Beauty and success?

carlthegroover · #1 10-08-2011, 11:16 AM

Hey all, I was wondering something. How do you guys think that physical attractiveness factors in when it comes to relative success as a bass player? I.e. would a relatively good-looking bass player be (generally) more successful than an average/ not-so-good-looking one?

Do you think it really impacts at some point in a bass player's career? Or is it really just about skill and groove? It would prolly also be very different between male and female bassists too, right?

Cheers.

cnltb · #2 10-08-2011, 11:24 AM

I have no doubt that it helps...at least.
I would also not be surprised if some got the gig because of their "image" rather than their skills.

Thrust Meatnozl · #3 10-08-2011, 11:27 AM

I think you need to be a complete package - appearance, personality & ability. The order of importance would obviously vary from band to band & genre to genre.

Stumbo · #4 10-08-2011, 11:29 AM

Physical attractiveness as far as success is concerned is a societal issue. Who get hired to promote products on television, etc.?

If you look back to the 60's, lots of what today would be considered "unattractive" musicians made it. Now, with all the burlesque shows parading as musical entertainment, if you're not in near perfect physical shape with dancing ability and a magazine cover face, you won't make it. Corporations do whatever it takes to make money with the least amount of risk involved. They're not into experimenting with unknown acts that don't fit a profile.

ShredderMaximus · #5 10-08-2011, 11:31 AM

As bassists, I don't think anyone cares. I mean, 80% of the time the bassist and drummer tend to be the ugliest people in the band, with rhythm guitarists right up there too.

But with the two guys with the most spotlight, i.e. lead guitarist and vocalist, I think it might actually have some kind of impact, since really they're the ones being watched the most through most of the show, and people ARE shallow like that.

punkinfantry · #6 10-08-2011, 12:12 PM

I have noticed that usually non-musicians don't care how good you are at your instrument past holding a rhythm, but they care a great deal about image. The industry seems to follow this as well.

Plus, we're bass players. We only seem to get the spotlight if we play our basses like Van Halen, right!?

Female musicians who play instruments will always do a lot for a band. Especially if they have physical attributes that can be generally agreed upon as "hot".

seanm · #7 10-08-2011, 12:58 PM

Doesn't seem to have hurt Lemmy......

carlthegroover · #8 10-09-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punkinfantry

I have noticed that usually non-musicians don't care how good you are at your instrument past holding a rhythm, but they care a great deal about image. The industry seems to follow this as well.

I think you said a magic word there: image. A pretty face may help, but the presence may be the key.

Quote:

Originally Posted by punkinfantry

Plus, we're bass players. We only seem to get the spotlight if we play our basses like Van Halen, right!?

Or Cliff Burton... perhaps?

Quote:

Originally Posted by punkinfantry

Female musicians who play instruments will always do a lot for a band. Especially if they have physical attributes that can be generally agreed upon as "hot".

No doubt about that. Gals with basses just spell H.O.T.

carlthegroover · #9 10-09-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShredderMaximus

As bassists, I don't think anyone cares. I mean, 80% of the time the bassist and drummer tend to be the ugliest people in the band, with rhythm guitarists right up there too.

I don't mean to question this, but do you know this for a fact? I haven't really seen many bass players myself (other than the famous ones), so I couldn't tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShredderMaximus

But with the two guys with the most spotlight, i.e. lead guitarist and vocalist, I think it might actually have some kind of impact, since really they're the ones being watched the most through most of the show, and people ARE shallow like that.

Yeah, people are shallow. No question about that. Just look at the modern music scene, it paints the whole picture.

Papa Dangerous · #10 10-09-2011, 01:12 PM

Being attractive helps with any situation.

As a bass player, I do not think it would be make or break though, that is what a frontsperson is for. I think we are already stereotyped as balding, overweight males anyways. So any deviation is a plus, any similarities are expected.

Nowadays looks are revered as a crucial aspect of fame, but just look at Janis Joplin. She was far from the typical diva by todays standards and in my opinion, much better too.

KillerPenguin · #11 10-09-2011, 01:12 PM

As far as rock goes, no. The most successful players in the genre were rarely handsome.

Also, im the most handsome man in my band, and it doesnt seem to help any.

PS: Im the only man in the band.

ShredderMaximus · #12 10-09-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlthegroover

I don't mean to question this, but do you know this for a fact? I haven't really seen many bass players myself (other than the famous ones), so I couldn't tell.

somegeezer · #13 10-09-2011, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShredderMaximus

I will agree to all but Cliff. He's a sexy fellow. Ain isn't too bad without that awful make up on either.

hrodbert696 · #14 10-10-2011, 06:36 AM

Man Shredder, that montage was.... frightening.

To the OP, depends a lot on the band, the fan base, and the individual player. In your average "real world" local band, I don't think it really matters. If you're playing covers for crowds to dance to at bars and parties, no one's thinking about how hot the bass player is.

For bands in the big time; bands like Rush, or any metal band, are pretty much guaranteed a 99% male fan base (and hetero male) - so the band's attractiveness doesn't count there either.

In most bands, all members of the band don't usually get equal attention. In the eye of the general public you have the singer, maybe one other front-row star (often a guitarist), and then it's just "the other guys." How many members of the general public remember anyone in U2 apart from Bono and the Edge? WE all know who Adam Clayton is, but to the average person U2 is Bono, Edge, and two other guys they can't remember.

It does give a career boost if the bass player takes the spotlight as more of a frontman, like Sting or Paul McCartney. Pete Wentz would be a great example of a bassist who's made his career more on being the good-looking frontman in the band (even though he's not the singer), rather than on musical ability (I'm not a Wentz-hater, I think he's fine, but you know what I mean).

I think it's harder on female bassists - even around here, where it's musicians, you can hardly say the phrase "girl bassist" without someone adding the adjective "hot." Granted, strapping a bass on gives anyone a major "hotness" boost - but I gotta wonder what it's like being a plain jane who can't pull off "hot female bassist."

KillerPenguin · #15 10-10-2011, 09:19 AM

Its not like Sonic Youth went big because of Kim's hotness or whatever. (when she was young i mean, although i dont like blondes in general)

EDIT: The only good looking male bassist I can think of is Paul Simonon. Or that guy from Kings of Leon.

dwm74 · #16 10-10-2011, 09:52 AM

Let's be honest...Michael Anthony doesn't belong in that montage with Geddy, Gene, Lemmy, and some of those others.

And remember, Gene hid behind full makeup for many years. He also ended up sleeping with a Playboy Playmate for several decades, too.

Non-ugly bassists: Billy Sheehan, John Taylor, Steve Harris, Robert Trujillo (<-Ok, I lied a bit with the last one)

carlthegroover · #17 10-10-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShredderMaximus

*Bunch of ugly, scary dudes*

OK, you got a point there... Still, are guitarists/ singers all that "pretty" in comparison?

carlthegroover · #18 10-10-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Physical attractiveness as far as success is concerned is a societal issue. Who get hired to promote products on television, etc.?

If you look back to the 60's, lots of what today would be considered "unattractive" musicians made it. Now, with all the burlesque shows parading as musical entertainment, if you're not in near perfect physical shape with dancing ability and a magazine cover face, you won't make it. Corporations do whatever it takes to make money with the least amount of risk involved. They're not into experimenting with unknown acts that don't fit a profile.

Another thing... if the participants are not good-looking, the producers/ hosts/ whomever will try to make them good-looking... like that lady Susan Boyle (yeah, she's a singer, but still)

ERIC31 · #19 10-10-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

I think we are already stereotyped as balding, overweight males anyways.

Unfortunately that sounds like me! LOL

vegas532 · #20 10-10-2011, 11:15 AM

Judging by the fact "ghosting" is a way that a lot of players in LA make a living, I'd say that it's a huge factor these days.