The Steel Guitar Forum

I don't know whether or not it's because i'm getting older or what but lately i've been having a hard time staying awake driving home after a gig. Especially on Fridays after working all day, playing all night until 1:30 , breaking down until 2:30 than driving home until 4:00 AM.
I never had this problem before but than again I wasn't 47 before !!
Have I simply arrived at a stage in my life where I need to accept certain physical limitations?
I need to play.. it's the only thing that keeps me sane.. still the thought of wrapping my car around a tree at 4AM doesn't seem like fun either.
Is it time to scale it down a little? Geez! This post is depressing me already!
Happy Holidays everyone!!

You're doing pretty well to make it through the gig, never mind driving till 4 am after. I did that kind of thing a lot in my late 20's. In those days, though, there were lots of other reasons why some of us ought not to have been hitting the expressways after the gig. I'm 48 and wouldn't dream of doing it now. A motel room might eat up the profits, but it could save your life. Don't stop playing, but play it safe.

Welcome to middle age. When I used to play out a lot, I drove a '73 Coupe DeVille. I carried a blanket in the back seat and if I got too tired I just pulled over and stretched out on the front seat. I fell asleep at the wheel one time and woke up just before I ran into the back of a semi, I took that as a warning.

Bob, you might consider looking for different kinds of gigs. My favorites are social functions and house parties on weekends. They usually don't run real late like bar gigs.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E7, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

I'm not a doctor.....but

My playing gigs were alot as you described your own. I used to brag about how I could go to sleep quickly (even on the bandstand in the middle of a tune) and wake-up instantly and could sleep anywhere, anytime.

About three years ago, I began to realize I was going to sleep during mid-day, while stopped at traffic lights....sitting at the dining room table, and while speaking in the middle of a sentence, etc. As a commercial driver that was a real problem.

After taking a "controlled" sleep test...it was determined that I suffer from sleep apnea and I was actually awakening every 1 minute and 15 seconds. I was sleeping all of the time....but NEVER getting any rest.

It's something to consider. It came as a complete shock to me. Years ago, when but a teenage musician, I had been tested for narco-lepsy, thyroid, etc., but was told I was merely reacting to white line fever, self hypnosis and all because I was bored.

I sleep restfully now. I awake refreshed and of course, I now drive a conversion van on my playing gigs, so if I should get sleepy, I can pull over, lay-out the bed in back and sleep in complete safety (unlike Michael Jordan's father who was murdered while sleeping in the front seat of his automobile) until I'm fully rested.

DRIVE SAFE! That comes FIRST!!

You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to SOMEONE ELSE!

Hey Bob, sorry to hear about your dilemma. You didn't say whether or not you wear glasses. I have been falling asleep( I'm 53)
very early after driving around for my day gig (sales dude) . My family has been after me to get my eyes checked and low and behold, I have an eye muscle problem, from my young age of course, which causes my left eye muscle to work overtime. The Eye Dr. told me that it was amazing that I didn't just fall asleep on the spot due to the strain. Well I now where glasses that have a prism on one side and I must say that since I started wearing them I am making it several hours later into the evening. Now I don't claim that I can stay out until 4 AM but I could probably stay awake until 8 or 9 !! All kidding aside, the glasses have helped me immensely for long drives and for driving in the night hours. I don't find myself "Squinting" from the glare anymore which according to the Dr. is due to severe strain.
Just a thought ..
TP<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 22 December 2001 at 03:47 AM.]</p></FONT>

Bob, as you might know, Jay and I are booked somewhat solid and the driving home challenge is an issue that was resolved quite a while back. Find yourself a nice Napa Valley red wine co-produced by Mondavi and Baron Philippe De Rothschild, preferably Opus One bottled in 1985. Suck down at least half a bottle when you get home from the day gig and take a late afternoon power nap. 1 1/2 - 2 hours is all you need. When you arise from the land of sheep, eat a one pound delmonico cut steak with fried onions and capers. As you get older, your tummy takes a little longer to process red meat. Between the nap you took and the steak you ate should make you good to go until you're back in the fetal position with both thumbs inserted.

Pleasant screams and Bon Appetite!

Gary Lee

Like Ray, about 20 years ago I started driving a conversion-van (bed, porta-potty, coffee pot, lots of room for my equipment,etc)and if I became too sleepy to drive I'd just pull into a Wallmart or shopping center parking lot and sleep.

I don't even do that anymore....I don't take those late or away from home jobs unless there is a motel or hotel room included in the contract. www.genejones.com

This is a problem I am quite familiar with. I average 300 miles for each job because I live so far away from the rest of the band. My wife and I bought a thirty foot travel trailer for this exact reason. We tow the trailer to each job. This has worked out really well for us. I'm fifty, and driving home 150 miles at 2:00am was really taking its toll.

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas

Hi Folks:
there are two things you might want to try.

1. get a smaller map.....the distance is much less between citys.

2. get a faster car or truck.. it wont take you so long...

have a super holiday season and
God Bless.

Joe

Derby SD-10 4X5
ZB Custom
Fender twin
Nashville 400
Profex ll

I'm also very concerned that the few hours after the bars close in when most of the drunks are on the roads.

You have to be extra alert at those times.
If you're not, don't drive!

-j0ey-

Who says it´s a problem that only starts when you´re getting older? I had my first accident because of falling asleep at the wheel when I was 20! It was a miracle that I didn´t kill myself. There have been other near-by accidents after. But then, my eyesight leaves much to be desired when it´s dark and my eye doctor told me so, too, so I generally avoid driving long distances in the dark. In conditions like after a gig, it would practically be suicide. If it´s a long way away from home, or I get someone else to drive me or I make sure there´s a place to sleep. If the weather allows it, I´ll even sleep in the car if necessary. But long distance driving at night after a gig - no way. I´m planning to stay here for a while still.

Middle age it is! I too am required to stay up until 2-3 in the morning due to my job as police sergeant. I'm 44 y.o.a. and am finding I do not generally feel 100% most of the the time. Always a little "drug out" or "run down", tired, achy, sluggish, etc....so to speak.
In my 20's I was working a FT day job and playing nights where some of our gigs were 5-6 nghts a week. There is no way I could do that anymore. As Bob Blair mentioned I would think about a motel if time & money were not a real big concern. Many impaired drivers on the roads at these times & I don't necessarily like sharing the road with them. I would not recommend sleeping overnite in a wayside rest, WalMart lot or anywhere else in a "public place" these days, 20 years ago ya! Although, this may be better than the back end of a semi- or rolled over in a ditch somewhere.
Ray brought up a good point too in that if your'e not getting a "restful" nights sleep, waking up or forced to sleep during the wrong times this is not good. I would say that this is a big part of my problem as I no sooner get to bed & the rest of the family is getting up for work/school etc. and yes, I'm a light sleeper so I hear it all.
As they say, "It's tough to get old"
Happy Holidays!

You guys are just kids & your having all these old age problems! I'll be 72 next month, I'm doin a Steel Showcase Jan 9 with Terry Bethel, Curt Olsen, & Ernie Wren I'm doin a show in Wi, in Feb w/ Jack Greene & Darrell McCall, & the band I'm with is booked every month of 2002, Must be the water? Also I drive to all my gigs,

Me too Al in July. Worked 123 dates this year and like you, the band is booked solid for 2002. I drive solo to each gig. Get ample rest and lay off the booze and you can make it every time. Best regards, Jody.

Hey Jody! If I laid off the booze, I wouldn't have much fun, actually I only have a 6pak of scotch to take the edge off, & then I kind of taper off! Al

Hi Al, Sounds like exactly what I used to do. Had a lot of fun too. Hang in there and keep it between the ditches. Jody.

I learned the hard way about 30 years ago when I was still just playing guitar. Stayed at a gig about 60 miles from home and the bass player and drummer drove home to take care of their agent business. Both died smacking into the back of a semi on the way home probably because of sleeping. Have had trouble sleeping (not driving) in a vehicle ever since.