Do you get drunk before playing??

[AaronVonRock]

This seems to be a very polarizing topic. Lots of preaching and holier-than-thou wisdom being passed down from the mountain top going on. For me, playing in a band is something fun to do. Fortunately, I can handle a few drinks while having fun.

 

[buldog5151bass]

AVR, that's my point. I love playing music, but I take it seriously. If I were a club owner, and I saw someone drunk on stage, they would never play there again, any more than I would not tolerate an employee drinking at work. You want to drink and play, there's always the garage.

 

[Jon Moody]

Good for you bro, im drinking a weiss beer here and playing some old whitesnake stuff without any problems wondering to understand why the life should so unfunny. I really not get it.
Bounderies knowed, no disrespect with the audience, fun with responsibility, simple to me.

Nothing unfunny about taking a gig, playing it, collecting a check and celebrating afterwards with a beer. Some of us like doing that. You don't; that's cool with me.

Enjoy your weiss!

This seems to be a very polarizing topic. Lots of preaching and holier-than-thou wisdom being passed down from the mountain top going on. For me, playing in a band is something fun to do. Fortunately, I can handle a few drinks while having fun.

I don't see any preaching, but I do see the difference between someone that plays for fun and leisure, and someone that plays for a living or to supplement their income, or simply conducts themselves as such. Two completely different mindsets that have completely different expectations.

 

[DwaynieAD]

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

Real estate. Them dudes is hammered every day. Construction. Drywall, painters, all that stuff.i think about it some more and I can expand the crap outta this list. Pretty much anyone that getsa 1099 at the end of the year.

 

[DwaynieAD]

AVR, that's my point. I love playing music, but I take it seriously. If I were a club owner, and I saw someone drunk on stage, they would never play there again, any more than I would not tolerate an employee drinking at work. You want to drink and play, there's always the garage.

Then you'd be a club owner with an empty stage

 

[FrankLowend]

M

Then you'd be a club owner with an empty stage

Maybe there is a small detail that is being misunderstood here: to be drunk is tottaly diferent than to drink.
This has being radicalized here.
I can drink and play my bass, or use a Excel spreadsheet, or read a book, OTOH being drunk i couldn't find the bathroom... 2 differentts scenarios...

 

[Jon Moody]

M

Maybe there is a small detail that is being misunderstood here: to be drunk is tottaly diferent than to drink.
This has being radicalized here.
I can drink and play my bass, or use a Excel spreadsheet, or read a book, OTOH being drunk i couldn't find the bathroom... 2 differentts scenarios...

Well, the thread title IS "Do you get DRUNK before playing?" and not "Do you enjoy a beer or two before playing?"

 

[10cc]

Sometimes. Sometimes while I'm playing. It doesn't matter.

Never have I not been invited back to a place either. Been many of times that I've been caught up in a hell of a pre party with the owner(s), some pretty well known music establishments too.

But hey this is just me. I also love to drink beer and skateboard too.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Then you'd be a club owner with an empty stage

Not true. Any decent club will not hire bands who get drunk on stage. Difference between drunk and a drink.

 

[lokikallas]

Playing drunk is like driving drunk. A little fun, but a terrible idea that will likely end in disaster. If not, you just got lucky.

 

[DwaynieAD]

M

Maybe there is a small detail that is being misunderstood here: to be drunk is tottaly diferent than to drink.
This has being radicalized here.
I can drink and play my bass, or use a Excel spreadsheet, or read a book, OTOH being drunk i couldn't find the bathroom... 2 differentts scenarios...

3-4 drinks would render the average person legally drunk. 1-2 will render the average person impaired. I don't care about TB's bro stories, people who are "having a couple before they get on stage" are getting drunk.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Yup. What he said.

No one loves gigging more than I. But I take it seriously. It's the only high I need.

 

[AaronVonRock]

Playing drunk is like driving drunk.

No. It's not. Not even remotely close. Neither is comparing playing bass drunk in a band to being a doctor/dentist doing work on a patient while being drunk (like some other posts have said). A lot of folks on this thread seem to overestimate the importance of playing in a band and the impact it has on people. No one gets injured or killed if the bass player is drunk or buzzed on stage. Many times, a more entertaining performance could be the result. It's rock n' roll. To me, an element of unpredictability, danger, and a feeling that the whole thing could fly off the rails at a moments notice is all part of a good live show.

Personally, I'm a big fan of The Pogues and Guided By Voices. Both bands consume a vast amount of alcohol before and during the show. I think Robert Pollard of GBV drinks 1 or 2 beers per song, see video below. Note the tub/cooler of beer next to the bass drum. I've seen them countless times live and I'm guessing they go through two cases per show.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Either way, you are a professional. If not, step aside for someone who will be.

 

[Atshen]

3-4 drinks would render the average person legally drunk. 1-2 will render the average person impaired.

Then I'm above average!

Seriously though, it's all in the amount of time said drinks are consumed. One or two beers per hour is fine, one or two beers per song like that guy in the band mentionned above and it's a little (a lot!) too much.

Edit: It also depends on the type of venue or gig, or if the bandleader will allow it or not. I think it's perfectly fine to have some drinks if you're playing in a bar, it helps dealing with the drunks in front of you. If it's a wedding gig or some kind of corporate event, it might be a better idea to cut the booze.

Personnally, I like one or two sips in between songs.

 

[FrankLowend]

3-4 drinks would render the average person legally drunk. 1-2 will render the average person impaired. I don't care about TB's bro stories, people who are "having a couple before they get on stage" are getting drunk.

Maybe for this Jaco never used to drink nothing...

 

[buldog5151bass]

And he died, right? Yeah, alcohl is not a problem for those who can "handle" it. Like JJ.

 

[10cc]

The question isn't what you think about others answers. We've heard your opinion buldog now give it a rest. Geez. Professional this and professional that, your probably in a cover band anyhow.

 

[Jon Moody]

...your probably in a cover band anyhow.

Which means what, exactly?

 

[10cc]

Which means all this talk like he's clocking in work bringing in the long money and its a very professional environment and all along its just a bar with drunks and some band playing the same ole stuff. You guys that don't agree with drinking are pretty vocal about it. But your not always right about it either. State your opinion and move on already.