Anyone else have this problem?

[Ostie]

It takes me a while to unwind after a late gig.

I used to play hockey, and that type of vigorous physical activity was a sleep killer. If we had a late game, say until 11:00 pm, I sometimes would be up until 2 or 3 pm. And then up for work at the usual time. It was brutal, but I love the game.

 

[HardNHeavy]

adrenaline, especially if it were a good gig....always pumped after a good gig, and would take the nextday off from work, or just get hammered when i got home

 

[Oddly]

OP, my guess is you're trying to sleep too soon. The adrenaline rush from a great gig takes quite a while to wear off.

Don't know if you folks in the States have it, but I'm quite fond of a mug of Horlicks about an hour before sleep.
It's a hot malted milk drink.

Another option to help you to sleep is sex, of course.
However, that may require a wiling partner, and it's been my experience that trying that so late at night isn't always a bright idea.

 

[REV]

For about a year I was gigging until 2am getting to bed about 4 and getting up at 6 to be at church for a first run through for the first service at 9am. I would leave church at noon and go to the gym and work out for about an hour and a half and sleep like a baby until about 6 or 7.

 

[PaulCISSA]

My drive from most of my gigs is an hour minimum. I used to have to work hard at staying alert but after a few decades I’ve figured out how to manage that. Now, by the time I’m in the driveway, I’m about ready to doze.

When I get to the truck and ready to leave the gig, I have a couple pieces of fresh fruit waiting - usually a banana and an apple. That quick hit keeps me alert for the drive and satisfies my gut to keep me asleep into the morning without hunger issues.

That’s what works for me, your mileage may vary.

 

[coronado3]

I often watch a little tv when I get home... nothing too heady. Light comedy tv series is best - half to a full hour and it really winds me down.

 

[birminghambass]

Wow, you can smoke in bars? I didn't realize that was still a thing. You do live in Alabama, so there is that...

Spoken like a true Californian. Try not to pull a muscle looking down your nose at us Southerners. Thanks for the helpful post.

 

[Clark W]

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.

Take some melatonin and see if that helps.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Spoken like a true Californian. Try not to pull a muscle looking down your nose at us Southerners.

I graduated in Mississippi and am not native to California. Cheers!

 

[lomo]

Epinephrine. It's a thing.

 

[ThePez]

yeah i have to decompress. eat some food, have a drink, a few rounds of Call of Duty... bed around 3 or 4. sleep till whenever, usually only 4-5 hours. Sleep real hard Sunday night to be fresh on Monday. unless i have a friday saturday back to back... then i try to catch a nap sat afternoon.

 

[2playbass]

I have had the same problem for years. I always wake up at the same time no matter how much sleep I have had. Then my brain reminds me of what I need to do.

Same here. I'm usually up at 6 AM. I sometimes have late gigs, playing until 2 AM. I try to take a nap in the afternoon, and I'll drink coffee before the gig. I need the boost to make it through the gig without losing my concentration from being too tired. Because of this, I'm usually wired after a gig, even if I'm not home until 3:30 AM. I'll usually sit in my recliner in a dark room for about half an hour, then go to bed. I'll be asleep by 4, but awake again at 6 because that's when my brain says it's time to wake up. I can't seem to sleep in no matter how much I may want to. I don't drink any more than one beer during a gig, but I feel totally hung over the day after a late gig.

I'm in my 50's now, and the day after a late gig, I always tell myself, "I'm too old for this sh**". But I seem to keep doing it...

 

[Eric Frey]

Just get on the thread and read where they argue about what key "Sweet Home Alabama" is in, that gets boring real quick!

 

[two fingers]

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.

Your premise is flawed. I don't believe it for a minute. There has never been a gig where there were all three of the things you mentioned.... girls, dancing, and Rush music.

Seriously, try two things. Do NOT watch TV or your computer screen when you get home
If you use your phone for a little wind-down interwebz time, turn on the blue light filter. It is literally designed to turn off the blue light in your phone screen that will keep you up.

Also, Valerian tea works well. I use two Valerian tea bags and two Rooibos bags in a rather large mug. Rooibos is good for reducing stress and Valerian is good for relaxation. The combination is great.

Turn off all overhead lights. Anthropologicaly speaking, we are wired to think it's daytime when light comes from "up".

Also, do the exact same bedtime rituals you do any other night. If you put on pink bunny slippers, brush your teeth, and fluff your pillow exactly 5 times on Monday night, do the same thing on gig night. Your brain is anamazing machine. It runs its operating system in the background. Going through your bedtime ritual gets your brain into shut-down mode, even while you're still awake.

"Physical activity" with a "partner" helps too.

 

[burgerdj]

Been there. Unpack, hot shower and a couple of mg of melatonin.

 

[JRA]

it's exciting --- like i don't want the gig to end. best time ever to reflect on the music: glad for this and that, could have done this or that --- go to sleep with a smile, a sense of satisfaction!

per the OP: it's not insomnia for me, it's 'decompression' back to the real world. it's great to be a musician!

couldn't vote: no category for "nice to be alive!"

 

[jpmcbride]

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?

Melatonin works great, is natural and over-the-counter, and doesn't leave you groggy when you get up in the morning. Seriously, give it a try.

 

[DrMole]

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.

I like the post without liking your recent experiences.

Can only empathize as having gone through similar with gigging and spending many a 7-day overnight stint at the hospital.
White noise. No screens. No light....and you still may lay awake
Wish I had helpful advice.Over the decades my methods for sleep do no better than placebo

 

[vvvmmm]

A hot shower, a enjoyable meal, and read a book.

 

[Element Zero]

It’s happened to me a handful of times. I learned to forgo any alcohol at the gig and just stick with water or soda. After I get home and shower THEN I’d bust out a Jack and Coke... or 2.