Sober musicians playing bar gigs...

[Rickett Customs]

Man,I've been struggling with Drug Adduction for years. As much as I wanted to believe that it wasn't a problem for me it was.
Now 3 detoxes and 3 rehabs later I have come to accept I can not have one of anything otherwise it starts the whole near death spiral all over again.
I now have 202 days clean and I am preparing to go back out and play.
1.Always have a Plan
2.Take someone in recovery(with a lot of clean time)with you
3.Play with people who don't have the need to drink or drug before they go on stage.Believe it when I tell you it has a bad effect on the Music.
4.NO MATTER WHAT don't pick up and use.
This is just for me. I don't judge or preach to anyone who drinks or uses drugs ....for many people it is not a problem....For me though it is a matter of life and death.One day at a Time.
Peace
PS-Alcohol is a Drug.......Period!

I feel ya man, I've been in recovery for 7 years and it took me 2 years to just get comfortable in my own skin. Never had a problem with the drink, just illegals. Also remember this: The person with the most time in recovery, is the first one that arose from bed this morning, so sometimes the length of time in recovery is not measured in years. Recovery is definitely an "inside job", as long as you cut ties with your associations with folks that are counterproductive with your recovery (no exceptions, it's alot about letting go.)


Caffeine is the extent for me.

 

[punkjazzben]

A good choice to bump.

Alcoholism is a big issue in Australia, and it's not uncommon for Aussie kids to be getting wasted every night of the week by the time they hit 20. Here, it starts when you're a teenager, gets worse at university, and doesn't stop until you make it. There is a HUGE drinking culture amongst musicians (everyone, from classical players, to jazz cats and rockers and to acoustic blues guys) and, living in a rural area, I've heard of many instances were the musicians are just paid in beer. I'm not a recovering alcoholic or anything, but being 20-something in Australia is enough to teach you a few lessons about drinking.

The trick? Be strong and be the better person in those situations where drinking is pushed in your face; remember that you'd prefer to go home after the gig sober and maybe watch some DVDs and sit on TB, and then wake up on Sunday morning feeling refreshed and ready to make the most of your last day off before Monday.

Think about how embarrassing wasted musicians are, and how much better you're going to play without alcohol in your system.

Think about your wife or husband, or your kids, your partner or even your cat or dog, and how much they like you better when your sober!

Essentially, think about all the good reasons not to drink!

 

[kcole4001]

Only water for me.

At a benefit or jam the bands are usually given drink tickets, so then I might have one or two before we go on (since we're not getting paid), but well ahead of time.
I drink very little anyway, got all that out of my system years ago, but never while playing, and certainly not while playing for pay.

What others do is their own business unless it impacts the band's experience, only rarely have I had to deal with that, and it's not pleasant.

One band I was in was run by a recovered alcoholic and the ground rule (among others) was no drinking on stage and no drugs of any kind.
No problem, it was not really in the character of the drummer or I anyway, though the drummer loves beer.

 

[DWBass]

In my 35+ years of playing, I have never had a drink at a bar when I was playing there. Anytime the waitress asked what I wanted, I always replied "water, thank you"! I also feel that drinking while playing is unprofessional! I've played with way too many drunk musicians who have ruined gigs or have gotten into fights with patrons or other band members! Not my thing!

 

[Trapezius]

I might have a beer or two before the show, but I've never been drunk on stage, and I never will. I'm never drunk at all, actually.. I just don't like it. I just need my water.

 

[joelb79]

I stopped drinking while I performed after I started taking an SSRI to fight my anxiety. I used to drink but not get drunk, and then realized that the pill and a drink, be it any alcohol made me sleepy. I really prefer to stay awake for the shows, so I stopped drinking.

Then there is always the ride home. Even after having one drink, once I witnessed a car break-in on the way home from a show and being a good guy and all called the police on them. When the police got there, they put away their pen/paper after taking my statement and proceeded to make me walk 2 blocks home. Because of 0 Tolerance rules, I could have been arrested at the police officers discretion.. just for the smell! One drink and one hour later does not matter anymore.

Then there is the fact that both of my grandfathers are alcoholics. Both parents. For me to go back to drinking like a fish would be disaster. I have enough problems with life alone to add in that madness again. Alcohol never got me laid, never got me recognition, never got me success, and never ever made me a better musician. Why waist $3 a drink for that? Coffee/pop are free at my gigs.

 

[Matt R.]

I don't like the taste of alcohol.

Me either, except for when it's diluted by beer.

 

[stflbn]

I rarely drink at all when playing bar gigs, or any gigs for that matter. At most one beer early in the night. Even that takes a note or two off my high range.

 

[stiles72]

I have his Gibson SG now (Lying under my bed), full with beer and wine stains, I refuse to clean it nor use it, I just keep it to remind myself not to drink.

Without sounding too deep, the imagery of that is both sad and beautiful at the same time...

 

[jellymax]

i have a policy, no more than 10 shots.

i feel having a strict policy is important

 

[FunkMetalBass]

I'm too young, so it's not an issue, but I usually tell people that I'd prefer it if they donated a couple bucks to the band fund instead of buying me a drink.

It benefits the band and it's a totally respectable move.

 

[In_Da_Groove]

I have to admit I am guilty of drinking at gigs, but I can handle it and so can my band mates. We are not alcoholics but we like to have fun. We get together and practice 3 days a week 2 of the three days we like to drink while we play, we do it because we like to have fun and it does not effect the way we play. We all have full time jobs and its fun to throw a few back and play. When we play gigs we dnt drink to the point where we r drunk but we have a few before we go on, it does not effect the way we play and we r getting paid to have fun.

Now if u r one who does not want to drink and avoids club/bar gigs because u r scared u will give into temptation, u have got to work on ur will power. If people r pressuring u to drink just tell them I am being paid to play and I dnt play well with alcohol in my system, anybody with a decent head on their shoulders would respect that.

 

[J. Crawford]

Being only 16 I fight the temptation of underage drinking on a daily basis. All the "cool kids" have to do it at school, and I refuse to fall under their shadow.

Personal strength is something that builds up over time. Sure, I used to fall into making fun of people and such, but then it turned around on me and I became the center of the making fun.

I play bar gigs, and have a my first gig with Alison on the 2nd in one of the most populated music clubs in the Pittsburgh area, with booze everywhere. Its just something you have to grow into not doing.

Plus, having a family of only casual drinkers (Mom has a wine cooler, grandma, etc. None of the males in my family drink though)

Peer pressure sucks!

 

[Craig_S]

I drink water all night. No problem.

 

[topper]

I find the strongest deterrent for drinking, is hanging out with drunks when you're sober.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Always have a few beers at a bar gig. Helps keep me loose. Trick is not to overdo it. If you are too drunk to drive, you are waaaay to drunk to play.

 

[cb56]

I realize this is a personal topic, but I've known a few friends over the years that were good players but aren't comfortable playing bars/clubs. Personally, I have some alcoholism in my own family, and admit from time to time I've thought about the wisdom of spending a considerable amount of time in bars - for you (that are comfortable addressing this topic) that are sober, do you find it a risk? Any "tricks" that you use to avoid temptation?

You didn't say if you had a problem with alchohol or not (kinda skimmed the posts after your 1st one) just family right?
It's really a personal decision then. If you are bothered by it I'd say stay away. I'm one of those who abused alchohol for years and did all the stupid stuff that went along with it. I'm lucky I'm not dead or in prison or have the guilt of killing someone with my car hanging over my head. Only by the grace of God..... That being said just because I had a problem with it doesn't mean everybody else should stop. (but please don't drink and drive) I'm 1 1/2 years sober now and continued to play in bars for 6 months after I quit drinking. See the quote below for one of the main reasons I quit playing in bars.....

I find the strongest deterrent for drinking, is hanging out with drunks when you're sober.

That being said, tonight I am playing a Christmas party were there will be alchohol served. I'm subbing for a friend who was in a bind and needed a replacement bass player. After tonight I'll go back to not playing alchohol related events.
Unfortunatley the alternatives to playing in places were alchohol is served are slim. I play in church several times a month. That may or may not be an option for you. Hope you find what's right for you.

 

[steveksux]

I play at bars all the time and don't drink most of the time. Choose to drink, or not, nobody's forcing you.

Someone buys me a beer, once we're back on stage, if I don't feel like drinking, I give it to someone else in the band that wants it.

Don't order drinks if you don't want to drink. I just order pop, orange juice, nobody bats an eye.

Randy

 

[konodl18]

I quit drinking somewhere around 1978 or 79. I don't have a problem working in bars (or being around folks who are drinking - it simply doesn't hold any interest for me.

+1

I was a drunk moron for a long time. I just don't want to be that guy anymore so it's pretty easy for me to stay sober while playing. It just doesn't appeal to me anymore.

I have one drink a night usually, just to 'look' like I'm partying. But that one cocktail takes me all night to drink(4 hours).

 

[idoru]

Three beers max. Or one shot before performing. Strict rule.

I generally follow a similiar rule: one drink per break. That makes 3 or 4 drinks over the same number of hours, and I've never blown over the limit (which is .05 here in Oz).

I tend to struggle to enjoy covers gigs unless I have a drink or two to loosen up. Probably an indication it's time to move on...

c-