hours.

This is what I do... sometimes a toke too.

[jarrod cunningham]

i think it all depends on the persons tolerance and the type of music being played . from being in both cover and original bands ive always had a few before shows . i know my limit . i really feel like i play better when im more relaxed .... also , i feel like the band is the main visual promotion for the club and how can you promote selling beer when you are on stage with a water in your hand ..... so i also think for appearance sake its something i have to do .....

[jaywa]

I'm really fortunate to be in a band where no one ever gets blasted onstage. We're all strictly one drink per set guys, to a man.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by J. Montgomery

I keep a drink with me up on stage, and I'll get a refresher for the 2nd set. Over the course of a typical bar gig I'll usually have 3-4 drinks spread out over ~5hr time period. For me, the hardest part is not having to pee in the middle of a 2hr set. Sometimes I just have to end a song and run for the bathroom

Two hour set?! What the eff?!

[Foreman_]

It depends. I usually have about 2 or 3 beer before hand, and at least one beer on stage to keep my throat from getting dry. But I always have a shot of Jagermeister before going on stage, it's a kind of ritual for me.

[albertofrog]

3 pints is my limit until I'm done. maybe one for the first set, one at half time, then another for the second set.

However, when i first started playing (about 17 or 18 yo) i got asked to play with an irish folk band that was fronted by a friend of my dad's.

He knew i played bass, but not to what standard, but as they were short for an upcoming gig, i got the call.

this was a pretty big deal for me 'cos i knew the band were good, and had all been playing for about 40 years or so...

anyway, first gig, i drove to their town where the gig was and consequently, stone cold sober (good job as well, 'cos i spent all night watching the guitarists fingers for the changes!). did well enough and got asked back to do several more gigs with them - mostly around the same area, so i drove to them (ie sober)

One night they got a gig out of town that meant they were passing my house, so they said they'd pick me up...

got to the gig, and it was an irish club. so the guiness was wonderful.

eight pints later......

we went on stage.

didnt take long before i fell over on stage, and tried to make out that i'd just tripped over my lead.

but i hadn't, i was pretty well sloshed.

However, i got up and carried on...

thinking i'd screwed the gig up i wasnt expecting anymore gigs from these guys, until the fiddle player came up to me and said "well done! you never missed a note!"

apprently they were impressed that as i hit the deck i kept playing in time....

given that they all liked a beer now and then, they forgave my indescretions but after that it has always been a 3 pint limit.....

[hankazoid]

I've found that 2 to 3 beers before I go on helps me play my best. It just helps settle any anxiety I might have. If I have any anxiety my hand will cramp up and I lose focus on my playing.

There's one place I won't drink at though. Reason being is that it has a huge flight of stairs that I have to lug my amp down at the end of the night. Falling down those stairs and getting crushed by my cab kinda scares the crap outta me enough to not drink there.

[Enmesarra]

Drink - yes, 3-4 shots of vodka or similar stuff
Beer - NO!

(Bladder issues, way too quick kidneys, way too small tank. Damn it.)

[Phalex]

I like a beer with set up, a gimlet before we go on, and a beer a set thereafter.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by hankazoid

There's one place I won't drink at though. Reason being is that it has a huge flight of stairs that I have to lug my amp down at the end of the night. Falling down those stairs and getting crushed by my cab kinda scares the crap outta me enough to not drink there.

Rather than not drinking, have you considered a lightweight cab?

[RexNFX79]

I've found that a slight pre-show buzz relaxes me and I loosen up some. I make an effort to not get drunk (although it has happened, people buying you shots and stuff) but I think a buzz doesn't hurt.