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Guitar Center Stage Fright!!!

#141
Dave Vader said:
I find that it really cheers up the staff, and upsets the muppets when I wander in play something for less than a minute, or don't actually play it properly, just run my hands up and down the neck a bit, and check it makes a pleasing noise and say either yay or nay almost immediately, hand over the cash (or not) and saunter out with (or without) my new toy. Speed is important, if you don't like it straight away, don't bother.
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Me too, I know right away the SECOND I wrap my hands around the neck.
But as for the 'CHOKE' wha' da hell does I plays? thing I think it happens to everyone. Guitard wankers are pretty a dime a dozen and are always showing off, whether they can or not, but we bassists are far more grounded, and have no need to 'wank' to a bunch of wannabe's.
I also find the same effect in a record store. When I'm on my way I've a list a mile long running through my head, when I get there I'm lucky to remember my name
 
#142
I've always wondered how people pick what they do when they are trying out instruments. It's been good to read the thread to get different bits of input.

As for wankers in music stores, I remember going into this music store in this tiny (1400) Louisiana town with this guy playing an acoustic guitar and singing. He wasn't actually a bad musician, but it was all about making an impromptu stage *and* being in the way of equipment. All I could think was, "Dude, you're not actually going to buy that guitar, so just stop and go away."
 
#143
I heard a young employee at a large music store tell another employee (about me) "that guy sucks." I was just playing bass parts from originals from our band. I laughed it off. Everyone who picks up a bass at a music store and wanks off ,,trying to impress the people there, is wasting their time. In most recorded music the bassist slaps and pops about 3% of the time. At GC anyone who picks up a bass slaps and pops about 97% of the time. Wankers.
 
#144
Normally I don't even plug in unless I find something that feels good and sounds right acoustically. Besides I have the satisfaction of knowing although I can't pop, slap, or solo worth a bleep, I'm still in demand locally because I play real bass parts with feel and groove. However I realize playing repeating patterns solo in the music store may not be seen as very virtuosic...
 
#145
Everytime I go to GC South Bay, especially in that nice woody acoustic room, guys are jammin. Maybe since this is "LA" u find more good players? I don't know, but everytime I go I'm praying the people suck so I feel comfortable testing out stuff and playing, but nope, always has to be some guy just ripping it.
 
#146
Actually wandered into a local GC to look around. Had the joint to myself...until the sales guy came in to yammer at me. Just kept playing some slow basic blues and conversed politely until he decided I wasn't a big spender and went away.

EBMM fiver is really sweet and so's the Big Al. Al could easily be labeled "heavy" instead of big.
 
#147
I can totally commiserate regarding the GC stage fright.
Very reassuring to see it here.
I really don't care what the kids hanging out at GC think, and I can play well enough to not embaress myself (I suck by real player standards, but I am not afraid of playing with the kids whose mom is waiting outside), but trying to play in GC I am apparently recovering from hand transplant surgery.
I just wish my GC had stuff worth trying out.

But more importantly, why are these kids chillin' at GC?

GC sucks to go into even if you are going with money in your hand to actually buy something cool. . I can't imagine going there on purpose to hang out and not buy stuff.

...And I mean going to buy cool stuff with frets or tubes, not strings, etc.

I have contemplated paying homeless people to go in and purchase things for me, but I doubt they would catch the distinction between steel core nickel wound and steel core steel wound.

Sigh.
 
#150
My problem isn't with stage fright, it is with people sitting down a row of amps away from me, diming their amp, and then playing aggressive slap funk so loud I can't hear myself play. It happens every time.

And it is always some large, angry black man giving the "400 years of oppression" look to all of the white men in the store.


And don't even get me started on when some guy walks in with his white girlfriend.
 

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