Gig food

bassman1185 · #1 03-20-2007, 09:42 AM

Ok, let's talk gig food.

A few discussion starters:

What do you eat before or after you play?

What has been the best food that the venue or promoter has provided? How about the worst?

The worst gig food for me was easily the tacos that we got when we were playing a free outdoor Christian music festival last summer in norther Iowa. I was hurting for a few days after that, if you can imagine what I mean by that, and I'm sure you can if you set your mind to it.

Roger Pounders · #2 03-20-2007, 09:53 AM

1/2 Price Fried Bar appetizers.... Pre-
MacDonalds - Post..

Passinwind · #3 03-20-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

What has been the best food that the venue or promoter has provided? How about the worst?

I play jazz gigs in lots of nice restaurants, plus plenty of catered events. Food and (really good) wine or beer typically is included at most of those gigs. We're nearly always encouraged to go for the most expensive specials too.

Best: all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab, plus a filet mignon. The owner always was up for making us killer Cajun and/or fresh seafood specials at that joint too.

Worst: a dry turkey club on Wonder bread that the band got in lieu of the $50 a plate catered meal at some 50th anniversary party we played at the most uptown hotel out here. We had to sit outside to eat too. So naturally, I went straight for the good wine and worked the happy couple's daughter, against direct orders.

4Mal · #4 03-20-2007, 10:25 AM

PW and I play many of the same places. The wineries can be downright dangerous as when you let slip that you were at Winery X last week, Winery Y falls all over itself trying to ensure that you leave a fan...

I carry a few Atkin's or Balance bar's in my kit. Enough so if it's a long gig, I can supply a bar to the other guys as well. It's more fun playing with guy's who aren't starving for lunch, getting cranky and nodding off is my thought...

tZer · #5 03-20-2007, 11:42 AM

Haven't been gigging lately, but we have been rehearsing weekly. I now have a ritual of stopping off and picking up a tray of sushi with lots o wasabi before rehearsal... I LOVE rehearsal night! I LOVE wasaaaaaabi!

Worst = (unfortunately) White Castle's belly bombers... LOVE the taste, HATE the after-effects... Not good for me or the others... and there is no avoiding those after-effects! As sure as the sun will rise, so will the unmistakable aroma of poorly digesting belly bombers...

washtub_bass · #6 03-20-2007, 11:46 AM

the nasztiest gig-food ever is White Castles Hamburgers that my drummer brings ((but i gotta eat 4 or 5, cant resist!))
The best gig-food i've ever had were stuffed mushrooms and pineapple/bacon horsdevours thangs.

tzadik · #7 03-20-2007, 12:28 PM

Best = Langdon Street Cafe in Montpelier. Such an awesome venue.

Phantopeth · #8 03-20-2007, 02:43 PM

I played a couple of "free beer/free food and tips" gigs at a bar in Portland. We knew the bartender and the barroom was never used unless she opened it up, so they always ended up being big private parties with a few walkins. I had a great onion ring cheeseburger at one of these gigs.

I can't say I've had a "worst" meal provided to me. I've had very few that provided food, and even if I did, I'm not picky at all. Probably the worst I've had was the TacoBell I had after an art-gallery opening I did in high school. Me and my two fellow jammers recieved $20 after the gig, so we immediately made our way to the TacoBell and scarfed on gorditas and 7-layer burritos. good times!

jive1 · #9 03-20-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

Worst = (unfortunately) White Castle's belly bombers... LOVE the taste, HATE the after-effects... Not good for me or the others... and there is no avoiding those after-effects! As sure as the sun will rise, so will the unmistakable aroma of poorly digesting belly bombers...

As they say, one man's trash...........

I love sliders. My wife hates them. Can you say, "dutch oven".

jive1 · #10 03-20-2007, 03:10 PM

As a musician, it's hard to find a "best" since most free food is good food to me. The less I paid for it, the better it tastes.

I've had some excellent rack of lamb, cajun pasta, and authentic pub food. I've also had my share of cheap Chinese, cold fish sandwiches, and other culinary monstrosities. But in the end, if my tummy is full and wallet isn't empty, I'm happy.

There's only one freebie meal that I didn't care for.
And here's the story: did you ever play a gig while you were sick?

-Kramer- · #11 03-20-2007, 03:20 PM

I used to play a lot of the Alumni gatherings at a University I went to. Always really great to play since they have great food in attempts to keep the alumni happy and donating. There were ALWAYS large amounts of left overs for the band, both food and beer/wine.

moogboy · #12 03-20-2007, 04:13 PM

Pre for me is gonna be: McDonalds
Post for me is gonna be: PIZZA with 2 inches of pepperonis.

stevetx19 · #13 03-20-2007, 04:18 PM

i play alot of gigs in downtown Dallas, which are usually followed by a band trip to cafe brazil...usually for cake...

arcellus · #14 03-20-2007, 04:29 PM

best? probably any of the nicer catered corporate events i play.
worst? chips 'n dip backstage at any number of the low-rent rock clubs around here..

IconBasser · #15 03-20-2007, 04:34 PM

the only thing I ever eat at gigs is cookies, chocolate, and whatever other tasty goodies I can find.
(no I'm not fat)

theshadow2001 · #16 03-20-2007, 06:53 PM

We generally don't get provided with food here. Although one thing about doing regular gigs at a good distance from home is the amount of fast food and sheer rubbish you end up eating. Not much open but fast food joints after you finish a gig.

Kael · #17 03-20-2007, 07:04 PM

IMHO, sushi is hands down the ultimate pre-gig grub. You can absolutely stuff yourself to the gills (pun unfortunately intended there) and not get that bloated "I don't wanna move cause I think I'll barf" feeling.

Worst pre-food is anthing heavy. Tex-mex rates very highly on the list of "not a good idea before a show" grub. On the other hand. I ate a bangload of guise before I played a sub acoustic country gig last Saturday. That extra heavy food weighing me down helped prevent me from moving off that stool, and also helped me keep from straying to far from the basic I V stuff that that gig called for. Maybe I should eat heavy food before every country gig....

Seriously though, try gorging on sushi before a gig. Highly recommended.

fryBASS · #18 03-20-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

As a musician, it's hard to find a "best" since most free food is good food to me. The less I paid for it, the better it tastes.

I've had some excellent rack of lamb, cajun pasta, and authentic pub food. I've also had my share of cheap Chinese, cold fish sandwiches, and other culinary monstrosities. But in the end, if my tummy is full and wallet isn't empty, I'm happy.

There's only one freebie meal that I didn't care for.
And here's the story: did you ever play a gig while you were sick?

Ah I remember that story

redefine dave · #19 03-20-2007, 08:48 PM

Jimmy Johns subs... They have the best bread on the planet...
Worst is anything mexican.

eedre · #20 03-20-2007, 09:39 PM

NEVER: Eat a lot of Chinese before a gig.

ALWAYS: Have your tour planned out based on the locations of McDonald's dollar double-cheeseburger specials.