Drinking On Stage
Posted in October 14th, 2008 by admin | Filed under Sound | Comments (1)
For most performers, it is a natural thing to do. Everybody around you is having a drink, so you have one too. It seems to be “normal” for a performer to “party with the crowd”. This way, “everybody is on the same level”.Firstly, let’s take a look at history. How many performers do you know of that came flying up the charts, only to disappear soon afterwards ? You can go do some research as to the reasons, but you will find a good number was related to drinking, or “substance abuse”. Go talk to a local venue owner that has been using performers for a number of years. You will learn that some good performers are not being booked any more, simply because their drinking interferes with the quality of the service, and with reliability.
Secondly, keep in mind that you are a professional worker. Professional in the sense that you are called upon to do a job that the staff cannot do. A worker in the sense that you are getting paid for the job. The fact that you charge a higher rate than the other staff means that even more is expected of you. The electrical contractor coming in to fix the fridges doesn’t drink while he is working. Just like you, he charges a professional fee for a professional service. What makes you any different ? The person who booked you is a businessman. By building a relationship built on dependability and consistency, you will build trust, and ensure more work for yourself in the long run.
Lastly, it is easier to say no to the first drink than the last. Partly because amongst all the excitement of the performance, you might not notice you had enough before it is too late. Very few people are actually able to stick to their own set limits. The other factor often forgotten, is conflict with the crowd. On the one hand you can be in an awkward position if someone insists you accept a drink, especially if you feel you had enough. But on the other, if you had a couple of drinks you might handle someone in the crowd less tactfully, or pass a uncalculated comment from the stage. If that person is a regular and it’s your first performance there, it might very well be your last. Not to mention the possibility of a physical confrontation, which will not do your reputation any good, either.
August 23, 2009 at 3:46 pm
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