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A different way to look at expensive gear

dj150888 said:
I play the gear I like without much concern about what people think of it. I've never had anyone who's not a bass player comment on any of my gear, apart from to say my bass is, "pretty".

I rotate several basses during our show, from my Hofner Club Bass, a couple of vintage Fender Telecaster Basses to my 1991 Gibson Thunderbird.

Kids are always coming up to me asking questions about my basses.
 
Since you are young, and Irish, I'll cut you some slack. ;)

However, there is no woman on the planet who really digs the just got out of bed look unless she is sloppy herself and, well, sort of the kinda girl you don't want a long term relationship with. As you said, your look attracts different types. I, for one, prefer ones who are smokin' hot, clean, have some income and I am pretty sure don't sleep with every band that plays at the bar. I also prefer girls with a minimum of Tattoos and piercings who know that its "supposedly" not "supposably."

All women judge you on your appearance. In order, the things they look at are:

1. Your shoes. Believe it or not, that is what they look at first. Have an expensive pair of old school, cool, suede Pumas? How about a cool pair of ostrich or faux ostrich boots? You are doing okay. Have a pair of Massimo sneaks from Target with Massimo written all over it? Already on the not so sure list.

2. Your shirt. The T-shirt should be either of a real, cool band, or something from a real, expensive store. The shirt have a cool design and say Armani A/X? Wow. Does it have the same exact look but have the name Kirkland Signature? How about that Hanson shirt you got at their last show. You are done. Look like Charley Sheen? Winning! :D;):D

3. Your smile. If your mouth is full of brown, super crooked teeth, you are done. They don't have to be perfectly straight in the teeth, but they should be as white as you can get 'em.

4. Your smell. If you smell, and not in a good way. Done. If you have a pleasant smell, yum. Too much cologne? Done. Wearing the same cologne as every other "Jersey Shore" wanna be? Done. Covered in Axe, TAG, or other Body sprays? May as well just go home or be relegated to girls from Jackson, NJ.

I always tell people to cultivate a band look because of how it effects them musically. Having a look does have some other bennies as well. I find a neat, clean, body fitting T shirt, a pair of properly ripped jeans and either those cool Pumas or a cool biker boot not only has a great look on stage, but also works very, very well with the ladies....

My cologne? Well, I don't reveal that because I don't want every human in the world to smell like me. But it does cost over $200 a bottle, and, to paraphrase the young lady from a show last month, "What is it you are wearing? Oh my god, that is soooooo sexy man smell. MMMMMMMMMMMM"


This may work well for you or your demographic and I agree with some of what you're saying, but this will not work for everyone.

I'm 24 and will state my honest opinion.

If you want to impress girls on stage with your flashy gear or great looks than music may not be for you. Yes, androgyny has been a staple of musicians/rock stars over the years, but not everyone can portray something they're totally not on stage as well as the next person. I have a ton of respect for someone like Boy George, who's stage persona was very close to his personal persona. A rather refreshing stray from the norm.

I think a nice pair of shoes/boots will go a long way. I'm on the short side and prefer to wear boots with a few added inches in the back. I think of it as the UK or NY look that I really enjoy.

Neutral colors are a big thing for me on stage. It's easy to get noticed wearing some over the top, bright shirt, but just putting something simple and nice together will go a long way. I prefer dark denim, black or a light grey on stage jean wise (I'm a fan of brands like Levis and Diesel). Shirt wise, a really nice simple button down that fits well works or a nice polo shirt without any crazy brand logo on it.

Accessorizing and layering also works well, but that's not just for band guys, that's for people in general. A really nice watch goes a long way too.

Not everyone can afford luxuries like a really nice pair of boots, a really nice watch or really nice jeans, but do the best you can with the budget you have to work with. Smile no matter what you're grill looks like. Try to have a positive outlook on life and a bubbly personality. That will help as well.

I think Schwab once said, "A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle away." Be yourself, love yourself, and be the best you that you can possibly be.

If it helps at all here's what my band looks like on stage. I only feel comfortable saying this stuff and being able to back it up:
YouTube - The Dialogue/"Golden Curls"/The Ottobar
 
TRichardsbass said:
Since you are young, and Irish, I'll cut you some slack. ;)

However, there is no woman on the planet who really digs the just got out of bed look unless she is sloppy herself and, well, sort of the kinda girl you don't want a long term relationship with. As you said, your look attracts different types. I, for one, prefer ones who are smokin' hot, clean, have some income and I am pretty sure don't sleep with every band that plays at the bar. I also prefer girls with a minimum of Tattoos and piercings who know that its "supposedly" not "supposably."

All women judge you on your appearance. In order, the things they look at are:

Guys, listen to Tom, I am also a Jersey Boy.

Here's my point, appearence really means a lot when it comes to Chics.

I like cool expensive clothes and high profile gear.

I'm 58 and still get my share of the 20 somethings. If you up there on stage and you're over 30, out of shape wearing cargoes and hiking boots, don't expect much action.

Blue
 
Since you are young, and Irish, I'll cut you some slack. ;)

However, there is no woman on the planet who really digs the just got out of bed look unless she is sloppy herself and, well, sort of the kinda girl you don't want a long term relationship with. As you said, your look attracts different types. I, for one, prefer ones who are smokin' hot, clean, have some income and I am pretty sure don't sleep with every band that plays at the bar. I also prefer girls with a minimum of Tattoos and piercings who know that its "supposedly" not "supposably."

All women judge you on your appearance. In order, the things they look at are:

1. Your shoes. Believe it or not, that is what they look at first. Have an expensive pair of old school, cool, suede Pumas? How about a cool pair of ostrich or faux ostrich boots? You are doing okay. Have a pair of Massimo sneaks from Target with Massimo written all over it? Already on the not so sure list.

2. Your shirt. The T-shirt should be either of a real, cool band, or something from a real, expensive store. The shirt have a cool design and say Armani A/X? Wow. Does it have the same exact look but have the name Kirkland Signature? How about that Hanson shirt you got at their last show. You are done. Look like Charley Sheen? Winning! :D;):D

3. Your smile. If your mouth is full of brown, super crooked teeth, you are done. They don't have to be perfectly straight in the teeth, but they should be as white as you can get 'em.

4. Your smell. If you smell, and not in a good way. Done. If you have a pleasant smell, yum. Too much cologne? Done. Wearing the same cologne as every other "Jersey Shore" wanna be? Done. Covered in Axe, TAG, or other Body sprays? May as well just go home or be relegated to girls from Jackson, NJ.

I always tell people to cultivate a band look because of how it effects them musically. Having a look does have some other bennies as well. I find a neat, clean, body fitting T shirt, a pair of properly ripped jeans and either those cool Pumas or a cool biker boot not only has a great look on stage, but also works very, very well with the ladies....

My cologne? Well, I don't reveal that because I don't want every human in the world to smell like me. But it does cost over $200 a bottle, and, to paraphrase the young lady from a show last month, "What is it you are wearing? Oh my god, that is soooooo sexy man smell. MMMMMMMMMMMM"

I didn't say I rocked the, "just out of bed" look Tom! I just said there are some girls out there who dig that. I don't like the sort of girls who are into that either!

I have expensive tastes when it comes to my footwear and my coats, but I wear very understated tshirts and usually a normal looking pair of jeans! I'm long haired, tattooed and pierced, but I'm attracted to a much more "normal" looking kind of girl. I don't know what they see in me, but I do fine! I definitely follow your mentality on the cologne, my usual cologne is around $100ish a bottle, and I'm always complimented on how I smell!
 
I didn't say I rocked the, "just out of bed" look Tom! I just said there are some girls out there who dig that. I don't like the sort of girls who are into that either!

I have expensive tastes when it comes to my footwear and my coats, but I wear very understated tshirts and usually a normal looking pair of jeans! I'm long haired, tattooed and pierced, but I'm attracted to a much more "normal" looking kind of girl. I don't know what they see in me, but I do fine! I definitely follow your mentality on the cologne, my usual cologne is around $100ish a bottle, and I'm always complimented on how I smell!

You both make good points.

dj that just out of bed look has a real short time span and is only going to work while your young, I will say under 25 but really closer to under 20. And depending on how you chose your parents it might not work at all.
 
Ha, so you're one of the guys that post is about! I was wondering if they're really real!

Haha, I suppose so! I don't wear cheap shoes or pants, but they're always pretty old as I can't afford to replace them often. As for shirts it's usually something that I've gotten cheap and then attacked with scissors when I'm on stage. All accessories are cheap also.

As for the discussion on of what attracts the fairer sex.. your best bet is to simply be the exception to the rule.
 
I'm under 25 Blue, but I have a look somewhere between the two extremes. The sort of woman I like doesn't want a prissy sort of guy who spends longer getting ready and spends more on his clothes than she does. I can cut a tidy figure in a suit or a nice shirt when I need to! I just don't dig the "metrosexual" look. I'm a musician, I have a good education and I'm always clean. I'll do just fine, especially when I'm outside Ireland and I can pull the "Irish Charm" card! :D
 
You're right about the Sadowsky, but I do think that the 1990 Kramer will register with a lot of people as looking like something old that nobody wants anymore... something you might see in a really old video. The pointy headstock will look sorta familiar. Or, at worst, girls will think it's "like something my loser ex from six years ago had sitting in his bedroom, I don't think he ever really was in a band". Heh.

Rarely will girls, unless they play bass, have an opinion about your gear. I used to play a Johnson brand bass, got tail all the time. The most expensive bass I own cost me $300, and looks much more pricey.
 
I'm under 25 Blue, but I have a look somewhere between the two extremes. The sort of woman I like doesn't want a prissy sort of guy who spends longer getting ready and spends more on his clothes than she does. I can cut a tidy figure in a suit or a nice shirt when I need to! I just don't dig the "metrosexual" look. I'm a musician, I have a good education and I'm always clean. I'll do just fine, especially when I'm outside Ireland and I can pull the "Irish Charm" card! :D

Your under 25. All I can say is I was once under 25, it doesn't last forever, take advantage of it for all it's worth.
 
For what it's worth and I know you guys think guys my age don't no anything about anything.

Back in the 70s the hot chics were a lot pickier with what guys they hooked up with then the chics out there now.
 
I'm having a bit of a laugh in this thread, so I won't get too serious, but honestly guys, the last person to ask what attracts women is another guy. I get the feeling, from my experience, that girls are a whole lot less shallow than most of us guys.

Its either that or I'm much better looking that I've realised and I don't think that's too likely! :p
 
I'm having a bit of a laugh in this thread, so I won't get too serious, but honestly guys, the last person to ask what attracts women is another guy. I get the feeling, from my experience, that girls are a whole lot less shallow than most of us guys.

Its either that or I'm much better looking that I've realised and I don't think that's too likely! :p

You make a good point.

Today it's crazy, I have seen some hot chics out with uuys that look like inbred skin heads, go figure:D
 
Attraction never changes. Girls want someone they can brag to their friends about (eg being in a band, same as you telling your friends how hot your gf is) and who is a leader. The alpha male, if you will. That whole not giving a damn what other people think thing comes into this.

I won't go into it heaps here, but if anyone is interested I recommend first reading a book called 'The Game' and then following on with further research as it interests you. It works.
 

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