Unprofessional

[Pilgrim]

Good points above about food and hydration. On a hot day when I haven't kept up with water or other drinks, I've learned that beer will hit me faster and harder than it would otherwise.

My limit before a gig is one. That works for me and I'm 5'8", 190, age 68. Once the gig starts, I'll switch to a diet soft drink, and perhaps think of a second beer after playing for an hour or more...especially if it's a 4% beer or less. I don't drink "lite" beer, as I consider it to be expensive colored water.

Here in Colorado with craft brews you have to be a little careful about what you select, as there are plenty of beers in the 8-9% alcohol range, and they hit you fast!

 

[generalduncan]

I remember gigs that I used to nap on stage while playing. Like a sleeping horse... I would wake up at breaks.

Working a day job and playing gigs was VERY tiresome.

 

[Ric5]

this gets a little dicey so.....,

I did the most unprofessional thing I have ever done this weekend.

I had a really late show,1:30 AM. Had a couple adult beverages with a friend before going to practice and loading out. Got to the venue at 10:00 for scheduled load in. Sipped on a couple more drinks and next thing I know, without even feeling it coming, I was trashed. Bad.

I stumbled out to my truck and got the spins when I closed my eyes. So I kept them closed to make myself throw up.

The guys started texting me ten minutes before we were supposed to go on. I didn't think I was gonna make the show until then.

I made my way back inside, played the show and played pretty well according to patrons and the other bands.

I have never done this before, ever. I have tremors and actually need to mellow myself out a little or else the Adrenalin makes it worse. Usually this means one maybe two drinks or else I shake to the point of it impeding my playing.

I shouldn't have started at 6 for that late a show and it's bugging me. It all ended okay but hopefully I've learned a valuable lesson,

Drugs and alcohol always make you play worse

 

[Raw N Low]

You live to fight another day!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I don't mean this as a personal attack on anyone, but if you need to impair yourself in order to do a job, you should probably find a different job. I'll never understand why anyone would purposefully participate in an activity where they have to "take the edge off" to get through it. Why not find something else to do with your time that doesn't require mental impairment in order to enjoy yourself?

 

[pudge]

Nobody lost a limb,let it go.

 

[monkeyland]

Hi,

I'm just glad you weren't wearing shorts.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

...or using and iPad...

 

[logdrum]

We'll I've seen worse, like going out with a hookup and forgetting that they have to play a gig that starts at 1130. Or the singer and drummer hooking up and getting wasted at the same time , in the van.

 

[Same]

it's normal to be atleast alittle nervous, I would think it's weird to be totally comfortable and calm in such odd settings.
I have atleast one band situation like that. At a house show I got trashed, blacked out before playing, then passed out in the van afterwords. Apparently did okay but I doubt it, atleast I kind of found my limits though. It happens. Don't stress it just try to not do it again, I still drink but not in excess.

 

[Mugre]

There are drugs like inderol and ativan (Both by prescription) that work to suppress the panic response. I know several classical soloists who despite performing since they were twelve and should be desensitized still take one of these two for big solo shots to control anxiety driven panic cause by stage fright.

 

[generalduncan]

'More stage' is the cure to stage fright. It passes after an hour into the show. Or 2 beers into the show... Same thing anyway...

 

[Tony In Philly]

We later found out the pitchers contained Golden Monkey.

There needs to be a warning label for that stuff! ABV is 9.5% but it tastes like it's only about 5.5%:

https://www.victorybeer.com/beers/golden-monkey/

 

[higain617]

I know the tremors thing. I like to have a beer or two before going on as it helps me calm down. Not everyone has nerves of steel. But don't perform drunk, and definitely don't drive drunk.

 

[MrLenny1]

Were you playing Metal?

 

[Charlzm]

I love craft beer and bourbon and have been known to get more drunk than I should from time to time, but I never, NEVER have more than one beer/drink before going on and none after (because I have to load out and drive home).

I save my drinking for when I'm not playing or driving.

 

[HolmeBass]

Doubt all you like. I'm 230 and a daily (one) drinker. One makes me sleepy. I like one beer after work, spread out over a couple of hours (warm is fine). Two makes me an idiot. Three will put me down for the night and I'll be pretty hungover the next day. Four and I'll barf, and will be calling in sick to anything I had planned the next day. I can go straight to "idiot" in one if hard alcohol is involved.

Not everyone handles alcohol the same. My bandmates can handle more than I can, and so can my wife.

I have to concur.

There was a time in my life, back in college, where 4 to 6 Busch beers was the pre-game.

Now if I have 4 of anything I am drunk, and even 3 strong drinks makes me drunk.

If I drink one an hour after about 2 hrs and 15 minutes I am drunk.

In my youth it was completely different, and I've played gigs with freakin' pharmacy in my bloodstream. I won't and I can't do that anymore.

 

[wmhill]

It happens, and as long as a lesson is learned- good nuff. I could tell you some stories....

 

[gln1955]

Good points above about food and hydration. On a hot day when I haven't kept up with water or other drinks, I've learned that beer will hit me faster and harder than it would otherwise.

Definitely this. Plus alcohol is a mild diuretic, so if you are dehydrated, drinking beer is kind of a wash on water balance. Hard liquor is a negative. When it's hot out, I have a bottle of water for every beer I drink.

 

[Sixgunn]

I get a kick out of reading about all the gyrations people put themselves through to figure out how they can minimize the negative effects of drinking.

Me: Doctor, it hurts when I do "this".

Doctor: Don't do "that"

 

[Muddslide]

this gets a little dicey so.....,

I did the most unprofessional thing I have ever done this weekend.

I had a really late show,1:30 AM. Had a couple adult beverages with a friend before going to practice and loading out. Got to the venue at 10:00 for scheduled load in. Sipped on a couple more drinks and next thing I know, without even feeling it coming, I was trashed. Bad.

I stumbled out to my truck and got the spins when I closed my eyes. So I kept them closed to make myself throw up.

The guys started texting me ten minutes before we were supposed to go on. I didn't think I was gonna make the show until then.

I made my way back inside, played the show and played pretty well according to patrons and the other bands.

I have never done this before, ever. I have tremors and actually need to mellow myself out a little or else the Adrenalin makes it worse. Usually this means one maybe two drinks or else I shake to the point of it impeding my playing.

I shouldn't have started at 6 for that late a show and it's bugging me. It all ended okay but hopefully I've learned a valuable lesson,

Brother, you can't beat yourself up over it. You have to learn from it and move forward.

You got my sympathies, sincerely.

I have something called Familial Essential Tremors. It runs in my family. It's intermittent, and under control for now, but when I get it bad, it looks like I have Parkinson's. I shake and stutter and no way could I play bass. My gigging days were behind me before the condition hit, but I hope to play in a live band again and I do worry about this.

I understand about the hooch. It helps my tremors too. Also a medication called Primidone, but your case is likely quite different. There could be a number of causes.

I urge you to seek medical help. Get a CAT scan and make sure it's not seizure activity. That's very important.

Please keep us posted.

Please take care of yourself.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk.