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Rude to not take drinks?

#202
Usually I don't have any problems refusing drinks if I find that I've drinking too much that night..if someone insist on pay me a drink and I don't feel in the mood I ask for a Coke or a beer without alcohol (I know! it's not the same LOL)

If someone gets mad with me because I refuse his/her drink .. it's not my problem.
 
#203
If someone gets upset about me not accepting their drink, I turn it around on them and say something like:
"Thanks man, but if I drink, I'll start to fork up on stage. You paid good money to see a good band & I don't want to waste the money you put down for a cover charge."
Most often, it works. Sometimes not.
 
#204
We totally accept drinks for the band. The waitress will come up and we order 3 waters and 1 diet coke.
I don't drink on the job at my day gig, that pays the rent would get me fired if I did and I don't drink at my music gigs because I want to be playing at my best.
 
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#206
We were offered a round this past Friday night from a happy patron. I declined. The others partook. I don't think the person buying was offended in the least.

If most people in the band don't want an alcoholic beverage, rather than ask a patron to buy me a $4.00 Coke, I'd politely suggest they throw some money in the tip jar.
 
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#207
Bunk McNulty said:
It's very simple. Somebody in the crowd buys the band a round. A waitperson brings up a tray with the drinks on it. You take your glass. You raise it to whoever bought it for you and give a big smile and say "Thanks!" You pretend to take a sip and set the glass down, because it's time to play the next song. I've been doing this for longer than some of you have been alive. Believe me, it works.
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This is my approach too. It does work in every situation except the one where the customer wants everyone to down their shots together all at once, ceremoniously. I usually have to excuse myself from shots. Even when I’m not playing, actually.
 
#208
It's a crazy business isn't it? You can drink on the job if you want and what's more they expect you to. I don't drink at shows period oh sure back in the day but times have changed. Hopefully I am older and wiser. My band Rumourz gets paid enough so I don't have to work . Working inthe venues there are people counting on us to make sure they people enjoy themselves. I do my best to be on top of my game.
 
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#209
3 of us, singer and I drink only in moderation. For me, I just know I'm going to be driving late at night after the gig (usually) and don't like to risk it. The singer is a truck driver for his living so not a good idea for him to be apprehended after drinking to much. The guitarist, 15 years sober AA member.

We decline as politely as possible, doesn't seem to have caused any hard feelings when we get repeat gigs. Most venue owners seem to appreciate it when you tell them "I'm working for you tonight" and customers get it when you explain, if they are persistent. And for my "cheap" nature, if you drink soda it's usually free!
 
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#210
Bunk McNulty said:
It's very simple. Somebody in the crowd buys the band a round. A waitperson brings up a tray with the drinks on it. You take your glass. You raise it to whoever bought it for you and give a big smile and say "Thanks!" You pretend to take a sip and set the glass down, because it's time to play the next song. I've been doing this for longer than some of you have been alive. Believe me, it works.

Possible alternative, courtesy of none other than Sammy Hagar: Arrange with management beforehand that when you are offered a shot they substitute water or other nonalcoholic beverage.
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i've always done the big smile, thanks and pretend to take a sip. i hate the taste of alcohol plus i'm a ridiculous lightweight - half a beer gets to me. no kidding.

it used to be (and probably still is) illegal here in california for a place selling alcohol to substitute a non-alcoholic beverage for alcohol without telling the buyer. they could lose their liquor license. on the other hand, it may be legal elsewhere. but if the buyer doesn't specify an alcohol - like "give all the band members a shot of whisky", there's no reason not to do that.
 
#212
GK Growl said:
This is a spinoff from another thread which the OP implied that it was rude for the band to turn down drinks from the bar. Here is the breakdown of my band. 4 piece band:

Me - Sober. As in recovering alcoholic/addict. I have no business putting chemicals of any kind in my body.

Rhythm Guitarist - Drinks sometimes but not on the gig while we are working. He feels that he wouldn't drink on another job so he shouldn't drink on this one.

Lead Guitarist - Sober but not due to substance abuse issues, just doesn't drink for personal reasons and if he did, says he wouldn't drink on the job anyway.

Vocalist - Drinks too much. Constantly on the gig and has a steady stream going his way from bar owner and patrons because none of the rest of us drink so he gets all of our drinks too.

My question is is it really rude for us to decline drinks when we are all sober and should we discourage the drinks from even being given to the singer? I admit that several times people look offended when I decline their drink offers, even after I explain that I am a recovering alcoholic (in a bar no less). But I don't want all the excess drinks going to the singer for obvious reasons. How would or do you handle these situations?
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If you don't want to drink don't drink...

I don't like to drink alcohol anymore..trying to keep the weight off and booze does not help. It amazes me that people get butthurt over one not partaking in alcohol, but thats more their problem than mine.
 
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#214
Just tell the bar staff that if anyone orders drinks
for the band to give you juice in a cocktail glass.
I don't do shots, Fireball Whiskey ? Yuck.
I do Twisted Tea, it does not give you beer breath
which I don't need at 2 am with the police out.
 
#215
I never drink anything except sealed bottles of water I bring with me at a show period. Sounds extreme, but depending on which way I'm facing standing outside my front door, there's B-CU, DSC, UTI,Phoenix, ERAU, ATP, Keiser, and probably a few others. Big time college town; things end up in drinks. Call it paranoia, but I'm always able to drive myself home. FAA regs strictly prohibit drinking within 8 hours of flight (missing a flight bock can get you fined where I'm training) and you never have to quit what you don't start. Hasn't been an issue yet, but I haven't been here that long. Bike-toberfest is coming up, so that could bring a crowd with a different mindset.
 
#216
I play in places where, while we’re not required to drink, it is kind of expected. The band on stage, communion comes around, you participate.

In a bar, I’d tell the bar if someone wants to buy me a drink, it’s ice water, and a bar employee needs to deliver it. I never take drinks from patrons -I’ve had band mates that got drinks spiked by people that “wanted them to have a good time”, and figured all musicians took drugs indiscriminately.
 
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#217
micguy said:
I play in places where, while we’re not required to drink, it is kind of expected. The band on stage, communion comes around, you participate.

In a bar, I’d tell the bar if someone wants to buy me a drink, it’s ice water, and a bar employee needs to deliver it. I never take drinks from patrons -I’ve had band mates that got drinks spiked by people that “wanted them to have a good time”, and figured all musicians took drugs indiscriminately.
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good call. Our sax player got something on his drink a little while ago... it wasn't pretty.
 
#218
What are your guys thoughts on drinking on stage in general? Generally folks i play with are not doing much drinking, but being a huge craft beer fan i love to have a drink or two while playing. Sometimes i feel guilty when the others aren't, but honestly they are sometimes so nervous i think a drink could benefit them. I grew up watching my heroes drink a beer on big stages, but it obviously brings up questions about professionalism.

I will say that one drink can sometimes make me play better or get into it more(less nerves), but beyond the one or two my playing generally goes down hill. Obviously some gigs require a level of class where drinking on stage would not be acceptable.
 
#219
I'll always opt for the Coke if offered...I went with a Yuengling draft once. My bandmates almost passed out as I'm almost Amish in that arena.

On occasion, a round of shots winds up at our table...usually something weird like Fireballs. I just surreptitiously pass it off to my buddy / bandmate as he has...errrr...developed a tolerance for the spirits.

Riis
 
#220
I remember seeing the Dixie Dregs many years ago, and part way through the show Andy West came up to the mic between songs to say that although they appreciated the thoughts of all the people who were buying them drinks, "you can't play this **** drunk." (If you've ever listened to the Dixie Dregs, you understand.) He then joked that if anyone had some cocaine....
 
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