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Drinks on stage...

Marko 1

Marko 1

Supporting Member
Mar 9, 2009
9,762
13,744
69
Ohio, beeeautiful Youngstown Area
#1
Drinks on stage.

This isn’t about drinking too much, it’s just about having a beer/drink in your stand cup, and obviously sipping when the opportunity presents itself.

What’s your personal philosophy on the subject?

Does your band have a policy on it?

The context of my situation is a two-years gigging, for-pay small- bar covers band made up of work associates/buddies, 50-55, classic rock/country/blues/oldies, play out almost every Friday and Saturday.

Share any context you like, but I’d like your opinion on what your feelings are in my context, as well.

We’re having a little band drama concerning this, and I got to wondering what others think about this.

I don’t drink at all on gigs for other reasons, but my opinion at the moment is that if someone wants to have a drink on stage and sip, maaaaybe just keep it on-the-low, but I don’t think it’s a problem.

In fact, I actually know it’s not a “problem” because two in my band have been doing it and the only one who has issue with it is the BL/guitarist. He tried to make this a “rule” at the beginning, but the drummer, not arguing the point, simply continued. BL jumped back on it, drummer didn’t argue, kept drinking, rinse/repeat a few more times, and the issue subsided.

Well, apparently the BL has been stewing on this, and decided he WILL have his way. The front guy apparently was already informed and conceded, then I witnessed it after the first set when BL jumped the drummer, and said if he didn’t stop drinking on stage, he’d… okay, don’t laugh… “QUIT!”

Well, again, drummer is my neighbor and friend, we’ve discussed this, and this Friday he will have a bottle of beer in his stand cup, so...

this could get interesting.

:)
 
#2
Depends on the gig.. Corperate funtion/wedding, I would not be drinking or have drinks on stage. You need to have an air of professinalism at these types of gigs (you don't drink at your job, right?)

But at the tequila bar with the rock band, Hells YES!! It's almost strange if you don't have a drink on stage. I saw a frontman in a local band who would have a large Jack Daniels bottle filled with iced tea and would make a show of guzzling it through the night. It was part of the act and I always remember people commenting on his ability to polish off a whole bottle of Jack and still walk straght after. lol....
 
#3
I play in a classic rock/blues band. I'm the youngest at 45 up to the harmonica player who is 65. Three of the four of us drink. I will usually have two to three beers during the entire night (set up to tear down). The guitar player is the heaviest drinker and may have four or five beers. Gigging is a social event for us as well. So we have a few beers while we play. The key word is a few! As long as no one overdoes it and becomes intoxicated to the point of causing issues with playing or personality then I think it is fine. In a bar setting I seriously doubt any of the patrons or most club owners are going to care that you sip a beer between songs.
 
#5
What's a stand cup? Is that something that helps stop drinks from getting spilled on stage? Because that has happened before in bands I've been in and that's the only real issue for me at most gigs.
 
#6
When I was touring alot,I always had a beer onstage. One beer that is. Any more than that and I would get overly confident and switch to autopilot and coast through songs.

That behavior was soon stomped out by my "BL", who, would at almost every show, change the tempo, extend sections and make the band respond via small signals that could easily get missed if you're on auto. Pay was involved so limiting to one beer was about it.

Now, my current band does not frown upon consuming beverages on stage, as long as we are on top of it musically. But, that old "watch me" attitude still sticks with me to this day. If the "BL" threatens to QUIT. then he/she needs to get over that tantrum:bassist: and have fun.
 
#8
If somebody is drinking to the point that it adversely affects their performance, then it's a real issue.

That said, I'm a grown man and if I want a drink, I'll have one - especially playing rock music in a damn bar!!! Your BL is a :bawl:baby.
 
#11
I agree, it's all about the context (venue, customers, band management, bar magagment, music genre, etc). I have played in bands where drinking on stage was unavoidbale. Shots sent up every set, half the gig was playing buzzed. But it was a 'party' band and it made sanse. I have also played in bands where there was a strict h20 on stage only rule, no alcohol before or after the set, no drugs, no bs at all. Very professional, almost corporate. And I have done bands in between. My favorite? The party bands. The most fun I ever had and made $100 a night at. But the other bands usually paid more, and, to be honest, sounded better. But the party band had huge receipts for the bar because everyone was drinking, lol.
 
#12
Everyone in my band drinks, but not to the point of getting stupid. We mostly play at bars where it looks odd if the band isn't drinking. As someone said earlier, don't put drinks on your amp! This works much better:

SwirlyGig SwirlyBigger Microphone Stand Drink Holder: Shop Accessories & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

I don't have any affiliation with MF or the company, I just love the drink holder. Next to my Hercules guitar stand, it's the best stage accessory investment I've made in a long time.
 

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