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drinking during gigs

#21
Wow, we're really getting our panties in a bunch over this.

I've personally had the opportunity to play at some of the best venues in the area, had other bands ask me to join, played high profile gigs, opened for national acts, performed original as well as cover music, and we've been offered good money to extend the gig.

All while the band (only as appropriate) where having a few beers. But then again, I must be (according to the information here)

1) not serious
2) playing in "dives"
3) never going to go anywhere

Well friends, this is simply an unfair generalization.

Don't mind me, you personally don't have to hire me or listen to me play.... there are plenty of offers on the table. I just hope all of you have the opportunity to experience the good fortune in music that I have thus far in my life.... if not more.
 
#22
we've had one club seriously approach us to play for beer. we kindly turned them down.

i don't mind the guys having a beer or two beforehand, but it is work that you're there to do. I can't play when im drunk, my hands turn to custard.

it looks really unprofessional anyway, unless you're Eddie Van Halen who skals a bottle of straight vodka during a gig, even then you look like a tit.
 
#23
I don't like playing when I've had much to drink... and one gig about a year ago, we got to the venue early, set up very early and had 3 hours with nothing to do... I had a few beers too many and really sucked, got frustrated with it all and threw my bass around, into my stack and jumped around pulling over-the-top rock n roll poses, hitting all kinds of bum notes and generally just not giving a ****....

I apologised the next day to the guys for letting them down and they all said it was a good show, people came up and said it was great and that we got 2 new bookings on the strength of it :) it wasn't good music that night but it was[/i] punk rock :)

anyway, from then on, I've had no alcohol for the 1st set, then a pint of lager at half time.. and it sure tastes good when you know you're 'earned' it :)

the big thing that annoys me about beer and playing in the band is that our gigs are always timed to end when the bar closes... so you can come off totally sober and in a real
'feeling great, elated but thirsty and could handle a few beers' mood only to find by the time you've had a beer and packed up, the bar is closed and the chairs are up :(
 
#24
James Hart said:
I wouldn't think (nor would most, I hope) of cracking open a 40 sitting at the desk at the office, nor will I at a show I'm being paid for doing.

Most times the band is there to get the crowd drinking! not to do it themselves.

I've fired a few musicians over the years that thought gigs were a "legitimate" excuse to go out drinking with the boys.
Click to expand...

Ouch. While I am in no way "bragging" about this...I will say that I've played multiple shows with a 40 on deck. I think the large difference here is that local bands (read: original material) could not book paying gigs in the area where I grew up. Every gig I played was free...so the "business" aspect was not there. Professionalism never crossed my mind. I can understand the general concensus here, but this isn't a business for everyone.

FWIW I no longer play out (family), so I can't really say if this perspective affected my music "career".

mike
 
#26
Interesting topic. There is no right or wrong, black or white answer to "Is is alright to drink while I play?". Depending on your own personal views, style of music, or venue you're playing in, it can all change. It can all change based on the length of your sets.

In my regular group, I'll have a beer or two before the show. I'll somtimes have one up on stage, but it's not a necessity.
With the style of music we play, and the venues we play, it's acceptable.

If I'm playing a legit jazz/corporate gig, it's coffee or water. Drinks after the show.

What starts to get me is how quickly people will point the finger and judge on this issue. There is a big difference between having a beer onstage and having a pitcher per band member.
 
#27
You are employed by the club for that night. You really should not put yourself in a position where you cannot fulfil your obligations.

Simply put, if you drink to the point where it effects your ability to perform at top performance, then it's a no-go. Know your limits, abide by them, and all is fine. I've been known to have a drink or two...I see no wrong in that as long as it's in line with the venue.

It never stopped Robert Pollard. ;)
 
#28
bimplizkit said:
Wow, we're really getting our panties in a bunch over this.
i've personally had the opportunity to play at some of the best venues in the area, had other bands ask me to join, played high profile gigs, opened for national acts, performed original as well as cover music, and we've been offered good money to extend the gig.
All while the band (only as appropriate) where having a few beers. But then again, I must be (according to the information here)
1) not serious
2) playing in "dives"
3) never going to go anywhere
Well friends, this is simply an unfair generalization.
Don't mind me, you personally don't have to hire me or listen to me play.... there are plenty of offers on the table. I just hope all of you have the opportunity to experience the good fortune in music that I have thus far in my life.... if not more.
Click to expand...
+ 1 ...
wow, i usually have a beer per set {4}...dosen't mean i'm drunk or even close to it . i do know my limits .
also , it helps if each person in the band is mature enough to know when enough is enough .

i think it's a bit "high and mighty" to pass generalizations on anyone , so i won't say anymore , it's JMO .
YMMV , etc. , blah blah blah ...
 
#31
I might have one or two drinks a gig. Most times I just stick to pop. Also, we try to negotiate more for a gig in exchange for no bar tab.

We see it as a job also in the aspect of professionalism.

Do I have a problem with others who drink and play? No
Do I have a problem with others who drink heavily and play badly? Yes
 
#35
I don't think I've ever been to a gig where I didn't drink. Mostly because I've only played at bars with no pay expected and free beer. Who is going to turn down a free guinness? Not I.

I think people in this post have kind of made the area very black and white in so far as to say: "Don't drink on a gig because you'll suck- you wouldn't drink in an office job would you?"

I really disagree with this statement. I'd say 95% of the people on this forum aren't professional musicians and do have day jobs- if they want to have a brew or two on the weekend when they are playing at a bar then more power to them.

"Drinking during gigs" Does not mean "Getting drunk on a gig".

I think we can all agree that getting drunk at a gig is a bad idea.
 
#36
MichaelScott said:
I don't think I've ever been to a gig where I didn't drink. Mostly because I've only played at bars with no pay expected and free beer. Who is going to turn down a free guinness? Not I.

I think people in this post have kind of made the area very black and white in so far as to say: "Don't drink on a gig because you'll suck- you wouldn't drink in an office job would you?"

I really disagree with this statement. I'd say 95% of the people on this forum aren't professional musicians and do have day jobs- if they want to have a brew or two on the weekend when they are playing at a bar then more power to them.

"Drinking during gigs" Does not mean "Getting drunk on a gig".

I think we can all agree that getting drunk at a gig is a bad idea.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. Some people are taking a (IMO) excessively professional view on this. What's wrong with drinking during the set?! Can you not handle a few beers?
 
#37
Since i got my DUI, i only drink if i'm not driving. There has only been once or twice when i got "drunk" onstage, but usually the venues/otherbands/shows we do kinda support that type of attitude among the fans (not the bands).. Not being a lush, but drinking, partying, etc...

I personally prefer PBR or Bud Light for a stage beer. It's not too strong, and kinda close to water. But, no never in a situation where it impedes the flow of tunes of our momentum, etc...

Now, i know there are many here that would never partake onstage, but how about if say the crowd buys a round of shots? or if someone brings the band some drinks? It seems it would be kinda impolite to not accept them, no? Once you got it, if you don't want it, hand it to the nearest chickie and let her get drunk!!!
 
#38
I'm glad you posted that MichaelScott, cus I was starting to feel very unmature and stupid. For me there is nothing better then a sip of my beer after a well played song!
I never get drunk when playing though, did it when I was 16 but the audience were as drunk so noone noticed:)

I just can't see how drinking water looks more "pro" than drinking a beer..
 
#39
Our band hasn't really played in any bars, as of yet. We did play an outdoor festival a couple years ago, and while it was a fun gig, a lot of our friends and relatives were there. Now, normally this is a good thing, but everyone wants to get you a beer before you are playing, while you are playing, etc. I found my playing got pretty crappy towards the end of the gig because I'd probably had too much beer. That wasn't the worst part of the gig...the worst part was our power accidentally getting pulled _twice_ while we were trying to play our final song. We ended up not being able to finish it :P

Anyway, the real point of my post is that I think drinking does tend to affect most people's playing, whether they are willing to admit it or not. One or two drinks during practice might be ok, but my opinion is that you are there to play music, not get hammered. I wouldn't want you driving while drinking, I don't want you playing music with me while you're drinking.

I recently had to put my foot down on this with our band. A couple weeks ago, we had a couple practices that I felt were below par, and I attribute it to the fact that everyone in the band was getting at least "buzzed" on beer and mixed drinks during practice. Especially the drummer...I mean, he would just space out and make intros much longer then they normally were, play way to fast, throw in really weird fills, or miss endings, etc. So now the drinking, while it still happens, has been sharply curtailed.

Frankly, my feeling was that I'm sick of dicking around, and sick of songs going poorly that we have been doing for the last six months. If drinking is the problem, then it needs to go.
 
#40
I personally stick to water or black coffee during gigs- I've got too much else going on in my life to have a late night combined with a hangover. Getting loaded would not be fair to my band during the gig, and the hangover wouldn't be fair to my family the following day. If anyone else in the band wants to drink, have at it as long as it doesn't affect your performance. As long as whoever is supposed to be playing is on time, and can handle whatever they choose to do without it affecting the rest of the band or their behavior between sets (a reflection of the professionalism of the band) I don't care. I feel that at my stage of life (44, full time career, great wife, three great kids) I'm blessed to be still gigging and constantly improving at my craft, so that is my "high." Call me boring, but I just feel that I should set the right example through my actions, not my words.
 

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