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How much do you drink at a gig?

#22
I'm 55 now and have been sober for ~ 17 years. I don't miss it at all. That being said, in my earlier days, gigging and otherwise, it was pretty much what has been stated here already - "how much do you have?". I see friends and acquaintances that still guzzle and "puff" and can't help but chuckle to myself and think "there but for the grace of God go I". To each his/her own. I'm not being judgmental. Just not for me, and my playing is wwaaaaayyyyyyy better, which is pretty much the whole point to me.
 
#23
I'm 42 and used to drink a good bit but now I don't usually drink at a gig. Might have one before we go up but thats it. This came about from video taping previous gigs.

Wish I could say the same for my drummer and guitar player though. If it wasn't for me and the lead singer, they would drink until they couldn't play, much less even stand.

Our first gig was a benefit dance last summer with another band. We would play a set, they would play a set. Amounted to an hour and a half between sets and both of them were so trashed by our last time up on stage that I was seriously going to quit the band! It was a complete joke and an embarrassment. Funny thing was is they thought it went great the next day. I don't think they even noticed 2/3rds of the crowd leaving.

I video tape every gig now and they are on notice. One more time from either of them and I'm gone. they are taking me seriously I think because I own the lights and PA. It sucks to be the "Fun Police" but someone has to do it. they definately can't police themselves.

Audiences have changed since the 80's. Very few people are out at gigs smashed anymore because of the drunk driving laws. Bands used to get away with drinking a good bit but thats no longer the case. Crowds are more picky about your performance and i think its a good thing.

My two band mates are alcoholics. They drink every single day and I know it's only a matter of time before one or both shows up wasted.
 
#25
cheapbasslovin said:
Is 'Utah beer' like NW beer (booze content anywhere from 5.0 to 10.0 percent by volume)? I usually have 2 or three, but absolutely limit myself to 2 if I am drinking real heavy stuff. Learned that one the hard way (not cops, but I was severely hampered and couldn't get home safely without a very angry wife).
Click to expand...

I wish :)

Utah beer that is sold in grocery stores and served on tap in bars is 3.2% alcohol (4.0% by volume). Utah has some great microbreweries that brew some tasty beer, but it is all about the same alcohol content as a budweiser in another state.

You can get "regular" beer at bars, but it is served in bottles and is more expensive.

I'm 205 lbs and a pint of the stuff doesn't really effect me. Don't get me wrong, you can get drunk on it like any other beer, but you need to plan to spend a lot of time at the pisser.
 
#26
Now, only water. Unless my wife comes with me & then she drives, so I'll maybe have a glass of wine. In the old days I didn't drink either... the clubs gave the bands cheap beer, which I hated, and I had other stuff with which to alter my senses. And i was stupid enough to use it, too. Yeah, how'd I make it this far, I don't know.
 
#34
nothing during a show. (i'm underage) but 1 or 2 after is nice if i'm not gonna be going anywhere for awhile. i had like 2 drinks before a show once and for some reason i didn't feel i was playing my best. i'd never played that venue or crowd before, but i still blame my slightly weaker than usual performance on the drinking. everyone had nothing but good things to say about our set, but i felt differently. since then its afterwards if any.
 
#36
while i can't say this held true in younger and dumber days i rarely have more than three drinks at a gig.
i don't drink before starting to play (unless a redbull counts). i have one drink on stage which i work on over the set, and sweat it out playing and usually "feel" pretty sober by the end of the set. i have one drink after my stuff is packed up and off the stage to help with the re-entry process.
usually, i am the one who has to stick around and get "paid", which can involve multiple hours of waiting. since i have a general aversion to bars, and people, the idle time waiting for the gig to wrap, the door to get counted and split a drink helps the time pass a bit.
but during this whole process i am drinking water as well (at a 2 to 1 ratio to my alchohol intake) as the idea of getting nailed with a dui with my car full of my gear is not something i take lightly.
of course, i have an uncle who is doing hard time for an unfortunate beer related incident, so i tend to be a little more careful about this than most other musicians i know.

as they say: "restraint is the better part of valor."

if you are in the habit of drinking 4+ beers at a gig and driving home afterwards i hope you get nailed to the wall before you hurt someone, or worse.
 
#38
I like to drink at shows. I never used to, but now that I am older and in a cover band, it's a different world. People love to buy the band shots and I love to do them so there you have it. With that said, I recently invested in a breathalyzer (ebay) so I make sure that I am below half the legal limit before getting behind the wheel. Gotta stay responsible.

Peace!
 
#39
agreatheight said:
I like to drink at shows. I never used to, but now that I am older and in a cover band, it's a different world. People love to buy the band shots and I love to do them so there you have it. With that said, I recently invested in a breathalyzer (ebay) so I make sure that I am below half the legal limit before getting behind the wheel. Gotta stay responsible.

Peace!
Click to expand...

I have a breathalyzer, too. I have it calibrated regularly and compare it's accuracy with a professional one that a law enforcement officer friend of mine has. So, it's pretty accurate and only cost me 50 bucks.
 

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