Playing bass on the clock vs having a drink during gigs?

[Ostie]

I guess playing bass at work is okay if you are on your lunch or break, and if you have a private place to play that won't disturb your co-workers. You're on your own time, but you're not in your own space, so one must be considerate and cognizant that your boss or coworkers might drop in at any time. If you work from home, then I guess you're on the honor system.

Playing in a working band in a club or restaurant is different. Sone may comp you sone drinks. Others may not, but may not care if you have one or two over the course of the evening. within reason, on your break. It's up to you to know what's acceptable there. Since smoking cigarets is banned in bars and restaurants in my state, it's not an issue. Smoking or vaping other things is again on the honor system. It's not my thing so it's not an issue for me.

I worked in state government for over thirty years. Not once did I ever drink or smoke anything on the taxpayers dime. (I'm a non-smoker, so I got two breaks a day, instead of the six or so that smokers took). And having an instrument around to practice on my breaks wasn't practical. It's not my home, it's a public building, and the risk of theft is always there.

 

[Bushrod Johnson]

I'm always munching a carrot...

 

[Koshchei]

Lots of "What music gear do you use while on the clock?" threads lately, which I don't get at all. But a similar number of posters crop up to say having a drink or smoke on a gig is unprofessional, so now I'm extremely curious if there is any overlap.
Do you think it's ok to play bass instead of working but also think it's not ok to have a drink while on a gig? What is your reasoning?

For example I've worked in a number of positions where management even appeared to encourage drinking or smoking at work in some instances, it was seriously awkward to turn down booze on work lunches when I had to go back to the office, but if you had a bass in your hands you would get poopcanned and walked off premises so fast you wouldn't have time to say goodbye.

okiiiii

 

[HolmeBass]

At work I can only play bass during my lunch break. Of course I am supposed to be having lunch with my team during lunch. The scheduling has become difficult.

At a gig I might have one beer, two at most, and maybe one smoke, but I think I play better without it.

I don't know what would happen if I started playing bass during non-lunch hours. But if I missed too many meetings or fell behind on tickets eventually I would get a warning, I do know that.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

 

[logdrum]

They have a music room at work. And it is also a campus with benches under trees. And a smoke area. Fighting, nudity, smoking weed and sex would be a no-no, but you can play your instrument LOL during break. The smokers maximize their smoke breaks. Fully remote workers like me, just finish your tasks. Even the laziest in my team do more than 40 hrs a week. So play the bass all you like, just make sure you do not be a road block because you had to learn to play Mustang Sally in F#.
My work-friend started chain smoking again when he worked remote. He regrets it.

Drinking during lunch. Well when I was in Europe, in a non marketing role, it was okay for a beer or wine during lunch. In the US, if you smell of it it can be reported. But sales folks who work with customers, probably different tolerance. Tobacco - go outside or in the smoke area. Smokers don't bother me.

I can't drink (will get inflamed joints) so not an issue for me. Not a tobacco smoker.

Music - My view of the band: Just play well and behave well - to the occasion or venue

 

[mrjim123]

I drink, therefore I am.

 

[Grinderman]

Professionalism -- Working hard or hardly working?

Mark E. Smith is dead so maybe ask Sebastian Murphy.

The majority of the most successful people in music I've known personally, or by acquaintance, association, or reputation are or were drinkers and or users. The main exceptions of my approximate generation have been those who would or could identify with the straightedge movement from the '80s.

 

[FretlessOwl]

I did a production of the Jimmy Buffett musical Escape To Margaritaville, and the show notes actually ENCOURAGED the band to drink onstage. Pretty appropriate, I guess!

 

[Grinderman]

I did a production of the Jimmy Buffett musical Escape To Margaritaville, and the show notes actually ENCOURAGED the band to drink onstage. Pretty appropriate, I guess!

When in a blender or Key West, do as the...

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do.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I used to keep a bass or guitar in my office and play for a few minutes every morning, technically before work. Something was said to one of my superiors about "the optics" of having musical instruments in the office, and it was passed down to me I should keep them out of sight. Naturally I was pissed. I come in to work at least a half-hour early every single day and usually am the last person out in the evening. I get called all hours of the night and on stand-by weekends. Meanwhile, the same organization that was so concerned about "the optics" of just having a guitar case in plain sight has no problem at all with a PAID half-hour for employees to meditate in a Zoom class. I guess that's okay. And I really didn't care... I ain't got time for it during my workday, but whatever.

Rant over.

 

[brianrost]

The only time I've played bass at work is when management threw a St. Patrick's lunchtime party and some employees provided the music.

I did bring my basses into the office when I had to leave immediately after work to make a gig or lesson.

A few times I went out at lunch to buy a bass and brought it into the office rather than leave it in the car.

I never had any kind of practice setup at work.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I used to play bass at work, drink at work, do drugs at work, smoke at work, sleep at work, whatever. The only difference at gigs was the sleep part (usually). I always thought (and still do) that Bun E. Carlos looked uber cool with that cig hanging out of the corner of his mouth while he sat behind his kit. Same with wedging my smoke under the "E" string on my p-bass headstock. Drinking onstage was de rigueur. Janis et al made it cool. Drugs? If it was good enough for Jimi it was good enough for me! I've performed in a blackout on occasion, and been so wasted I couldn't play at all. When I stopped drinking and drugging I started to notice how poorly my bandmates were playing when they were under the influence and I was straight. They weren't really the "awesome jams" we thought they were! Now I don't do any of that stuff. Haven't for decades. Many of the folks I gig with do, mostly very moderately. A couple smoke weed but it doesn't seem to affect their chops. Maybe they're just at a maintenance level. I am unable to indulge any of those habits in moderation so abstinence is the only practical approach for me. If your choices don't make my job harder, we're good.

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[Biggbass]

I don't smoke and I drink water during gigs plus I work from home so these are non issues for me. And when I do play bass, it's usually at rehearsal or gigs unless I'm wood shedding something on my own time. Back when I worked as a studio engineer I occasionally played bass or guitar when I was building custom music tracks. But otherwise I didn't have the spare time to sit around and noodle.

 

[IanStephenson]

Do you think it's ok to play bass instead of working but also think it's not ok to have a drink while on a gig? What is your reasoning?

Playing bass for a few minutes before going into a meeting isn't going to affect my ability to do my job in the meeting.
Drinking a few beers before going on stage IS going to affect my ability to do my job when I get on stage.

I probably drink more on my day job than I do at gigs... two or three times a year we have events with a free bar. They're celebrate and network events. Getting wasted would be frowned on, relaxing and being social is definitely encouraged.

 

[80jazz]

I have played bass at work a handful of times and would maybe have 1 drink on the gig, but only if I am not singing. Since my gigs involve singing, drinking is out. I also don't smoke.

 

[Beej]

I don't drink, smoke, consume drugs or bass at work. Unless work is playing the bass, in which case I'm doing as the Romans do.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I've played at work, but usually on rotating out of hours tours when I was doing nothing but monitoring things or waiting for something to do. I'd immediately stop if I have to do something. My boss didn't see it as any different than those who read books, did crosswords, etc... while on an out of hours shift.

I would imagine it really depends on the job. It's kind of hard for some, for example, a flight attendant, bus driver, courtroom bailiff, chef, assembly line worker, deep sea diver...

On the other hand, Chris Hadfield played guitar and sang while working as an astronaut!

 

[eddododo]

I chose the first option, laissez faire, but mainly with the rationale, that lots of different work environments and gigs exist.

Anyway, the question itself is kind of strange… If you are afforded some reasonable downtime on the clock, or obviously if you have some break time, Then, obviously, it would be fine to bring an Instrument, if it's not causing a problem. Some places you might get a weird glance the first time, and obviously there are places where a boss would not allow you to make that kind of noise… But assuming it's not prohibited or causing an issue, I don't even see why this would be a question.

If it is NOT allowed, but you could "get away with it" because you work from home or have a private office or whatever reason, then I would also encourage us to consider this leisure time reasonable. If you have the kind of job that is so fulfilling or exclusive/high-paying the new to give 100% of the allotted time out of your time on earth completely focused and dedicated to your employer and the work hand, then that's fine, but if your job is alienating or replaceable or otherwise crappy, while also affording you some scenario in which you can "get away with" playing a little basson the clock, then, I also encourage that… Without a doubt, many of you would find that to be a strange, or even a moral viewpoint, but I think, being coerced into meaningless work, because of the structure of society is many orders of magnitude more immoral Then slapping some bass in between meaningless emails. I don't see why that's any different than gossiping in the break room or playing on your phone, and I've seen plenty of offices with pool tables, or little putting greens…

If you weren't filthy rich or highly fulfilled by work, then the wholesale uninterrupted commitment of hours of your day is pretty silly and sad.

And to be clear, I am highly effective annd efficient and my job, I work hard, and I do derive some joy, and meaning from doing so. But I also don't wring my hands with guilt and worry for browsing on talkbass for a couple of minutes. Some people will view this as a question of honor or dignity, but they're missing the part where many (if not most) employers do not exude honor or dignity either. It's a symbiosis within a runaway system, and mechanically the crux of the issue is the nature of the workday and work hours. Obviously, plenty of people are paid on commission, or for the delivery of the good or service itself, but in the case of the uninterrupted, 8 to 12 hour workday, you would be pretty hard-pressed to describe a scenario where the uninterrupted dedication to some job of that slice of your life is something that needs to be held sacred.



so again, if it's something that would be allowed, then I don't get why this would even be a conversation, save for the older generations who are still brainwashed into thinking 'work is work, why would I bring a bass?!' If that's you, then fine, don't bring a bass.

If you can get away with it, and you're not going to have some problematic fall off of your productivity, then I again urge you to go ahead.

as far as the question of drinking on a gig… Well, first off, is it a gig for fun, or a professional or quasi-professional gig? Are drinks being served? Is your band OK with drinking on a gig? I'm personally not a big drinker, but I can't imagine a scenario at a bar gig Where I would begrudge a bandmate A few drinks… I have no interest in being around or playing with someone who gets wasted and obnoxious, or plays terribly.. but again, that's a bit of a band management question of one about the ethics or philosophy… It's probably a little weird if you're bringing booze to a gig where drinks are not being served, but in an appropriate setting, where someone is handling their drinks like an adult, I'm not sure I could care less.

I feel pretty similarly about having a drink at a business lunch, but it's a little more questionable on its face, and I'd find it hard to argue against a strict and enforced "drinking at lunch" policy lol, but I know plenty of lawyers and whatever else who are absolutely going to have a small drink at lunch that is otherwise unnoticed. Personally, I can't find anything less appealing to me than having a drink at lunch, then going back to an office, but that's my life to live.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I have a work bass, I actually practice it very little during lunch. Have picked it up on the clock for about 1 minute or less to go over a part of a song for the gig that night. No music being played or amp. Drink at the gig? Sorry to admit it but yes, leader covers drinks. I usually just do 1 or 2.