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First “I’m not drinking” practice...

#61
Band wise we have no "policy" regarding drinking at "bandcamp" (what we call rehearsal) or at gigs. We are all family guys. Most of our kids are grown and gone so I guess we are somewhere between DadBand and GrandpawBand. Point is we are all mature and have learned our limits the hard way. Personally, I don't drink at Bandcamp but I will have a beer after the gear is set up and tested at a gig if there's time. Ha Ha Ha!! there is never time... so, end of first set is beer thirty. Keep it rollin' and have fun!!
 
#62
SactoBass said:
Drinking alcohol is "doing drugs." Yep, alcohol is a drug. I think a lot of folks don't recognize it as such because it's in liquid form and is legal and readily available.

I don't drink. I have no desire for it. It's gross. :vomit:

@RedWire75: good job getting rid of that disgusting drug from your life! :thumbsup:
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Don't forget caffeine sugar and tabaco,oh and gambling sex and rock and roll thear all drugs
 
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#63
RedWire75 said:
...in quite some time.

Decided last week I needed to stop drinking. Probably not a permanent situation but I need to break my routine/habit of 2-3 beers a day.

So yesterday was the first practice with water only. It was weird. Didn’t like my bass sound all afternoon and felt everything was low energy.

Drummer said it was the best I’ve played though so it’s all in my head.

Also, in discussing that I think I like the Lakland 44-64 P/J more than the 44-60 the guitar player said he didn’t know I had another bass. I had brought it last week.
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Well, I do drink one beer after we play our first set at an open mic we host. Then it's open mic for about an hour and a half and we'll get up and play a few more songs to round out the evening. Of course that beer comes with a meal, so it's really no problem.

I learned not to drink during performances back in the 70's when I was touring nightclubs across the west and midwest, and we'd go out into the audience between sets. Invariably whatever table I chose to sit at would buy my a drink. When we'd play O and NCO clubs at millitary basses it would be 2-drinks between sets. By the fourth set I would have trouble getting my fingers to go where I wanted them to. So I started drinking virgin Bloody Marys and my playing problems went away. I'd clue the barkeep in the first night we played (usually played 5-night gigs) that if someone ordered "Dan's Usual" that it needed to be that non-alcoholic Bloody Mary. I enjoyed the company, the drink was refreshing instead of debilitating and I met a lot of nice folks!
 
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#66
When my current band was getting put together, the word was that the drummer didn't drink at all. Knowing that both guitarists liked to suck down some cold ones, I decided that for this project I would refrain from any alcohol. I thought it would kind of keep the balance equal and get both of us in the rhythm section on the same page. It worked, we've gotten tight both musically and otherwise.
 
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#69
tradernick said:
The idea that quitting cold turkey is the only possible solution (alcohol or any drug including nicotine) isn't a theory for many people. It's the only way.

I'm assuming you meant "Quitting cold turkey has never been appropriate for me but of course it's the only way for many people".
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Did I?
No, I don't think I meant that.
This isn't really the appropriate place to have an deep dive discussion on the subject. But you don't get to tell me what I do and don't think, or meant to say.

I was trying to offer a little first person experience of when I shifted my own behavior. It is a gear shift and takes a while to get used to.
 
#70
lermgalieu said:
You are so right. I think about this every time my wife and I go out to dinner. Nice restaurant, a few glasses of $12 wine...ugh.
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That is something I had to consider. I'm not a Bud Light or Kirkland Scotch kind of guy. If I'm going to drink something, its going to be good. And if I'm going to drink beer, it is going to be high octane. Good Scotch at a bar is crazy expensive, and even if you can find good beer it is also double the price of buying it from a store.
That's money that can go to another bass.
 
#71
In a trio I play in, singer/guitar is teetotal, I don't drink in rehearsals, but drummer (singer's SO) does. Quite a mix there. Personally I feel no urge to drink while I'm concentrating on music as playing is enough. In another lineup I play in we all drink tea at rehearsals.

But after gigs I regularly wake up in the back of a van somewhere clutching an empty bottle of jack and wearing little more than a lack of dignity...
 
#72
lfmn16 said:
View attachment 3130555
View attachment 3130556

Any questions???
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I think that bottom one is your brain on coke.

For better or worse, Tool's clip of Bill Hicks pretty much sums up my music collection:
“You see, I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. 'Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years were rrreal ****ing high on drugs. The Beatles were so ****ing high they let Ringo sing a few tunes.”
 
#74
socialleper said:
Did I?
No, I don't think I meant that.
This isn't really the appropriate place to have an deep dive discussion on the subject. But you don't get to tell me what I do and don't think, or meant to say.

I was trying to offer a little first person experience of when I shifted my own behavior. It is a gear shift and takes a while to get used to.
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Don't get your knickers in a twist. If you actually meant your 'theory' is that cold turkey is never appropriate, you're wrong and the majority here will agree, if not publicly.

If you meant that cold turkey isn't appropriate for you, be more clear next time.

That's all I have for you. On ignore.
 
#76
Zant said:
Don't forget caffeine sugar and tabaco,oh and gambling sex and rock and roll thear all drugs
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Yes indeed! Of course, some of those are addictions but not drugs.

For example, I've been "addicted" to rock 'n roll since February 9, 1964 when I was seven years old and I watched the Beatles' debut on the Ed Sullivan show. I'm now 62, and I'm still addicted to rock! :) And oh what a wonderful addiction it is! :D

Same with playing bass. It's an addiction for me, and I love it! And let's of course not forget about one of the most powerful and insidious addictions of all time............GAS! :eek: :) :cool:
 
#77
My 2 cents, I hate playing with drunk/high people. They often sound lousy but in their head the whole time they think "I am shredding like a god"

I respect music too much to do that myself and strive to never play with other players who don't share my work ethic.

Toward the end of the gig, no problem anything goes.
 
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#78
"Decided last week I needed to stop drinking." ... Good, more for me!
... I knew a band that took two cases, (24's) to practice and when the beer was gone the practice was over.
I think everyone should change their habits so they don't become addictions. ... By all means 'enjoy life' but, don't live a life of regret. And that takes realization of being in the moment, enjoying that moment without relying on stimuli to do it. ... If you need a drink to drive you're in trouble and it's the same with playing the bass because, when you're playing bass you're driving the band.
 
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#79
tradernick said:
Don't get your knickers in a twist. If you actually meant your 'theory' is that cold turkey is never appropriate, you're wrong and the majority here will agree, if not publicly.

If you meant that cold turkey isn't appropriate for you, be more clear next time.

That's all I have for you. On ignore.
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Said the guy with his knickers in a twist :rollno:
 

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