sober vs intoxicated

[smopo24]

do you play better with a few in you? are you too nervice to take a puff before a show? are you straight-edge? what do you think?

[dagosto]

Nerves were never a big deal for me. a couple drinks would give me the balls to do a bit more "exploring" on stage. Sometimes this wold be awesome, sometimes not as much. Luckily I've gotten to a point where I can play just as loose without any drinks.

[Nubus]

I think it is different for everybody. I did sound at some shows where Jay Bennet played lit or high or whatever. He played fine but I think he was a bit hard for the promoters to deal with. I had fun. By then end of the night him and his crew were shirtless.

[GearJunkie]

i've started a rule that i'll do a chilled jameson shot right before i go onstage. calmes the nerves.

[Bellringer]

A shot of Maker's is enough to take the edge off and still play a good show. A bottle of whiskey makes me obnoxious and sloppy. Smoke makes me forget words but is ok if I'm playing bass with a band and don't have to sing.
In general, I've gotten to the comfort zone where I can do a live show with very little nervousness. I now prefer to play sober and have fun messing with the wasted people in the audience. The worst is having a drunk drummer whose time is all over the place.

[Nubus]

I don't get messed up when I'm recording anymore. I had too many tapes where two or more tracks are recorded to one, second verse is louder than the first, etc.

[mikegee]

Originally Posted by Nubus

I don't get messed up when I'm recording anymore. I had too many tapes where two or more tracks are recorded to one, second verse is louder than the first, etc.

ya, i agree. it makes me feel better, but sound worse, while recording. partying is cool for practice jamming with the buds, just for fun.

[Caturtle]

It's best to play in the condition you usually play / write music. If you're always intoxicated (to some degree) when playing or writing you should probably be intoxicated when you play it live. If you practice sober it's utterly moronic to get plowed before your show. The body likes routine.

[McLean]

Originally Posted by Caturtle

It's best to play in the condition you usually play / write music. If you're always intoxicated (to some degree) when playing or writing you should probably be intoxicated when you play it live. If you practice sober it's utterly moronic to get plowed before your show. The body likes routine.

I agree with this statement. However, it is easy to get too over the top at the gig. Most venues want you to show up real early than go on really late. There is way to much time in between to have a few drinks. Than some venues even give free drinks which doesn't help, or maybe it does. Than on top of all of that, you can get into the invinsible rockstar mode and throw caution to the wind. There have been a few gigs that I have done where I had a bit to much and it is not pretty. I think getting a little groove on before the show is ok if you can handle it. However, beeee very careful, it doesn't take much to cross that invisible line into a realm of suck. Also, in that state, it is difficult for you to tell how bad you are sucking. So just remember, eveyone in the audience is well aware even if you are not.

[IbanezAndTamaDrums]

Originally Posted by Bellringer

A shot of Maker's is enough to take the edge off and still play a good show. A bottle of whiskey makes me obnoxious and sloppy. Smoke makes me forget words but is ok if I'm playing bass with a band and don't have to sing.
In general, I've gotten to the comfort zone where I can do a live show with very little nervousness. I now prefer to play sober and have fun messing with the wasted people in the audience. The worst is having a drunk drummer whose time is all over the place.

Unless of course that drummer is the late John Bonham