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Dumb problem - Audience trying to buy you drinks

S

subject42

Jul 14, 2010
173
110
#1
I've had a bit of a trend recently where well-meaning audience members try to buy me a drink during our break or after a performance. Unfortunately, I can't drink alcohol at all for medical reasons. I feel bad when I turn it down and explain it, because they can't get their money back.

Have any of you had similar issues? If you have, how do you handle it? I'm seriously debating taping a sign over my head that says "diet coke no ice".
 
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#5
JonathanPDX said:
You never turn it down because it's business for the bar. If they actually take an order you can just get a soda. If they bring you a drink you say thanks, set it aside, and give it to someone else or just let it rot at the back of the stage.

Never forget why you are there: to sell alcohol. Music is just a means to an end.
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^^^^^^^^ This is the way.
 
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#6
Played in a house band in South Korea, the crowd kept sending me bottles of beer. and I'd pass them off to friends of mine just off stage behind the satge curtain, and they'd hand me an empty. Eventually I had a little more than a dozen empties on my amp and had given out at least a case of beer. To this day, I can't even consider drinking OB beer. Much less Soju.

I'd played a couple times when I was sloshed. I learned that alcohol doesn't make a mediocre band sound any better.

Ditto on the reason bands are in bars.
 
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#7
Well, I don't think I'd feel bad......if they didn't ask ahead of ordering, that's on them. Of course, this has not been an issue for me since I stopped drinking back in January. And by that I mean, nobody in the audience has offered one. :laugh: Closest I came to that was a brewery owner bringing a large cooler full of beers, sodas, and water for the band before we started. I looked in and asked if he had any NA beers in there, he said no, but was kind enough to run inside and bring back about a dozen. :cool:
 
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#11
There are a lot of musicians who choose not to drink, and there's nothing wrong with declining politely. I get the whole "we're here to sell alcohol" thing, but I can't imagine a bar looking down on somone (an employee/contractor!) who turned down a drink.
 
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#13
JonathanPDX said:
You never turn it down because it's business for the bar. If they actually take an order you can just get a soda. If they bring you a drink you say thanks, set it aside, and give it to someone else or just let it rot at the back of the stage.

Never forget why you are there: to sell alcohol. Music is just a means to an end.
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This

ardgedee said:
Talk to the bar staff beforehand and tell them that you can't do booze. They'll be happy to take a $15 drink order and serve you seltzer.
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And this…


I came here to say this.Nowadays I pretty much just don’t do bar gigs anymore… but the bartender will make a soda water with lime, a Diet Coke or a mocktail no problem. What they charge them isn’t my problem.
 
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#15
I played my entire time in the clubs stone cold sober: I simply can't drink, it does bad things to me I'm not willing to tempt. Always wondered if possibly I was allergic to alcohol. Friends would say, 'Can't drink? Think of all the money you've saved !'

I had a quick workaround that ALWAYS worked: Caffeine hound that I am, I drank way too much coca-cola. And from across the room, who knows it's NOT Coke and Jack, etc. So I'd get with the waitress and/or the bartenders and the cat who'd buy my drink would pay for Jack and Coke, I'd get a Coke, and the bar got the Jack and Coke money.

NOBODY on the staff ever said NO to that. Worked like a charm.
 
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#16
subject42 said:
I've had a bit of a trend recently where well-meaning audience members try to buy me a drink during our break or after a performance. Unfortunately, I can't drink alcohol at all for medical reasons. I feel bad when I turn it down and explain it, because they can't get their money back.

Have any of you had similar issues? If you have, how do you handle it? I'm seriously debating taping a sign over my head that says "diet coke no ice".
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I doubt that people would buy me a drink without asking first. I'd want someone to ask me for what I like versus just any drink.
 
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#17
I have had the same thing happen and I always thank the person and take a small sip as a toast to them before disposing of the drink via band member / family / friend (surreptitiously). Telling the bartender ahead of time what to serve you if someone offers is brilliant (assuming the person buying actually tells the bartender this is for the band).

Even if I did drink on gigs, my experience is that audience members usually buy crap for drinks…
 
#18
No ice?! What’s wrong with you??


subject42 said:
I've had a bit of a trend recently where well-meaning audience members try to buy me a drink during our break or after a performance. Unfortunately, I can't drink alcohol at all for medical reasons. I feel bad when I turn it down and explain it, because they can't get their money back.

Have any of you had similar issues? If you have, how do you handle it? I'm seriously debating taping a sign over my head that says "diet coke no ice".
Click to expand...
 
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