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Anyone else have this problem?

Post gig insomnia

  • Yep

    Votes: 115 59.0%

  • Nope

    Votes: 55 28.2%

  • Depends on the type of gig

    Votes: 25 12.8%
  • Total voters
    195
birminghambass

birminghambass

Sep 18, 2002
7,088
8,692
Birmingham, AL
#1
Great gig last night. 3 sets of rock cover tunes (including Red Barchetta!). Place was packed. Lots of ladies, lots of dancing, lots of fun. End at 1am, at my house at 2am. Shower, go to bed. Cannot sleep. Finally drift off about 5am, back awake at 6. Fall back asleep only to be up for good at 9. 4 hours of sleep. Feel like I've been hit by a truck today.
It sucks, but what sucks more is that it's been like this for about 6 months now. I literally can't sleep more than a few hours after a gig. Some gigs I don't sleep at all after. It's to the point where I'm considering quitting the band. Any thoughts? Is this common? I'm at my wits end here. FWIW all of our gigs are the 4 hour bar-band type.
 
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#2
birminghambass said:
Great gig last night. 3 sets of rock cover tunes (including Red Barchetta!). Place was packed. Lots of ladies, lots of dancing, lots of fun. End at 1am, at my house at 2am. Shower, go to bed. Cannot sleep. Finally drift off about 5am, back awake at 6. Fall back asleep only to be up for good at 9. 4 hours of sleep. Feel like I've been hit by a truck today.
It sucks, but what sucks more is that it's been like this for about 6 months now. I literally can't sleep more than a few hours after a gig. Some gigs I don't sleep at all after. It's to the point where I'm considering quitting the band. Any thoughts? Is this common? I'm at my wits end here. FWIW all of our gigs are the 4 hour bar-band type.
Click to expand...

Do you drink extra caffeine or alcohol? Do you log on to your computer when you get home? All of of these interfere with sleep. Beyond that, engaging your brain late at night makes it hard to shut down and getting out of your regular sleep pattern can also cause problems.

The temperature of your shower can have an impact as well. Should You Shower Before Bed for Better Sleep? Yes, Here’s Why | Tuck Sleep
 
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#3
birminghambass said:
Great gig last night. 3 sets of rock cover tunes (including Red Barchetta!). Place was packed. Lots of ladies, lots of dancing, lots of fun. End at 1am, at my house at 2am. Shower, go to bed. Cannot sleep. Finally drift off about 5am, back awake at 6. Fall back asleep only to be up for good at 9. 4 hours of sleep. Feel like I've been hit by a truck today.
It sucks, but what sucks more is that it's been like this for about 6 months now. I literally can't sleep more than a few hours after a gig. Some gigs I don't sleep at all after. It's to the point where I'm considering quitting the band. Any thoughts? Is this common? I'm at my wits end here. FWIW all of our gigs are the 4 hour bar-band type.
Click to expand...
So it's only after gigs you can't maintain your sleep?

What's different (other the actually playing)?
 
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#5
I’m similar, I just can’t unwind from it as easily. I try to shower and eat something and that always helps but it still takes me a while to fall asleep. I don’t have trouble staying asleep though. Once I am out, I’m out.
 
#10
birminghambass said:
Oh I'm sure it's a combination of smoke, alcohol, late night physical activity. I'm mostly curious if others have my same issue, not why I have it.
Click to expand...

You're not alone.

I didn't use to have this sort of problem, but things can change as you get older. Rather than quitting the gig, I suggest seeing if you can eliminate or reduce the unique gig associated behaviors that contribute to the problem.

I get that having a few drinks is nice, but maybe it's better to stick with water. I used to love drinking coffee and having a few drinks when I was up partying. The alcohol made me more open to social interaction, and the coffee helped me stay awake and engaged.

At this point I limit myself to weak coffee once a week; I'll be up late tonight ;). Alcohol has been totally off the menu for almost a decade, and I suspect I'll totally give up coffee as soon as the next bag is gone. It doesn't take much of either to make me feel like death the next day (or two).

Regardless of whether you resolve the problem, your probably still going to feel a bit trashed the next day, but maybe you can make it manageable.
 
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#12
I flip back and forth between two extremes. After a gig I’m either completely wired or crashing semi-hard. No in between. Also no rhyme or reason for which. I don’t usually drink before. during, or after a gig. So it’s not alcohol related. I usually have a light meal in me beforehand. And I do stay hydrated. So that’s not it either. Possibly has something to do with blood pressure medication. But whatever. About all I can say is I’m either up or down big time after I play. I gave up trying to figure out the why of it ages ago.
 
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#17
Is this a big change from your regular routine?
How late do you usually stay up?
Are you overly tired?
These might be factors. I am not a night owl whatsoever and even staying up until 11 pm is difficult for me
When I have to work all night long or late into the night it really throws me off and I can't sleep.
 
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