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

[2cooltoolz]

Retired now; I had a job where there was a lot of "wait time" and I kept a Spirit Guitar and bass on hand. No Prob. BUT, A whiff of alcohol...Adios!
Gigging:
I buy a beer before the show and on each break. Sips between songs and usually trash a warm half on the next break; repeat. Actual consumption hits about 2 beers total over a 3-4 hour gig.
Never had a complaint.
I don't smoke anything (anymore (28 yrs)).

 

[GIBrat51]

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?

I suppose my answer would have to be... It Depends.
- I spent 24 years in USAF Combat Engineering squadrons, and yes; drinking on the job - the job site, anyway - was a really good way to get an Article 15 - if you were lucky; and maybe DEAD - if you weren't...
- When I was in a gigging band? It was the early 1970s (yeah, I'm kinda old); some guys smoked, some didn't. I didn't - and never have. As for drinking? We mostly played in the stag bars of the half dozen military Enlisted Clubs in the area, and usually? About half of what we were paid, was free beer. So, yes, over the course of the gig, we would have 2 or 3. But, being as how we were stationed in Panama, we sweat most of it out on stage, anyway...
- As for having a bass at work? In the 24 years I spent working in a Central Cash Vault, after I left the military? I pretty much always had a bass - or something - at work. Because of my work schedule, I always had my new instruments delivered to the vault, anyway. I was an armed guard; I worked in a guard room, letting people and armored trucks in and out. I never played anything while I was actually "working", but my main job was just to be an armed presence; or, as I used to call it, "walking around, looking vaguely menacing". I had the closing shift; it was nominally over at 10pm, but the armored trucks stopped coming at 5pm, so the deposits could be processed. So, my job then, was just... simply to be there, until they balanced the books and put all the money into the actual vault - the one with the big, shiny steel, time-locked door. At which time, I would set the alarms; lock the outer doors - and leave. As long as I wasn't sleeping 'till then? Nobody cared what I did in the guard room...
So, yeah; it just depends...

 

[ToneMonkey]

Not pointing fingers, but someone appears to have wayyyyy too much free time on their hands.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

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.

Let's differentiate a bit with the broad phrase, "on a gig". There are many parts of performing live music.
Load-in
Soundcheck
Set 1
Break
Set 2
Break
Set 3
Show end
Breakdown
Load-out

I'll refrain from having a drink while involved in one of the sets, if necessary. All other times, if there is something to drink available, I might have one or a few. If it's a "no drinking at this show" that is much broader than "no drinking onstage". It's always good to pay attention to these important details and statements and if not 100% clear, simply reafirm or clarify what was said and heard. "On a gig" can be seen and approached in very different ways.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Drinking on the gig was usually allowed and sometimes expected. When you are playing for high-level military and political leaders at a social event and they offer you a drink, you generally take it.

Do they ever get offended when someone refuses a drink from them?

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Most of my day jobs didn't leave any time to play, drink or smoke.
Most of my gigs had all that planned ahead of time.
I am retired now, but there were a lot of years when I didn't have much option, as there were random drug tests and people just looking to mess with someone if they thought it might get them some notice from management.
So far as gigs are concerned, I did a few years as a BL and found that most bar owners wanted to have the band at least appearing to be drinking to encourage drink sales.
I did find that there was never a good time to be obviously drunk, stoned or otherwise not at least near at your best.
I also found that after I had everything set up, checked out and all my ducks in a row, one beer per set worked out about right.
Back when every bar was full of thick smoke, I smoked small cigars to filter out the smoke in the air.
After my Dr told me I had the lungs of a guy in his mid 80s, while I was still in my early 60s, I gave that up that day.
Now, if I have everything sorted out and nothing more to have to really think about, should someone pass me a joint...
Then there are those loose blues gigs in dive bars with old friends where a pre gig "safety meeting" in the parking lot is expected.

 

[Grinderman]

106 posts and counting. Did anyone get drunk yet?

Also, I think this could be a thread in the "Band Management" (what I call Group Therapy) sub-forum.

 

[MrLenny1]

? ? ?

 

[ryco]

Never thought about bringing a bass to a "straight job" or "day job" except if going to band practice straight after work. I don't understand how that would be "unprofessional" or even a thing. Even when I worked in a large record store warehouse where 75% of those employed were players in bands, there were no jam sessions at work - not even at the lunch hour. There were some cool in-store record release gigs - including Nirvana's first - but would consider that to be a very professional part of bizniz.

Back when I did smoke the muggles never did it at straight jobs. One thing is didn't want to make dumb mistakes; two, it made time drag so incredibly slow, and third, if in a recreational state of mind would rather be ANYWHERE other than at work. The only time I did was in a lumber yard after about two years cuz everybody did, even though was one of the most dangerous work environments = forklifes, trucks loading/unloading in & out, huge slings of lumber including heavy clears and 12x ruff. But it was such a brain dead job stocking and pulling orders. No excuse. Decades ago. Once in a blue moon would have a beer at lunch on Friday, but really rare.

I can nurse a domestic beer through a couple of sets, but I haven't smoked anything for 20 years now. Even though everybody else around me does. As long as it doesn't effect the music, I don't care. I just like playing (and living) pretty much straight anymore. In the '90s played with a guitarist in a Top-40 cover band who could knock back many hard drinks and it didn't even phase him. GREAT player/singer and was also running the computer extra backing tapes - but he was the exception.

 

[Sid Fang]

I struggle to see the relationship here. When I've worked on-site at my employer's facilities, it's true that I've never played bass on the job - but I definitely used to play acoustic guitar in the office/lab while waiting for some automated process to complete. I had a tech tell me it was the first job he ever had with live entertainment on the job. But it was just to not waste time when I otherwise had to sit around and wait, so my management never had an issue with it.

On the other hand, when I was working as a consultant out of a home office, or later as an employee working at home due to COVID, I have been known to take 20 minute "music breaks" once or twice a day, the same way some people get up and walk around from time to time, or schmooze at a coffee machine. I'd typically be working a crazy long day, and the job got done, so, again, management/clients never had an issue.

But all of this is about time management and possibly some notion of loyalty or professional accountability. Drinking/smoking at gigs is a little different. It impacts not only what I'm doing, but how I'm doing it. I will cheerfully jam, and occasionally do really good stuff, half drunk or half stoned (or both) with friends, but if it's a public performance, I give enough of a damn about the audience to want to be as competent and consistent as I can be. One pint of beer over the evening will keep me hydrated and relaxed. Two, maybe, over a long evening. More than that is not a good idea. I've listened to the tapes.

 

[DWBass]

I 'normally' do not drink during gigs but a band I was in for a couple years drove me to drink, LOL. Got properly soused but I did my job. Those Blue Motorcycle's were awesome. They didn't spare the alcohol in those bad boys!!

 

[retslock]

I learned a long time ago that work = sober. That doesn't mean I don't drink but no more than one and it's usually afterwards.

 

[arbiterusa]

What the hell kind of jobs do any of you have where you can "play bass at work"?

I have a lot of leeway at my job but if someone came in my office and I was plucking away, that's…just a bad look at best and probably would end my employment at worst.

I do keep a bass and rig at my office because I've got some storage there and if I had to go get something in case of emergency work's a lot closer than home for about half my gigs.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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.

It's work. You should be working. Every minute you're not, youre a thief. And, you shouldn't be loaded. If you get hurt, medical bills and compensation go straight out the window, and you are 100% on your own for the expenses and the future. Disability pays you 2500 a month. Have fun with that for the rest of your life.

 

[DrBnz]

Now somebody did bring a bass in and left it in the break room (wasn't me!!!). So I would play the hell out of that thing during breaks and others found it amusing. But I'd never play past break time. Now I've got years drinking (prior Navy). But I cannot play worth beans if I'm drinking. I can smoke and enjoy myself quite a bit if I'm playing alone. But if I'm playing with others it takes too much concentration (for me), I'm not at my best, I don't hear as well, which is driving a panic attack, so I'm not having a good time ..... hahaha..... I'll wait till after.

 

[Wasnex]

Do they ever get offended when someone refuses a drink from them?

I have experienced it, but not with high-level US military leaders. I think it feels a bit awkward to decline hospitality. IMHO, it's similar to refusing to shake someone's hand.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I play in a Grateful Dead tribute band. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have experienced it, but not with high-level US military leaders. I think it feels a bit awkward to decline hospitality. IMHO, it's similar to refusing to shake someone's hand.

What should the recipient do with the drink if they don't drink alcohol?

 

[Wasnex]

What should the recipient do with the drink if they don't drink alcohol?

I suggest declining graciously. What would you do?

 

[juancaminos]

Well...I have smoked more than my share and your share of pot and cigs in my time. I was stoned, drunk, nicotine'd and caffeinated every minute of my time awake from my early teens until my late 30's. Whether at work, home, gigs, etc. Our band in the late 70's early 80's would practice playing stoned and drunk because all of the patrons of the bars we played would smoke dope in the parking lot and drink like fish while we were playing and we always felt obliged to accept their gifts of drink and smoke. We played many college parties where extreme amounts of pills, joints, hash and booze where brought just for the band.

How did I survive? Well I almost didn't...I had a severe break down in my late 30's that had me under doctor intervention/supervision. Which led to daily psychiatric visits and therapy. Eventually I went to once a week then once a month. This went on for nine months. Then came 5 years of sobriety. No stimulants, caffeine, sugar, cig's drugs (RX or other)...nothing! I still have recurring anxiety attacks to this day...30 years later. But I am now able to drink and take Xanax or Buspirone. After years of Xanax I now chose low dosage Busbar & I'm on it for life.

I never played instruments at work. There was never any time for that.

Drinking at gigs: Now, in my retirement years, I have two, maybe three. Our two guitar players/main vocal guys may have one drink but most of the time do not. The drummer has two - three.

However...I am embarrassed to say that I attended a b-day party/Halloween party where there was significant amounts of whiskey being passed around as well as beer-o-plenty. we played one set then I ended up falling off a bar stool when the seat turned unexpectedly as I sat down. I was knocked out when my head hit the cement floor. Two days later I was in ER for head aches and dizzy spells. I have had three doctors look at the Cat Scans to find nothing worth noting. I am now a thousand times better and just had a follow up with my doc. But still have very minor headaches and my eyes hurt a little. The doc said this is normal but referred me to an ophthalmologist for this and because i am over due for my regular diabetes eye exam. BOY WHAT A WAKE UP CALL! Would this have happened if I didn't mix whiskey, beer and narcotics? I degrees and grow up...