Looks vs. Talent

Curt · #1 03-30-2000, 02:03 AM

I actually had a baas player tell me it's not how well you play, it's how good you look that matters. What a bunch of bull. Let me know of any similar stories.

Onur Francois Sengul · #2 03-30-2000, 03:18 PM

Once,a friend of mine came to visit me at home.He saw my bass and asked ''Hey what is this?''.I told him that it is a bass guitar.He looked and thinked a little bit.He said''Hmm,I see.When you plugged it,it becomes an electric guitar..''

Hey Curt.I think we have too many other cool and useful topics to talk about..There are too many guys around like that...Forget about it and continue playing...Free your mind and your bass will follow...

Curt · #3 03-30-2000, 03:28 PM

I just thought his comment was funny as hell. Some people just don't have a clue!

**Blackbird** · #4 03-30-2000, 10:56 PM

Talking about clueless people, I had a friend who worked at a music store. He once sold a strat (ok, so it wasn't a bass, but it's still funny) to some young guy. He came back about 40 minutes later, showed my friend the pickup toggle switch and said "This on/off switch doesn't work right".

Well, I thought it was funny...

nyrangerr · #5 03-31-2000, 10:14 AM

Many punk bassists think that its the look that matters. When I decided to learn bass about 2 years ago my friend john (Jackalkol@aol.com) said "you gotta play the bass really low to look like Sid Vicious" I was like "Sid Vicious was the worst bass player of all Time! To this day he still tells me that I should play low and with a pick. Some People just dont know.

Curt · #6 03-31-2000, 10:22 AM

You've got the right idea! Keep it up!

Muttluk · #7 03-31-2000, 04:46 PM

get this. i still live at home, (im only 14 so i am supposed to) anyways, one day my sister comes to me, when i am watching a concert on tv, and keep telling her to shut up, cause i am trying to listen to the bass. she says to me "you can hear it loud and clear, and sides why do you want to hear the bass?" i tell her cause i play bass, and i kinda like that sorta stuff, she says to me, seriously, "you dont play guitar? i thought you play guitar not bass" and i have been playing for over a year.

pjank · #8 04-01-2000, 01:39 AM

I've been teaching for 6 years in local high schools with about 30 students each week, not a long time or a lot of students compared to some, but I have already given up trying to tell my students' parents that their children actually play the bass, not the guitar.

At one school, which is a specialist music school, half way through the term, one of the classroom teachers started bugging me to find a spot to teach this new kid. She was constantly on my back about it and the kids folks were impossible to get in touch with and his time table was really restrictive, but eventually I rearranged things so he had a regular spot in one of his free lessons (he was a senior student and couldn't miss any classes). The teacher was pretty agro about it by this time (I still can't work out why she was so intent about the whole thing) and he walks in to the practice room and pulls out a beautiful six string electric guitar.

I think everyone is stupid at least some of the time.

Curt · #9 04-01-2000, 01:58 AM

I don't know that anyone is stupid. Uneducated, yes, stupid, not usually. I appreciate the feedback, keep the stories comin'!

Usedtobejim · #10 04-02-2000, 11:23 PM

I have tried to reply 4 times and erased all but this one.

Musical talent is the most important thing in being in a successful band...however it is also the business of show.

I have seen many local-type bands that are musically solid but look like they belong in a testing lab and I have seen bands that can't "count to four" but play the A clubs.
Why? SALESMANSHIP!!!

The great unwashed don't listen - they look!

I personally have a face and body for radio

Jim

Bruce Lindfield · #11 04-03-2000, 01:56 AM

Sadly - a lot of what people in the UK think of nowadays as "bands" are chosen for their looks rather than any inherent musical ability. These "bands" consist of 4 or 5 young and "attractive" - although essentially bland-looking - boys or girls. I was talking to the engineer who actually worked on producing "Steps" - a typical example, last week. He explained how they couldn't sing in time or pitch any notes when they started. The whole thing was digitally produced - pitch shifted and notes moved into time on the digital recording.

The most depressing thing about the conversation was when he told me that the "Steps" album was biggest-selling CD in the UK last year!! The percussionist in our band was also listening and his comment was : "That's the best argument against democracy I've ever heard!"

[This message has been edited by Bruce Lindfield (edited April 03, 2000).]

Edwidge · #12 04-03-2000, 10:41 AM

Bruce,
Take heart, my son and all of his friends here in Montreal have been turning on to such groups as Led Zep, Deep Purple, Frampton etc. He said to me that ALL the kids at school are tired of that synth S*&T and are looking for REAL musicians, like Paige,etc. Just look at the sudden Santana sweep of the Grammys'. I think people are soon going to demand some real talent again.

Muttluk · #13 04-09-2000, 04:10 PM

IMO, i think it depends what you play, has to come into line with what you look like... e.g
if there is a guy in a suit, all dressed up, looks like a bussiness man, but pickus up a bass or guitar and hammers away heavy metal or punk music, it might not sell, cause they would say the guy is out of place, but put the same guy in street cloths, he probly would fit in. a really good example is the metallica S&M, they normaly dress in leather, or the normal heavymetal attire, but, when doing S&M, they brought out the tuxes. the look does matter so you can sell, but what the bottom line is, is how good you are at playing.

**Chris A** · #14 04-09-2000, 05:42 PM

Muttluk, when you get old enough to start gigging you will find out that being able to play well is not always enough. I am a very capable player and a good singer, and I was recently looking for another gig. I went and saw the prospective band at a gig. I met them and never got the call to audition, just because I wasn't 21 or 22. (For the record I am 31 and look it.)

Chris A.

Beau · #15 04-09-2000, 06:02 PM

I heard a story about from a friend about this guitar player guy who tried out for the Chili Peppers back when they were looking for a new guitarist. The guitar player, a clean cut, average looking guy went in and killed the audition, played his ass off.

The Chili Peppers say "Man, that was great, your the best player we've seen, but I don't think it is going to work."

"Why not?" asks the guitar player.

"Well, you just don't look like you'd fit in with the band. You are too healthy looking, we all look like bone thin addicts."

Muttluk · #16 04-11-2000, 09:52 PM

a good example of the same cloths thing, and same gear, if you look at anything by blink 182, or their web page, look at their "dismemberment" link, it shows who does what, and what their sponsors are. they use same guitars, strings, picks, and they are sponserd by a shrit compony, every concert wearing that brand, shorts, every concert, that brand, boxers, every concert that brand. odd, or maybe they just want to look alike.

Tuomas · #17 04-16-2000, 12:32 PM

A friend of mine has a problem: he is darn goodlooking (or atleast that's what all those chicks say...) and he is also a very good bassplayer. Believe it or not, he's enjoying his life! Now that's unfair.

Muttluk · #18 04-16-2000, 07:10 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tuomas:
A friend of mine has a problem: he is darn goodlooking (or atleast that's what all those chicks say...) and he is also a very good bassplayer. Believe it or not, he's enjoying his life! Now that's unfair. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

well, i'm not so sure if thats unfair, i kinda have a simular situation...many people say i am really good at bass, and i have a girl friend, her best friend asked me out, i had like 5 girls from another school, calling me everyday... i know i'm fourteen, but my life isnt the greatest. i'm not quite happy, could be happyer, but in those area's i'm successful. i know this doesnt have to do with the topic, but... it kinda answers your post...kinda.

DanfromCT · #19 04-18-2000, 08:20 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Muttluk:
a good example of the same cloths thing, and same gear, if you look at anything by blink 182, or their web page, look at their "dismemberment" link, it shows who does what, and what their sponsors are. they use same guitars, strings, picks, and they are sponserd by a shrit compony, every concert wearing that brand, shorts, every concert, that brand, boxers, every concert that brand. odd, or maybe they just want to look alike.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I didnt think that Blink 182 wore clothes. just kidding

Rockinjc · #20 04-19-2000, 03:22 PM

Looks do matter to a point, but I am not talking about good looks per say. You need to be interesting to look at. Unless you play in an orchestra pit, folks come out to see a band.

Otherwise the juke box can do a better job in most cases. As an entertainer you have to entertain. Put on a stage persona and dress for the part. I am put off by people that are over the top, but folks who don’t do sh!t on stage are just plain boring.

Good looks DO matter if you are going to be in a boy band though, but face it, boy bands don’t hire musicians, let alone bass players.

jc