What do you eat before a gig?

[ghiadub]

I try not to eat right before I play, it makes my body have to work digesting and I need that energy to jump around and play music. This works agaist me on both the digesting and the playing so I prefer not to do it.

A few hours before is as close as I try to get. When that is not possible or there is some free food happening, I have done the same thing; starve myself so I could get some of the free stuff and save money. I actually consider it part of the pay.

If the food is happeing right before I start to play I prefer complex carbs and simple protiens. Pasta and meat or nuts or tofu. Nothing that will make me burpy or has too many different and conflicting digestion processes going.

I always keep a couple of energy/granola bars in my gig bag for emergencies. It saved my drummer once when he almost passed out from lack of food.

 

[billiam5billion]

3 fish tacos and a beer.

 

[barebones]

I just drink some coffee. If I eat too much I get gassy, and I can't sing because I'm burping balls the whole time.

"Burping balls..." Heh-heh. Heh-heh. Heh...

Ahem.

I don't like the feel a full belly during a gig. And I tend to want a siesta after I eat. Therefore, I eat quite a few 3 a.m. meals.

 

[Art Araya]

Anything that doesn't cause GAS problems! No refried beans for me before a gig.

Also don't want to be too full during a gig.

Other than that, all's good.

 

[odin70]

Fruit

 

[giacomini]

Well, it changes a lot, but I always MUST remember to NOT eat too much... The worst thing to happen is that sudden must-go to the bathroom feeling right in the middle of the 1st set...

 

[bucephylus]

Eating prior to a 4 hour gig is really important.

Sushi would be the greatest, but it is expensive and the rest of our band doesn't have the dynamic to go out and get it.

My preference is to try to get to the gig a bit early to help with load-in/set up and then chill with the rest of the band while having whatever the best that the club can do from their kitchen. (Did someone say Fried Chicken? The greasier the better. Ribs are good too.)

Also, there is the BEST Espresso shop here in Tempe called Steve's, and I like to stop by there for a 4 banger before going to the club. That's my drug of choice.

 

[Surly]

Every time - cheeseburger, leave the bun on the plate, citron...plenty of energy and -60 lbs so far

Wow. great work!

 

[joshwilkesbooth]

What's the best food for metal?

Children.

 

[makkE]

Fruit

Me too. Fruit all day, a couple of bananas an hour before playing.
No energy wasted on digestion, sharp mind.

 

[mpm32]

Rice - even after many hundreds of gigs and even though I feel no sense of nerves, I still get gig belly.

 

[zachoff]

Depends what's around, I guess. Usually a sandwich of some sort though.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

nothing that will cause me to take a dump during the gig... Really. Fast digesting food : Bad. Same with gassy food: You often stand in close proximity to bandmates - blasting gas on them is *not* cool...

 

[MEKer]

I just drink some coffee. If I eat too much I get gassy, and I can't sing because I'm burping balls the whole time.

Are you saying you eat balls?!!!!

DAAAAMMMNNN!

 

[Super Dwarf]

i eat fried chicken and i dont wash my hands

 

[TolerancEJ]

It has to be said:

What's the best food for metal?

During the 80's, I recall a few metal compilation albums called Metal for Breakfast & Metal for Lunch. I remember one cover included a sandwich full of ball-bearings.

 

[MachineBass]

I would usually just go and find a Chipotle somewhere, or a McDonalds. Buffalo Chicken pizza, or just something that I know will fill me up. For a Rock or Metal gig, two beers will do just fine...

 

[jnewmark]

Anything Italian.

 

[Phalex]

I guess there's nothing special before I play. Last night it was a wiener from the concession stand at the venue. I do seem to take my wife out for Mexican a lot on Saturdays, and I loooove the special hot sauces at my favorite places.

A few years back, I played a St. Paddy's day gig that was kinda screwy. Things were running late, I got there early for set up, green beer was on special, and I went all day without eating anything besides the green beer. It was a good gig all in all, but I was waaaaay drunker than I intended to be. Not sloppy, but not moderate either.

 

[funk generator]

burgers are a thing to avoid, your body secretes a certain enzyme in digesting that makes you sleepy