I WAS the drunk guitarist in the band. Practices were over when I lost my motor skills. So I got switched over to bass and that was a huge wake up call. I’ve been sober 8 years now and I’ve been back on guitar, feel way better, eating right, exercising etc.. It comes in all walks of life not just being a musician. If you take care of your body, it will take care of you.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Congrats on being sober! Thats a huge deal, especially when being in the music scene. Thanks for sharing your story!

@JDH560

Ай бұрын

Good for you man , 21 years for me and all 21 one of them was accomplished one day at a time 😊

@mikelawrence4849

Ай бұрын

I guess that is why Jack Bruce, Jaco, Stanley Clarke never made the great guitar stand.

@FogTub

Ай бұрын

I wouldn't want to see a band where the rhythm section instruments were considered a punishment.

@mikelawrence4849

Ай бұрын

@@FogTub Yeah being a bass player is thankless but most needed. The idea theat a drunk bass player is better than a drunk guitarist is beyond me.

Tim, thank you for bringing up this taboo topic. I have an identical, twin brother, we started performing in bars at the age of 14 (our parents chaperoned us, until we turned of age). We were committed, from the very beginning, to make music our career. We made a pact between the two of us, at 14, that we would never…. 1) drink alcohol 2) take it illegal drugs 3) smoke cigarettes 4) drink, coffee. We played every weekend, through junior high and high school. After high school, we immediately went on the road played the hotel circa for eight years. Came back home bought a night club. We owned that for 15 years, playing in it full-time. Sold that in 1998 and continue playing full-time (400+ shows a year). We celebrate 52 years this year of performing professionally. We are 66 years old and have NEVER broken that pack. Our wife’s drink. Our whole family drinks. We chose this way of life simply, because this is the best way to be in this business, and survive, and make a living.

I'm 70. The saddest part of this subject is all the musicians/friends that didn't make it to 60, or even 50. Drinking every day is a bad road to go down. Love your channel Tim.

Thanks for your honesty and candor. I had a drinking problem the second I turned 21. It started as fun, but got progressively worse over the next 15 years. I was drinking like 4 or 5 large bottles of vodka a week. I never missed work, but my marriage suffered. My wife is more patient than I deserve and stuck with me through some pretty dark days. Anyway, 5 years ago I just had to make a hard life decision and I gave it up for good. I don't drink at all now. Sometimes I miss the social aspect of drinking, but being sober has forced me to be cool and comfortable with myself when I'm in social situations. I can think clearly now, I lost like 50 lbs., and most importantly my marriage improved. To anyone considering sobriety, or even just cutting way back, I'll tell you that you are fine just being yourself. You are fine just staying home and doing a puzzle if that's what you feel like. You're fine going to a party and not drinking. Everyone else will be drunk so they'll be chatty enough for the two of you. If you're sober, you'll notice all the people that are too many drinks deep and be glad you're not one of them. Good luck!

Tim, really great advice. The story here is, Nashville doesn’t make music, it makes money. It’s a business. And Nashville music business folks invest in bands and musicians who treat their work as a career and not a hobby. I think that’s the essence of the message and the distinction you’ve made between how you treated your work as a younger person, and how you approach it as a man of 30. I enjoy every single video you put out and I think it’s probably the person as much as the content I enjoy hearing. Stay well!

3 years sober this October. Best decision I’ve ever made in my life!

I really appreciate this video. I am one of the older guys you were talking about that you'd like to comment. I am currently 43 years old. I have been kicking around mostly playing in the midwest...pretty much gigging almost everyday and surely without more than a week off since I was 17. That is more than half my life. I have been in so many different types of scenes with so many different types of people and your message here is the same across the board. Man, I went a LONG time...a freakin lifetime in a constant state of drinking. Like you, it started out as just a little, just having fun...hell I would even practice drunk. Fast forward some years, I found myself drinking from wake up to bed. For the past 20 years, I have been gigging pretty much every.single.day! I could still play really well drunk...I always really felt fine playing. Eventually, I just started feeling sick and crappy hungover every day. My eyes constantly bloodshot, face bloated, terrible chronic cramping and my body just slowly dying. I NEVERRRRRR missed a gig. Ever. When I turned 40, I started getting sick and just puking at random. I would still do my gigs. Totally functioning...until one night I suffered through a full day of the most excruciating pain I could ever describe. I had to be hospitalized...I had gotten Pancreatitis from this and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Now....I had to miss gigs cuz I was in the hospital with tubes in me. I knew at that point, I was done. That was 3 years ago. I quit right there on the spot. I got out of the hospital and immediately put my 2 feet on the ground and started working my ass off to get my health back, restore my reputation as a reliable hardworking passionate musician...and most importantly to get my brain out of that fog. I feel like if I can do it, anyone can because I was having about 20+ shots per night at these bars on top of drinking a whole fifth at home before and after. I did so many things I regret, I have some foggy memories of beautiful times that I can't remember like I should. At this point, 3 years later...I am able to do what I want to do, feel 100% better, almost like that was a past life (I guess it was.) My brain and body came back. I can play better than ever, I am able to learn and retain more than ever and function on a highly organized, fully productive wavelength in every aspect of my life that I had lost complete control of. I am so thankful that I was able to stop...as I'm so thankful you have been able to scale back. It is important to note, some people that watch this may think that they can just scale it back....some can....some cannot. It is important to not get that mixed up. Everyone is different. For a lot of us that are/were functioning alcoholics, it is either ON or OFF! I could say so so much more about this and I am super thankful you made this video and I hope others appreciate it like I do and I hope it helps some people. You are doing great things w your channel. Wishing continued forward momentum in your career and passion. Keep sharing. :)

Thanks for frankly talking about this, Tim. The young guys today NEED to hear this. I'm much older than you are, but I've been a professional musician for many decades, and when I was young, I got drunk a couple of times on stage and embarrassed myself and my fellow bandmates. Nowadays, of course, no drinking onstage ever, and MAYBE one glass of wine afterward. No beer, no shots, nada. Thanks again, man.

In the 80’s I would sit in on rhythm guitar and vocals at a lot of local bars and honky Tonk’s in Memphis. I drank so much that bands finally quit calling. But it was their problem not mine. It took years not playing and drinking before I picked up my guitar. I now play at church at Celebrate Recovery meetings in the worship band. I am tickled that a bunch of young folks let an old geezer like me jam with them. I’m an old guy with a young heart. Thanks for this video

You have no idea how truthful your words are! I want you to know that this video is liable to help a lot of people. You never know... Today could be a day that someone is feeling like backsliding and this video will help! Thank you brother!

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you for such a great comment, I hope this helps someone!!

@Drew-B365

Ай бұрын

@@TimAvenMusic I can assure you it already has!!!

Wow Tim. That was powerful. Thanks for posting this. Soooo much truth in this message.

Thank you so much for bringing this awareness to the younger generation and hopefully they will listen to you. I was a functioning alcoholic for 40 years, but it cost me a career, my marriage, and instead of being the best I could be I would settle. I hate to say it but Gout probably saved my life. Now I'm sober and doing solo gigs, and having the time of my life.

Another great vid. You’re so real and down to earth. Keep it going. Never had this issue but I know plenty of guys (and some girls) who did, and it’s a shame to see how some very talented people declined and are a shadow of their former selves. My brother was an amazingly talented guitarist, writer and recording engineer, but he died early from partying so much. Was a great loss and his family will never be the same.

Love the way you incorporated those harmonics in the intro…wow….very cool

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you! I wrote that a long time ago and still love it!

@GamerUprise

Ай бұрын

I just learned this and it’s so cool! I just have a really hard time getting the harmonic on the 5th fret. Any tips?

I’m glad I found this today. Thanks for sharing, very relatable, and so true all around. Thanks Tim

Good for you man, glad you saw the big picture and chose to do something about it. That's refreshing to hear !!!

you are a wise young man- been there-done that- alcohol is sooo dangerous--my thing was alcohol then polish it off with weed---I was close to being an alcoholic--thankfully God saved me--I'll just say this--life is soooo much better with a clean, healthy body than being brain dead and feeling awful-thank you for this video-you have no idea how much good this will do-THANK YOU! (oh-and I love your acoustic melody there at the beginning-I'd like to hear more of that!)

I played drunk for a long time. Been sober over 17 years and that’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I LOVE playing sober! And my playing is a lot better because of it. GREAT video! Not many people talk about this part of it. Great to hear that you’re aware of it. Much better way of life. And you can have more FUN than ever playing without being messed up.

Sound advice and great content - so true and really never discussed. Peace and have a great Friday / weekend!

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you for watching and the comment!

A lot of wisdom for your young years, well done, this will help some people.

Man this is so important. I know many musicians that are struggling with alcohol addiction and maybe want to get sober but their work requires them to be around alcohol all of the time. The temptation must make it nearly impossible and it's not like they can just change jobs. I've been wanting to make a video about this for awhile and maybe still will sometime, but thanks for making this!

@idc0459

Ай бұрын

Start playing Christian music at churches. Find Jesus. Problem solved. Your welcome

@Not.Satoshi

Ай бұрын

Why can’t they change jobs?

There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to this stuff, thx for sharing!

Thank you for your courage to post this! We seldom see the “train wreck” until we pass it. You caught it early, and stepped off just enough to keep sane. Thanks dor sharing your journey!

Tim, thanks talking about this very important issue! Stay well man, you had your experience. It take courage to share it with us!

Thank you so much for sharing!!! I fight the demons everyday.

Great post! This is SO important. Thanks for reminding us all.

Nice talk! Happy you pulled yourself out of it. It's pretty much something you have to learn in your 20s, musician or not. I have seen professionals ruin shows because of intoxication. Even a little impairs your timing. Keep up the good work...

Excellent video, Tim. I've been performing professionally for almost 50 years and definitely drank more than I should have. In my circles cocaine was something that fans were always offering the band members, and while I didn't indulge, I watched as many of my fellow musicians did. Sad to say that some of them died of heart attacks in their early 50's, I don't know if cocaine played a role in that. I never smoked cigarettes and had no interest in smoking anything else even when I was the lead guitarist in an all (but me) Jamaican reggae band. :-D The bottom line is that it can creep up on you slowly with a drink here and a snort or smoke there and the next thing you know you're out of control. Your video is a great message to those who want to follow your path as to some of the traps waiting for them that can not only end their potential career, but their ability to enjoy a healthy life. Keep up the great work.

Tim, it was funny when I first discovered your channel I thought to myself "' there is something special about this young man". Now I know why my gut instinct was correct. Your sharing this topic of partying, drinking, smoking is so very very important for those who aspire to follow in your footsteps. Heck even if they aren't following in your footsteps but are just going through life your message was clear, non judgemental and loving in spirit. I've been sober for over 32 years now and can tell you being clear minded in any and all that I do is such a huge gift. I tell folks I was a green lighter drinker and always did is to party and feel good. After a few too many blackouts and people telling me what I had done, said and acted like was enough for me to know that I was never going to be a functioning party guy. Today I tell people that God gave me a chance to live two lives during one lifetime. Keep up the great work and awesome content...peace, love and hugs to you my friend.

Man another great video. Thanks for your honesty with your own experiences. Drinking can really sneak up on you especially when you work around bars/restaurants/night shift

Great video man ! Appreciate the honest blogs!

Thank you for making this. This is priceless knowledge advice, and something for musicians to be aware of.

It is telling that you opened with not being around hard drugs. Alcohol some how gets a pass here. It is more devastating on society than many street drugs, I imagine it is because it is so available. You are doing great from my perspective and I enjoy your commentary.

💯💯💯 Good on ya. Hitting the nail on the head here. No one talks about it but I think a lot of us are suffering in silence. That lifestyle isn’t sustainable. The drinking and mental health go hand in hand. Mental health issues may still exist but it’s much easier to navigate without the excruciating hangovers. So many of the great musicians we look up to that have had long careers have gone through it and come out the other side. Some cats are built different but I can’t hang like that anymore.

I can totally relate to what you are sharing. I got out of college in 1969 and immediately went on the road with a “show band”. In the 70’s every Holiday Inn had a band in their lounge so I was playing 5-6 nights a week in clubs in the Midwest. I was having a blast. I was also drinking quite a bit daily. After about 8 years of being on the road I got very depressed. I felt like I was not getting anywhere. So I decided to go back to school and with the new degree ended up getting a very good job outside of music. I stopped playing for several years which was quite a change from practicing 8 hours a day when I was young. A few years before I retired I picked up the guitar again and now play about 75 gigs a year on weekends and am having a great time doing it. I never considered myself talented but I loved playing and worked hard to reach a level of proficiency where I could at least perform in weekend bands.

@kennyg63

Ай бұрын

I remember a kid in the mid seventies every exit along i 95 had a holiday inn with love entertainment in the bar.

Tim! Thanks for keeping it real. Way to change your life for the better. So many people need to listen to this. Always best to be a professional.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

I’m not perfect but small changes add up over time and have really helped me. Hope this helps someone out there, thank you!

Awesome topic! You hit the nail on the head literally with everything you said. Your insight is right on. Your genuineness, kindness and realness really is refreshing to see. Anyway, I look forward to your videos man. I wish you all the best brother. ✌️

Tim- fantastic that you realized the road you WERE on. Thanks for being honest, and truthful 🎸

Great episode buddy. Thanks for the honesty.

This is a very important topic Tim. Thank you for sharing your experience on this.

Great video Tim! I really appreciate your honesty and perspective on this topic! I’m not a musician but I love music and especially enjoy live performances. Unfortunately, I’m also one who frequently enjoys showing his appreciation to the band by buying them shots and rounds of beers. You’ve really given me something to think about with this video. Going forward, perhaps I’ll just hit the tip bucket instead. Keep the awesome content coming!

You nailed it - especially sharing the perspective that if you don't keep it together you can wake up 20 years in the same place. So true.

Hi man, saw Lanco at the Listening Room for CMA Fest. I was there for a writers weekend with my writing buddies. Man it's a constant battle. I can't play and sing when I drink too much beforehand but I drink plenty afterwards. Thanks for talking about it brother....

Great topic. Grateful for 34 clean and sober years. Enjoy your videos.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Congrats, thats great to hear!!

Love all these videos you’ve been posting man, but this is the best one by far. I quit drinking last year for 9 months because the Broadway thing was just taking its toll on me. I’m not sober, but these days it’s one or two beers per gig and I’m good. Feel way better now.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Yo dude great to see you on here!! Good for you man. I know how hard that is. I know you really know what it’s like. Hope you’re doin well man, hopefully see you soon!

Thanks for bring it up Tim. Many times it can wind up in addiction.

Excellent video, very meaningful and well done in every way. Thanks for having the strength and courage to see the problems, and then relate your story in such a heartfelt and convincing way..

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment and watching, I hope this helps someone!

Congrats on hitting the 10k and keep doing what you’re doing. I’m 52 so definitely in the demographic. I stopped drinking from 24-34 and then stopped for good 11 years ago. I’m not a pro musician but it doesn’t matter. You make a lot of great points that can be relatable to many different lifestyles/professions. Good luck!

Thank you for speaking out about this! - I am lucky that I don't have a problem with excess drinking or smoking but the environment really encourages it and many people have difficulty saying no or moderating their drinking - I have a beer or two and maybe a little smoke once in a while. One rule I have is no shots - that is where it gets bad quickly. It does not help my playing AT ALL

Thanks for sharing this @TimAven. Very informative and great advice to follow.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you for bringing up this important topic. So many people don’t have any idea what’s considered heavy drinking. NIAAA defines heavy drinking as follows: For men, consuming five or more drinks on any day or 15 or more per week. So many people are heavy drinkers and don’t realize it. They have no idea how it’s affecting their mental health. Or their physical health. Playing in bars makes it easy to fall into this kind of behavior. And it’s totally accepted. Beware it’s no joke.

Hi Tim, as an aspiring professional musician thank you so much for the help and words of advice on this issue! Much love ❤️

Hi Tim, really enjoying your channel and appreciate your unique insight to the music business. You’re such a nice and down to earth artist! I have that same Marin guitar and love the way is sounds and plays! Keep up the good work!!

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and I’m glad you’re enjoying it! These are awesome guitars, I love it!

You're a smart kid! Keep up the good work. I can relate to much of your story. I got sober many years ago when I was your age after I got out of the Marine Band. It seems to be the ultimate fantasy of many gigging musicians that we can drink with impunity forever! Unfortunately many of us have to reach a place of absolute misery before we can figure that out. You're playing sounds great. Keep going man!

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Good for you on getting sober! That’s a hard thing to do. Thanks for sharing on here!!

Yep - been there done that, glad I was able to check myself like you describe. Been off the booze since 2022 - zero regrets. My playing is better live. Everything is better. Cheers brother 🎉

Tim, I am impressed with your level of emotional and analytical maturity. It takes most people 4 or 5 decades to reach the same conclusions you have come to. You are certainly on the right path! Keep up the good work.

Great advice for the Music Industry and Life! Thanks for being honest and transparent.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

I appreciate that, I really think so. Thank you!!

Sober 9 1/2 years. Best decision I ever made. Life is super easy now. There are a lot of people who can have a drink or two and it doesn’t matter, but there are lot of folks who loose control over it.

Thanks for talking about this man! From personal experience, gigging has been both the best and worst thing for me in terms of mental health and substance abuse. It's so crazy that it's not talked about more, but it should be because it's real.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thanks for commenting and sharing. I agree with you! No one talks about it and its a massive part of playing live, at any level. Wish you the best man!

Mike from Art of Guitar had an interesting video on this fairly recently. Thank you for your honesty. I'm in business, and alcohol is considered normal for getting deals done. The lives it's ripped apart don't get mentioned, just the garbage lines about camaraderie. I do not regret avoiding it. I'm not better than anyone, but as an old guy I've seen enough casualties with family and friends.

Tim, good video. It is very hard to be so open and talk about such personal issues. I know it has always been very difficult for me.

I'm impressed that you chose to cover this topic and share your experiences. I think you're 100% right. People considering this career need to keep focus on the fact that it's a business. When you're in a band, you owe it to your bandmates and fans to be on your game and give the best you can at every performance. You sound like you've got your priorities in the right place. 👍

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you! I think its important. It's a job where you're constantly around it and I figured my perspective might help someone else out there.

Thank you for being an advocate and discussing openly. I find this to help many people when I share my own as well. I mentioned an idea for topic a bit ago. Could you discuss what "publishing" means? Songwriting credits, how it is figured out? How royalties are figured and paid? Like that stuff. I've always been really, really curious but don't know the intricacies. Also, give away idea...some guitar picks? Or if you can...an autographed photo? Perhaps a "MEET TIM" experience at a show?

Great video! I was a local working musician for 38 years. I got some great advice from an old timer when I first starting gigging in my teens. He told me to never drink on the job and always go straight home after the gig. I took his advice and did that my whole gigging life. I watching countless dozens of musicians ruin their lives and health with alcohol and drugs. They ones that didn't die young became tired broken down old dudes still drinking and smoking through the same local gigs well into their 60's. I retired from gigging in my mid-50's. Never drank or smoked on any gigs.

@TimAvenMusic

4 күн бұрын

Thanks for writing a comment, I agree it takes a lot of people out. Its a hard thing to navigate but thanks for sharing your story!

This is such an honest video. Thanks for the insightful content.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you, I'm glad you thought so!

You have put some good things out here with this video, I have been playing live since 1978, I'm semi retired now .

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

It's not just Nashville, it's everywhere. Very well said, nobody has really ever sat down and said, hey, this is how and why people end up as dead junkies. It starts way before then, playing in shitty small bars for the bar tab for fun.

I love your videos! This one is so true! TY

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you!!

Thank you for your honesty!

Thanks for sharing. This is very real. In my youth I did the cover band bar circuit and fell in that trap of accepting drinks from the crowd. I was lucky to have a great group of bandmate that made me see quickly that this was a bad idea. Those guys are still my friend 30yrs later.

Great content and I appreciate your bringing this up...I've been playing in bands for years, not in Nashville but in the Detroit area bar band scene - been playing for years and I have been and still am in the that trap - I know I need to break out of it - I am a better player when I am not hammered....

I’m not even halfway thru the video but I appreciate you talking about this! It’s “not cool” but the consequences of deep addiction and real mental health issues are not cool to the fullest. Anyone who has experienced it firsthand or been around it knows. If you disagree, that’s ok, you’re not wrong and I’m no better than anyone (no one is), but… please listen to this with an open heart and mind. Some lessons you can learn through others, some lessons require you to learn them yourself. This lesson is one I encourage everyone to learn secondhand. pride cometh before the fall

Right on young man! I’ve been playing guitar for 45 years. I’m not a non drinker, but I never drink when playing or Driving. Stay on track 👍🏽

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and the comment!!

Also, the pinky harmonic thing you are doing is super cool. Would love to see that progression explained.

The intro was very nice & I'm liking that shirt. Tim, thanks for your honesty. You're right no one talks about it. Think I might've heard one other channel talking about Broadway & doing multiple gigs through out the week that involved a lot of drinking. I've seen buying the band a round many times. I've also seen it a lot on the Broadway Bar live stream I watch. Really glad you didn't fall into that trap. Not to many years ago cig smoking was allowed in bars. I'm not a smoker but I always hated the way my hair & clothes smelled when I left. I probably smoked a pack by second hand smoke. Yikes! You're such a caring guy. Really enjoy seeing you succeed. I'm on the quieter more reserved side too. People in this industry can be vicious & backstabbing. Never related well with other girlfriends/wives. Okay, I'm kind of like Jennifer Anniston's character in Rock Star. I've had my nickname for a long time & have kept it for my music channel. What's ironic is I ended up marrying a Military Veteran & not a Musician. I'm sure you know that movie was based on Tim Ripper Owens life story when he joined Judas Priest. I did meet Tim when he was in that Judas Priest Tribute band before he joined Priest. His real band was "Winter's Bane". That band opened for the Tribute Band. Same guys different band. So, that's my only connection to that actual movie. Yes, I've got a lot of stories but can't share them here. Hey, I was rockin in the 80's so you can use your imagination. Ha... thanks Tim for sharing.

Great message! I was fortunate to be in an all original rock band in the 80s and 90s that was so focused on succeeding that we didn't have time for any type of substance abuse. Over the years (I'm 61 now) I've had a few times where I was drinking during a performance or during rehearsal and I noticed that it never once made me any better at singing or playing guitar. At best, like you, I would just play the same old stand by licks and didn't really add any new value to the music.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Good to hear you never fell deep into the trap. Its true, I play my best when I'm sober, a beer or two is fine, but the more I get in the worse my playing gets.

Tim, Quick story. I Have a friend who was in a famous band from the 90's. His addiction to drugs broke up the band. He went to rehab and beat the hard drug addiction but the addictive behavior has led to years of drinking and weed, still to this day as we approach 60. I have watched him for years bounce from band to band to solo gigs, he still struggles with the drinking. Numerous folks have tried to help him and while he will get better for awhile he goes right back to the addictive behavior. This guy is an outstanding guitarist and songwriter I still hope to this day that he will get straight but I truly do not think he will. He is dealing with some health issues now all related to the above. Thank you for a great truthful video

Who you surround yourself with ....wow , thats really good advice for everyone . Luckily I still have a career in music and am a happy and ,healthy , physically strong individual ( through great effort ) . However years of doing things that you are describing cost me very dearly . Thanks for this !

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you, I really think that is key in anything!

No way you slayed on acoustic like that gah damn well now i have something new to aspire to

Such a great take brother. My acoustic duo partner recently got a DWI after leaving a show super late. He's not even a big drinker and he's such a great dude. We had a great chat about it and the lesson was learned. We also discussed that it could have been so much worse. I remember being on tour in my early 20's and I can relate to all of this. For me now, music is my entire drug the whole night through. My first band made it a rule to never drink before any show and I think it served us well. The one time we didn't adhere to that rule it was a train wreck. lol

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

I think this is a good idea. It’s a tricky road to navigate. Glad you found a way. Thanks for commenting!

@mrelmoresmusiclab

Ай бұрын

@@TimAvenMusic Thanks man, we all get older and wiser in the end. At least that's the goal. haha. About to sit down and do a video about the disaster of trying to relic my own guitar. haha.

you have your head on straight, Tim. I am reading Michael McDonald's memoir right now (Doobie Brothers, etc). He got caught up with it - drinking - real bad. Just like you described. It's an easy trap to fall into. He smoked pot every day too. He is now 100% sober. It's a great read, you'd like it. it is called "What a Fool Believes"

I agree with what you are saying. In fact, I would add, don't even start drinking or using any kind of drug. Learn to cope with the stress of the entertainment industry without any drugs or alcohol. Meditation helps. This is advice that very few or no one will take but I've been through it. If your drinking on the job i.e. the gig, you have a problem and a problem that can turn into a tenfold problem down the road. If you're saying to yourself that you like to have one drink before the show because it just calms you down a bit so you can play better then you have a potential problem. This is your livelihood! Don't risk it! Remember this industry doesn't owe anyone a damn thing. It doesn't owe you money, a living, happiness, or freedom. That is all on you. If you want to stay around, work like you would in any other job and learn to do it right.

Loved the intro

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you!!

Well done ..great respect for your honesty and turning your life for the better ..i always wonder how big drinkers arent full of stomach ulcers ..or are they ..

100% accurate, I know. 30years + of bar gigs. I hope young player listen to this. Nothing wrong with having a drink or two during the gig but that will escalade to several drinks a set and your playing will suck.

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

I agree, You really have to have disipline!

@bks252

Ай бұрын

I don’t necessarily agree that having a couple of drinks will escalate. I always have a beer between sets and I’ve never been tempted to let it escalate. I think when folks do escalate, they also have other issues they’re trying to work through.

Man these are some good words bro!! I remember my time on broadway and playing the bar/casino circuits, it was always that way. I did find a trick to help. I'd have one bottle of beer while we were setting up, then Id save that empty bottle and use it to "chase" shots people would give me. I was actually spitting the shot into the empty bottle. It worked for me for years!! Loving your content Tim, keep it up!!

@reliefwithoils

Ай бұрын

Good tip

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

I have no doubt taken some "fake" shots before. Even afterwards when the other guys are drinking more. This is a good trick that I have used a version of and can really save your night sometimes!

Great video, thanks for sharing your experience. Lots of straight edge musicians- Frank Zappa, Angus Young, Eric Dolphy

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

I agree! You can still have fun, but when it pulls you in it’s hard to get out. Good people to look up to. Even SRV got sober before he died

Lost everything to alcohol. Now I strum alone in the woods. Which I will always be deeply grateful for this ability. Alcohol is not viewed as the horrible drug that it is. It's not often you hear people defending their crack addiction because it's socially acceptable. Glad that you discuss this. Cool tune as well!

Power to u. Great positive info . No question, alcohol on a steady daily routine just kills your mind and body slowly but surely. Then you wake up to AA or your lose your job or ut girl leaves you etc etc .etc Its just fact. So thanks for sharing this very important message. Good Luck & Good Health going forward.

Thank you for this.

Great topic to talk on, dude. I, personally, can't overcome all the internal tension and traumas to play well, without getting stoned. But I do have a medical ganja script. The booze? Defo a trap. I try to avoid booze but can be hard in certain social contexts.

You're a wise young man. I follow another super Nashville Cat a good bit your senior that on occasion mentions drinking and keeping in shape...in between the lines it's easy to tell that although the monkey's not choking him...he struggles to keep him off his back.. One of my heroes was Jimmy Buffett. He loved Margaritaville....looking back at his life and achievements ..one must conclude that he seldom visited there for any length of time. Pulling for you.✌️

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and your comment, I'm not perfect but just being aware of it has had a massive improvment on my life!

Good words, my friend. I've been lucky that I'm not the addictive type, and I have one drink at a typical gig. We gig a lot, and I treat it like a very important calling and don't want to screw it up. A bigger problem for me is tinnitus. I look forward to your thoughts on this subject.

Re: 10k subs - I think giving away a lesson (or two if you want to do something additional) is a great idea. It doesn't cost you monetarily, and I'm sure people would like the idea of possibly winning that prize. Why not? And, yeah, Nicky V's channel is also great. Finally, thank you for sounding the alarm bell about getting sucked into the excessive drinking thing. You are really doing a public service.

Awesomeness!

@TimAvenMusic

Ай бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Good video. My experience as a jazz musician. I got a call to play with a jazz quartet for an hour gig. Arrived at the gig and met the band members, all very nice professionals, very normal behavior. Then the pianist says anyone want to go out for a smoke? Bassist and pianist go outside, it was a new years eve gig, very very cold outside. When they came back in to start playing the gig, they had transformed from just normal guys to two people obviously under the influence of whatever they were smoking or doing. It's like they were different people. Nothing out of the ordinary, and the gig went well. I packed up and went home. And that was that. The pianist had a bad habit of never really following the charts, but he did ok that gig.

I’m 65 years old and I played music for a living ever since the age of 19. I’ve raised kids sent them to school and college. Bought homes and cars just like everybody else. i’m not rich, but I’m doing OK. And I’ve got to play music for a living. I’m truly blessed. But you’ve got to treat it like a business. It is the music business. It’s OK to have fun now and then but always keep it in check. You young cats out there beware. cause it can get ya

Good for you to speak about this….👍

Permanent words of wisdom dude.

Years ago while out dancing a doctor friend told me if you knew how much damage alcohol did to your body you would slow down or quit. It is rated in the Group 1 carcinogenic which is the worst category, that also includes radiation, tobacco, asbestos, etc. It causes 7 types of cancer plus heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. Know to possibly ruin friendships and personal relationships. Canada and U.S.A. states with legal Medical MJ and recreational have reported reduced sales of alcohol, some have sold more MJ than alcohol. To each his own but working out, eating healthy, and getting good sleep makes a person’s appearance more attractive, you don’t hardly ever get sick, plus it gives you a sharper mind.