How much do you drink at a gig?

[FPS]

Ah the 80's, I hadn't thought about it for awhile but I'm lucky to still be here the way we carried on. I think part of it can be attributed to the popular Hair band songs of the day.

We were playing their songs why not act like them and do what they did. Someone was watching over us for sure. I glad I grew out of it before it was too late.

Now, I just play in church...usually just 1-2 cups of coffee.

 

[mikethecannibal]

i drink until the groupies look good

 

[BackwaterBass]

I drink until the drummer looks good...

 

[cutthroatmolloy]

how much i drink depends on:
-what time we are playing
-how much free beer (if any) we are given
-how much money i have
-where i am
-how many people give me a drink
-how much i feel like drinking

 

[Lesfunk]

I don't drink at gigs. If someone buys me a beer I will drink it to be polite but if they offer to buy me a beer I'll refuse.
I drive at least an hour home from just about every gig I play and I don't want to be driving drunk and get arrested or kill somebody.

 

[Sneckumhaw]

Sometimes I'm sober, sometimes I get fairly hammered. I'm not ashamed and I don't need help, we're a party band, a punk/blues band with a crazy organ-based sound. My job is to hammer out massive monolithic riffs, be loose and crazy and scream raucous backing vocals. A lot of the time it's more fun drunk. I drink whatevers in my flask and a few beers most of the time; we don't gig often and when we do it's gotta be fun. I never go to parties, gigs are my parties.

 

[mutedeity]

I usually don't drink at gigs. Especially if I drive. I think it is unprofessional for one thing and if I do drink because I am not driving I wait until I am done playing. If there is one thing I can't stand it's playing on stage with musicians who are half tanked and playing like it's Sunday afternoon in the garage. Just stay in the garage and drink all you like if you think that's professional behaviour.

 

[Fine Cut]

through the course of set-up and breaks, i'll usually knock back a 12 pack of Mountain dew...i cant help it, i live off the stuff

 

[dustdbass6]

Before the 1st set I like a shot of Jamersons with a pint of Guiness....

Two pints of Guiness max on gigs, especially if I am driving...

Now that is right up my alley. Usually a shot and a few beers before I start and two or three during. Unless I'm driving, in which case its three beers maximum over the course of the night. I like playing with a buzz just before it falls off the cliff into drunkville.

 

[lonote]

I drink a maximum of 1 beer per set and often it is less than that. I have been pulled over and had to blow the breatholizer numerous times over the years and never came close to getting a ticket. At some bars, the cops chalk mark the tires of cars in the lot and/or lie in waiting at closing time. You'd have to be crazy to drive drunk after a bar gig.

 

[nsmar4211]

Around here the police are outside most of the bars starting about 30 minutes before closing time. Sitting right in the parking lot, usually two cars. You'd be really dumb to drive home trashed .

As musicians, we're usually there packing up for a while so they end up leaving us alone (usually......they seem to like me....and I don't drink...). Plus it doesn't hurt that we'll go over and say hello to them .

My bass actually did me good.....coming home got pulled over for my tag lights being out (and they actually were this time!)... My amp was in the way of getting out registration so I apologized to cop, turns out he likes live music and was impressed I played. He'd already written out the warning but he went ahead and signed off on it and told me to get it fixed tomorrow (here you have to take your car to police station to get warning signed off, after problem fixed, PITA). Saved me a bit of trouble......good bass...... Had I been drunk... bass wouldn't have helped though...

 

[Tony In Philly]

As musicians, we're usually there packing up for a while so they end up leaving us alone (usually......they seem to like me....and I don't drink...). Plus it doesn't hurt that we'll go over and say hello to them .

I think they actually like seeing somebody else out there working at those ungodly hours...as long as your not drinking more than a thimbleful that is.

 

[Nedmundo]

I don't drink at all during gigs anymore. My timing and focus go to hell. I barely drink at all these days anyway, but back when I did and it didn't destroy my playing, I'd limit it to three or four beers during a gig.

 

[Basshappi]

I never consume more than one alcoholic beverage during a gig.

 

[dewbass4]

usually nothing .......trying to play REALLY shows up how much if does affect your reaction times.
Ian

I don't drink at all during gigs anymore. My timing and focus go to hell.

+1 I drink a lot of water and maybe an occasional soft drink. I think making music is too important not to be at my very best. If you really think you play better with an altered consciousness, record your performance and then listen to it when you're straight. In 40+ years of playing, I've seen or been a part of too many really bad shows where one or more of the musicians were wasted. I want to be fully in the moment and have clear memories of the magic that was created.

 

[Altitude]

Typically one when I arrive, another one after the first set, then water or soda for the balance. I might go a little further if I am not driving that night.

 

[Altitude]

On a related note - what have been everyone's experiences with the "band tab" if you have one? Mine are reliably the following:

• We learn that we have a certain amount of bar credit for the night, or that we don't - either way
• The band establishes a tab, which either draws down that credit and then runs a balance or just acts like a normal tab
• Sometimes the guys who get there the earliest burn up the whole credit ordering dinner
• At the end of the night, we split the tab equally
• I end up paying $40 for two beers.

Now I always pay cash as I go.

 

[Tony In Philly]

On a related note - what have been everyone's experiences with the "band tab" if you have one? .

Ugh..."band tabs". Depends on the establishment and the relative sense of responsibility among band members.

 

[pmaraziti]

I found music to be the best drug, I'm completely addicted to it....

 

[martyman5000]

Years of drinking and seeing drug addicts and the effects of drugs its hard to know what to say to anyone. Some people are just so tightly wound that a drink of alcohol might help them loosen up and be more creative. Everyone is different and being safe and only having a one drink before a gig and one after is the best way to be safe and have fun.