I played a big Octoberfest gig last nite,....the German Beer was flowing big time in Steins,.....I enjoyed the great German food, Knackwurst, Sauerbraten, Wiener Schnitzel, Potato Pancakes, Apple Strudel, Blaukraut, Yummmy!!....but I only drank Water didn't want to take any chances driving home. A fun night for all!!

That brought out a good chuckle ......Thanks Gary, I needed that.

I was never a drinker, disliked the taste of beer, and for a couple years drank mixed drinks "socially"..

During those two years, customer buying drinks for the band (me and my girl partner) were statis quote...

I finally got tired of accepting customer drinks, and it made no sense to me to drink..
October 1989, a waitress bought me a drink(her treat), and I told her that would be the last drink for ...ever..

To this date I refuse to drink booze, have no interest..

When I tell this story, folks always think I must have had a drinking problem, and went on the wagon.....furthest from the truth...I just never needed booze, or drugs(never)...
My sons are beer drinkers, and my daughters and wife will drink wine..........but I still refrain...

Now icecream, that's a different story..

People are always coming up and sitting drinks on my console, which I quickly move to a safer location that's far enough away from the equipment to prevent accidental spills. Now, I'm not going to insult my customers by refusing a drink, and during the performance I may take a couple sips of ice-cold beer, or even a Margaretta, if offered. Getting blasted is something the kids do - not adults! I hope we're a lot smarter than that. If one beer, or one mixed drink, sipped during a 3 to 4-hour performance is sufficient to put you into the Twilight Zone, then by all means, you either have some sort of allergy to alcohol, or you're a drunk. Either way, you are the person that should not accept that gratuitous offering. I got blasted one time on a job - I was 18 years old and in Barcelona, Spain. After that one time, it never happened again and never will. So, yes, I will accept that kind offer of an ice cold beer or mixed drink, but it will likely take the entire night to consume it.

Bottom's up,

Gary

Usually, if someone insists on buying me a drink, I just ask for a bottle of Perrier.

Then, everyone's happy.

Ian

I usually decline the alcohol...saying I have a long drive home...and maybe accept a soft drink..

When I owned my own nightclub, lots of people bought me drinks. I couldn't refuse because the money was going to ME. I told the bartender to make me screwdrivers, but to hold her finger over the pour hole when she poured the vodka.
I know, it's a shady area, but I didn't want to insult my customers by refusing, and the club needed the income, and I wasn't going to drink the booze, so everybody won.
I even told some of my regulars what I was doing, but they said they didn't care!
Good old days! I played there, in my own place, six nights a week for about seven years.

... what Fran said. My sax men have all been drinkers , the last one chased away the best girl singer ever. Had to fire another singer for drugs and alcohol and finally closed up the band. Much happier now that I'm a OMB.

I usually don't drink when I am playing.Not that I don't want to, I simply don't have time.

I think of it this way...if I was working in a music store, or any other job dealing with the public, I doubt very much if my employer would think it was okay if I had a few drinks during work hours.

Gigging is just being employed for your musical output; it's not a night out, and just because you work in a bar, doesn't give you permission to drink on the job, even if someone is buying them for you.

Ian