Performing after a couple beers

[DChalo]

Health care professionals offer the directives they do based upon sound clinical knowledge and your best interests at heart. A

I'm very skeptical when it comes to beliefs like this. A lot of doctors have been known to use patients as "test dummys" for certain medications and treatments. I believe this happened to me with a mixture of SSRI's that ended up almost killing me. There are a lot of cases like this, even with HIV/AIDS medications in the 80s and 90s. I have too much anxiety to take risks and give my 110% faith to a doctor just because they have a license.

 

[1954bassman]

I do, but physicians are inclined to deter recreational use of any substance in their patients. When I need advice like this, I usually look to the web with people that have experience. That's why I have accounts on Shroomery forums, reddit, etc

Yer kidding right? Professionals say no so you turned to TB!

 

[DChalo]

Yer kidding right? Professionals say no so you turned to TB!

I can't exactly ask a doctor about performing on stage. Doubt they have the experience some of the people here do. I'm just looking for a broader, more human, set of opinions and thoughts.

 

[blindrabbit]

I'm very skeptical when it comes to beliefs like this. A lot of doctors have been known to use patients as "test dummys" for certain medications and treatments. I believe this happened to me with a mixture of SSRI's that ended up almost killing me. There are a lot of cases like this, even with HIV/AIDS medications in the 80s and 90s. I have too much anxiety to take risks and give my 110% faith to a doctor just because they have a license.

I'm sorry, but this just isn't true. Obviously I won't change your beliefs on this, but I feel the need to point out for the benefit of those reading this thread that this is a patently false and ungrounded belief. I'm sorry to hear that you aren't interested in proper and effective health care, but I do hope that anyone else who stumbles across this in the future will understand that mental health issues are problems that can very effectively be addressed with the right kinds of therapies and treatments (and often they don't include medications). It is a real shame that more people don't understand this, as the outcomes are really quite impressive.

 

[Rogatien022]

There are many ways to fight stress. If you choose booze and/or drugs, you haven't looked enough. I'll have a beer when I'm relaxed, at home, happy and all things are under control. It's also a good thing to understand what your limits are, and to not go over those limits.

As for me, a beer a set is how I do it, with bottles of water. It's easy to act responsibly.

 

[baileyboy]

Does anybody have... a couple drinks... and does it negatively affect your nerves/performing ?

I never drink at gigs for these two reasons:

1) I want to always bring my best performance and I feel alcohol may hinder that, maybe allow me to "space out", forget where I am in a song, etc.

2) There are way too many cops that watch the taverns I gig at; I've been pulled over on several occasions because I'm on the road at 1 or 2 am returning home. Ending up in the police blotter for D.W.A.I. or D.W.I. would not be a good career move.

 

[Watchootognbout]

No.
Never depend on alcohol for anything.
Face the Face.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I have a lot of experience with anxiety, panic, stage fright, depression, alcohol, and drugs.

Alcohol and drugs (of any sort) are the worst way to deal with it. They only mask the symptoms, while making them worse.

The best way to deal with it is finding holistic solutions. There are many, but it takes a willingness to sit through some really uncomfortable, and scary feelings.

The quick list-- diet, exercise, relaxation exercises, prayer, lots of water, eliminating sugar and processed foods, coffee and other stimulants... And most important, reaching out and seeking help.

@Joe Nerve is the voice of reason. The best way is to face your issues head on. "Just a drink per set" is very tempting, but another one of the Devil's tricks.

We've lost so many great musicians to addiction of one kind or another. You can't play this hand and EVER win.

 

[KickingBass]

Perhaps the problem starts by having alcohol as an option. I've never tasted alcohol and I never plan to, so I don't think of drinking whenever I am stressed. I am forced to find a different solution to my problem because I don't consider alcohol an option. I have yet to implode. I know this might not help the OP but it's a thought for any younger readers who haven't started drinking yet. Every alcoholic started with a sip...

 

[Zooberwerx]

"I have terrible anxiety/panic attacks and I am prescribed Klonopin and Xanax for this, but I have developed a tolerance to them and in order to prevent an addiction I have been skipping doses and drinking alcohol instead on certain days"

Then the disorder is not under control. Bring this to your treating Physician's attention PDQ meaning pretty damn quick.

This is why they make the big bucks.

Riis

 

[twinjet]

I quit a band because the leader always had a couple beers before a performance and would constantly flub every song in succession. Personally, I only drink one as it does not affect me.

One gig, we experienced a power outage which lasted all of our play time and then some. Expecting not to play as it would cut into the other band, I had a few beers. I was out of town, so drinking at home was not an option. We got called up to close the night with two beers and a crown 'n coke in me. Scary going up, but we managed to pull it off incredibly well with very few flubs. Too bad it wasn't the norm (the playing, I mean).

 

[AaronVonRock]

I've never suffered from anxiety or panic attacks, so I won't pretend to understand them. But I do like having a couple of drinks before playing. I enjoy the social aspect of drinking alcohol and playing music. 2-3 drinks seem to be my limit. Any more than that negatively affects my playing.

 

[Lobster11]

I can't exactly ask a doctor about performing on stage. Doubt they have the experience some of the people here do. I'm just looking for a broader, more human, set of opinions and thoughts.

Of course you can talk to your doctor about performing on stage. Just because he (?) isn't a gigging musician doesn't mean he can't appreciate your situation. You should tell him everything that you've told us: why you're concerned about taking your meds every day; that the problem you are trying to address isn't so much the anxiety attacks themselves, but your fear of having one on stage, etc. One reason doctors get a bad rap is that people withhold important information from them, and then complain that they didn't prescribe an effective treatment. If your doctor doesn't think he has the knowledge or experience to deal with your particular issues, he will refer you to someone else who can.

 

[Rogatien022]

Perhaps the problem starts by having alcohol as an option. I've never tasted alcohol and I never plan to, so I don't think of drinking whenever I am stressed. I am forced to find a different solution to my problem because I don't consider alcohol an option. I have yet to implode. I know this might not help the OP but it's a thought for any younger readers who haven't started drinking yet. Every alcoholic started with a sip...

Not to derail, but sipping alcohol will not turn you into an alcoholic. The problem is already there, before the alcohol comes in. Alcohol only amplifies it.

It's possible to have a drink - or two - with friends, socially, and keeping it responsible.

Alcoholics will use booze to feel better, but the problem still resides when they get sober, so they go back to drinking. Face your problems, solve them, be responsible about your flaws. No one is perfect, we all have flaws. Some people will take care of the flaw responsibly while others need more help. Alcohol/drugs will never cure no one.

 

[Slapstyle]

I understand being broke and having poor insurance coverage but this is your mental health we're talking about. It's worth the investment. This is an all day problem, not just a once in a while problem. I highly recommend seeking medical/psychological advice for a medical/psychological problem. I know too many people who prescribe themselves alcohol and drugs for ailments that are not treated by alcohol or drugs. They are blinded by the illusion that these things are helping when in fact, they are making the meds they are supposed to be taking not work, and making the problem worse. Please don't fall into this trap.

Also, I'm all for second guessing doctors. They are people too, and they make mistakes. This is true, but they also went to school for a long time to learn about what they do for a living, and know far more about it than I do. Seeking an experts advice over one's peers in a forum... it's just common sense. Get a second or third opinion if you have to. But don't let joe schmoe... or me for that matter, impact decisions that could directly and permanently effect your life.

 

[Rayjay]

On one hand, James Jamerson recorded on of the best basslines of all time, so drunk that he had to lay down on the studio floor (What's Going On)

On the other hand...he died of alcoholism....

-personally, alcohol doesn't relax me one bit. Inhibits, maybe, but definitely not relaxes

-alcohol will, as mentioned, effect your time and pocket

-alcohol also numbs your response to low frequencies, making you feel like you need to keep turning your amp up, which leads to HEARING LOSS!!

If your band is your weekend hobby, then that's one thing; if your whole income comes as a professional gigging bassist, I'd re-evaluate.

 

[40Hz]

I have terrible anxiety/panic attacks and I am prescribed Klonopin and Xanax for this, but I have developed a tolerance to them and in order to prevent an addiction I have been skipping doses and drinking alcohol instead on certain days, which also calms my nerves. I have drank during practices, but never during a performance. Does anybody have experience having a couple drinks during a concert and does it negatively affect your nerves/performing ? And I apologize if this is against the rules, if it is then feel free to take it down.

I prefer not to have a drink (or anything else) in me when I'm onstage. Whatever jitters I feel when I first go on disappear after about the first three notes of the first number. I sometimes get a little edgy standing in the starting gate. Once the bell rings and the race starts, I'm fine. But that's me. I don't have the burden of dealing with an anxiety disorder like you have to deal with. And for which you have my fullest sympathy.

Minor note: I don't know how wise it is to mix alcohol with what you're taking for anxiety. You might want to discuss that a bit with your prescribing physician rather than us. Both Xanax and Klonopin have drug interaction warnings regarding their use along with ethanol;

using...together with ethanol can increase nervous system side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with...

So be careful and get professional advisement. Maybe there's something else they can give you that will work better than what you're currently taking, so you won't need to self-medicate using an alcoholic beverage as a booster.

 

[deathness]

I get terribly nervous before any type of performance. I don't know if it's prescription anxiety-level nervous, but it feels like it to me! I can't drink at all before playing. I already have trouble with my hands (long-term losing of my tactile ability and, yes, I do hand exercises to slow the progressive deterioration) and even a *sniff* of alcohol makes me Mr. Butterfingers. In those situations where my nerves threaten to get the better of me, I do my own meditation and, I can't believe I'm sharing this, listen to "Eye of the Tiger" if I can. For some reason, that goofy song makes me feel like I can pull anything off. It also lightens up some of the tension. I dunno, I guess I'm just saying try some off-the-wall stuff, do something or listen to something that amuses you, keep it light, and remember to have fun! Maybe it won't cure it completely, but it might make it easier at least.

 

[jmlee]

I don't drink at all anymore when I'm playing. There was a period where I thought that I played better with various substances on board. I didn't. Now I'm pumped on caffeine and sucrose. Tempos run a little brisk, but there you go.

 

[Slapstyle]

By the by, I used to get massive anxiety attacks when I smoked pot. I truly believed pot made them better. It was completely untrue, but I wanted it to be true. I was one of those, "legalize it man, it's good for like... making paper maaaannnn..." kind of guys. The fact was, I just liked to get high and put stickers on my bong. I quit drinking and doing drugs about 14 years ago. I've only had 1 panic attack in that time, and that was in the middle of a nasty divorce, so under the circumstances, it was understandable. I'm not saying this is what's happening with you, it's simply my experience. I was treating anxiety with a drug that causes panic attacks in some people. I did not seek medical professionals help because I knew they would tell me what I didn't want to hear. So I went to the internet to find "evidence" that pot is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and of course, there's plenty of that available. Lots of "studies" that say pot isn't addictive, and there's no evidence it causes cancer. Plenty of people saying if folks weren't so uptight, pot treats everything from paranoia to hemorrhoids. It wasn't until I got in a lot of trouble and was basically forced to change my behavior, and after some significant time with a clear head that I am able to look back at the situation for what it is. To me, it's very clear, and I'm about the least uptight cat you're gonna meet.