First “I’m not drinking” practice...

[bolophonic]

I’m always glad to hear about people quitting alcohol. I gave up drinking in 1999 with no plans to ever go back. It’s so gross.

 

[saabfender]

Funny story.

My current band had previously had a round-Robin-who’s-bringing-the-beer-this-week, let me know of this tradition before first rehearsal. I told them I don’t drink at rehearsal or gigs and had stopped ages ago and wasn’t about to start again.

I can’t hear as well and my playing suffers.

The BL (who’d informed me of the tradition), almost immediately offered that “well, I suppose we don’t need to bring beer all the time.”

Since then, we’ve met a dozen times and played a gig. There have probably been less than a dozen beers total consumed on band time. I’d call that success although I was nervous as hell telling him up-front about how I felt and why.

Sometimes guys need a reason to put it down, or at least exercise moderation. If the new guy comes in sober and plays up a storm, they might reconsider old counterproductive habits.

 

[Spidey2112]

I’d call that success although I was nervous as hell telling him up-front about how I felt and why.

Hired, or not, staying true to yourself always helps you sleep better.

If the new guy comes in sober and plays up a storm, they might reconsider old counterproductive habits.

Nothing dampens a party like 'Ridin' The Storm Out'....

 

[buldog5151bass]

I honestly didn't start living at all until I stopped drinking. My life is infinitely more exciting lived not in a haze. Sobriety is a drug in itself . For real. Most people can't handle it.

I have a new thing I like to ask people to to help them decide if they have a problem with alcohol...

If you had the choice of having a 1 month all expense paid vacation to wherever paradise is for you, but you couldn't drink any alcohol whatsoever, or take any drugs - OR one month at home where you could drink all you want for free with no repercussions or judgement from anyone, whatsoever - which would you choose.

I think if more people took a real look at what those beers/cigarettes cost them for a year, there would be fewer people regularly smoking/drinking.

 

[FunkySpoo]

We rehearse Sunday's at noon. So not much drinking except for water and coffee. As for gigs: I guess I got lucky with the group I've assembled. We're all adults and out of nine of us there's maybe 5 or 6 beers consumed during a gig. I'll usually have one beer after I load in and set up. I bring the PA and lights, so after all that humpin' I'm ready for a cold one. Then water for me the rest of the night till after the gig I'll have another while I talk to the people who are still there.

 

[Wisebass]

it’s all in my head.

Hi RedWire75

It is normal to have problems with alcohol.

It's very bad to have problems without!

You made the right decision! Rock & Roll is about breaking bad habbits!


may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[bound'n'blocked]

I dont drink much at all, maybe an occasional beer or shot. I usually nurse a beer through the night "just for the appearances" at a gig. But on the rare circumstance when someone actually buys the bass player a shot, after I obligingly down it, I feel like I dont know what I'm doing for the next few songs. Good thing it doesnt happen too often.

Good on you for noticing you need to make the change.

BnB

 

[JRA]

substances do not cause addictions. addictions are caused by addicts --- those who would substitute substances in place of "meaning." predispositions (either way) have a genetic root, but most are learned through successes and/or failures, often misinterpreted by individuals who struggle with "meaning."

it's up to each individual to assess his/her own limits and boundaries accurately enough to live in the larger community, viably. when that process fails = others will assess...and that never ends well for any of the parties concerned.

for those who cannot 'moderate' = better to endorse the binary: do/don't, either/or, black/white, all/none.

 

[Sixgunn]

I honestly didn't start living at all until I stopped drinking. My life is infinitely more exciting lived not in a haze. Sobriety is a drug in itself . For real. Most people can't handle it.

Truer words have not been spoken!!!

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Today, Aug. 27, marks 34 years for me without a drink. Never thought that would have been possible back in 1984. It was the greatest decision I ever made in my life, but truth be told, it wasn't much of a decision. Was absolutely necessary - for me.

But that's not what I came here to say .

Before leaving the booze behind, I was a massive pot head as well. I couldn't imagine playing without being stoned. When I was kinda forced to quit that, I felt like you feel with the alcohol. Playing was boring. I thought I sucked. The best way I can describe it is I felt the world had gone from color, to black and white.

That feeling faded after a few months, and, well... the only success I ever had with music came post drugs and alcohol. I only thought they made me better, and today of that I'm absolutely certain.

That was me as well. A friend and I were like Cheech and Chong. Stayed high. I mean all the time. Another friend asked Chong one day, "Do you stay stoned all the time to feel normal, or to escape feeling normal?" That was kind of a revelation, at least for me. I realized I was stoned more than straight. And stoned became the new normal.

BnB

 

[jsolberg]

Back in the 70's after I got out of school and got my first real job, I bought some nice recording equipment. I recorded a full gig shortly thereafter. I listened to the tape the day after and that was the last time I had a drink at a gig or rehearsal.

 

[Guiseppe]

I found that when I had a few brews/drinks on board that EVERYTHING began sounding good, and then when I listened to the tapes afterwards found that not to be true. To each their own, but in my experience my judgement wasn't as good.

 

[briandavismurph]

...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.

Congratulations on seeing the way to what may be a very positive change. If anyone is looking for a way out and does not want to "attend" AA or other groups have a look at this great reddit forum. It helped me make sense of the "HOW TO" stop drinking and allowed me to see the way through the woods.
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