i have stage fright bad every time my band plays out right before i go on i puke my guts out because of nerves, then i hit the stage and play so hard i puke again. i don't drink at all but if it helps someone avoid losing all the food they've ever eaten in their life more power to them.
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Drinking Before Playing?
- Thread starter Haysoochreesto
- Start date
Our singer used to take a shot (or two) of (Dutch) gin before a gig because it made him feel more at ease. He gave me a shot too sometimes.
It takes away way the nerves and tension, I can't say it makes you play better, one might think so when playing but listening back to tapes
of gigs tells you it's not the case.
Someone told me that the best stuff against nerves are Beta-blockers,
but they make you behave like your untouchable and are only available on prescription.
They were supposed to be in with jazz players.
It takes away way the nerves and tension, I can't say it makes you play better, one might think so when playing but listening back to tapes
of gigs tells you it's not the case.
Someone told me that the best stuff against nerves are Beta-blockers,
but they make you behave like your untouchable and are only available on prescription.
They were supposed to be in with jazz players.
I don't usually drink before or during gigs. Nor do most of the bands I sit in with. On that odd time out that I do indulge in a drink its never more than one.
The way I see it is I'm there to work a job and help host the party, not be a guest at the party. I don't know of any job that lets you drink while you're at work, I really don't see how playing a bar, club, or party, changes that. You're still there to do a job.
The way I see it is I'm there to work a job and help host the party, not be a guest at the party. I don't know of any job that lets you drink while you're at work, I really don't see how playing a bar, club, or party, changes that. You're still there to do a job.
True it is best not to drink at work. Then again, when I lived in Ireland
there were quite a number of folk gigs in pubs where the players always had a pint beside them.
Maybe a beer or two during load-in and set-up. Then, at most, two or three during the night. Never after beginning of third set -- that gives me plenty of time to come down before load out. It's a long, dark road back to the house and I still remember the time I drank too much, went to sleep, and hit a bridge.
dcr
dcr
That's pretty heavy. ...... Little closer to OCD than stage fright. .... But, I'm no doctor. To me it doesn't sound like performance is your thing. When we first pick up an instrument we usually sit for hours/days/weeks/months/years by ourselves practicing to become good enough to do it and then join a band and be thrust onto a stage to do it in front of friends/family and strangers. ..... Very bizarre when you think of it.
Drinking and drugs only mask the problem they don't deal with cause of it and will never cure the problem of nerves. There is a book called the I Ching (pronounced E-Ching) that deals with staying in the moment. It can stop you from living in your head, which 'stage fright' does and start standing back and seeing things for what they really are. And performance is just a chance to be with other like minded musicians playing music that is important to you. In performance you should be relaxed and on top of you game. Not worried if someone in the front row isn't going to like what you're playing or wearing. If you're confident and relaxed so will be the audience. If you're nervous and half in the bag...... well would you want to see a band like that. ...... I wouldn't.
i love playing on stage and there is not a moment that i hate it, but the thing is i start to worry if i remember the notes or songs or how am i going to play. i'm getting better at it but i still get nervous before i play. the whole thing about puking after i play is that i'm an animated player and i move a lot. so sometimes i have a knot in my stomach from playing my a$$ off.
Funny, after looking through the thread -again-, I didn't find a post prior to the first one I initially read in which you did the math to figure out how many beers soochreesto consumed per gig. If I'm mistaken, feel free to point out any posts prior to this.
I understand the fact that your intentions were merely to express your oppinions on the OP, but the confrontational manner in which you expressed these oppinions was essentially equivilent to calling him a fat drunk. If I may quote your original post (the first one I read; once again, feel free to notify me if there was one prior): "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.". So basically you're saying there is a "good chance" that he is on the larger side, an irresponsible drunk (of course, that's operating under the assumption that you meant he lost his license due to drunk driving), and he has no future. If I misinterpreted your post, do say so, but it seems straightforward enough. As for Soochreesto's response, I'm not necessarily defending that either, as it was also rather confrontational, and ultimately seemed to exacerbate the argument.
On to the 2 things that are garunteed when drugs and alcohol enter the picture, this is making some rather large assumptions. Not everybody reacts to drugs and alcohol in the same way- it's rather ignorant to think they do, quite honestly. I'm not in any way saying that the scenario you illustrated never happens, but it is definitely not the one and only result to drugs and alcohol mixed with music. Many different variables come into play in this situation- overal maturity and responsibility, tendancy towards dependance, etc. People who lack maturity and responsibility and/or have addictive personalities should stay away from drugs and alcohol entirely, but the majority of people who drink at shows (which is a large population of musicians) don't end up putting away their instruments to stay home and drink OR quitting drinking and therefore stopping playing. Once again, there is a small percentage of people this happens to because of certain personality traits- it may seem like a larger percent because it's what you inherently notice. People notice when things take a turn for the worse, but disregard things that stay the course; for every one musician whose career is ruined because of alcohol there are thousands who can let music and drinking coexist just fine.
Regarding putting out the musical fire with drugs and alcohol, once again, it all depends on the person. If someone knows their limits and is mature enough to stay within them, drugs and alcohol can potentially have a positive affect on the music, but when moderation is lost things go downhill.
Citing Jaco and Stevie Ray as examples hardly supports the idea that tragedy is the end all be all result of drinking in combination as music- both had many other factors at play such as tendancy towards addiction as well as (and perhaps partially caused by) use of much more dangerous substances such as cocaine and heroin. Once again, for every situation such as Jaco's and Stevie Ray's, there are thousands of other situations that work out just fine.
My 2 cents. If that's all you get out of it, that's fine by me- I've probably involved myself in this more than I really needed to anyway.
Disraeli Gears said;
"If someone knows their limits and is mature enough to stay within them, drugs and alcohol can potentially have a positive affect on the music, but when moderation is lost things go downhill."
So, what you're saying is it's OK to drink and drive as long as you get home safely?
I personally think 'music' is the 'positive affect' and drugs and alcohol only diminish the return of that affect. But, don't get me wrong, I'm not a tea drinker who thinks all but abstinence is good. On the contrary, I indulge but, I've never let my indulgence cloud my vision that it 'enhances' anything more than a distraction to what my brain and my hands are capable of conceiving all on their own without it.
And that's what I'm trying to say here.
If you want to party and get high do it, just stop pretending the music is better for it.
Disraeli Gears said;
"Not everybody reacts to drugs and alcohol in the same way"
Sorry you're wrong on that one. Everybody reacts to them exactly the same way. It's escapism plan and simple. Everyone's dependance can vary because of different degrees of addiction but the effects are always the same. To escape.
But music is the key to escape. If you're playing music you've already found the key. But to add drugs and alcohol and deceive yourself into believing that they are a key to what? ...... Greater escapes? ..... Higher highs than music already delivers?
Let's put it this way.
You're marooned forever on a desert island.
What do you want with you to while away eternity?
Unlimited supply of Pot?
Unlimited supply of booze?
Or your instrument?
There are cops out there getting high and writing speeding tickets.
Are they writing better speeding tickets cause they're high?
There are guy's driving trucks, digging digs and working on Wall Street stoned.
Are they better at it because they're high?
This is the reason I stopped playing high.
Music is the key.
It'll get you higher than anything else on this planet.
It's all in your hands.
Don't live in your head.
"If someone knows their limits and is mature enough to stay within them, drugs and alcohol can potentially have a positive affect on the music, but when moderation is lost things go downhill."
So, what you're saying is it's OK to drink and drive as long as you get home safely?
I personally think 'music' is the 'positive affect' and drugs and alcohol only diminish the return of that affect. But, don't get me wrong, I'm not a tea drinker who thinks all but abstinence is good. On the contrary, I indulge but, I've never let my indulgence cloud my vision that it 'enhances' anything more than a distraction to what my brain and my hands are capable of conceiving all on their own without it.
And that's what I'm trying to say here.
If you want to party and get high do it, just stop pretending the music is better for it.
Disraeli Gears said;
"Not everybody reacts to drugs and alcohol in the same way"
Sorry you're wrong on that one. Everybody reacts to them exactly the same way. It's escapism plan and simple. Everyone's dependance can vary because of different degrees of addiction but the effects are always the same. To escape.
But music is the key to escape. If you're playing music you've already found the key. But to add drugs and alcohol and deceive yourself into believing that they are a key to what? ...... Greater escapes? ..... Higher highs than music already delivers?
Let's put it this way.
You're marooned forever on a desert island.
What do you want with you to while away eternity?
Unlimited supply of Pot?
Unlimited supply of booze?
Or your instrument?
There are cops out there getting high and writing speeding tickets.
Are they writing better speeding tickets cause they're high?
There are guy's driving trucks, digging digs and working on Wall Street stoned.
Are they better at it because they're high?
This is the reason I stopped playing high.
Music is the key.
It'll get you higher than anything else on this planet.
It's all in your hands.
Don't live in your head.
I agree. I drink, but never when I play. Some people can drink and still play great, but I found that I am not one of them. I used to have a few beers before the show to take the edge off of the "stage fright", but I found that it affects my playing. I don't have any problem with anyone in my band drinking as long as they can still play.
No. It's absolutely not ok to drink and then expect to drive home safely- that falls under the catagory of knowing your limits and being mature and responsible.
As for whether or not everyone has the same reaction, it seems we're at a stand still on this one. I can say from personal experience it doesn't affect me in the way you say it affects people. I can get very drunk without being a danger to those around me (for example I won't even think of stepping behind the wheel), and then be totally fine with not even having so much as a single drink for months on end. It's not any form of escape, it's merely a social thing thing that can give an interesting and fresh outlook on music. I don't escape. Not even through music. When things are rough, the last thing I want to do is get drunk or high- Things just aren't right until I come to cope with whatever is going on, usually through songwriting, Which once again, leads me to believe that not everybody reacts in the same way.
I can tell you without any hesitation that if trapped on a desert island for the rest of my life, I would definitely prefer to have my instrument- but that's an extreme scenario, and life is rarely if ever made up of situations so extreme. Just because my instrument is the most important to me of the 3 given choices doesn't mean that the others don't have their place. And assuming that I continue to approach it with maturity and responsibility, I don't forsee it becoming a problem.
Regarding officers giving tickets while high, etc., no, I don't think they would be better at it. In fact, I admit that they would be a lot worse. The analogy really doesn't hold any water though- the examples you gave involve little to no real creativity, which is where the -moderate- use of drugs and alcohol can have a positive impact on music. They give a slightly altered perception of things, which opens up more creative doors and creates more musical opportunity.
But in the end, I agree with you- music is key. Without music, the rest is pointless. I just think it's a bit extreme to say that the end all be all outcome of drug/alcohol use with music is tragedy. Sure, it happens, but those cases are the minority.
Man, you're so close, and you're still missing the point he's making. Are you being intentionally obtuse?
Many people, when buzzed, find themselves stretching a bit outside their comfort zone when playing. We're not saying that ten beers will turn a jack***into Jaco, but alcohol undeniably has a relaxing effect and yes, it CAN enhance the playing of some folks, especially those who are new to playing and shy. I know I've tried some fills buzzed i would've been too timid to try and work in sober, and more often than not, they work out. Again, I'm not advocating playing sloshed, but it does increase confidence. And (man this sounds terrible in type, but I've heard the evidence more than once) if you have enough ability to back up the confidence, playing buzzed a few times can be enough to bring you out of your shell.
...Alright, I gotta break this next part up.
You are incorrect here. PURPOSE =/= EFFECTS. I mean, yes, to drink is to escape, if even in a minor degree. That is the purpose, yes. But the EFFECTS are a different thing, and vary from person to person. Some people can drink a gallon of any liquor and fifty beers and be happy until they pass out. Some folks have two shots of tequila and pick a fight with the bouncer. That's what Disraeli is talking about. There is a big difference between INTENDED GOAL and EFFECTS ALONG THE WAY TO SAID GOAL.
Alright, you wanna get fancy, we'll get fancy here. It's not that drugs bring about any greater high than lockin' in with the drummer and killin' that groove, but they can enhance the feeling. Alright, to lay down a question, but with a question preceding:
You say you drink in moderation. Have you ever been drinking and been playing with others who have also been drinking? Not just drinking, but to the point of slurred words and stumbled steps.
I ask because (and I ask you to forgive my lapse of memory right here) there was a writer (I forget who) who made the point that being drunk with someone else showed you what they were really like. Being drunk is a great equalizer, in that it (while making you stupid, yes) makes you think along the same planes as everyone else who is drunk.
Have you ever been playing and KNOWN that the drummer is thinking about the end of this bar, and ONLY the end of this bar, no worries about girlfriends, house payments, job security, or whatever? It's a great, GREAT feeling, and when you and the drummer are both drinking, it happens more often then you might think. Double points if the guitarist is on that same page also.
I feel that this is an unfair question in several ways. (I'm still assuming unlimited strings/replacement parts/whatever, to compete with unlimited drugs) First, the instrument of most here is bass guitar. It's not gonna be audible without an amp, or being an acoustic bass guitar, or what have you, meaning a change in playing style for most. Second, it's BASS. It is not really meant as a solo instrument, but as accompaniment to other instruments. I know if I was stuck alone forever, I'd get bored with solo bass long before I got bored of drinking.
Again, you're being deliberately obtuse. None of the jobs you listed require artistic flair. You're comparing apples and oranges here.
Man, you AGAIN miss the point. Yeah, when you've been giggin' twenty years, it's easy to say how easy it is, but for a lot of folks, there's a healthy dose of nerves along with every gig or audition. Believe it or not, a drink can help.
P.S. I don't mean to seem like I'm attackin' you. I just disagree and I'm trying to express it in a civil manner. I apologize for any crassness in my post and such.
This may be "normal" for you, but that's a tough way to live. I suggest that you try changing what you eat/drink before a gig and see if there's anything to do with diet that's causing this. Maybe even fast and drink only water before a gig to see how you react.
Also, a trip to the Doc to discuss the "knot" in your stomach may be worthwhile. While I'm not a doc, that "knot" is "not" a good thing,IMO. May be something to do with an intestinal problem. Possibly your stomach/intestines are reacting to a change in the acid levels or something like that.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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sometimes, drinking is the only way to get through the night if you're in the wrong band... 
Seriously, time to quit if that's the case. I choose not to drink most of the time. Especially if I'm subbing, unfamiliar with the songs. The rest of the time, I'm trying to do my best. I didn't drink when I played softball, just in case it would make me miss that 1 ball can cost the team the game.
Same thing goes, its not the end of the world if there's an extra mistake in the night. I just prefer not to as a measure of personal pride. If I do drink, its one beer every other set or so, so I'm never seriously impaired. Alternate with water or orange juice.
Those that think drinking improves their playing don't realize it only makes their playing sound better to them....
Randy
Seriously, time to quit if that's the case. I choose not to drink most of the time. Especially if I'm subbing, unfamiliar with the songs. The rest of the time, I'm trying to do my best. I didn't drink when I played softball, just in case it would make me miss that 1 ball can cost the team the game.
Same thing goes, its not the end of the world if there's an extra mistake in the night. I just prefer not to as a measure of personal pride. If I do drink, its one beer every other set or so, so I'm never seriously impaired. Alternate with water or orange juice.
Those that think drinking improves their playing don't realize it only makes their playing sound better to them....
Randy
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
sometimes, drinking is the only way to get through the night if you're in the wrong band...
Dude ... I played in that band too!
Yup do it all the time. I have a scotch at the bar, then one on stage. Makes me more relaxed. Then after the gig we all party hard.
i did go to the doctor and i had some stomach x-rays and all they told me was all my anatomy was there. but i have noticed that the more tap water i drink the sicker i feel, so the show i had on friday i drank only gatoraid and everything seemed ok. so i don't know.
I never drink before a gig or during reharsal because I feel loose and everyone get sloppy. If we don't play right, something might delay and then the song is completely screwed.
Well ... I play jazz ... it isn't the same thing than playing rock or punk where you don't have to play complicated stuff
Well ... I play jazz ... it isn't the same thing than playing rock or punk where you don't have to play complicated stuff
ONLY said;
"Are you being intentionally obtuse?"
It does speak volumes about a person who starts a discussion by calling the person he's talking to 'stupid'.
ONLY said;
"I'd get bored with solo bass long before I got bored of drinking."
Then you answered the question. Good for you.
You really didn't have to go on and on doing a point by point discussion on how you disagree with what I wrote, and how I feel when you could have cut to the chase and admit you'd rather be drunk on a desert island without you instrument.
ONLY said;
"P.S. I don't mean to seem like I'm attackin' you. I just disagree and I'm trying to express it in a civil manner. I apologize for any crassness in my post and such."
Calling someone obtuse is an insult and a means of attacking someone.
Once again I will reiterate nervousness is a condition brought on by the person suffering from nervousness. I can not make you nervous you make yourself nervous. This post is about justification of self medicating, by either drugs or alcohol, for a condition brought on by a feeling of insecurity of inability.
Best to deal with one problem before ending up with two problems.
"Are you being intentionally obtuse?"
It does speak volumes about a person who starts a discussion by calling the person he's talking to 'stupid'.
ONLY said;
"I'd get bored with solo bass long before I got bored of drinking."
Then you answered the question. Good for you.
You really didn't have to go on and on doing a point by point discussion on how you disagree with what I wrote, and how I feel when you could have cut to the chase and admit you'd rather be drunk on a desert island without you instrument.
ONLY said;
"P.S. I don't mean to seem like I'm attackin' you. I just disagree and I'm trying to express it in a civil manner. I apologize for any crassness in my post and such."
Calling someone obtuse is an insult and a means of attacking someone.
Once again I will reiterate nervousness is a condition brought on by the person suffering from nervousness. I can not make you nervous you make yourself nervous. This post is about justification of self medicating, by either drugs or alcohol, for a condition brought on by a feeling of insecurity of inability.
Best to deal with one problem before ending up with two problems.
