Playing While Sick?

FunkMetalBass · #1 01-05-2010, 10:11 AM

I'm sure everybody who regularly plays out has had to do this at some point. I played my first show while sick this weekend.

I drank gallons of juices rich with vitamin C the day I got sick (the day before the show) and lots of green tea with honey. I do a lot of moving and singing in my hard rock band, so I couldn't afford to have my voice out of commission, however, my range was shot and the power just wasn't there.

I chugged a red bull before I got on stage and tried my best to make it seem like nothing was wrong (I'm just glad we had a shorter set time that night). My vocals weren't nearly the same, I didn't even attempt a lot of the harmonies I usually do, but the other bands and crowd gave good feedback, so not too bad. I was exhausted after the show, though, and left early to go sleep.

Anybody else ever had to do this? Any tips or advice? Is there really any way that you can prepare for it?

tlwaps · #2 01-05-2010, 10:28 AM

I've had to do this before and it's terrible. However, the fortunate thing for me doing my vocal parts was that we did a lot of growling and screaming (ugly music for ugly people made by ugly people) so it didn't really matter. About an hour or so before we went on I took some Dayquil and Tylenol along with drinking lots of Gatorade and water. I would suggest bringing a box of tissues (hide them) or a rag or something on stage as your nose will instantly start to run.

MatticusMania · #3 01-05-2010, 10:31 AM

I played 2 sets with 2 different bands while suffering from tonsilitis and a bad fever. I wasnt at my peak, but I pulled both sets off pretty well. By the time I was done I was spitting up blood. Its hard to sing when your throat doesnt open up all the way.

txbasschik · #4 01-05-2010, 11:08 AM

I came down with the flu at a gig. No time for finding a sub...I actually got sick during the first set. Spiked a 101F fever, chills...by the time we played the 3rd set, I was shaking all over and could barely stand up.

Ya do what ya gotta, I 'spose, but it was the worst gig I ever played. I was awful!

Cherie

Medford Bassman · #5 01-05-2010, 11:56 AM

I've played shows with the cold or flu. It sucked but pushed through. So has other members of the band.

My worse was last year. At first I was diagnosed with lung cancer (non-smoker) because of a spot on my lung. After 2 weeks of painful testing including an invasive lung biopsy, they discovered I had blastomycosis. A fatal fungal disease if left untreated. Same symptoms as lung cancer. Coughing up blood, etc., the whole 9 yards.

I played a 2 nighter with the worse spikey fever I ever had in my life. On the upside, I received treatment for 4 months (including no alcohol, ugh) and I recovered.

No pity train here but the boys thought I was pretty hard core.

**jmattbassplaya** · #6 01-05-2010, 09:19 PM

I was badly hung over at a gig I had (let`s just be honest here) and I actually went behind my amp to throw up a few times while playing. Luckily we were outdoors and it was nighttime so no one knew any better. It sucked, but I pulled through.

paganjack · #7 01-05-2010, 09:26 PM

I may have had swine flu this year (didn't get my government mind control/vaccine), although I am pretty sure it was just some awful set of illnesses. Over the course of those awful 3 weeks, I played about 5 gigs. They were all rough...but strangely I felt better while I was playing. The moment I finished...badness re-ensued. Don't really want to repeat that anytime soon.

The thing is, I would start to get better then have to stay out til 3am and feel like ... at which point i got sick again, possibly with a new disease.

pbass6811 · #8 01-05-2010, 09:39 PM

Like you said, everyone that gigs regularly probably played sick at least once! I play 4 nights a week(been doing that for about 5yrs) and I've been fortunate enough to be able to count the times I've been truly sick at a show on one hand! Truly amazing considering the environment we're all usually in! During the worst one, I would go to my truck and sleep between sets and some one would come get me before the next set. It's pretty cool how the high of being on stage kind of makes you forget about how bad you feel...until the set is over.

MNAirHead · #9 01-05-2010, 09:43 PM

Oh the illnesses over the years.

Broken Ribs were nothing compared to severe dissentary in a foreign country that doesn't believe in pepto.

Biggest thing is to get help from your band mates.. not sharing mikes.. getting water.. finding a quick and easy way to slip out before infecting others

T

Phalex · #10 01-06-2010, 06:38 AM

I've played with plenty of colds. I've had to sing with no voice (I didn't like it, and it didn't sound good, but I did it!) Back in the day Alka Seltzer+ cold medicine was my go to fix any illness medicine. Then some people died and they changed the formula, and made it not so good. That stuff would get me high as a kite, but it would get me through.

I had a guitar player that had an inner ear infection. It really messed up his balance. He played 2 nights sitting down on a bar stool. He still managed to fall off of the stool several times a night! The really weird part is that he ROCKED that weekend. He couldn't stand or walk a straight line, but boy could he play guitar!

GearHeadBassMan · #11 01-06-2010, 07:02 PM

i know it's not the same, but I played a show with a broken rib and after pulling a muscle in my back (mistimed a jump on the first song, it was either my singer/guitarist or the monitor...) playing in a rock band where we like to have a lot of energy. I didn't know I could ignore that much pain for that long, one of my friends told me I was green in the face on stage.

Time Consumer · #12 01-06-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I played 2 sets with 2 different bands while suffering from tonsilitis and a bad fever. I wasnt at my peak, but I pulled both sets off pretty well. By the time I was done I was spitting up blood. Its hard to sing when your throat doesnt open up all the way.

Wow, even if you dont play metal, that was effin METAL man!

nutso42 · #13 01-06-2010, 10:03 PM

If you're playing with a relatively mild sickness, sometimes you can get so involved in the music that you don't even notice anymore! Seriously, it works great!

Also, I once cut my index finger on a putty knife (don't ask) shortly before it was time to play. I wrapped my finger in a bandage and played. Unfortunately, I was playing a really fast song and the bandage came off. But, like an idiot, I kept playing. That was really painful. Really really painful.

mike costelow · #14 01-06-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medford Bassman

I've played shows with the cold or flu. It sucked but pushed through. So has other members of the band.

My worse was last year. At first I was diagnosed with lung cancer (non-smoker) because of a spot on my lung. After 2 weeks of painful testing including an invasive lung biopsy, they discovered I had blastomycosis. A fatal fungal disease if left untreated. Same symptoms as lung cancer. Coughing up blood, etc., the whole 9 yards.

I played a 2 nighter with the worse spikey fever I ever had in my life. On the upside, I received treatment for 4 months (including no alcohol, ugh) and I recovered.

No pity train here but the boys thought I was pretty hard core.

I had a similar experience recently,had some intestinal problems and they saw a spot on my lung,(non smoker also).Had to go through a couple of weeks of testing and waiting.Plowed through a couple of gigs with intense abdominal pain & worried about the spot in the meantime,(really took the wind out of my sails!)Got test results back, had bacterial infection that was cleared up with antibiotics and 2nd xray concluded that spot on lung was shadowing in 1st xray. Clean bill of health and ready to rock 2010!

4001 · #15 01-06-2010, 10:55 PM

It sucks. My hands get sweaty when I'm sick.
Not good.

steveksux · #16 01-06-2010, 10:58 PM

I kept playing with a broken wrist. After motorcycle crash broke my wrist, I talked the doc into a splint to allow me the flexibility to keep playing. He was reluctant until I pointed out I played bass for a living at that time, so if he wanted to get paid....

Randy

mike costelow · #17 01-06-2010, 11:07 PM

10 years ago my daughter dropped a box of toothpicks on our carpet and didnt find them all.One day I was walking through and my foot caught a toothpick buried in carpet,it went between my big toe and next toe(index toe?)

all the way into my foot and broke off.Doc had my foot xrayed and it showed nothing.my foot hurt so bad i had to do a gig sitting down with foot elevated.Come to find out an xray will not show wood,they did a sonogram? and found a quarter inch of toothpick deep in foot against the bone.Had to put me under and cut into my foot to get it out. That was the worse pain i've ever been in! and that concludes my playing in pain stories.

Admiral Axtell · #18 01-06-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medford Bassman

I've played shows with the cold or flu. It sucked but pushed through. So has other members of the band.

My worse was last year. At first I was diagnosed with lung cancer (non-smoker) because of a spot on my lung. After 2 weeks of painful testing including an invasive lung biopsy, they discovered I had blastomycosis. A fatal fungal disease if left untreated. Same symptoms as lung cancer. Coughing up blood, etc., the whole 9 yards.

I played a 2 nighter with the worse spikey fever I ever had in my life. On the upside, I received treatment for 4 months (including no alcohol, ugh) and I recovered.

No pity train here but the boys thought I was pretty hard core.

whew I bet you were relieved when you figured out it wasn't cancer, that is pretty crazy though.

Lazylion · #19 01-06-2010, 11:21 PM

I've played sick lots of times. All you can do is take the necessary medicines, try to get some sleep before the show, and suck it up and get through it! Your bandmates will (should) be grateful.

And onstage, keep a chair or stool nearby, in case you suddenly need to sit down.

tekkentool · #20 01-06-2010, 11:42 PM

try and find this kind of stuff at your supermarket, it's a powder you put in water. It's pretty simple stuff but it make's you feel that much less sick. I wouldn't go for energy drinks if you're feeling sick, i like them as much as anyone, but all the stimulants and high acidity level isn't doing you good.