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Drinking Before Playing?

#65
I always want one before the set to loosen me up. Occasionally 2 and that's the max. I find that one or two beers helps me get my groove on a little better, but isn't enough for me to lose focus or precision. For me it's about taking risks. One or two beers and I'll go for that funky riff. Totally sober I may not.
 
#68
RFord04 said:
The way I see it, 1 drink per set is fair. Drinks don't cost the bar that much, so they should be happy to comp you a few drinks, as it promotes drinking by the patrons if they see the band is having a good time. I may sound like a jerk, but tipping the waitstaff isn't something I feel obligated to do, as my band usually brings them patrons who give them tips. This doesn't mean I don't tip them, but I don't go out of my way to give them large tips unless they go out of their way to accomodate me on-stage and off. If they do a good job at this, We always give the waitress a nice tip, and they continue to return the favor with good service in the future. Pay seems to be kind of low around here sometimes for bands, so drink's being provided is always a plus, as we don't get much money to spend in the first place.

But saying only "maggot bands" expect their drinks to be comped is a bit snide. There are better ways of getting more shows with a bar than giving the bar back the money you earned for the night. Bring in a good crowd who drinks and it shouldn't be a problem, you shouldn't have to brown nose.

As far as drinking before a gig is concerned, I usually drink a few shots before the gig to losen up. I know it doesn't hurt my playing, as long as I don't get "drunk", but I'm a big guy, so it takes a lot.
Click to expand...


Tipping the Wait Staff ----
Basically it's wining friends.. Ask the Waitress what she thinks about being tipped. When the waitress comes back and asks "Is there anything I can do for you" it's then very sincere.. "yes, please let us know how we're doing.. if you believe it would be appropriate to have us back, please put in a good word and request the manager speak with us at a convenient time".


Bar Manager Quote -----
"Maggot Bands" is a quote directly from a bar manager who said every hack band perceives everything to be free to a bar (they for get insurance, utilities, real estate, and on and on and on). We only spend money we would have spent anyways.

This is not brown nosing.. it's looking at the situation from the other side. .. basically it's all about being the best option to have back. .. this is above and beyond bringing in a happy customer base and retaining them through the paying evening.

Everyone forgets we're in the beer business when playing bars.. the offering business when we're playing churches.. the CD and Shirt business when doing concerts.. filled Slot machines at casinos.. .

You'd be amazed at how a far a little respect and sincere grattitude will go.
 
#73
I like to have a beer or two, just to take the edge off. Our last gig before returning to the studio we got a crate of beer for playing, and of course we decided to go out with a bang. Me and the lead guitarist pretty much emptied the whole crate a half hour before we went on, our singer/guitarist got smashed on just a couple of beers and our drummer was wasted from his ADHD medication. We had a great time on stage, had no problems remembering the set and we were surprisingly tight! We had great fun, but I probably wouldn't do it again, the risk of screwing up kinda makes me nervous...
 
#75
I have a theory about this: In order to sound good at the performance while drinking, you have to practice while drinking. Assuming you either practice or rehearse every day, people who drink while they practice, and who also drink while they perform, are called ALCOHOLICS.

The best of the bands I have been in never drank at rehearsal, so we knew better than to try it at the gig. Every once in a while, toward the end of the last set, we would "treat" ourselves to a beer. A little disorienting.
 
#76
i have found a good 3 or pints before playing is good. gets me nice and relaxed and i can still play. however i found out starting drinking at 3 in the arvo and not going on till around eleven means its a few more beers than i should have drunk. i was about a beat behind on the first song missed a transition on the second song but picked up to finish off our set without anymore problems aside from the usual.
 
#79
Like Jaywa, my band plays two hour plus sets. Beer is never a good idea because of the bladder factor, though I still partake. I've learned how to hold it. Thing is, everyone else in the band can bust off and go take a leak when their eyes start floatin' - even the drummer (in the kind of music I play anyway). We bass players are the ones that have to play every bar of every song.

In my effort to avoid beer on the gig, I've learned that as much as I love red wine, it inhibits my motor skills pretty quickly. Bourbon and tequila are not much better.

With vodka, I seem to be able to drink gallons of the stuff and still maintain a high bass playing competence while achieving the happy glow we're all after when we drink. Plus I don't have to pee every 10 minutes. Works for me. YMMV.
 
#80
I love a good buzz before I go onstage. Not too much, but just enough to get loose and have fun. I tend to be a little stiff when I play sober, I'm not very fun to watch. Having a few drinks helps me to get more relaxed and move around a lot more, and when I do it right I'm still able to play very well.
My ideal mix:
3-4 Beck's (the greatest beer ever made)
1 shot of Jager immediately before stage time.
Then I'll usually drink 1 or 2 more beers during the set, just nursing it between songs.
 

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