what you do when your band drinks to much

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

Drinking is great. (pause for drink...mmmm). Drinking and playing SUCKS. Drinking and playing in PUBLIC is just a mess.

"free drinks" gigs are just a frustrating mess - I hate them. I'm in a bar, with free drink all night, and I won't touch a drop (well maybe one, but just ONE). Now if they were to say "play tonight, come back TOMORROW and get free drinks" that would be fine (work tonight, party tomorrow), but offering free drinks while I'm trying to work is no use to me at all.

Honestly, what kind of job pays you by impairing your ability to do the job? I bet the bar staff don't get paid in drinks. If the bar staff got drunk while working they'd get fired, then they ENCOURAGE the band to get drunk...

make no sense to me.

mmm - I apear to have finshed my drink. Time for another. Just as well I'm not playing tonight!

No, no, no, "free drinks" means work now, party AFTER. Have someone else drive you to the gig and drink the night a way to celebrate a job well done!

[Scott Roc]

Originally Posted by tweak

Generally we get a good buzz on for a show but we try to avoid getting sloppy. Unless we're doing multiple sets - by the third we want to be absolutely STINKING.

If I went to see a celtic/pirate punk band and they were NOT drunk I'd want my money back.

[BigOldHarry]

I drink therefor I am.

[tZer]

Hey, there are varying degrees of "professionalism" in the band world. So automatically ascribing the same "9 to 5 job" parameters around a more casual, cover band who is playing at small, casual clubs is admirable, but not necessarily correct.

Now if you are in a band and that IS your sole source of income, you're booked 345 days a year, being hired for major events, etc... the ante is significantly upped and yes, I agree that is a 100% job and should be treated as such.

But for those of us who take our bands seriously enough to want to put on an excellent show, but who also consider playing in a band a cool and creative way to have some fun, get out and party a bit and even bring home a couple of extra $$, being so serious about it as to consider it exactly the same as your 40-hour/wk. job is a little out of proportion, in my opinion.

That said, even a "for the fun/hobby" band should at least make sure their earning their pay. If there are players who are out of control of their consumption of [n], and it's causing the band to fall short and not do what they're being paid to do, there's a problem.

As an individual, if you are not able to drink and still do what your gig requires, you should consider what's more important to you. If it's getting drunk, put down your ax and join the crowd. If it's putting on a killer show and you cannot do that when drinking, put down the booze and join the band. Toast up when you're done or off duty IF you cannot indulge moderately enough to be effective.

If you're in a band and there are members who are impacting the band's ability to deliver the goods you can ask them if they'd please stop messing things up for the band as a whole. If they won't, you can choose to leave.

[HashbrownCOBM]

I don't know, you'd have to ask the dudes in my old band. I was usually the one that drank too much but I could still play. Not nearly as well obviously but well enough for most people to not notice other than the rest of me mates.

[IanStephenson]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

No, no, no, "free drinks" means work now, party AFTER. Have someone else drive you to the gig and drink the night a way to celebrate a job well done!

yeah - but we have to play till closing time...

[dwanetom]

We have a gtr in our Classic Rock band who went too far a couple of times. I started recording our gigs on my Edirol and after he heard himself he quit drinking on gigs.

[varunkapahi]

to the op,
now that maybe you've edited your first post, do you drink at all?

[Bassenstien]

what you do when your band drinks to much

"must have been a good show"

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

Oh, you were wanting a serious answer? Then let me ask a serious question. How many of you that have day jobs drink all day long (and are able to keep a day job)? If this is my job (and it was for 25 years) and a drunk is threatening my livelyhood then he goes. If he drinks enough he probably won't even notice he's been replaced and is riding the "city" bus.

Well said.
Don't drink while you play. SIMPLE !!!!!

[SteveC]

- find another band.

[Pandafist]

Originally Posted by mobax

There is absolutely NO excuse for getting drunk on the job. My advice is to ditch these losers now.

Did the Who ditch Keith Moon?

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I drink therefor I am.

I am an extra-stench-alist, I stink, therefore I am.

If it becomes about the booze, time to get out. You are probably involved with alcoholics or soon to be alcoholics.

Starting in the 60's music became associated with getting high. If you can not express yourself without becoming impared, there is something wrong.

Music has nothing to do with booze or drugs.

[Gallant Reflex]

Originally Posted by tweak

I play in a celtic/pirate punk band and naturally there is a lot of grog consumption. The mandolin player and myself are not huuuge drinkers but we do partake. The only one of us who seems really affected is our drummer who, at times, has screwed us up and just forgotten where he was in a song. It doesn't happen much anymore since he's sort of figured that's no good. Generally we get a good buzz on for a show but we try to avoid getting sloppy. Unless we're doing multiple sets - by the third we want to be absolutely STINKING.

What the heck is a celtic/pirate punk band with mandolins and grog?? This I gotta see. Is there anything on YouTube?

[dcr]

Drinks too much once or twice or every show? Maybe I missed that difference in a post somewhere.

Once and a while: probably not a big deal. Every show and/or rehearsal: BIG DEAL! If that's the case, I think I'd be looking elsewhere.





dcr

[johnabasstool]

I personally cannot sing and play my bass under the influence, and I would not like to think I was letting anyone else down during the show, particularly in front of a paying audience - think Weddings and other pvt do's.........but afterwards, let's PARRRRRTYYYYYY!!