Post Gig Exhaustion

[ZonGuy]

I usually do church gigs or restaurant gigs that end at 10., but wanted to do the bar band thing for a change.

I played both Friday & Sat nite with several hundred lbs of equipment load in. The Sat. nite gig was awful for several reasons, not the least being that the 4 1/2 hr gig was outside in a humid heat inside an enclosed sound-shield without fans (start of gig was 98F, end of gig was 86F). Got home at 1AM as opposed to my normal bed time of 10PM.

Today, I was totally wasted.

OK, so next time, bring fans and more bottled water, drink less beer.

Any other suggestions

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by ZonGuy

I usually do church gigs or restaurant gigs that end at 10., but wanted to do the bar band thing for a change.

I played both Friday & Sat nite with several hundred lbs of equipment load in. The Sat. nite gig was awful for several reasons, not the least being that the 4 1/2 hr gig was outside in a humid heat inside an enclosed sound-shield without fans (start of gig was 98F, end of gig was 86F). Got home at 1AM as opposed to my normal bed time of 10PM.

Today, I was totally wasted.

OK, so next time, bring fans and more bottled water, drink less beer.

Any other suggestions

Don't do it again.
J/K- I have a Camelbak hydration pack for cycling that I intend to use next time I end up outside in the sun. It's just a bit easier to keep drinking(whatever you put in it- I'm a water guy, at least on the gig )when you don't have to stop, lean over/take a few steps/etc.

[selfblessed]

So you were essentially in a sauna? That sucks. Keep the water up before/during/after the gig. And as much as it pains me...maybe a beer or two less. You should be good.

[MakiSupaStar]

I think there's also a level of mental exhaustion that you're not taking into effect. It's not uncommon to just feel utterly spent and sometimes almost depressed after a show.

[bassfrenzie]

Ya gotta be tough to play the bass.

[dealbreaker]

Enjoy it. This is the type of exhaustion that a lot of folks dream of.

[invader3k]

I know what you mean. We had practice yesterday, and we've been practicing in a local bar the last couple weeks (long story). The owner was kind of a dick to me yesterday, telling me I couldn't park my car by the back door (which is where the loading zone is) to load out my amp and gear, even though I told him twice I was just going to unload quick and then move it (I even had my hazard lights on). So I had to lug my gear an extra twenty yards or so. Not that bad, but when I still had to help set up the PA, and then help with tear down at the end, it made for a lot of extra work.

[loend68]

I’m with you…..last thurs I did a fill in gig for some friends at a bar an hour away, played til 1:45am, got home at 3:30 and back to my day job at 8am. Friday had a great original gig with my band and made it home by 3am. Saturday played a new bar an hour away, played til 1:45 and made it to bed by 4:30 after unloading the PA back at the jamroom. Had a great time at all the gigs, but Sunday was a rough one…..

[Bayou_Brawler]

Originally Posted by ZonGuy

I usually do church gigs or restaurant gigs that end at 10., but wanted to do the bar band thing for a change.

I played both Friday & Sat nite with several hundred lbs of equipment load in. The Sat. nite gig was awful for several reasons, not the least being that the 4 1/2 hr gig was outside in a humid heat inside an enclosed sound-shield without fans (start of gig was 98F, end of gig was 86F). Got home at 1AM as opposed to my normal bed time of 10PM.

Today, I was totally wasted.

OK, so next time, bring fans and more bottled water, drink less beer.

Any other suggestions

HA!

i often get home at 6am from shows....

most music clubs shut down at 2am....get out an paid by 3am....depending on the drive home....puts ya at about 4am - 6am for semi local gigs....

if you can't make it till 1am just give up on being a rockstar

but yeah it can be tough.....just get as much sleep before as possible...eat some high energy food...and get on it

[DaveDeVille]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

I think there's also a level of mental exhaustion that you're not taking into effect.
It's not uncommon to just feel utterly spent and sometimes almost depressed after a show.

true .

my wife thought i was mad at her all weekend , but i had just finished four gigs
in eight days ... for me , that's some serious burn out .

[funkythumb]

Been down that road and finally decided that I'd only do those long gigs if they paid really well or they were jazz gigs that i really enjoyed. I now have very regular gigs with quite a number of bands that either pay well and/or I love playing with.
Long story short, I'm a happier, wealthier bass player who isn't as burned out.

[varunkapahi]

sometime back i used to play with a fairly ameture band. gig were never so good, and were very exhausting. the weird thing was we didn't really talk to each other for a couple of days after every gig haha

[loend68]

Beyond the lack of sleep is the physical aspect. We're a pretty active band on stage plus the load in/out and the next morning there's a lot of aches and pains.

I remember when I was kid and the party started after the gig/load out.....

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by ZonGuy

The Sat. nite gig was awful for several reasons, not the least being that the 4 1/2 hr gig was outside in a humid heat inside an enclosed sound-shield without fans (start of gig was 98F, end of gig was 86F).

Sounds like a marathon to me.

Some hydration/nutrition tips from the marathon runners union might be of help:

# Runners should begin races and training runs well-hydrated. You'll know you're well-hydrated when your urine is clear or pale yellow, not dark yellow.
# Drink only when thirsty during a race or long training run, not every mile or so.
# Rather than plain water, drink a sports drink that contains sodium and other electrolytes, like the following:
# Monitor your body. Some people sweat more than others.
#Have some protein bars available to snack on and/or eat some protein/carbs during the breaks.

As far the the LILO, if you're not used to it, you def. will fill it the next day. Also, missing your normal sleep routine will throw off everything as well. Soreness, yes, exhaustion? Probably from dehydration.

Next time, maybe you can get a couple of friends/volunteers to help do the "roadie" work.

[StyleOverShow]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

I think there's also a level of mental exhaustion that you're not taking into effect. It's not uncommon to just feel utterly spent and sometimes almost depressed after a show.

Have to agree, after the highs of the shows, and the adrenaline rush you have burned off most of your blood sugar and then some. Not uncommon to sit down and feel like you can't get up.

I drink Gatorade between beers now, with the occassional upscale bottle of Peligrino.

My biggest surprise overall is the number of 'worship' bands.

[BillyRay]

4 hours gig in 98F weather, you shouldn't be drinking any beer at all if you're not used to it (or use chemical enhancement, and that's just plain stupid medically when the heat is so high). The above tips on hydratation are good. Another thing that helps if keeping yourself in shape and pretty fit. There's a reason, apart from cocaine that is, that pretty much all the rockstars are skeletic: when you rock for 3-4 hours 4-5 nights a week, this constitutes a serious workout, both on the physical and mental aspects of the equation.

And that can be very challenging if you're not ready.

[jady]

Most pros (over 30 anyways) have to keep in pretty good shape for those 2-3 hr nightly shows. (diet, cardio, etc)

When I was touring and playing 5 hours a night we would sleep most of the day just to make up for the exertion on stage every night. It is very physically and mentally demanding.

[Ric5]

How do you get home at 1am? a lot of bar gigs have you playing until 1 or 2 am and the you tear down and then you drive home and then you unload and when you finally get to bed it is 3am or later ...

[Johnny Crab]

Here's my "routine" for Tuesday gig 100 miles away(get home at 1:30~2:00 am with work at 7:45 am). It is a "house band" gig outdoors in conditions similar to those you described.

On the drive there(100 miles) after lunch normally:
1 Monster
1 bottle of water
1 coffee
A couple of aspirin(arthritis in my left hip, motorcycle accident)

During setup:
1 Poweraide/Gatoraide
1 water

While playing:
MAYBE 1 adult beverage
At least 2 or 3 waters

During final set:
Large plain Coke
One water
One coffee

On the drive home:
1 Poweraide/Gatoraide(or less)
Some sort of chips or high sodium containing snack
MAYBE more aspirin, depends on the hip socket & weather

At home before bed:
2 slices of turkey & a glass of water or milk

The above has been worked out to be the best after 90+ gigs of doing this FUN "routine". The next day at work is rough but tolerable. Apologies for the length but that's what I do. I also have a fan on me 90% of the time(aimed at near-mic stand location, SAM's ~ $55)...same as the one our drummer uses.

[ZonGuy]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I need to get in shape.

Saying hello to Johnny Crab, long lost buddy from "elsewhere"

How do you get home at 1am? - Outside band shuts down at 11PM due to noise regulations since near a subdivision - they monitor volume with a dB meter. Indise DJ keeps going to 2AM.

if you can't make it till 1am just give up on being a rockstar Well, lets see in 25 years, you will be my age.