2-3 beers prior to a gig is essential. a stage beer (bottles only) is essential. i cannot imagine gigging entirely sober. i will never know what it feels like...
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Drinking Before Playing?
- Thread starter Haysoochreesto
- Start date
When I was playing, I had a Jack n Coke and a water on stage with me at all times. I never got too drunk, and I never stayed too sober. Balance is good lol
I personally think it's immature and irresponsible to get drunk before or during the gig.
However, after the gig, you have every right to get fux0red up as much as you want.
However, after the gig, you have every right to get fux0red up as much as you want.
I know that to some of you I probably sound like just a Puritanical preacher, but I've already done the booze & drugs thing - in a major way. And now that I've long since moved beyond that period of my life, I can tell you that there is no high I've ever experienced that compares with the high of becoming one with the music.
To completely immerse myself in the music this way requires me to be at the top of my game, to maintain absolute focus and clarity of mind - free from any distractions - including that of any substances that may be flowing through my veins. Believe me, I've experienced both type of highs - and I wouldn't go back to the counterfeit, chemically-induced variety for anything in the world. (And yes, I do believe that they're mutually exclusive.) There's nothing like the real thing...
MM
Commreman
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
Drinking before playing? Never. It's water for me!
If other guys want to have a beer, no problem. If you get blasted in my band and then try to take the stage, you get fired, no questions asked.
We are a pro band; with that, we are EMPLOYEES of the establishment that is paying us. We will not risk having the band lose the great gigs we get because one of us wants to get wasted. Hell, the casinos we play forbids the band from drinking before or during our sets at all, or accepting a drink/beer/shot from a patron. A beer or drink AFTER the gig is acceptable, but getting wasted in the establishment is not. We have to remember that there is a time and a place for everything, and when working, we are representatives of the band, our management, and the establishment that hired us. We are expected to act accordingly.
If other guys want to have a beer, no problem. If you get blasted in my band and then try to take the stage, you get fired, no questions asked.
We are a pro band; with that, we are EMPLOYEES of the establishment that is paying us. We will not risk having the band lose the great gigs we get because one of us wants to get wasted. Hell, the casinos we play forbids the band from drinking before or during our sets at all, or accepting a drink/beer/shot from a patron. A beer or drink AFTER the gig is acceptable, but getting wasted in the establishment is not. We have to remember that there is a time and a place for everything, and when working, we are representatives of the band, our management, and the establishment that hired us. We are expected to act accordingly.
Why the assumption that any drinking equals getting blasted? I am a fairly big guy, have been drinking socially for over 35 years and and can put away a beer an hour without any loss of motor skills. A light buzz helps to relax me, and does not detract from my professionalism one bit. Let's be real, we are not landing a 747 here.
I used to hit up a few rum and cokes to get loose and over my shyness, then a few puffs of herb to help me zero in on the groove .... they did their jobs, but they were crutches which I found unnecessary later in life. Self mastery is far better than self medication.
I know that to some of you I probably sound like just a Puritanical preacher, but I've already done the booze & drugs thing - in a major way. And now that I've long since moved beyond that period of my life, I can tell you that there is no high I've ever experienced that compares with the high of becoming one with the music.
To completely immerse myself in the music this way requires me to be at the top of my game, to maintain absolute focus and clarity of mind - free from any distractions - including that of any substances that may be flowing through my veins. Believe me, I've experienced both type of highs - and I wouldn't go back to the counterfeit, chemically-induced variety for anything in the world. (And yes, I do believe that they're mutually exclusive.) There's nothing like the real thing...
MM
exactly how i feel when playing classical.
Commreman
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
If you read carefully what I wrote, I never stated that one beer equals getting blasted!
What I did state was that the band doesn't have a problem with one beer - but some of the venues we play forbid it. I stated that I personally don't drink before a gig, but I have no problem with anyone having a beer. I'm not a teetotaler; there is a time and a place for everything. In our situation, we're a pro band. If you drink to the point that it impairs your performance (and thus, the band's performance, our reputation and the ability to come back to that venue), you are fired. We work a lot and get paid well, and there are plenty of other musicians that would love to take our slots.
I've been in other situations where I have had drummers, keyboardists, etc. that couldn't control their consumption of booze, pot, and God knows what else. It isn't fun as a performer, it hurts the band's overall performance, and I'm glad that I'm out of those situations.
Hey, whatever works for you works - I know what works for me!
My golden rule on booze @ gigs:
- Never before the first set
- After having warmed up in the first set, a limit of two for the rest of the evening; never drunk, always relaxed, no stiff muscles for scales or runs.
Depends on the gig. If it's outside, and hot, I won't drink anything but water. Otherwise, I like to have a few beers before we go on. Then just have a few over the course of the gig to stay lubricated. I'm never drunk, just buzzed. Helps me relax, and increases my stage presence (I'm usually worried about looking like an idiot for some reason). I also play better when I'm a little buzzed. I tend to be on top of impromptu solos and repeating verses etc. It seems like my band is tighter when we are all drinking a little. Looks good to have an empty beer bottle on top of your amp to promote beer sales at bar gigs. If the bar makes more money on a night that you play, chances are you'll get asked back. Never put a full beer up there though, trust me.
booz hepls me relax and make the most of myself. in moderate quantities natch. nobody wants to see a dead-drunk body on stage 
nobody wants to see a dead-drunk body on stage
I remember back in the days of my youth there was this major label band that came to town every so often...their live performances always involved them getting absolutely sloppy drunk. They sounded awful but it was a blast for high school kids to watch. We loved every second of it.
I don't drink at all but that's my personal preference. We've had guys have too much and make total fools of themselves and then we never got invited back again. After that experience, we vetted band members to make sure they were responsible about being musicians first.
a. I have to be "clean" to give 100% on Stage
b. I can´t take much Alcohol.
c. In my daily Job as a male Nurse on Ward for Alcohol Detoxication and Patients who are Alcoholics, I´ve seen it all. Believe me.
So no Alcohol on Stage for me. I like one or two Beers or a Mojito after a good Show. Thats all.
b. I can´t take much Alcohol.
c. In my daily Job as a male Nurse on Ward for Alcohol Detoxication and Patients who are Alcoholics, I´ve seen it all. Believe me.
So no Alcohol on Stage for me. I like one or two Beers or a Mojito after a good Show. Thats all.
Back in the day we played about 60 three minute punk songs, blackflag style and I slammed a beer between every song. One night while loading out I stepped backwards off a 4 foot high stage with my SVT cab "nicknamed mother" on top of me.
After that I started drinking whisky instead of beer so it wouldn't hurt so bad when I fell.
After that I started drinking whisky instead of beer so it wouldn't hurt so bad when I fell.
Shot of jager and 2 yuenlings before the show last night. 1 yuenling per set. Nice and loose but not sloppy. 
