I have been rehearsing an average of once a week most recently. We have a decent stock of songs, but are continually adding new candidates.
I find that on the days where I have been drinking coffee, that I tend to overplay / vamp on my parts. Listening back to my recordings, this makes me very self-conscious. The guys tell me they don't see it as an issue. But at the same time, days when I come in either not caffeinated, or just feeling a bit down, I have been told that I sounded great.
Do any of you have a regimen as far as how much caffeine or alcohol you'll drink?
(by the way, I have drank/smoked while playing in the past {other bands}. It does calm the nerves, but I find that keeping on point, staying focused, is difficult)
Alternately, if I settle on the fact that I just won't rehearse as well if I'm amped, what should I do to settle the nerves? A pharmacist once told me that a normal dose of aspirin will do the trick. Which I tried once and did not like the side effect - my bass drum foot and leg felt numb for the first half of the rehearsal.
EDIT: I changed the title from "...Performance" to "...Rehearsal" -
When I gig, I take whatever cards are on the table and run with it