Having to use the restroom onstage

[Kmonk]

I have had situations where my wireless saved me. I was able to go to the restroom and continue playing roots.

I was playing in front of about 25,000 people when the BL was informed that the band coming on after us hadn't arrived. He didn't tell the rest of the band. I had a set list in front of me so after the last song I took off my bass and got ready to go to the restroom. The BL looked and me asked where I was going. I told him that the set was over and I was going to the restroom. (I have diabetes so frequent urination can be a problem). He informed me that the other band hadn't arrived and we had to play at least one more set. I asked him to stall for 2 or 3 minutes. He proceeded to walk up to the mic and said "We will have to wait a minute while my bass player goes to take a piss". I decided to make a joke out of it and walked to the front of the stage and said "That would be me but I will be right back". After the last set the BL started screaming at me because he said I made him look bad by making a joke out of the situation. I explained that he made himself look bad by not taking the time to thank the audience or at the very least saying that we had some sort of technical difficulty and would continue playing within 2 or 3 minutes. I left the band shortly after.

[Schizoid75]

I normally take care of #2 during the day before any gigs. If I don't get a good one in beforehand, it always me feel off my game for some reason. Just habit I guess. I eat sparingly in the few hours before a gig, so I've never had problems with #2 during a show.

As for #1, thank God for my wireless. I've gone to the restroom and continued to play a few times. I've also dashed off during songs with long intros and used the wireless to start up again before I actually made it back to the stage. Different members in different bands have cut sets short multiple times to accomodate a bathroom break.

There's one bar in town that's just the worst for me. Normally, I'm doing hour long sets. But one bar wants two sets of 90 minutes each. Those kill me! Even when I feel like I'm not drinking much on stage, I'm always ready to race off stage by the end. Half the time I think it's in my head!

[JoeWPgh]

I knew a very good piano player, who liked his drink just a wee bit too much. So much so that he actually once vomited down his sleeve mid song. It was sad, particularrly given the guy's monsterous talent, but I guess in his mind he was doing what had to be done

[stingray96191]

I won the Pittsburgh Music Awards "Best Oh ****" Moment of 2011 for the time i stopped mid set to take a ****, at Howlers Coyote Cafe. I was on Chemotherapy at the time, and I had to go... i finished the song, set my baass down, ran off the stage, and did what i needed to do. Came back and worked it into the stage banter... We are known for being strange/ very entertaining.

I would do it again if i had to. It Happens.

www.ernieandtheberts.com

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Schizoid75

I normally take care of #2 during the day before any gigs. If I don't get a good one in beforehand, it always me feel off my game for some reason. Just habit I guess. I eat sparingly in the few hours before a gig, so I've never had problems with #2 during a show.

+1

if you're trying to take a dump in the bathrooms of some of the places i play on a packed saturday night, you planned your day wrong!

anyway, i automatically hit the head right before going on stage whether i think i need to or not, and that usually keeps me out of trouble.

[Lazylion]

Many years ago I learned this rule the hard way: don't drink Mexican coffees all night! It'll catch up with ya!

[Pilgrim]

Always pee before going onstage. Even for us older guys who probably have the urge more often, that should work.

[Russell L]

I haven't had a problem onstage that couldn't wait til breaktime, but I tell you, as you get older you will have to go more and more often. I'm 63 and have to get up two or three times during a night's sleep. I hate it, but, oh well.

[obimark]

I have had to leave between songs to go. Being old(er) sucks, period.

[dvlmusic]

As I've gotten older, the need to pee onstage has often become unbearable. Somewhere along the way I developed the bladder size of a 2 year old. Depending on the gig, I'll either suck it up or dash off to pee.

Gig at a local bar with 10 folks - I'll rush off to pee. Opening slot for a national act and I have to piss like a racehorse halfway through song two of a 45 minute set? Suck it up and bail once the set is over (and hope to hell that the bandleader doesn't stretch the songs to 15 minutes).

Having said that - I ALWAYS go fast. I've been off the stage and back before the singer is finished thanking the crowd and introducing the next song. You have to pick your moment (and the gig - some bands are more understanding than others), and if need be make a spectacle of yourself. You'd be amazed how forgiving people will be if you make a joke first and then dash off stage.

[iridiumrocks]

I always take a dump before I go to the venue and don't drink during the show, so no worries. Most of the bars we play have bathrooms that you really wouldn't want to put your bare butt on. Our singer always seems to get a case of nerves and needs to take a dump right before the show starts. Our drummer once got up and ran to the bathroom in the middle of the set with a full dance floor because he was drunk. It was very embarrassing and we replaced him soon afterward. Nothing kills the groove like an unscheduled potty break in the middle of the set.

[Lazylion]

Years ago I saw the New Riders of the Purple Sage at a theater in the round. At one point, a roadie with a flashlight appeared onstage to lead Buddy Cage off to the can. Dawson made a joke about weak kidneys as Buddy was leaving. They just went on with the next song, and Buddy was led back after a few minutes. Nobody batted an eye, and I suppose half the crowd was "relaxed" enough to forget it had happened.

[Beamrider]

Originally Posted by stingray96191

I won the Pittsburgh Music Awards "Best Oh ****" Moment of 2011 for the time i stopped mid set to take a ****, at Howlers Coyote Cafe. I was on Chemotherapy at the time, and I had to go... i finished the song, set my baass down, ran off the stage, and did what i needed to do. Came back and worked it into the stage banter... We are known for being strange/ very entertaining.

I would do it again if i had to. It Happens.

www.ernieandtheberts.com

Seriously, f**k cancer. You're a badass, man. You earned your dump.

[stingray96191]

Originally Posted by Beamrider

Seriously, f**k cancer. You're a badass, man. You earned your dump.

Thanks Sir.

It's just one of those things that happens when you are alive.
Erin

[ga_edwards]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Local band near me has a bunch of fake Marshall cabinets and a few 5 gallon buckets within them. On certain songs, they go behind the fake cabinets and relieve themselves. Disgusting cleanup later, but it works!

My guitar player disappeared from stage once to wiz. Of course it was the show I was NOT at. My band mates had no idea where he was....

I understand Phil Collen of Def Leppard has a few carefully placed secreted around the stage for his frequent urination habit.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by JoeWPgh

I knew a very good piano player, who liked his drink just a wee bit too much. So much so that he actually once vomited down his sleeve mid song. It was sad, particularrly given the guy's monsterous talent, but I guess in his mind he was doing what had to be done

Well, at least for a pianist, it's easy to suck in a #2 in a pinch (no pun intended). Sitting down and having to poop, and standing up and having to poop are 2 totally different situations.

And too bad about his puking episode. I once had a bandmate puke on himself WHILE driving the van. On the interstage.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by Beamrider

Seriously, f**k cancer. You're a badass, man. You earned your dump.

HERE HERE!

[baba]

I've left the stage to pee many times. The band just eases into a song that doesn't require bass at the start or just plays something off the cuff. Mind you, this is for the bar gigs. I've played countless festivals and never done this.

[Biggbass]

short answer... No.

But there is a guy in one of the bands I work with that got all hissy recently when we were building a set list for a show at a concert venue. He said he couldn't go more than 35-45 minutes without having to take a pee break. So we had to work in a tune that he could step off stage for and go pee.

Really? You gotta be kidding.

[Wadge]

I've had to dash off the stage a couple times. I usually call on the singer (who is a bit of a Radio/TV personality) to stall with a witty remark or anecdote or to pick a song with a long intro