Bass Tees, Good job on being self aware and honest with yourself. You'll make it through this. Keep your head up!
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Very OT... playing sober.
- Thread starter Bass Tees
- Start date
I'm from the UK, but live in the US. The attitude to drinking here is vastly different. So you could be correct there.
I'm not sure who's got it right - I appreciate the fact that completely quitting is probably the best thing to do, both for health reasons and legal reasons (drunk driving is a very, very bad thing). But if you're cutting yourself off from many of the other things that make you happy in your life by having to avoid pubs/bars and general social activity just to avoid the temptation to drink, that isn't a good thing either.
One of my bands had a very, er... funny gig a few years ago because people kept buying the band drinks, plus we had an unlimited supply of pints from the bar. Now, we keep it to two pints max before the last note of the last song, then maybe one later if we have time. That way, if people buy us drinks, they aren't coming on top of a whole pool of booze.
Good call.
Even if it never messed with your playing, drinking that much will, without any doubt, destroy your liver. A very simple blood test can determine if you've already done damage. Even if you have, it can be somewhat reversible. Voice of experience.
Playing sober is actually quite fun! What is a little irritating is dealing with the drunks while you are sober!
Hang tough, my man.
Even if it never messed with your playing, drinking that much will, without any doubt, destroy your liver. A very simple blood test can determine if you've already done damage. Even if you have, it can be somewhat reversible. Voice of experience.
Playing sober is actually quite fun! What is a little irritating is dealing with the drunks while you are sober!
Hang tough, my man.
Good call.
Even if it never messed with your playing, drinking that much will, without any doubt, destroy your liver. A very simple blood test can determine if you've already done damage. Even if you have, it can be somewhat reversible. Voice of experience.
Playing sober is actually quite fun! What is a little irritating is dealing with the drunks while you are sober!
Hang tough, my man.
I hear that man. Everytime I'm sober and around drunk people I'm just like, wow, these people are ****ing annoying. Makes me realize what other people are thinking when they're around me.
More power to you!
It's so easy to begin to inextricably associate drinking booze with playing. Just like drinking coffee and smoking, when one reasonably benign activity become entangled with a more malignant one, it can be really tough to separate the two.
Taking charge of your habits and owning them is a lot harder than it sounds. People take that sort of thing for granted. Be glad that it's you who is choosing this and not someone else demanding it of you.
On the plus side - playing bar gigs sober is like acquiring magic powers - like the Jedi mind trick!
Hot, tipsy girl spotted - you approach...
[Jedi Hand Wave]
"You've always wondered if it's true about bass players and fingers... You want to finally find out for yourself... On the next set break..."
[/ Jedi Hand Wave]
Hey, bass player guy... c'mere! Tell me... Is it true what they say about...
Good luck!
It's so easy to begin to inextricably associate drinking booze with playing. Just like drinking coffee and smoking, when one reasonably benign activity become entangled with a more malignant one, it can be really tough to separate the two.
Taking charge of your habits and owning them is a lot harder than it sounds. People take that sort of thing for granted. Be glad that it's you who is choosing this and not someone else demanding it of you.
On the plus side - playing bar gigs sober is like acquiring magic powers - like the Jedi mind trick!
Hot, tipsy girl spotted - you approach...
[Jedi Hand Wave]
"You've always wondered if it's true about bass players and fingers... You want to finally find out for yourself... On the next set break..."
[/ Jedi Hand Wave]
Hey, bass player guy... c'mere! Tell me... Is it true what they say about...
Good luck!
Yeah and then my girlfriend takes out her lightsaber and decapitates me... and the drummer just for good measure. :scowl:
That is true for all alcoholics, which is what makes it a disease rather than just immoderate behavior. You can definitely not afford 2-3 drinks, or even one.
Same thing for smoking - once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic. Once a smoker, always a smoker. The difference is in whether you choose to drink, or choose to get help.
Bottom line - don't beat yourself up for drinking, you're not a bad person for it, it's a disease, get some help.
If THAT happens, you aren't doing the Jedi mind trick correctly. Don't use it unless you are sure! LOL
Good luck on both!
You just have to use the Jedi mind trick on your gf too.
"I'm not the guy you're looking for. I can go on my way."
I don't drink a lot but I do drink regularly - a couple of drinks most nights, but very rarely more than that. It's probably more than is good for me, but not serious harm.
I CANNOT play drunk. Even a 1/4 of a pint, and I can feel it in my playing. I very very occasionally have a 1/2 at a gig if it's a free bar, or someone buys me one, and I generally regret it. If anyone thinks they play better drunk:
As much as possible I treat band nights as dry-out nights. Rehersal and gig night are the two or three times a week I won't be having a drink. I'm there to do a job, and I enjoy playing - drinking stops me doing that job, and I don't enjoy not being able to play. I stay totally sober, and can drink with a clear conscience other nights of the week.
Ian
I CANNOT play drunk. Even a 1/4 of a pint, and I can feel it in my playing. I very very occasionally have a 1/2 at a gig if it's a free bar, or someone buys me one, and I generally regret it. If anyone thinks they play better drunk:
As much as possible I treat band nights as dry-out nights. Rehersal and gig night are the two or three times a week I won't be having a drink. I'm there to do a job, and I enjoy playing - drinking stops me doing that job, and I don't enjoy not being able to play. I stay totally sober, and can drink with a clear conscience other nights of the week.
Ian
