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Topic: Eating (stuffing) before a gig |
Earl Yarbro
From:
Bowie, Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 6:09 am |
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A few months back Bobby Seymore put out in his email newsletter an artical about eating before a gig. I can testify that he hit the nail on the head. We happened to have a gig in our town, so I decided to have a bar b que
and invite the band to eat before we started playing. We had brisket, german sausage, tender loin, frijoles, cakes, pies etc. We all made pigs out of ourselves. The first two hours into the show was terrible. Our timing was off, our tuning wasn't as perfect, the singers we choking and burping, our timing was off and it was just a struggle to get a song out. After about two hours, as the food began to digest, we finally got it straightened out and made some of the best music ever. This ever happen to any of you? |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 6:29 am
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Here in France it's customary that Musicians get fed before they get to do their thang.
it's reminiscent of the Troubadours who used to bring the news from town to town.
The intimacy of the French is to be discovered around a good meal and fine wines.
and the longer the merrier or heated it becomes....
So.... i usually am quite moderate in my gettin down at the table.
i'll agree. Too much food and drink does'nt help when one has a show to put on.
Once it's over tho' that's another story. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 7:01 am
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According to my veterinarian wife, this post-prandial phenomenon is caused by the change in blood chemistry due to massive amounts of acid being released by the stomach to digest the food we've just consumed. This change in blood alkalinity, the "post-prandial alkaline tide," causes us to become sleepy after eating a high-fat-content meal.
The Mexicans have it right with their mid-afternoon siesta.
Jimmy Day always used to tell me "go onstage horny and hungry."
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 7:55 am
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| Well, I was taught that after a big meal the blood vessels in your digestive system enlarge. Consequently more blood goes there, and less goes to your brain. The acid rush spoken of above is apparently part of the same phenomenon. Either way, it's probably best not to overdo it right before you start a gig. But apart from this, every band I ever played in for any kind of music was better the second set - it's just a question of getting warmed up and refamiliarized with your instrument. The last set was even better, but that may be just the "They all look better at closing time" phenomenon. I think I play better if I start out drinking coffee, and hold off on the hard stuff 'til at least the second set. |
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Jack Francis
From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 8:48 am
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hmmmmmm, Horny and hungry, I like that.  |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 9:54 am
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During my active playing years I never ate before a job, nor did any of my contemporaries....it was thought to "take the edge off".
....but, remembering back, in the 50's and most of the 60's I was never hungry or sleepy. 
....in my later years I didn't eat before a job because of the calories.........!
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 03 November 2003 at 04:53 PM.] |
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Earl Yarbro
From:
Bowie, Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 11:02 am
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Herb, I'm gonna remember that great piece of advice from you and Jimmy Day. However, at my age I may be short on the first of the two.
The hungry part will be easy.[This message was edited by Earl Yarbro on 03 November 2003 at 11:06 AM.] |
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Chris Erbacher
From:
Sausalito, California, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2003 3:19 pm
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| that same scenario of the eating and the first set being less than par just happened to my band on halloween. everyone ate burgers before the meal and the first set was full of mean looks and off timing. during the second set everything went great. usually nobody eats but for some reason we all chowed down. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2003 8:10 am
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I find it's hard to enjoy a cold pint of micro-brew on a full stomach.
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 4 Nov 2003 9:44 am
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Firstly, I only eat before and after - NEVER during - a gig. Plenty of food lowers my centre of gravity, ensuring smooth manipulation of those 'two knee/two pedal' changes.
Another 'Golden Rule' of mine is: 'Never eat more than you can carry'.....
I hope this helps those who may be 'sitting on the fence' over this issue; personally, I find it difficult to find a fence that'll take my weight !
RR[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 04 November 2003 at 09:46 AM.] |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 4 Nov 2003 11:30 am
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| We don't have that problem up here,We have FAKE Texas Bar-B-Que,Aint nothin like the real thing Baby! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 4 Nov 2003 3:23 pm
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I always thought that after a big meal you should take a long nap !!??
Well of course don't tell the Heart Surgeon..but what better place to take a nap than the bandstand !
I rarely eat a meal before a gig..and never while on a gig..I guess I should gig more often and eat less often .I ate enough big meals years ago to last many gigs...maybe I'm on to a new kinda diet or sumpthin...
ok..where's that Sausage ?
T |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 4 Nov 2003 4:00 pm
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Q. What's worse than a drummer with bad timing?
A. A bass player with bad gas!!! |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 4 Nov 2003 10:28 pm
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I remember a band I played with for several years. "The tunetoppers" We never ate before a gig, but had a few beers.
We used up so much energy that when the gig was over, we all ate, pizza, even filet steak.
If we just went home and didn't eat, we all would have lost weight every night...al .
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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Doyle Weigold
From:
CColumbia City, IN, USA
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Posted 5 Nov 2003 12:34 am
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| Glad to see this come up. I'm the old man in the band and I've never been able to eat before I pick. I've been kidded about it in a fun way for years. I've got to agree with the Jimmy Day mood. Doyle |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Nov 2003 1:32 am
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Can't say I ever thought about it. I can remember a good 7 year period where I'd eat anything at any time and still couldn't put weight on. Lots of times then I was pretty hungry too.
In later years, besides being much better off financially, I find like others my age, that it's too easy to put on pounds.
A free meal with a gig doesn't mean a whole lot any more. I graze when friends come in with fries, but even then they've got to be warm nowadays.. I guess that's a mark of success of some twisted sort..
I still like the free drinks, cause I give mine to the "stars" so they feel more important for the first couple sets, and makes them easy victims for table/knife games after work...
EJL
(When I quit drinking 23 years ago a "Micro Brew" was one of those little short Country Club Malt Liquors that you couldn't drink 12 of.. Then there was Rainier Ale...
Yeah, things have changed all the way around.
I think it all started downhill when we all thought that Boones Farm Strawberry Hill was going to be better than Booney Apple, and it turned out that they took a full percentage point of alcohol out of it....) |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 5 Nov 2003 2:54 am
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Fake Texas Bar-B-Que, Boony Hill Wine, and Micro Brews ? 
now yer twistin' my arm
otherwise a Deli will get me there right quick |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 5 Nov 2003 7:34 am
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| About 2 or 3 hours before a gig I try to eat a small meal consisting of a small potato or small amount of rice,a small piece of fish,some shrimp or a small rare steak,and a green salad w/lots of raw veggies in it.That way,it's all digested and I'm gettin the good out of it about the time I gotta pick. Works for me - otherwise I get hypoglycemic about 2/3rds of the way thru the gig and I'm phoning in the last set. -MJ- |
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