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Alcohol + Gigs = success?.. or failure?

#201
MGR said:
I don't drink, but I do partake of another substance that has been rumored to have music enhancing powers. To me, I can handle playing while on that substance, and actually find it much more enjoyable, but I have never let it get in the way of my playing. Nor have I ever been talked to, at or fired for using this unnamed substance. So I think that if you feel you can personally handle it, why not take a couple drinks before you go on? As long as it doesn't alter your playing and/or personality for the negative, I'm all for it. In my experience, however, alcohol and music don't mix very well. But that is my experience only. As for the "other unnamed substance" it is undeniable that some of the best music has been created while on it, and in my experience, some of the best jams I've had were on it.
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Plays hell on writing though... Larry Niven wrote about the unnamed substance being the death of creativity in either Playgrounds of the Mind or N-Space, I can't remember which. I do remember thinking when I read it, "YMMV Larry, always YMMV."

I played with a guy who while a chronic user of the unnamed substance, but won't touch it before a show, he starts thinking about pizza, and there goes his playing...

A couple times in my younger guitar playing days I dropped...shall we say Jimi's fave...before a jam session (just guys screwing around, not a band situation) and that apparently turns me into the best metronome for speed metal. At least until the frets start the Dance of Fairy Queen...

I'll usually have a couple or three beers before the show, one or two on stage, whatever after. Usually along with some unnamed substance.

The thing that is death on me for performing is ibuprofen. I can take aspirin or acetaminophen, no problem. Take one ibu and my timing goes right out the window. Funny thing is the drummer has the same problem, one rehearsal we both kind of brain farted and took ibu's before, sure enough both of us were right out the window on our timing, right out the SAME window... Been playing with the guy for more than 20 years now, but I didn't expect that.

Guitar player was distinctly relieved when the drummer and I were loling about it afterwards, I guess the poor guy thought he was the one out to lunch...
 
#203
I used to drink fairly heavily onstage in my younger days, but now I limit myself to 2 beers a night. Aside from not wanting booze to affect my playing, I'm also concerned with driving home safely after the show. My wife is a DUI/traffic attorney, and I'm now very aware of how easy it is to get pulled over by the cops at that time of night (or morning). I save my recreational drinking for non-gig nights when someone else is driving.
 
#204
One beer max when we eat before a gig, that's my limit. I know I don't play well if I drink, and I usually drive to and from a gig as well. Personally I hate visibly drunk people on stage, it's embarrassing, disrespectful to the audience and usually bad musically as well. I'm not paying to see that, and I don't think others should pay to see me do that either.
 
#206
glocke1 said:
Generally, I've noticed the more alcohol/pot involved, the sloppier the music. There is a happy medium though...

Lately I've been trying to stay sober when playing and I think I've been sounding better.
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For sure mate! A lot of it as well depends on the setting of the gig I think. If you are playing a function gig like a wedding or something, where the music should be of high quality, then it's probably not the best idea... Alternatively if it's a house party where everyone is smashed, it might be worth it to have a couple drinks and care less about dancing around and looking like an idiot ;)
 
#207
Usually whenever we're playing a gig I barely have time to drink more than 2 beers because I'm so busy with load-in, set up, soundcheck, playing, tear down, load-out. There's usually just not enough time for sitting around and drinking.

Our old singer developed a serious problem with alcoholism, and he'd get shitfaced. He'd forget lyrics, and even hold a drink in his hand while singing. Sometimes he'd just walk out in the middle of a song because he had to piss/poopie/puke, and either myself or the rhythm guitarist would end up singing half the set between us. These were the last couple gigs we did with this guy. The problem was he had been in the band for over 10 years, and he owned a lot of the PA. Eventually it became too much.
 
#208
We all (well all but the one straight edge guy) have a drink or two before we go onstage and we often even share a small case of beer at practice but we don't get trashed and play. To us it's just not fun to spend time promoting a show, investing in quality gear, and practicing to go up and have one guy make you feel like the show wasn't as good as it could have been. For me personally I typically have two drinks before the set and if I want to drink more I wait until after weve played. Cause for me it's mainly to relax and settle down(I get stage fright if I'm totally sober). There are some exceptions like if we play out of town and the turnout is horrible sometimes well just collectively say the heck with it and make a party out of it.
 
#212
Not a big drinker myself, I may have a beer through a set but no effect is felt. My hole life I've mostly played sober, as long as I get to disconnect from my brain and just play music, it is a great show and I'm pretty good at doing that. However, lately I got a bit more relax and have enjoyed the other stuff that's legal in a few states (and had always waited for after a show) before a gig and it has been quite enjoyable... But I can go either way and quite prefer getting that natural music and crowd induced buzz.
 
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#213
MGR said:
I don't drink, but I do partake of another substance that has been rumored to have music enhancing powers. To me, I can handle playing while on that substance, and actually find it much more enjoyable, but I have never let it get in the way of my playing. Nor have I ever been talked to, at or fired for using this unnamed substance. So I think that if you feel you can personally handle it, why not take a couple drinks before you go on? As long as it doesn't alter your playing and/or personality for the negative, I'm all for it. In my experience, however, alcohol and music don't mix very well. But that is my experience only. As for the "other unnamed substance" it is undeniable that some of the best music has been created while on it, and in my experience, some of the best jams I've had were on it.
Click to expand...

Nyquil?
 
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#218
I have been Straight Edge since 1982, so i have never ever had a drink, or a cig, or been high. Have never needed it. I also have never been a d*&k about it with my other friends/band mates etc, as many of my sXe friends fell to substances in college. I don't care if people indulge. My only rule is "if you are going to throw up, I am outta here". I do hate it when people get stupid drunk, and usually disassociate myself with them b/c it bores me to be around people in that state. I also hate when drinkers become d*^ks with me b/c I don't drink, which happens about 98% of the time. I really have never seen a "positive" to being in an altered state. It all seems real selfish to me. But like I said, I never judge, and don't alter friendships b/c of it. I always tell my bandmates (and other drinker friends) that I will help them get home or be safe, but will NOT help them get out of situations that are a direct result of "drinking stupidity"...like fights, losing stuff etc. I feel like sometimes a lesson needs to be learned, and can only be learned the hard way.

My band mates love it cause there is always a DD. I could not even imagine being out of control for a gig, other than the high induced by fast, heavy music, and a close, circular mosh pit. in all of my experiences, being in an "altered-state" has ruined many a song/gig/band/friendship/car...etc. There has never been a time where drinking helped or aided a situation
 
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#219
Late 70s, early 80s, as far as I was concerned it was essential to be wasted on stage. For a R&R band, anyhow. Then 2 things happened. The music industry changed. I grew up.

I've played every gig since 1984 (somewhere around 2000), stone cold sober. My music is important to me. Could say a lot more, but I'm sure it's already been said... didn't read the whole thread.
 
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