Drinking Before Playing?

[neatobassman]

^^ha ha ha

I would never be able to play a gig drunk. Last night I was drinking at my friend's house and I just laid down next to his guitar amp playing with the delay for like an hour. lol.

 

[Sunnburn]

Well, Maybe I have a problem, But I really enjoy having a beer or two before the set and then 2-3 during. I realized after watching a youtube video of us, that I sneak a drink between just about every song. The Video starts with me reaching over to grab one and it ends with me reaching over to grab one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zFiObO77b8
All my bandmates smoke one before every show. I at least quit that cause I end up forgetting lyrics or repeating verses. Although, some of our best shows have been when a bandmate has passed out percocets to each of us. And hey I'm not perfect, But I do play ROCK-N-ROLL and I surely don't make a living off of music. It's all about having fun for me.

 

[kickstand22]

Back in the youthful days....we used to have 3-4 beers before we left the lead singers appartment to play, have a pitcher before tuning up, 2 per set, pick out your date and go finish off the case plus some back at the lead singers appartment...complete with hot tub, swimming pool, and an extra room. Ah.......those were the days. Now I just drink water until I get home....where my permanent date is. Then I'll have a few.

 

[Mudcat35]

I used to have a beer or two (OK, maybe 3) during a full night show, but I now have an arthritic problem and alcohol is absolutely off limits. I don't miss it. I drink water and/or Coke during the show just to keep hydrated. Lack of alcohol doesn't affect my playing one way or the other, I don't think.

 

[scootron]

I don't drink before a show, but there have been a few occasions (such as last weekend's dance at the local country club), where people bring you drinks. This one guy brought Crown Royals to me and one of our lead singers (female) just as the first set started, and every time we would get towards empty, a new one would appear like magic. It's hard to turn down a Crown Royal.

They were spaced out enough over the four hours that nobody got drunk. Well, I'm not sure about the singer.

This Friday's gig will be outside and it will be hot as blazes. No drinking for sure, then, even if someone offers Crown Royal. We'll have to stay hydrated, and alcohol works against that. It will be a long show, so we'll have water and maybe some gatorade.

 

[PasdaBeer]

I need about 3 double shots of whisky to get loose for a gig. When I play stone sober its a bad thing.

And its not just me thinking so, many people have told me from seeing me play sober/a bit warmed up : )

 

[Anesthesia]

it has actually been proven that alcohol does have a relaxing effect and you do perform certain tasks like performing basic motor functions better after consuming an amount that removes your self confidence enough to let you do what you know how to do.

 

[mebusdriver]

Yes I'll have a drink. I'm not so afraid of missing one not that I let it ruin my night. And I'm not playing for a living so I don't have to worry about my "A" game. I've played high several times, all were great and fun. Have the recordings of those gigs so I know they were ACTUALLY good. I've been hammer face drunk for some gigs too, never really played that bad. Just kind of swayed back and forth. haha.

 

[anthowl]

cider for me, one per night or one per set, depends.

 

[mebusdriver]

Any of you having this problem oughta consider a catheter and a nice big bag strapped to your leg. You could play all night, nonstop!

I lol'd.

 

[Bassmickeyd]

"I drink water and/or Coke during the show just to keep hydrated."

Coke is all sugar and does a lousy job at hydrating your body. Causes flem in the throat and rots your stomach in time.
Ginger ale or soda water are easier to drink while on stage.

It seems the reason why most players drink on stage is to be loose.
So ask yourself why are you so uptight when you get on stage? ......
Are you afraid to be there? ....
Do you think someone might not like your music or band or even you? .....
Some people don't need an excuse to party and drink.
Alcohol has a way of creeping in and taking over.
Soon it's 10 am, there's no party, you're all alone and your drinking.

Most musicians don't get a chance to be on stage often if at all.
Why be F-ed while there?

A lot of great musicians drank on stage and off.
I heard Zawinul punched out Jaco on stage at the end of a show cause he got so drunk.

Sunburn"
I watched the video and now know why you drink so much. ....
You guys play a 5-minute song on one note.
Spellbinding.

 

[PasdaBeer]

"I drink water and/or Coke during the show just to keep hydrated."

Coke is all sugar and does a lousy job at hydrating your body. Causes flem in the throat and rots your stomach in time.
Ginger ale or soda water are easier to drink while on stage.

It seems the reason why most players drink on stage is to be loose.
So ask yourself why are you so uptight when you get on stage? ......
Are you afraid to be there? ....
Do you think someone might not like your music or band or even you? .....
Some people don't need an excuse to party and drink.
Alcohol has a way of creeping in and taking over.
Soon it's 10 am, there's no party, you're all alone and your drinking.

Most musicians don't get a chance to be on stage often if at all.
Why be F-ed while there?

A lot of great musicians drank on stage and off.
I heard Zawinul punched out Jaco on stage at the end of a show cause he got so drunk.

Sunburn"
I watched the video and now know why you drink so much. ....
You guys play a 5-minute song on one note.
Spellbinding.

Oh i know people liked our music, Im just an uptight ass normaly.

 

[Tom Servo]

A few of us were reminiscing the other night, and I recalled two different groups where some (or all) of the members had to be pretty sauced to play at all. It was a state-dependent thing.

The first group were just idiots about their personal behavior and I think they thought it was part of the rock/roll image to swig booze on stage and act like fools. They were moderately successful on the local level, and I sat in with them for two nights.

The second night, the bar owner presented them with their tab, and it exceeded the revenue they'd made for playing. The singer (who was drunk) made a scene, which of course led to them not being invited back. Fortunately, I was just a hired hand and not part of the band. I don't recall ever hearing about them after that. Most likely, word got around.

The second was when I was doing engineering for a demo tape (yes, I'm dating myself). The band showed up with two bottles of Seagrams and a case of Old Milwaukee. I had to yell at them not to smoke in the studio. When I complained to the manager/agent/whatever, her response was that they had to "get up to cruising altitude" to play right.

Fortunately, I was not a "member" of either group and I didn't have anything riding on it. The first one didn't affect my reputation at all, since I was a) "just" the bass player and b) just a temp. Same idea with the second. I got paid by the hour, and they took a long time to get things down on tape.

Some folks like to have a beer or a glass of something on stage, and that's cool. But when regular alcohol abuse becomes part of the equation, that's a big warning sign.

 

[Gubna]

I've played drunk before. probably not more than one or two drinks before the gig is a better idea.

 

[woodsideh]

One drink a set is plenty for me. Gotta play well and drive home.

 

[RobertPaulson]

Whats really fun is pumping the keg with your foot to the beat

 

[i hate username]

I keep a drink with me up on stage, and I'll get a refresher for the 2nd set. Over the course of a typical bar gig I'll usually have 3-4 drinks spread out over ~5hr time period. For me, the hardest part is not having to pee in the middle of a 2hr set. Sometimes I just have to end a song and run for the bathroom

I remember i went to see glassjaw and justin beck and the bassist had to do that

 

[Haysoochreesto]

"I drink water and/or Coke during the show just to keep hydrated."

Coke is all sugar and does a lousy job at hydrating your body. Causes flem in the throat and rots your stomach in time.
Ginger ale or soda water are easier to drink while on stage.

It seems the reason why most players drink on stage is to be loose.
So ask yourself why are you so uptight when you get on stage? ......
Are you afraid to be there? ....
Do you think someone might not like your music or band or even you? .....
Some people don't need an excuse to party and drink.
Alcohol has a way of creeping in and taking over.
Soon it's 10 am, there's no party, you're all alone and your drinking.

Most musicians don't get a chance to be on stage often if at all.
Why be F-ed while there?

The idea that it's enjoyable and fun isn't impossible? Not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic and ends up as the sad characture you're portraying. Also, it's normal to be nervous before a show, not the other way around.

 

[Haysoochreesto]

"I like a few drinks before playing a gig--2 or 3 or 4 beers. I'll also have one or two between sets for maintenance."
Let's add these babys up
4-before you hit the stage.
2-inbetween sets X4= 8.
So taking you're going 12-step during your set and abstaining your drinking
12-beers on a gig.
LOL
You are officially a drunk.

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.

You can count 12 or you can count 6. Or somewhere in between over about a 5-6 hour period. I think you need to take your abacus to your local mathematics tool repair shop and have them fix it because it doesn't seem to be an effective counting tool for you.

Oh, and I am over 200 pounds... with about 17 percent body fat. You seem to consider yourself a mathematician of sorts so go ahead and figure out my lean mass. And I'm almost 40. Did you know that puts me in about the 10 percentile range for muscle to fat ratio in my age group? The fact is I am almost certainly in better shape than you are.

I've never lost my license either, so it looks your batting about .000 so far.

Presumptive, assumptive, mischaracterizing, condescending, arrogant, insufferable, and of poor wit and humor. I'm guessing you're not the life of any party.

But at least you don't drink before you gig. Good for you.

 

[chadds]

Music is so amazing that I want to be completely aware and available to play whatever is written, suggested by others, improvised or channeled.
I don't drink before playing. It can make you late in your time. I don't play boring music and I don't feel scared about going on because I know why I'm there. I never have an excuse except that I didn't practice or listen well enough. I've been playing with some monster players who drink and don't drink. To each his own. I know my fingers do what I want them to do and sometimes somethings I didn't know they could do.

Occasionally at home I will drink and play and sometimes some real creative stuff comes out. Graduating from high school in 1969 it's clear that I'm not going to depend on or be dependent upon any substance to ensure inspiration.

I love beer and wine.