C'mon, guys. How long does it take to learn this? You don't wank or show off. Some girls don't like ego-driven, masturbatory flaming. You play CHICK SONGS.
Tim Jacobs taught me decades ago (in the 8th grade) not to bother trying to learn all the latest dance steps or to perform them better than anyone else. Instead he hummed the tune or softly sang the lyrics in a girl's ear while they slow-danced to "Surfer Girl". The
worst reaction it ever got was a sigh and a tighter chest press.
I no longer try to pick up chicks at gigs, but I occasionally test the theory to see if it still works. It does. Better than ever.
I sit near my speaker cab and QUIETLY play the bass part to "You're The One That I Want" (
Grease), "White Flag" (Dido) or "Breathless" (the Corrs). When an attractive lady asks me what I'm doing, I don't answer her directly. Instead I smile and QUIETLY sing one or two telltale verses along with my bass part, as if I'm singing and playing it solely to her (actually, I am). An exchange such as the following almost always ensues:
"Oh, I LOVE that song! Do you guys play it? Will you play it for me during the next set?"
"Well, no. I'm the only one iin the band who likes the song or wants to play it, so we don't do it."
"Are you kidding? That's an awesome song! Tell them that lots of people, like me, like it and request it."
At that point, fellas, you're on your own.
Bluesy Soul
