Do you get drunk before playing??

[knumbskull]

Thinking about it, it has to be one of the only jobs in which been inebriated is tolerated.

In this country, the whole Navy was well over the driving limit until comparitively recently

 

[Crystalman85]

My brother got drunk at a gig. he had 3 long island iced teas, but he did manage to do a phenomenal performance. even though he did lose a little balance and messed up a few parts, he was able to perform all the way through the set.

 

[MegaSwing]

My brother got drunk at a gig. he had 3 long island iced teas, but he did manage to do a phenomenal performance. even though he did lose a little balance and messed up a few parts, he was able to perform all the way through the set.

It has been done before. It is widely viewed as a poor and unprofessional practice.

 

[Crystalman85]

It has been done before. It is widely viewed as a poor and unprofessional practice.

This doesn't happen all the time when we perform. only a few times this happens. it also depends on how much he has dranked. I personally don't drink before a performance. I drink after word.

 

[BazzTard]

I suffer from anxiety rather badly, so I'll have a couple of drinks before the show and one drink per set. It takes a lot more than that to get me drunk, which I never am at a show as my timing is all over the place when drunk.

 

[gsquare]

One time years ago, the drummer was all over the place and was driving me nuts, so I downed 2 double rum and cokes on the first break. Huge mistake, neither one of us had any time to speak of the rest of the night, it was a nightmare, like flying and airplane through fog with a co-pilot who babbles incoherently and incessantly. Never again did I drink on the gig.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I never work when I'm drinking, and I apply that principle to bass playing too.

 

[robbroncs]

I suffer from anxiety rather badly, so I'll have a couple of drinks before the show and one drink per set. It takes a lot more than that to get me drunk, which I never am at a show as my timing is all over the place when drunk.

THIS. word for word.

 

[Quilbert]

Here's a handy tip for those of you into 'relic-ing' your basses

(nothing worse than after the show when they crank all the house lights on....ahhh, my eyes!)

This is when all my jack leads, tuners and pedal power supplies and guitar stands go 'wandering' into other peoples gear bags.

 

[Quilbert]

Here we go again.

Playing music is work. I don't work drunk. Drunk = impaired.

I hope i never get to a stage where I consider playing music merely 'work'.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

THIS. word for word.

Yes sir..

 

[timobee4]

As a professional working bass player I can not afford to let myself and the others down by getting pissed before or during a performance! Our drummer sinks 8-10 JD&Coke during the usual 3-4 sets and his timing suffers a great deal! Lucky that he is otherwise an unbelievable drummer.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

As a professional working bass player I can not afford to let myself and the others down by getting pissed before or during a performance! Our drummer sinks 8-10 JD&Coke during the usual 3-4 sets and his timing suffers a great deal! Lucky that he is otherwise an unbelievable drummer.

He does this every time and it effects his timing a great deal, yet he's an unbelievable drummer?

 

[vin*tone]

I might have a beer beforehand - but only if I know the material and band really well.

 

[timobee4]

He does this every time and it effects his timing a great deal, yet he's an unbelievable drummer?

I'm afraid so!! Everyone has different tolerance I guess. I suck after few drinks, he fires up and does patterns most drummer would kill for. It's the slow songs when his timing gets a little inconsistent (last set) I hear it, audience just dancing away carelessly. I think after 30+years of drumming he deserves some slack. When he is sick we use 2-3 different backup drummers, all pedigree yet nowhere near our Lofty!

 

[TheBass]

Do you get drunk before playing??

I leave that to the singers

 

[buldog5151bass]

I hope i never get to a stage where I consider playing music merely 'work'.

1 I never said MERE
2 If you are doing it for love, why do you need to drink alcohol
3 it is work, you are getting paid to perform a service, not party

 

[FrankLowend]

Dentist harms people.

Bassist sounds bad.

Your analogy is flawed.

The guy in the bar is working too, lets respect the guy and ask one more Guiness!!!

 

[Jon Moody]

Do you guys prefer it playing bass drunk?? Or rather drink afterwards or none at all?
Share your experiences!

I'm sure this has been said (but I'm not going to sift through the thread).

I am a professional musician. I get paid to play music. Therefore, me walking into a theatre or into a club is the same as me stepping foot into an office and sitting at a desk. I wouldn't show up for my day job drunk and I certainly won't drink prior to a gig.

Afterwards, I may have a beer if I'm in the mood. Sometimes the band goes out after, and I'll have a drink.

 

[Baird6869]

I have a beer as soon as i put my gear on stage. I wait for the drummer and singer to set up, finish my beer and set up my stuff.

I might have two more beers all night, but I want to get booked again so I never overdo it. Plus I have to drive home at 2-3am.