+1...
if you diddnt want to hear this "anti drunk driving crap" you shouldent have mentioned it..
if you guys cant rehearse without drinking, youve got bigger problems than a sloppy band
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Alcohol and playing ability
- Thread starter Back'N'Black
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+1...
if you diddnt want to hear this "anti drunk driving crap" you shouldent have mentioned it..
if you guys cant rehearse without drinking, youve got bigger problems than a sloppy band
Yeah I had to chuckle at this too! It is a proven fact that drinking impairs your ability to do anything. To the OP, if you don't want criticism on drinking and driving then you shouldn't have posted such to ridiculous statement in the first place!
When I was young and playin 4 to 5 nights a week I drank like a fish, sang lead, and played the hell out of my bass. Rock & Roll!!! But then I formed a band that had a taste for much more musical complexity and high energy and I quickly realized the old habits had to fall by the wayside. For me, giving up being drunk or stoned and playing my best wasn't a problem but several others I used to play with couldn't deal with sobriety and they became casualties of the times.. Figure it out.
No offense taken, hey I'm just askin questions. I spent the first part of my life as a pro mechanic and the rest as a carpenter (very high-end one). No alcohol didnt help either one other then releive the stress at the end of the day. Geeze man I'm just asking questions as I gear up for the rest of my life. 29 years self-supporting so far after being severely abused as a kid. Give me a break. I drank a little too much here and there, whatever.
I'm not here to pick fights. I am very responsible. I work for myself and make my own paycheck. I am no loser.
The more YOU drink, the better I sound.
Some people (alcoholics) have to maintain a certain B.A.C. to just function properly. This is called maintenance drinking. That is one thing. If you are not an alcoholic, or drug addict, using to maintain, and keep from being sick from withdrawing from the substance, then using drugs or alcohol thinking that it makes you perform better at ANYTHING is delusional.
Some people (alcoholics) have to maintain a certain B.A.C. to just function properly. This is called maintenance drinking. That is one thing. If you are not an alcoholic, or drug addict, using to maintain, and keep from being sick from withdrawing from the substance, then using drugs or alcohol thinking that it makes you perform better at ANYTHING is delusional.
I understand the question, and am very sorry you had those issues in your life...but just like in the bigger scope alcohol can be a crutch for those life issues the same can happen in the smaller scope of the musician. In my opinion, there are only a few reasons why musicians decide they need to bring alcohol to their act:
1.) They think they somehow look more "macho" or "bad-a" with those brews up there, as if it adds to their ability. That works for bar scenes where its just wasted people who could care less about the music...but not in places where people actually came for the band, are mature, and/or care about the music.
2.) They need to compensate for a personality or playing ability that isn't up to par with the profession, i.e. they may need it to loosen up or they need it because it somehow "makes them play better". Either way, it isn't really needed because there are a ****-ton of other ways to get the same results. One example for the former: confidence builders. One example for the latter: learning your material.
3.) They have a problem.
In any case, it isn't really needed for various reasons. If someone insists or consistently recommends they or someone else does need it, then they are either A) delusional or B) dependent. Probably different levels of both though.
Lots of judgmental knee-jerking going on here.
I think you've answered your own question.. plenty of folks are either significantly talented enough or can process their inebriation in way that makes them able to do s**t that I can only dream of sober or not.
Just check yourself. If you play for fun and drinking has an affect on your level of fun then adjust accordingly (either way!). For example if playing drunk is fun then do it. However, if you suck playing drunk yet enjoy playing to an appreciative crowd, you have an adjustment to make to in order to yield the most fun.
If you play for money same formula applies...
Don't know if you suck playing high? Do both and record the results, or ask someone you can trust.
I think you've answered your own question.. plenty of folks are either significantly talented enough or can process their inebriation in way that makes them able to do s**t that I can only dream of sober or not.
Just check yourself. If you play for fun and drinking has an affect on your level of fun then adjust accordingly (either way!). For example if playing drunk is fun then do it. However, if you suck playing drunk yet enjoy playing to an appreciative crowd, you have an adjustment to make to in order to yield the most fun.
If you play for money same formula applies...
Don't know if you suck playing high? Do both and record the results, or ask someone you can trust.
15-20 years. Started when I was a young teen. More than just alcohol too, and I too " maintained" throughout. So I am not speaking as if I am holier than thou, I speak from personal experience.
Thanks for an honest answer. Never have done more then drinking, not saying that makes me better. Somehow this thread got derailed a bit. And I'm drunk as MF
This debate is pretty easily quantified.
The ONLY thing that we do better under the influence is believing the unbelievable. Not driving. Not playing bass. Not making love. Not nuthin.
Period.
I LOVE bourbon. I LOVE good beer. I LOVE decent wine. I love them all more than I should. So I understand at least part of the OP's equation.
Hey, if you believe that you play better with a flammable organic solvent poisoning your nervous system, nothing I say is gonna convince you otherwise.
The ONLY thing that we do better under the influence is believing the unbelievable. Not driving. Not playing bass. Not making love. Not nuthin.
Period.
I LOVE bourbon. I LOVE good beer. I LOVE decent wine. I love them all more than I should. So I understand at least part of the OP's equation.
Hey, if you believe that you play better with a flammable organic solvent poisoning your nervous system, nothing I say is gonna convince you otherwise.
if you ask me your better off seeing how drinking or getting high while playing effects you. For me personaly i like getting just as f**ked up as the crowd is. If the crowd is drunk as h*ll then get drunk have fun they wont care if you miss a note. If crowed is sober don't.
bahhhh. I have yet to see any "judgemental knee jerking". Please point it out for me. Just because there is hard-edged straightforwardness about a volatile subject doesn't make anyone judgmental. It makes them honest.
Yeah, you're right. I think Rusty Wallace should get wasted right before Talladega. I bet he'll mow down the competition...
literally.
See the definition of "delusional" as presented above.
^Does this work the same if I think punting babies is fun? Or if I think punching homeless guys is fun? It's all about me, right?
Apparently I offended the alcoholics.
Let's simplify further with another example:
I like to drink when I paint paintings.. I don't necessarily paint well when I'm drunk but I'm no master painter either way... in fact, plenty of drunks can produce better pictures then my sober results. oddly enough, I still like to drink when I'm painting.
Now, substitute "Painting" with your preferred artistic endeavor or in fact any harmless pastime (Billiards comes to mind). Do not substitute for operating heavy machinery (I don't usually associate AN ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR such as playing bass with automobile racing .. well maybe if I'm playing speed metal lol.).
Let's simplify further with another example:
I like to drink when I paint paintings.. I don't necessarily paint well when I'm drunk but I'm no master painter either way... in fact, plenty of drunks can produce better pictures then my sober results. oddly enough, I still like to drink when I'm painting.
Now, substitute "Painting" with your preferred artistic endeavor or in fact any harmless pastime (Billiards comes to mind). Do not substitute for operating heavy machinery (I don't usually associate AN ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR such as playing bass with automobile racing .. well maybe if I'm playing speed metal lol.).
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