Intimidated in the music store.

[Element Zero]

When you are gigging, you are playing in front of people. What's the difference?

#truthbomb

 

[teh-slb]

I'm passive aggressive in music stores I say that I don't know much about music (which, eh, may actually be true), so the assistants reach for the instrument, plug me in, and just leave me be. Unfortunately, I do get the occasional stink eye when I ask for expensive instruments to be plugged into expensive amplifiers.

The one thing I'm intimidated by, however, is how obnoxiously loud some people in the music stores drive the amps. Went to a music store several weeks ago. Was the only one around save some dude who was guitaring a generic rock line so loudly that almost made me walk out. Turned out that he was the store manager. Didn't fix the impression by talking to me, either.

I play Suzuki Bass material that nobody knows anyway.

Wait, is this a reference to OP's avatar or am I reading too much into your post? (Yes, I'm aware of the Suzuki method )

 

[casualmadness]

Consider this: my uncle and cousin were on a plane once. My cousin being about 18 at the time, farted very loudly (according to my uncle.) My uncle, horrified (apparently several people nearby heard and smelled it) chastised his son for farting in public. “What will people think of you?!” My uncle demanded. My cousin shrugged and said “I’ll never see any of these people again.”

 

[Michedelic]

Not a huge fan of music stores but it's usually the best option to try out new instruments. Usually I'll walk in and find someone hammering and slapping away on a bass or employees hovering and I just dont get a good vibe like I even want to pick anything up to try out.

Screw ‘em. Without(potential)customers, they would have no reason to exist. Would you feel that way on stage performing? There might be a bass player or two in the audience.

 

[cornfarmer]

grow a pair

 

[Relsom]

I only go in there to use the bathroom when SA & GC aren't open yet, LMAO!

I sold my last guitar in the Chuck E. Cheese parking lot.
Figured if the dude didn't buy it I'd take it to the next shopping-center & get prices from SA/GC.

Even with the 70mph speed limit on 64, I still have a hard time believing you can be here in 90min. It took that long to Get to UVA Hospital last week.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

You’ve got to develop a cocky attitude, just a little, just the right amount.

 

[protegeV]

When you are gigging, you are playing in front of people. What's the difference?

I'm a super novice. Never played with a band, let alone in front of an audience. I just like to tinker with the bass a little.

 

[TerribleTim68]

... I'll go have lunch at Popeye's or hOOters & come back later.

Lunch at hOOters sounds like a way more fun proposition anyways!

As for the OP, I don't really care. I know I suck, I also know I'm not auditioning for someone's band either. I rarely ever plug one in and don't ever turn it up loud enough that people on the other side of the street can hear it. I can tell if I like a bass just by playing it unplugged, I've never been one to chase tone so I just need to "feel" it. Playing unplugged also minimizes the angst of people hearing me fumble about too.
At the end of the day, you have to care less about what some random Joe thinks about you.

 

[JRA]

i think some of you are making this into something it's not.

if you make 'checking out stuff' into a 'recital' you'd better know your material --- the wankers are playing their greatest hits. are you actually thinking that you have to play something to impress someone else?

i don't have many reasons to go into the shops in the first place but when i do: the last thing i'm concerned about is what anyone thinks of my thinking/playing/evaluation process. big whup! most of those folks* couldn't say "beans" if they had a mouthful...and that includes a lot of store staff.


* i've met a few good players on occasion: always a treat! but they're few... and far between.

 

[Tommy V]

if i feel like i've been disrespected or ignored, i plug in, crank up, and play the rudest version of Louie Louie i can muster.
if the snares in the drum room aren't buzzing, you're doing something wrong.

 

[el murdoque]

When I check out a bass in a store, I usually don't really play anything coherent. I play up and down the neck to check for dead spots. I let notes ring to feel the sustain, I play around with the controls, repeating the same little lick over and over. I let the feel of the neck guide my hands and see what this instrument has to offer. This is me, checking out new gear. It has nothing to do with those that need to go to these places to show off their chops. I'm not interested in them. I'm not interested in what they think I'm doing.
I don't care how the sales personnel behaves until I talk to them. When I've made my intentions clear, I do care how they react, though.

 

[MuttThud]

Not a huge fan of music stores but it's usually the best option to try out new instruments. Usually I'll walk in and find someone hammering and slapping away on a bass or employees hovering and I just dont get a good vibe like I even want to pick anything up to try out.

I just do the really boring things you’re supposed to do when testing out a new bass, moving up and down the neck slowly to listen for dead spots, working out if the feeling isn’t right just because the action’s wrong or because of something more fundamental by going through some simple exercises, checking the electronics, listening for crackling pots, loose jack etc. You know, the stuff we do when working out patiently and methodically what condition a bass is in and whether it’s right for us personally. I’ll then do some slow bass lines, listening to the notes carefully to see if the tone sings for me (while trying different pickup settings etc) and working out how the neck feels in my hand. Grabbing a bass and going straight into manic shred mode really isn’t the best way to work out if the instrument is right for you, and the people who do that I just blank out. Maybe they’ve just come into the store to show off, I don’t know. I’ve come in to work out if I’m interested in buying an instrument, not flex my chops for the benefit of a couple of bored sales guys.

 

[bassicmike]

When you are gigging, you are playing in front of people. What's the difference?

The audience is naked.

 

[AudioTaper]

The one thing I'm intimidated by, however, is how obnoxiously loud some people in the music stores drive the amps. Went to a music store several weeks ago. Was the only one around save some dude who was guitaring a generic rock line so loudly that almost made me walk out.

If they are just screwing around, thisbcan get really annoying.
We had some customers at our store (local mom & pop chain) who were actually going to use the amps and really needed to crank it. We all know what 800W into an Eden 410XLT sounds like, but I was really impressed by a Matchless 15W 2x10 guitar amp. That thing was So Freaking Loud for only being 15W (Class A EL84)

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Not a huge fan of music stores but it's usually the best option to try out new instruments. Usually I'll walk in and find someone hammering and slapping away on a bass or employees hovering and I just dont get a good vibe like I even want to pick anything up to try out.

I feel this. Never been a "music store player". I play songs. There is nothing I can do on a bass that's going to "wow" anybody.

 

[bassfreakah]

dude just learn and play few TOOL bass intro's and everyone will think you are a GOD!!!!
then you can own the place!!!
HA HA

 

[BobKos]

For the OP - what are you bothered by? I'm a crappy amateur player. But when I go to a music store or any other business I expect to at least be treated with a little bit of dignity. And of course I pay it back to everybody there. I have never been intimidated by ANYBODY at a music store and I guarantee most of the time everybody there is a better musician than me. I don't make my living playing music. Neither do 99% of the people in the store at any time. I go in an conduct the business I want. If I want to check basses, I let the sales person know that's what I'm doing. I've never been held in judgement for my crappy playing skills. If I had any complaint it would be that the savvy sales people know when to compliment you on your playing when you KNOW it sounds bad. But other than that I say go enjoy your local music store(s). They want you there to spend money. Nobody really cares if you can play or not.

 

[Spidey2112]

You're there for you, and no one else.

My man.

 

[npbassman]

I was at my local big box music store this past Saturday trying out amps and I just happened to pick the P bass with the highest action in the store. What are the odds of that!?! Anyway, I turned up the amp to see if it had any umph and thought it would be a good idea to start slapping. It was not a good idea and actually, it was rather a hot mess. Maybe the worst idea I’ve had in a while LOL but, I heard what I needed to hear during the test drive and that’s all that mattered. There were a few people standing around to witness my amateur slap slaughter. I let it bother me for about 5 seconds and then let it go.