I'm pretty new here, but will throw my thoughts in. The name of this thread is 'performer's EXCESS drinking', right? That says it all right there. I was offered a spot as singer in a group that a good friend was putting together, but I knew he was quite a drinker (and smoker, another can of worms), so I turned him down. He tried several times to get me to change my mind. I went to a couple of rehearsals which helped me to stay firm. When drinking, not only did his playing suffer, but his personality underwent a great change. He became overbearing and somewhat abusive. I don't know why the other players tolerated him, except that the bass player was in love with him (she is nursing a broken heart now). He played over my solos, and when I tried to sing backup for his songs, he would change the lyrics and timing, then accuse me of being too rigid. Anyway, it's not just the performance that's affected. I never joined that band and was treated to accounts of gigs that went well, but more that did not, all due to drinking. In other bands, there was a drunken drummer who would forget to come to rehearsals...and a lead guitarist who thought he needed to toke up for 'inspiration' (often backfired). Haven't you ever wanted to join a team that was fully functional to see where it could go? It has to beat making excuses for why it didn't work out... btw, I'm looking for a spot as a singer with celtic/blues/folk players in the lower Hudson Valley area of NY. heh... -caiti