- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Contrary to popular belief, his is the wiser thing to do. Blind trust in doctors is a lot more dangerous than people want to believe.
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Performing after a couple beers
- Thread starter DChalo
- Start date
Yea, probably wouldn't have been dependent on Benzo's if it weren't for doc
I usually have 1, just to knock the edge off my nerves before the 1st set. Depending on the type of gig, if 3 or more sets, I might have another before the last set, no more.
Anything more leads to rapid loss of concentration and dexterity.
Anything more leads to rapid loss of concentration and dexterity.
Truth.
I don't know why, but I have been told that my singing and saxophone playing is actually quite good when i'm inebriated. Might be from the boost of confidence or something. Drunk bass doesn't really work out to well, not enough coordination in my hands.
I have a familiarity with what you're talking about and work in the medical field. I would tell my MD about your developing tolerance to Benzos and how you are now turning to alcohol. I hope your MD is a psychiatrist as they are usually more understanding of this sort of thing. Addiction is a very easy thing to develop, I have many dead friends who started out just as you described.
My insurance isn't too great, so meeting up with psychiatrists on a regular basis is something I can't afford. That being said, I have been to a psychiatrist a couple times, and it was a waste of money. My general practitioner is the one prescribing my meds. I have tried 3 different kinds of SSRI's and they made things worse, almost to a point of contemplating suicide. Benzo's and alcohol are the only things that have ever worked for me. It's very concerning
I understand, but it seems to me that you are kind of at a crossroads here, I would seek professional help if I were you, the road you're on could be a bumpy one. How about a Psych NP?
Back when I was playing regularly I would drink a beer per set. Worked my backside off on stage and looking back the beer was more fluid replacement then anything. However the alcohol still had an effect, even if I didn't feel buzzed. By the last set my playing suffered. But it looked cool, as did the lit cigarette hanging off the headstock as I played. Today I wouldn't recommend either. Seen too many people lose too much with both. I would back what Joe Nerve stated, a holistic approach. I would add yoga to his list. Good luck. Keep the groove.
A long, long time ago I had massive stage fright. Every gig, don't know why.
I would start an arguement with someone just to take my mind from playing in front of people.
A good mate twigged to this and would goad me into being really annoyed just before I hit the stage.
Result was: A great gig; a few beers and a laugh back at the house.
Prescription drugs ( in my opinion) are an unreliable way of treating this kind of thing.
Same as booze.
Get some help from people who are doing this for a living.
You owe it to yourself.
I would start an arguement with someone just to take my mind from playing in front of people.
A good mate twigged to this and would goad me into being really annoyed just before I hit the stage.
Result was: A great gig; a few beers and a laugh back at the house.
Prescription drugs ( in my opinion) are an unreliable way of treating this kind of thing.
Same as booze.
Get some help from people who are doing this for a living.
You owe it to yourself.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Alcohol is a bit of a dragon for me on stage. It makes nervousness worse, and I'm fully aware that I play best without any in my system. I played with a singer (now completely sober) who would occasionally get completely out of control on stage. Alcohol was a complete adventure when she was around. Not in a good way necessarily, either. I'll drink one at an intermission, but that's about it. Drinking a few after the show as an unwinder while loading out is OK.
Anything Joe says. And.
The same high level of tolerance you developed for Xanax is the same with any drugs. And alcohol. Alcohol is harddrugs. It releaves some of you anxiety. At first.. But soon you need more. And lots of it. To get the same results. And thats how people get addicted. Be aware. For me the solution was also what Joe says. Drugs only make you numb. It makes it worse.
Turnaround
Commercial User
I sound best after a few beers. Until I hear the playback! That's scary.
I'm not offering any medical advise here. This is simply a story of the effects of a drink on my ability to play.
I'm a 6', 190 lb guy. A few years back the band was a studio in NYC putting together an album. The whole thing cost a lot of $$$. One day we were listening to playbacks. During lunch, I went around the corner to get some pizza and picked up a six pack. I had a beer with lunch and we went back to recording. That one beer changed my timing slightly. Perhaps it was only the engineer and I who could notice it, but I certainly learned that a beer does impact my playing. I went in very early another morning and re-recorded all those lines I put down during that afternoon. Now, depending on the scale of the gig I might choose to not have that beer with the set. One beer doesn't calm my nerves anyway. It also taught me a bit about having a beer and jumping in a car. My perception of my abilities and what I am actually capable of after a pop or two are different!
I'm a 6', 190 lb guy. A few years back the band was a studio in NYC putting together an album. The whole thing cost a lot of $$$. One day we were listening to playbacks. During lunch, I went around the corner to get some pizza and picked up a six pack. I had a beer with lunch and we went back to recording. That one beer changed my timing slightly. Perhaps it was only the engineer and I who could notice it, but I certainly learned that a beer does impact my playing. I went in very early another morning and re-recorded all those lines I put down during that afternoon. Now, depending on the scale of the gig I might choose to not have that beer with the set. One beer doesn't calm my nerves anyway. It also taught me a bit about having a beer and jumping in a car. My perception of my abilities and what I am actually capable of after a pop or two are different!
This sounds like switching dependency from one thing to another. I obviously don't know everything about your condition and I know it's expensive but it is your health, what is more important than that? Are you dependent on alcohol for other things too or just stage fright? If it's just stage fright, weigh the consequences and risks of continuing going on stage.
Health care professionals offer the directives they do based upon sound clinical knowledge and your best interests at heart. Asking individual people that are each unique and different than you is not necessarily going to be helpful.
Again, go back to the professionals, and don't be afraid of getting second or third opinions. If anyone was coming into a forum asking for help with how to manage a heart attack or a broken leg, they would almost universally be directed to go see a doctor or head to an emergency room. Mental health issues are no different. Get the professional help you need, and best of luck to you with that.
Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
I am a former heavy drinker who gave it up completely about a year and a half ago. Drinking half of a 750 ml bottle of bourbon was a nightly routine. But even at that level of tolerance, I noticed that going on stage after even one beer had a noticeable effect on my sense of pocket, and not for the better, either. YMMV.
