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

[Pocket Dave]

I don't drink or drug on a gig because I don't drink or drug.

But you do you as long as it doesn't create a problem for me.

Otherwise, with regards to the thread's implied comparison, 5-yards, repeat the down:

 

[lermgalieu]

Lots of "What music gear do you use while on the clock?" threads lately, which I don't get at all.

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.

This assumes alot. I have a bass sitting behind me at the office. I'm a professional and bill on an hourly basis (in 6 minute increments). If I were to turn around and start playing for 30 mins or whatever, I wouldn't bill and wouldn't be paid for that time. I think some variation of that is true for loads of people. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[2112]

A very long time ago, when I was in college, I worked overnight shifts in 24-hour gas stations... and it was absolutely dead overnight. I was more-or-less free to do as I wanted. This included playing saxophone. Alot. To the point where I learned most of Chicago's catalog. One gas station I worked at was extremely slow even during the daytime. And, of course this was back when smoking was okay in most situations, so lots of that got done too lol. Drinking, not so much.

Today, my professional roles pre-empt any sort of this kind of effery lol. Except when I'm on remote and not actively clocking time. Over the years, I have quit smoking, but I still play. And I still have the occasional drink, but not at a gig.

 

[Topkat13]

Besides smoking and drinking I would have liked to see flatulation added to the list.

 

[silky smoove]

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?

There's a large middle ground between these two concepts. Playing bass when you should be working is unacceptable, but most forms of employment have built-in breaks throughout the day and a break for lunch. If you're at the office playing bass during these designated times that is perfectly acceptable as it's your time to do as you please, provided you're not disrupting others by doing so. The last bit becomes highly situational. I wouldn't do it with an amp in my office, but would do it through headphones. The manager of my entire division plays guitar in her office frequently and is always stoked when I have a bass with me for a post-work gig because she wants to check it out.

 

[bigjames]

I'll have a beer at a gig. Probably just the one..
Its also probably just habit too...you are invaribly in a place selling beer.

Nobody I know knocks them back though...

I learned this the hard way....playing a gig back in 2011 at a bar. Private event, so the whole place was booked out and there were three bands playing. Anyway, I was nervous. I had a drink...I had another...I think I might have had a third. Hit the stage and my fingers were not listening to my brain. Too much to drink without any food. I will not make that mistake again. I got through it, but my hands felt sluggish and numb.

 

[Ellery]

I play all originals bands and rarely get paid, so my only concern is not getting too drunk or stoned to play my best.

 

[bigthemat]

My job treats me like an adult with the expectation of "do your job and get your stuff done on time" and not, "you took 17 minute break when you're only allowed 15" kind of BS. Plus I work from home 99% of the time...

So....

if I'm in a boring meeting or something where I just need to be in the background and can turn off my camera on Zoom, sure, I'll pick up a bass and noodle while watching the meeting. Or if a meeting is cancelled and I have a free 20 mins, might not be enough time to get started on a new project or whatever so I'll use that time to play.

As for gigs, I don't overdo it but all the bars that I play at usually give us a couple free beers or whatever so I'll have one or two drinks throughout the gig. Never more than I can handle or affect my playing, and of course so I can drive home fine. Usually have a diet coke along with any drink, and lots of water.

At work, sometimes we have drinks at work events, or a friday afternoon when there's not a lot to do people might grab a beer from the fridge. At my last company it was this way that we had wine and beer in the fridge and no one would touch it until after their shift or like on friday afternoons or whatever. Everyone was an adult about it and no one was bringing a drink to their desk while working.

 

[Plectrum72]

Don't play bass on the clock at work, but off the clock (lunch break) no problem. (Same for perusing TB.)

Smoke (assuming tobacco?), in accordance with your company's rules (designated smoking area) or on a break during a gig in accordance with venue's policy.

Drink, 1 at lunch if acceptable by your company's rules and appropriate for the type of lunch gathering. No more than 2 at a (3-4 hour) gig.

The above is how I see it even though I haven't had a cigarette in 12 years, nor a job where I could have a bass/amp at work in the last 8 years. Also, my job does not permit alcohol consumption during the work day (to include lunch).

 

[Mighty Thumb]

I keep a bass and amp in my office. There is also a drum kit, guitar amp, keyboard amp and small PA available. The two owners are a very accomplished drummer and guitar player, my office is next to theirs. It is also very common in my industry for people to be musicians or otherwise connected to music or film. Now I work mostly from home and always have a bass behind me. It is frequently a conversation starter on Teams/Zoom calls and is as much a part of my decor as everything else in my backdrop - including my Talkbass coffee mug.
We all work very hard and perform complex tasks at a high level. Everyone that works for me is an adult and is trusted to meet their responsibilities without constant moderation. If they don't, it becomes obvious pretty quickly. I have no problem with someone taking a 5-10 minute "clear my head and play a tune" break as long as they don't disrupt anyone else and it doesn't effect them getting their stuff done. It can be just what's needed sometimes to keep folks motivated and productive. When a jam breaks out at the office it is always after hours and it's always a hoot!

I don't drink when playing and don't do the other stuff ever so neither is an issue for me.

 

[Five or Six]

drink afterwards, never during

I consider playing a "paid" gig to be working but, having fun at work. People that hire us deserve all of us to be on our game. The excuse "I need it to settle my nerves" is a poor one. Can you drink or smoke at your regular job or do you need to be on your game there? I don't care what other do while playing, I just know what my band does. A drunk on stage is a disgrace to all musicians.

 

[higain617]

I quit smoking years ago. The excessive breaks that smokers are allowed is egregious.

I usually have a beer or two at a gig. I've never drank during work, except for when I worked at a restaurant as a teenager.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

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.

There are many ways to "meditate." Just tell them that "playing bass during work for half an hour" is your "reset." BAM!!!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

Having listened to decades of recordings of me playing bass when it was drinking , it shows even if it was one drink.

Of course, now that I'm older, I always sound like I've been drinking..LOL!!

 

[JakobT]

I don't play bass during work hours, and I never smoke. On gig night one beer before playing is permissible, but I'll happily have a couple more after I finish.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Gig=Work. No substance abuse on the job. I have a swallow or two of a light beer before we hit; it tunes up my vocals. When I get home at 1 a.m. on a Sunday morning—and know I have Sunday night off—then it's party time.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I neither smoke nor drink at all

I don't drink or drug on a gig because I don't drink or drug.

Ditto.

When I had the photo lab I'd keep a bass there, and sometimes bring a guitar. There were the occasional downtimes, and it was never an issue, ever, for me to spend time practicing or composing new material.

 

[JC BASS 91]

I would feel uncomfortable, with as much work as I have to get done, sitting around playing bass...but have had a job in my teen years when the boss was totally ok with me doing it.

Drinking/smoking on the job is frowned upon and the drinking portion is strictly forbidden. I don't smoke.

During a gig, I might have a beer, but will not imbibe to excess.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I don't know how to answer your poll. Are we talking about day job work hours?

I would not drink or smoke (presumably weed? Cigarettes are whatever, though I don't smoke either) on the clock at my day job outside of the rare occasions where the office goes out for happy hour during the last hour of the day. In those instances I'll have a beer.

"On the clock" at a gig? Darn right I'm going to have a beer! I generally get 2 drink tickets at the gig, after all. There's not enough time between songs to drink it fast enough to get drunk, so generally each beer lasts me nearly 1.5 hours.

 

[5StringBlues]

l dont know what that marejewanna is but you bring it in here and l`ll drink it!