Drinks on stage...

[thetaxmiser]

Been a while since I gigged out. If it was a wedding or private party, drink with discretion and as appropriate to the event. When I worked in bars we drank on stage and encouraged patrons to drink...mentioning the bartenders and waitresses, saying "meet you at the bar" when taking breaks, etc. We had a good following and the clubs loved us when they tallied the bar take at the end of the night.

 

[trkelley]

I play bass. I drink beer. I do them together. I do them well. I like the mix. OK, theoretically I will put my beer in a water bottle and not say "sh*t" on the microphone if there's a large paycheck involved, but I will not play a gig without beer, like I don't do my day job without caffeine. I play bars, parties and festivals in western Oregon, microbrew capital of the USA. The local culture is about good beer and good weed. I play my part with verve and style. If I wasn't performing as the BL would like, I'd find another band. But that hasn't happened yet. . I'm a solid player who smokes and drinks. Period.

 

[SBassman]

It's dictated by the gig.

If I was playing at a stuffy corporate function, it wouldn't be appropriate.

But for 90% of us doing bar/grill/restaurant gigs, it's a no brainer. In my region, anyway.

I gigged last night at an Outdoor Bar/Restaurant.
I thought of you all - while I deposited my vodka and juice
into my beverage holder.

 

[Doctor Dirt]

I haven't allowed it in over twenty years now. It didn't get in the way very often but it can and the ones guilty are the ones who never notice the differences. It does come down to whats appropriate at each gig but to be perfectly honest theres not to many "jobs" we're the hired help enjoy drinks while they "work"!!! I haven't refered to working as "playing" in a very long time, you play your instrument while your out working. It used to be for the fellows who were nervous about performing in front of a live audiance sorta of a courage stimulant? Some bands use drinking on the stand to be more intune with the audiance, thats just an excuse to drink! Full time pros don't usually partake while working most weekend warriors probably do. The wanna be cool rockers most likely do but playing some rock you might need to drink to get through it, thats some boring stuff for most bassists and drummers.
Personally I don't work with musicians that drink on stage I'm over 60 years old and I always thought it looked unprofessional unless it was used like a prop!!! I've worked that gimmick many times and use the "old Salute" to the audiance crap more than omce during the night. Joining some folks at the bar AFTER the gig is more appropriate, I guess I just have different values now than I did at 20 yrs old. Drinking for the most part isn't that "cool" as it once was atleast for me.
Tape all your gigs and see if theres a difference in everyones playing ability. The tapes don't lie!!!! Doc.

 

[4001]

I never drink alcohol at gigs.
If I drink before I play, then I will play bad.
If I drink after the gig I risk getting a DUI.

No thanks.

I prefer Ocean Spray Cran Apple or Cran Rasberry.

 

[Thrust Meatnozl]

Sometimes I drink & play bass. The rest of the time I play bass & drink.

 

[Schizo Sapiens]

To begin with, one of my bands was called Wine Shop

We were young and inexperienced, and there was a couple of awful gigs when we (mostly me and guitarist, the drummer was more responsible and/or secure) was too drunk.

It didn't usually affect my bass playing, but if I drunk too much, my vocals was not very good . But guitarist was our biggest problem: he liked to drink and his playing was falling apart because of this.

It all sorted out with time, we learned to drink not too much before gig.

Drinking during gig? Well, I was always afraid that it would get us too drunk, so we didn't do it usually. We just have some fill-up before and play using that charge (original band, 40 to 60 minute sets). We drink some booze before the gig and water during the gig (and more booze later).

 

[butchblack]

As many have said it depends on the gig. As most of what we do are bar gigs with the occasional private party I have no problem with it. I have a reputation as a panty waist drinker, so MAYBE I'll have one beer for the night, most of the time I'll drink diet coke as I can use the caffeine. No one in the band drinks enough at a gig to raise any warning flags. I won't hang with a band with a member who repeatedly has too many. This is a self supporting hobby/ mad money job, a little enjoyment is not inappropriate.

 

[Joe Louvar]

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?

Bottled water is a must.

 

[bassmanrocke]

We started this band together. The BL does not have the right to impose that or any “rule” that isn’t agreed upon by the rest of us.

He’s called most of the shots, and at times was very unreasonable, but even with the rest of us being pretty passive, combined with discussion and his realization that he couldn’t do it without us, he backed down a bit, at least with how he talked to us, which at times was how one would scold a child.

Lately we’ve gotten really tight and the shows (still on a small scale) have been very exciting as far as audience and management reactions, and I think his head has gotten kinda bigger than is has a right to be, and has sites on bigger things. I also recognized that his mind sees what we’re doing now as bigger than they actually are. He’s kinda like in another world, imo.

To the rest of us this is more of a hobby, and escape from the job, but to him it’s a passion, and he seems to think that he has a chance to mold us into something bigger with higher standards, but we’re not interested in the extra stress for a few measly more bucks.

When it come to the ownership of stuff, that’s all all me. He takes care of the business end (nothing we can’t do at this point), and has a truck to pull the band trailer as I don’t, so that’s the extent of his actual power, beside being insistent.

He absolutely cannot fire anyone, and has admitted that we are by-far the best band he’s ever had (at least in recent history), and another thing that’s become obvious in the time we’ve gotten to know him in this context is that he has no one else who wants to play with him.

I’m literally the one who supports this band, and my attitude is to hold it together for the sakes of the guys, all whom I care about, and their good time is my good time. I will not allow him to spoil that for them. I have been the buffer for another rule he tried to impose, a “fine” (God I hate that rule) for doing something wrong. This time he may think that since I don’t drink at all, he can get away with this, but it’s not gonna happen. I told the drummer that if did concede (which he won’t) that I’m going to put a beer bottle in my cup holder, I don’t care if it’s full of water, and take a drink between every song.

The name of the band is that of his last long-standing band in which he also owned the PA (crappy stuff, and always different members, as I recall) before it finally disbanded and he went with another’s band from which he got fired after three years, hence him coaxing us getting together.

I’m thinking that band name and banner helps him delude himself that it’s “his” old band instead of “our” new band, so I decided that I will not wear any of the band shirts (his dress-code ) or even band cap with the logo (including “staff” on the back) anymore.

If/when he asks why, I’m going to tell him that I think the name is contributing to his power trip, and I’m not going to wear them anymore. I’ll suggest to the drummer that he do the same, but that’s up to him.

I’m in the most fortunate position in that I don’t really care about gigging as the rest do, but I can also sponsor the band independently from the guitarist, but we are tied together being work associates, so right now I’d prefer to just knock him down a few pegs and continue.

That’s the plan, anyways… unless of course he quits (won’t happen), in which case he’s be the only bad guy here.

It sounds like it's time for a band meeting in which as a group you either make it clear that it is a democracy or vote and select a new band leader. The actions you are suggesting seem more like a method of stirring up trouble rather than reducing it. It needs to be made clear to the current BL that you (as a group) are not interested in being treated as subordinants. You are all mature adults and have consistantly acted in an adult manner. If he really cares about the band he will adjust his ways. If he doesn't then maybe it is time for him to depart. But these attempts of "defying his authority" are more likely to cause frustration in the band and in the workplace than have any positive affect.

 

[Renaissance]

It seems to me "beer on stage" may be the symptom, but the real disease is control.

 

[Marko 1]

It seems to me "beer on stage" may be the symptom, but the real disease is control.

Since the thread is up, I’ll update, but without much for details, as I have to get going somewhere.

In any case, the problems (imo, far more than the beer-on-stage issue) have been addressed, and at least for now, reason (in my opinion), has prevailed. Unfortunately I had to do the “addressing” for my issues.

More drama than the law should allow, and started out very ugly, but we got through it, as nobody wanted to experience the alternative.

As for the beer/alcohol-on-stage issue (since that was the topic of the OP) drummer continues (not with a “defiant” attitude btw), but I see he’s being far more discrete just to keep the peace. Can’t tell what’s in the other’s glass, but I won’t speculate.

All seem to want peace at this point; I seriously doubt ANYONE wants to go through this again.

Thanks again for all advice and interesting input.

Marko

 

[Pilgrim]

I dislike playing without something to drink on stage - and half the time it's a diet Coke. I'm not about to go 45 minutes to an hour with nothing to wet my whistle. Whether it's beer or a soft drink, something's going to be there...but it is NOT going to be on top of my amp.

 

[SBassman]

I dislike playing without something to drink on stage - and half the time it's a diet Coke. I'm not about to go 45 minutes to an hour with nothing to wet my whistle. Whether it's beer or a soft drink, something's going to be there...but it is NOT going to be on top of my amp.

I was staring at another spill on the floor at the end of the gig last night. Who was it? Our lady singer, who insists on having a drink, but placing it on - the - floor. Man o man.

 

[mntngrown]

My theory is that bending over to pick up your drink after the song is the origin of people taking a bow.

I like that one
We are frequently paid a percentage of the bar receipts.
We also get at least 2 free drinks at most bars.
I agree with the context comments. Anybody know of a good bass cab caddy for a pint glass?

 

[SBassman]

Cab?

This is the definitive cup holder - for a stand:

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I have Two of them - one for the alcohol drink, one for the hydration drink.