Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Without going into too many details if I get together for the first time with musical people and they are already drinking, then usually that's the last time I get together with them.

Bob.
No idea mate?
If they perform then it doesn't matter...... perhaps?
Personally I like people to be who they really are, and if that is part of it? Then it doesn't matter so long as that helps in any performance,

We're jesters anyway right?

fisherman bob wrote:Without going into too many details if I get together for the first time with musical people and they are already drinking, then usually that's the last time I get together with them.

Perhaps Bob.

Depending on my mood, I may have a beer in my hand if we first met to play.
But when the music starts, I'm all business.

Performances ALWAYS get worse the more you drink. It may sound better to YOU, but the timing is ALWAYS worse. Most people also get more irritable if not hornary (spelling?) the more they drink. I've been in too many bands in the past with alcoholics. It's painful for me to witness talented people waste it on the juice. I can't deal with it any more. Oh well I guess I made a judgement...

sanshouheil wrote:Perhaps Bob.

Depending on my mood, I may have a beer in my hand if we first met to play.
But when the music starts, I'm all business.

I can tell you're all business by the rapid progress your band is making.

The places we play expect the band to create a party atmosphere, which includes drinking with the audience. People buy us shots and whatnot, and the owners smile. But at rehearsal we are much more grounded. Even if someone has a drink at practice it's still mostly serious work.

Some people actually do play better with a couple of drinks, they get "lubed" and loose. Other folks can't drink at all. It depends. But a couple of drinks can quickly become too much and the performances can suffer. The musician mostly closely monitor all substance use so that it doesn't become abuse.

There's a fine line where abuse happens. In my experience most musicians cross that line. I have no right to tell anybody not to drink and/or smoke. I do have the right to not play with somebody who starts playing worse and/or gets angrier and angrier. If that makes me judgemental then so be it...

fisherman bob wrote:There's a fine line where abuse happens. In my experience most musicians cross that line. I have no right to tell anybody not to drink and/or smoke. I do have the right to not play with somebody who starts playing worse and/or gets angrier and angrier. If that makes me judgemental then so be it...

The way I see it, you have no right if it's someone else's band. But in your band, you not only have a right, but a responsibility to pull your bandmate aside if it's becoming a problem. They aren't the only ones affected by what they're doing.

Eh...drinking just doesn't seem to be all that important to me. If I'm drinking, you can almost always rest assured that it ain't gonna affect me, cuz I won't do it to excess, unless it's my b'day or something...or if I just feel like it, which is rare. Same goes with any other substance. I happen to enjoy reality, & prefer to be grounded, for the most part. There are times when I'd rather be a little tipsy, but never when I'm working.

I do like to take the edge off sometimes...but I can honestly say that I don't drink more than a 6 pack a week, if I had to average it out.

There are times, imho, when a little altered state of mind is called for, but, for the most part, they're pretty rare...for me, anyway.

Man has needed a little escape since long before he got the pressures we feel these hectic days. I won't tell anyone to never do it, cuz I do believe it helps us to cope. When it interferes, however, I'm outta there, cuz I won't deal with tat sh*t.

Generally speaking, I don't like being around people who drink or do drugs EXCESSIVELY. As long as they can stay coherent and do their job well I don't care.

But, one time, I went to try out a drummer. His cousin, who only plays it cuz it is stored in his house, was 1000% better. Said cousin put away two bottles of Jim Beam and several 40oz beers. He could barely walk but played like a motherfucker! Didn't miss a beat! I ended up asking HIM to play with us. But, he had some...er...legal problems and went to jail instead. Something gang related. I didn't ask.

I think I've tried out both of those guys Mike.

What is it with drummers anyway? They're either drunks, have gf or legal problems or whatever.

A "few' beers can help a performance if it loosens you up. Once the audience is drunk it makes little difference how well you play to them, and less to yourself.
Now if your doing a concert performance rather than a bar or club... that's different.
If someone plays well while drinking and doesn't get "drunk" during shows or rehearsal, I couldn't care less.

philbymon wrote: ...... If I'm drinking, you can almost always rest assured that it ain't gonna affect me, cuz I won't do it to excess ...

That kinda' it right there ... I'm with you Bob.

I don't mind playing with people that have a beer at each break (we never have booze on stage when playing ... not allowed) but if the drinking becomes a problem with someone in the band ... that it ... mental note taken for the next time ... if he's in a band I'm asked to play with ... I just say NO.

I played with Rita Chiarelli (juno artist) about 16 months ago ... the drummer turn out to be a drunk (the band was a pickup band for her westcoast tour). Rita put up with it for a couple of gigs and then fired his ass .... the replacement drummer was awesome and he made the groove huge.


Then this spring I get a call to support another eastcoast artist and I ask who's in the band ... and this drunk drummers name pops up ... I said I couldn't play with him ... I guess someone else said the samething because I got a phone later saying he wasn't on the roster anymore ... so I took the gig ...

Theres a wide range of answers here.

Prevost goes out and gets paid to play gigs, so they dont allow people to drink on stage.

Im from Jimmys world where the places I play they expect us to entertain with the d crowd and promote drinking so my band drinks.

So it depends on whether this is a professional making their living, or the weekend warrior type like myself. If someone has a problem handling thier drinking then I will not play with them over time. My guys all know thier limits and dont go over them. But I dont think I as a bandleader should have to dictate whether a grown man can drink when we play or practice.

I said "almost always," cuz I was affected by the alcohol in the past, so I can't say "always."

Mosrly, I had prob's concentrating cuz I got acid stomach from the drinks a few times. Now I stick to a beer a set. I think I've solved the problem.

If I'm having voice issues, I won't even do that, cuz the fizzyness & the alcohol dry out the voice box.