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Epilepsy

U

Underdog

Apr 10, 2005
67
0
36
Tennessee
#1
I think this was a year or two ago?

I'm epileptic. Well. We told the light/sound NO flashing lights during our performance. I can handle most light changes, but flashing lights make me pike out and lose control. Frightening stuff.

Well. We're in our last song and it's this really fast hardcore drum beat and me playing 16th notes to keep up with the double bass. I mean. Really pounding stuff. Well. A tempo shift comes up and I start jumping since it slowed down and then it picks back up and I'm playing 16ths while jumping. The sound guy, however, flashed on a strobe. I piked out and broke a tom holder with my face. A stainless steel Pearl tom holder. It all happened in slow motion to my drummer, who was horrified that I would come near his drums.

The show stopped, obviously and I recovered relatively quickly. The only thing wrong with me was a huge knot on the side of my head (HUGE!) and I was confused for a little bit. I might have had a small concussion but nothing warranting a hospital trip.

The venue, however, did pay us for the tom holder and my head. It was a pretty crazy night.
 
#6
Poop-Loops said:
I've never met anybody with epilepsy (I think). How long does it take for it to kick in after a strobe light gets turned on? It sounds to me like you didn't even have enough time to try and close your eyes and ignore it. Or does that not even help?
Click to expand...

It depends on the person. There are many different kinds of epilepsy, and photosensitive epilepsy (like Underdog was talking about) is triggered by flashing lights. Depending on who you are, it may take awhile or no time at all after a strobe comes on, or varying intensities may determine whether the light affects you or not. For example, I have photosensitive epilepsy also but for some strange reason strobe lights haven't been a problem so far, video game screens are much more of a hazard for me. So it varies from person to person.
 
#7
Its things like this that tick me off. Why can't the light guy pay attention. I have had 3 epileptic friends. Early in our relationships they all told me about it, what I should do in case, and in one case with a band mate...no flashing lights. So there were no flashing lights.

I personally would have beat the light guy. I am not joking.. that is disrespect on a level I am not prepared to take or let slide on a friend. I guess I am young and full of testosterone though.

Jonathan
 
#8
I have a friend I know too many years I care to remember who has epilepsy. We always advise the lighting guy if we know he's attending one of my bands' gigs (any of the bands Ive played in over the years) even though most of the music I play would be slow to moderate tempo-ed music, and wouldn't be strobed generally.

Anyway, the only time I've witnessed him having a seizure was when he turned up unexpectedly at a gig (he was working late and going to miss the gig but managed to get out early) just as we were walking on stage. The one time the light guy flicked the strobe light at one of our gigs was that evening, and my friend started fitting. Fortunately, the guys in the band knew him and what was happened, stopped for a few minutes while I attended ti him - well moreso the well intentional but panic stricken small crowd that had gathered round him by the time I got down to him. He insisted on staying till we finished our set (only half hour) when he came to, so, one of the floor staff stayed with him in a cubbly hole until I was ready to share a taxi with him home.

Well, that was in pre-mobile/cell phone era, but he always gets a message through if he decides to follow suit and turn up without notice.
 
#10
Oh heck. It's a funny story.

My epilepsy affects only my muscles. I'm entirely concious and can have rational thoughts (as rational as "OH MY GOD I"M GOING TO DIE!" can be) during the fit. It's only strobing lights.

I wasn't too mad. I was more upset he made our gig end early. Epilepsy happens, not much I coulda done. The flash was really short, from what my mates tell me. So he might have seen me go down or remembered. The sound guy was apologetic, but the manager was the d***.
 
#16
Well since you seem okay with the story, I allow myself to say I find it funny. Sure, it ain't fun, but thinking about the moment where you are mid-air and get this "oh **** here comes the tom" gives me a smile.

Kudos for the venue for admitting it was their mistake (already heard the "If you're not normal why do you keep playing" answer).

Here in Quebec I remember a street where they removed a row of trees because it was a 50 mph zone and they gave a very efficient stroboscopic effect in the sun. Yes, accidents happened.
 
#17
My drummer is prone to seizures due to getting hit in the head by a line drive back in the days when he was a pitcher.

In other news, he recently got the idea that, for a cool lighting effect, he is going to install strobe lights into his drums that he can switch on and off.

Should make for an interesting gig.

:eek:

:D
 
#18
Poop-Loops said:
I've never met anybody with epilepsy (I think). How long does it take for it to kick in after a strobe light gets turned on? It sounds to me like you didn't even have enough time to try and close your eyes and ignore it. Or does that not even help?
Click to expand...

Depends on the person again.
When they "test" for epilepsy, they can, and have in my case, stuck a strob light inches from my grill and turned it on and off at various rates (talk about a fun 10 min test!!! WHEW!!). With your eyes open and closed.

From my stroke last year (VERY minor) I have some underlying seizure activity, but flashing lights don't seem to be an issue for me.
 
#19
I had to take Dilantin for over a year after my bike wreck to prevent the grand mal seizures I had in the hospital (trauma-induced). They put me on it because the phenobarbital they gave me first nearly killed me due to allergic reaction. They also tested me for epilepsy, did the strobe test, so yeah, I can relate, Mike...
 
#20
Well, I'm sure glad the venue paid for the injury and destruction!!! That sound guy obviously forgot, or blew you off. Rotter. Next time, give him a written note...maybe he won't forget then. He caused you to have a seizure, so he *must* be made to remember not to turn on that strobe.

I'm epileptic, too. I haven't had a grand mal seizure in a couple of decades, but I remember what they're like. Ugh!!!

I get a headache and feel ill when I see anything that flashes a lot on the computer screen. I can handle strobes ok if I'm not playing and can find a focal point on the wall, but if I'm playing, I get all seasick and feeling bad. If someone puts a strobe on, I have to stand there and play with my eyes closed.

I hope your head's ok, and no more seizures!

Cherie
 

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