Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Alcohol + Gigs = success?.. or failure?
- Thread starter BassistNATE
- Start date
While it might be more fun and/or seem to sound better to you to play impaired, I don't think it enables you to bring your "A" game to the gig and therefor is rarely going to be better sounding in reality. For this reason, I strictly play my gigs "clean & sober" … it's plenty-o-fun for me to play as it is (and thank goodness for that as there ain't a whole helluva lotta money in it). ;^)
okcrum
in your chest
If you need to be ripped to play well, you might have deeper issues than the chemicals. 
Another local player and I had a conversation about this a few years ago. He'd toured with Sly and Richie Havens in the past. We both agreed from experience that most people who last in the business seem to eventually learn to be fabulous without.
Another local player and I had a conversation about this a few years ago. He'd toured with Sly and Richie Havens in the past. We both agreed from experience that most people who last in the business seem to eventually learn to be fabulous without.
Last edited:
It's weird that these topics keep popping up in TB forums. The stereotype of how pervasive drugs and alcohol are in the music biz clearly isn't a myth.
Here's the deal: No one person can equate their experiences with drugs or alcohol with anyone else's. Some people handle their booze better than others, some people perfer the purity of a clean performance, some people get nervous and need to loosen up; the permutations of different circumstances make it impossible for their to be a "right" way to do any of this.
For me personally, a little buzz here and there ain't a bad thing. Pure sobriety makes me a dull boy; but too much of anything throws you off balance and makes the structured parts of the creative process very hard.
Here's the deal: No one person can equate their experiences with drugs or alcohol with anyone else's. Some people handle their booze better than others, some people perfer the purity of a clean performance, some people get nervous and need to loosen up; the permutations of different circumstances make it impossible for their to be a "right" way to do any of this.
For me personally, a little buzz here and there ain't a bad thing. Pure sobriety makes me a dull boy; but too much of anything throws you off balance and makes the structured parts of the creative process very hard.
Totally depends upon the person and the gig. I can't do it, I lose everything (to the level I want to be playing, anyhow) if I drink while working. The higher profile non-bar gigs its absolutely not something that I would ever do (and in most of those situations it's not allowed anyhow).
One bar band I work with, a couple people drink and it shows in their playing and attitude. Yet one night when the singer had a few more than she normally does, she was on fire, nailing things she usually struggles with, and had the equally sauced crowd in the palm of her hand. Yet other nights she can't do that.
It's all different for different people.
Here's my take on it. Take a look at what happens to people in your audience when they've had 2-3 drinks or more. They become increasingly incoherent; think that they are dancing great (but they are not); can't connect two sentences together; etc. Then apply it to playing. I see guys all the time that think that they are playing great (but they are not); are sloppy; forget parts; etc.
Same with guys getting high (420). They think that they are playing like god's gift to guitarists (but not if you are listening to them straight); they miss cues, endings, etc. If you are in a jam band maybe, but the stuff I play with a 6-piece band needs everyone to be sharp.
I love to drink (and occasionally get high) but I have learned that playing impaired is only good for one person - the player. Just my opinion....
Same with guys getting high (420). They think that they are playing like god's gift to guitarists (but not if you are listening to them straight); they miss cues, endings, etc. If you are in a jam band maybe, but the stuff I play with a 6-piece band needs everyone to be sharp.
I love to drink (and occasionally get high) but I have learned that playing impaired is only good for one person - the player. Just my opinion....
I usually have a pint of beer during set up/sound check, Then I normally take 2 pints off ice water onto the stage for a 2 hour set, if there is an interval ill have a pint then too, then another while I pack up and socialize with any patrons. I usually then have to stop for at least 2-3 hours before or limit myself to 2 if I am driving.
Its OK to have a few as long as its not detrimental to your playing. two other members of my band are T total and one is like me and has a couple.
Its OK to have a few as long as its not detrimental to your playing. two other members of my band are T total and one is like me and has a couple.
As a drinking enthusiast from way back, I can honestly say that drinking never improved anyone's ability to do anything worth doing.
One of the bands I was in back in my college (read; 'younger') days made a point of imbibing to the point of excess. Our poison was 151/Lemonade which, unfortunately, was also the demise of said band. We still get together and jam occasionally now and joke about how we lived VH1's "Behind the Music" in the span of about 18 months! 
I wish it weren't the way it is, but I have to have like 2 drinks in me prior to a show. It's like oil in the machine. My playing is better and my stage performance is better. Of course it's a fine line. If I have too much I definitely get sloppy. Not enough and I'm boring.
My .02 cents. For those of us who get really nervous for a gig, I think a bottle of beer or one shot can be like a dose of Xanax and can actually help us play like we should.
But, more than 2 beers or 2 shots is not a good idea because too much alcohol can make us think that "we are a legend in our own mind"!
I've noticed that I can speak what little Spanish I know better on a beer or two than without. Goes for bass too.
But, more than 2 beers or 2 shots is not a good idea because too much alcohol can make us think that "we are a legend in our own mind"!
I've noticed that I can speak what little Spanish I know better on a beer or two than without. Goes for bass too.
Always interesting to read these; it seems like folks are pretty extreme about it, or have the idea that "a drink" equates to a case of beer or something, which certainly MAY have been many bassists personal experience.
I would hope, since most take music somewhat seriously, that we care enough to be professional, and from reading, that seems like it's REALLY open to individual opinion, but since what we are mostly speaking of is entertainment/playing music and not session work, people should be mature and adult enough to know their tolerances, not "experiment" the first time before a show, but not act like a stuffed shirt either; you ARE performing and MUST make it look fun and enjoyable, which doesn't mean wasted, just not uptight.
I'm I guess, a band leader for a newer tribute oriented group, and we had a show last month where it was a tight set up, with a sub sound guy who never received the input list or any info on our set up till we arrived and also probably not in top health so it was MASSIVELY stressful and finished sound check 3 minutes before they wanted to open doors, which they prefer to do 15 minutes earlier than posted. So, with great relief, I had three bottles of Guinness, which is lower in alcohol than most beer (lower in calories too, per the weight gain statement previously) to calm down, relax, and take care of quite a few other important details before our show 75 minutes later. I ate my Subway sandwich, relaxed, took care of most of the other details I had time to take care of, took photos, set lists, got all to check their tuning, meet with the soundman who thanked us for being professional and patient. etc.
Was I drunk? No.... relaxed ? "somewhat" more so; too important to get mashed, but important enough to not be so uptight as to rush the beat and not move accordingly. It was a fun gig, I went pretty well, as we video'd with a few cameras and I could critique /check everyone's bits, and we've been asked to do it again.
I would hope, since most take music somewhat seriously, that we care enough to be professional, and from reading, that seems like it's REALLY open to individual opinion, but since what we are mostly speaking of is entertainment/playing music and not session work, people should be mature and adult enough to know their tolerances, not "experiment" the first time before a show, but not act like a stuffed shirt either; you ARE performing and MUST make it look fun and enjoyable, which doesn't mean wasted, just not uptight.
I'm I guess, a band leader for a newer tribute oriented group, and we had a show last month where it was a tight set up, with a sub sound guy who never received the input list or any info on our set up till we arrived and also probably not in top health so it was MASSIVELY stressful and finished sound check 3 minutes before they wanted to open doors, which they prefer to do 15 minutes earlier than posted. So, with great relief, I had three bottles of Guinness, which is lower in alcohol than most beer (lower in calories too, per the weight gain statement previously) to calm down, relax, and take care of quite a few other important details before our show 75 minutes later. I ate my Subway sandwich, relaxed, took care of most of the other details I had time to take care of, took photos, set lists, got all to check their tuning, meet with the soundman who thanked us for being professional and patient. etc.
Was I drunk? No.... relaxed ? "somewhat" more so; too important to get mashed, but important enough to not be so uptight as to rush the beat and not move accordingly. It was a fun gig, I went pretty well, as we video'd with a few cameras and I could critique /check everyone's bits, and we've been asked to do it again.
Maybe not, but we can offer opinions based on past experience. In almost 45 years of playing in bands, the perceived benefit of playing under the influence overwhelmingly outweighs the actual benefit. I can't think of a single gig I've played that would have benefitted from the band drinking or smoking more, but I can think of a lot of gigs that would have been improved by less alcohol and drugs.
I've been hearing my whole life about the guy that just kills it while wasted but I've never played with that guy. Everyone thinks they are Hendrix (or equivilant) after a few beers or tokes.
okcrum
in your chest
Some of the casinos around here have "no drinking" stipulations for the performers they hire. I've also played casinos in CA that are alcohol free. The tribes have this figured out.
Now what do you do?
Now what do you do?
I prefer having something to sip on in between songs, whether it be water or alcohol. If there is a lot of stage lighting or if it is a hot venue, water. Otherwise a beer or whiskey is nice. Drinking before the gig? Maybe 1 drink during set up/sound check or during the opening bands. Playing the set hammered drunk? Some can pull it off, but not I.
If I'm doing covers I cannot have a drink before hand but for some reason when I play originals I can tie one on and even when I thought i bombed it the recordings told a different story a few times
Context is key, and everything is relative.
Context: are you a touring band, living the lifestyle, creating an image of debauchery and wildness? Pass the bottle, pass the pipe. Are you playing corporate gigs in a button-up and tie? Keep it clean.
Relativity: a hobbyist musician who doesn't drink much probably won't benefit from drinking. A lifetime player who is totally fluent on his instrument, and drinks regularly, won't have a problem throwing booze into the equation.
I was a guitatist in a band with a killer bassist and the two of us loved to get trashed. We also practiced constantly and gigged every week. We went into the studio, split a case of pacifico, and recorded tracks that I still love listening to to this day. His parts were magical.
Context and relativity.
Context: are you a touring band, living the lifestyle, creating an image of debauchery and wildness? Pass the bottle, pass the pipe. Are you playing corporate gigs in a button-up and tie? Keep it clean.
Relativity: a hobbyist musician who doesn't drink much probably won't benefit from drinking. A lifetime player who is totally fluent on his instrument, and drinks regularly, won't have a problem throwing booze into the equation.
I was a guitatist in a band with a killer bassist and the two of us loved to get trashed. We also practiced constantly and gigged every week. We went into the studio, split a case of pacifico, and recorded tracks that I still love listening to to this day. His parts were magical.
Context and relativity.
There's a fine line here I think you might be missing.
"drinking or smoking more" or "kills it while wasted" is very different than having ONE drink or puff. Everyone's limit is different isn't it? A real lightweight with no experience should probably not dive headfirst into beer goggle playing. I know that I can still be OK after one beer (a real beer, not this watered down domestic garbage) or a shot, sometimes I need to if I'm getting butterflies before a show.
While you personally may not have met or played with the true booze hounds that can make it happen while being twisted out of their mind, unless you've toured with true living legends, that doesn't mean much. The dudes selling gold and platinum records seem to be able to hold it down live; until they die that is.
I'd also say there is a slight difference between live and writing/recording. I don't know many people that don't have a beer or glass of wine to unwind a little, which then helps them get the creative juices flowing. Getting blind drunk or super high might interfere with that process, but we are talking about degrees here.
- Jan 12, 2011
- 4,578
- 2,460
- Disclosures
- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
There are people who can drink and there are people who should not drink and believe me Gigs have nothing to do with it. It depends on the situation. At a nice gig I'll have a glass of wine before I play. At a bar/grill maybe a beer or glass of wine. Moderation is the key and knowing yourself and how alcohol affects you. I have friends who at younger ages were wildmen and now they don't drink at all because they couldn't handle it and get upset with you if they smell any alcohol on you. I can't stand that. You've made your problem my problem. I can recall a guy getting upset because he smelled alcohol on me at rehearsal. I still have a day job. I took off on my day job to make his rehearsal and came to other rehearsals on my days off. Traveled to another state to make his rehearsals and just because I had a beer with my lunch before practice he had a hissy fit. Needless to say I quit after a few gigs. My point of view is if you can handle it and still get down I personally don't give a damn what you do. I mind my own business. If you can't handle it and it affects the the music don't do it.
