Part of my job requires me to counsel substance abusers. After reading this thread over, The vast majority of posts in this thread seem to rationalize and justify why it's ok to abuse alcohol.
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Drinking Before Playing?
- Thread starter Haysoochreesto
- Start date
Part of my job requires me to counsel substance abusers. After reading this thread over, The vast majority of posts in this thread seem to rationalize and justify why it's ok to abuse alcohol.
Wow. What an awesome thread.
Just for clarification's sake, though... I have a few beers during the course of a show. One before the downbeat, maybe one per set (three sets, usually) and one or two after the show. On any given show night, that adds up to maybe a 6-pack over the course of 6 hours - including setup and teardown time.
I don't feel like that's abusing alcohol at all. I'd be lying if I said I truly felt the effects of the alcohol, even. I'm sure it affects me, with all the evidence saying that it does, but I don't even feel it. And, for the record, I don't drive myself home after a gig - I ride in the van with the (sober for several years now) guitarist.
So, if I'm drinking, on average, one drink an hour, one night every couple of weeks or more (since I don't drink by myself, and very rarely in situations other than shows), am I abusing alcohol? I have beer in the fridge with a born-on date older than my car, because I will never get through a whole 12 pack before it's freshness date runs out at home... Most of my friends have informed me at one time or another that that is alcohol abuse.
I guess I should go ahead and enroll in AA - and stop denying my addiction. :rolling eyes:
Just what makes this so black-and-white, anyway? A guy (or gal) can't enjoy a drink without being a drunken slob? Since when?
Just for clarification's sake, though... I have a few beers during the course of a show. One before the downbeat, maybe one per set (three sets, usually) and one or two after the show. On any given show night, that adds up to maybe a 6-pack over the course of 6 hours - including setup and teardown time.
I don't feel like that's abusing alcohol at all. I'd be lying if I said I truly felt the effects of the alcohol, even. I'm sure it affects me, with all the evidence saying that it does, but I don't even feel it. And, for the record, I don't drive myself home after a gig - I ride in the van with the (sober for several years now) guitarist.
So, if I'm drinking, on average, one drink an hour, one night every couple of weeks or more (since I don't drink by myself, and very rarely in situations other than shows), am I abusing alcohol? I have beer in the fridge with a born-on date older than my car, because I will never get through a whole 12 pack before it's freshness date runs out at home... Most of my friends have informed me at one time or another that that is alcohol abuse.
I guess I should go ahead and enroll in AA - and stop denying my addiction. :rolling eyes:
Just what makes this so black-and-white, anyway? A guy (or gal) can't enjoy a drink without being a drunken slob? Since when?
Man, I've read some of your other posts and you seem like a pretty sharp guy, I just wanted to know if you were deliberately missing the point or really didn't get it.
Thanks for not answering my legit questions and instead picking out one line to get upset over, though, I guess.
A beer or two is what I do. There is a fine line between buzzing and being too buzzed to play well. The coolest thing ever was at our last show. The owners/managers gave the band $1 Killian's. I had a couple and brought my second one on stage with me. After 3 songs is was gone. Then to my suprise the lady running the bar came over. The next thing I know is my beer is topped off. How cool is that.
Good chance that the lady running the bar has Irish roots or is Irish.
It's a form of politeness there to keep the players topped off.
I hate to blame this on immaturity. Naivety maybe? I don't know? ..... Though I've often partook I was lucky never to fall under its guise.
That's why after 40-years playing bass I can still look forward to picking up my instrument, either upright (an impossible instrument to play stoned) or electric, and letting it feed my soul without feeling I got to get 'up' for the shift first.
ErebusBass said:
"So is calling someone a fat drunk. Get off your high horse."
Where and when did I call someone a fat drunk?
"So is calling someone a fat drunk. Get off your high horse."
Where and when did I call someone a fat drunk?
Umm... Right here, on the 29th of June, 2009, at 3:40PM Central.
I'm straight edge so I don't drink at all.
That being said, I feel that one beer before the set is no big deal but getting drunk before (or during) the set is a BIG deal. My head is clear and my mind is on playing the best I can but if some of the other members are drunk, they will play sh*tty and possibly cost us a return gig!
Even pros are guilty of this. I saw VAN HALEN back in the day and they ALL were drunk off their a**es. They played like sh*t and I was super p*ssed that they didn't respect the fans enough to give us a good show that we paid $$ to attend.
If people feel the need to get drunk, do it AFTER the gig. Respect the fans/crowd that paid to see you. Just my .02 cents.
That being said, I feel that one beer before the set is no big deal but getting drunk before (or during) the set is a BIG deal. My head is clear and my mind is on playing the best I can but if some of the other members are drunk, they will play sh*tty and possibly cost us a return gig!
Even pros are guilty of this. I saw VAN HALEN back in the day and they ALL were drunk off their a**es. They played like sh*t and I was super p*ssed that they didn't respect the fans enough to give us a good show that we paid $$ to attend.
If people feel the need to get drunk, do it AFTER the gig. Respect the fans/crowd that paid to see you. Just my .02 cents.
Good chance your pushing past the 200 mark and you lost your license long ago if you can't see your future it's pretty obvious to everyone else.
That's what you call calling someone a "fat angry drunk"?
Holy crap. .......
Read the condense of the whole post.
It does look that way.
Look, your own admissions on here indicate that you used to use; now you don't. That's really great (honestly)! You're not going to rehabilitate anyone through a forum thread. The bottom line is that it's obvious that you've offended some people.
How about just apologizing (sincerely) for the way you came across initially and just let it die out. There will be alcoholics as long as there is alcohol. Some people drink; some don't. It will be that way until the end of time and YOU can't change that.
I'm with you about not drinking. I've never been a drinker or a druggy. I'm just saying that this convo isn't going anywhere other than offending people.
Try to find a peaceful end to this. It's losing battle in here and it's getting a bit too hostile around here, IMO.
It was never meant it to be an acquisition that he is over weight now but because he admitted to drinking that much (12-beers, and even that was an exaggeration). I meant that, that is in his future if he continues. It was badly written and I apologize for that.
I also apologize to anyone who missed that, that's my mistake also, and I meant no offense to that poster, or anyone else over 200-lbs. I do not mean to come off like a abstainer because I am not. I got no problem with getting a buzz on.
The idea of my posts, like all the others, is to convince players to stop relying on alcohol and drugs as a cure for either stage fright or a way of being creative as a musician. If you do that's fine but the music is inside of you do not think it a result of 'the buzz'.
I'm passionate about trying to keep younger players focused on the instrument now and in the future. I've been playing for 40-years and luckily have managed to stay passionate about music.
But, I've seen lots of real good players, over those 40-years, loose that focus and quit. And the main reason is they associate playing their instrument with 'the buzz'. Then one day they have to stop drinking or getting high and they stop playing music.
And that's the real tragedy.
I know I'm Canadian but can I stop saying sorry now?
I also apologize to anyone who missed that, that's my mistake also, and I meant no offense to that poster, or anyone else over 200-lbs. I do not mean to come off like a abstainer because I am not. I got no problem with getting a buzz on.
The idea of my posts, like all the others, is to convince players to stop relying on alcohol and drugs as a cure for either stage fright or a way of being creative as a musician. If you do that's fine but the music is inside of you do not think it a result of 'the buzz'.
I'm passionate about trying to keep younger players focused on the instrument now and in the future. I've been playing for 40-years and luckily have managed to stay passionate about music.
But, I've seen lots of real good players, over those 40-years, loose that focus and quit. And the main reason is they associate playing their instrument with 'the buzz'. Then one day they have to stop drinking or getting high and they stop playing music.
And that's the real tragedy.
I know I'm Canadian but can I stop saying sorry now?
Do you have a alcohol consumption problem?
You might like to take the following test, developed by the World Health Organisation. To calculate your score add the figures up in the left-hand column. A score of eight or more suggests a drink problem.
1.How often do you drink alcohol?
(0) Never
(1) Monthly
(2) 2-4 times a month
(3) 2-3 times a week
(4) 4 or more times a week
2.How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day?
(0) 1 or 2
(1) 3 or 4
(2) 5 or 6
(3) 7, 8 or 9
(4) 10 or more
3.How often do you have six or more units of alcohol on one occasion?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
4.How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was expected of you because of drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
6. How often during the last year have you needed a drink first thing in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly (2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
7. How often during the last year have you felt guilt or remorse after drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(3) Yes, during the last year
10. Has a relative, friend, doctor or health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(3) Yes, during the last year
You might like to take the following test, developed by the World Health Organisation. To calculate your score add the figures up in the left-hand column. A score of eight or more suggests a drink problem.
1.How often do you drink alcohol?
(0) Never
(1) Monthly
(2) 2-4 times a month
(3) 2-3 times a week
(4) 4 or more times a week
2.How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day?
(0) 1 or 2
(1) 3 or 4
(2) 5 or 6
(3) 7, 8 or 9
(4) 10 or more
3.How often do you have six or more units of alcohol on one occasion?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
4.How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was expected of you because of drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
6. How often during the last year have you needed a drink first thing in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly (2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
7. How often during the last year have you felt guilt or remorse after drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(3) Yes, during the last year
10. Has a relative, friend, doctor or health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(3) Yes, during the last year
depends if they are abusing it. for me, I'll have a few drinks a few nights a week - usually friday and saturday jamming or playing or if we have company over to the house. Am fully aware that the metabolization of alcohol produces a by-product that ends up destroying brain cells and liver cells and probably any other cell in your body. Am also aware that I don't like the feeling of being drunk, so usually stop after around 2 or 3 drinks (unless you're at a party, then the tendency is not to notice it as much because of the way alcohol effects your consciousness - and we are all social animals). They key is, I often go without, and don't miss it at all when I do. I might often want a drink during a night, but don't go out of my way to get one.
The thing about this topic that interests me is that it is an interesting study in human addiction, anecdotal may it though be
Human beings are addictive by nature, that is how we survived so long. Something was good, so our brains tell us more. And we are quite single-minded and vigilant about getting it. This is good for things like filling hunger pangs, thirst pangs (mind you, food is a drug too, so not surprising), and sex (without which our species would have died off long ago), shelter, Maslov's heirarchy, you get the picture... All tied to instinct no doubt in an integral way. Anyways, a by-product of this is that we can easily get addicted to anything that gives us pleasure. So we are all addicts, and all have the potential to be addicts, without question. The only thing that prevents anyone from being an addict is either social conditioning (some would put religion in this category) or self conditioning (putting up with less pleasure now in order to gain more later - the ends justify the means... ie. you don't drink yourself into the ground because you have a family, a job, have a goal in life, don't want to just eat chocolate and masterbate all day while getting high, etc).But drinking and generally obscuring consciousness in any way that is even slightly pleasurable is a natural part of the way we are made up. I prefer self-conditioning myself
although can empathise with those that need some social conditioning as well.cheers,
meta
On a drinking night I usually go with 2-3 drinks, usually liquor, before I get on stage, then have another 2-3 plus a shot or two while I'm on stage (usually no more than 45 minutes for a set). That way I'm loose when I start, and I sweat out the booze just slower than I take it in on stage, so I get only slightly drunker throughout the set.
When I'm playing new songs though, or with a new band, I won't drink at all until after the set, unless I'm EXTREMELY comfortable with the songs...
When I'm playing new songs though, or with a new band, I won't drink at all until after the set, unless I'm EXTREMELY comfortable with the songs...
Personally I have 1 or 2 never more than 3 before a gig BUT if we are doing a classic rock cover set at a biker rally.
You might find me playing Whole lotta Rosie with just my right hand while downing a beer or 2 with my left hand.
Very unprofessional I know,forgive me I'm Irish
You might find me playing Whole lotta Rosie with just my right hand while downing a beer or 2 with my left hand.
Very unprofessional I know,forgive me I'm Irish
I used to play while drinking heavily, and I rarely made mistakes. The trick is to play all original music, instead of covers. That way, there's nothing to really be compared to.
If you can drink and play without screwing up, then just go for it. If you're a teetotaler and can play, go for it. Keep it low and have a good time!
If you can drink and play without screwing up, then just go for it. If you're a teetotaler and can play, go for it. Keep it low and have a good time!
False.
Getting hammered before a show may do this, but having a few beers certainly doesn't in my experience.
I had one experience where I had maybe a dozen beers before a show and it was a terrible show (well that band sucked, but I certainly wasn't helping that night). Only takes doing that once to never do it again.
The point is you can use alcohol without becoming a mess, it's all about knowing your limits. I typically have 3 or 4 before the show and a couple during with some waters mixed in between. I've never had a problem with this.
Simply because some people can't handle their liquor doesn't mean everybody can't.
