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Looks vs. Talent

#22
It's a sad fact, but it is true that you need to look the part as well as be able to play well. If you do a gig and just stand there looking bored sh!tless, but it's a good gig musically, you tend to get a more muted reaction than a bad gig when you dance around like an idiot and look into it. Sadly, this is often a source of disupte between me and my band members. I'd rather concentrate on the music, but they want me to look more interested on stage.

Basically, you should try and play your instrument as well as possible, but it doesn't hurt to try and look the part.
 
#23
a band that came to mind when you made that post is KoRn. they're always saying how in rehersals, they are just standing there, but when they play in front of crowds, they just go crazy. they talk about how, its just something that you cant help doing, seeing thousands of kids in a mosh pit, makes you want to jump right in, so they go crazy on stage. another thing they say though, is that they only move around to the extent of their playing ability.
 
#24
A guitarist acquaintance of mine has recently been getting his chops together very well, and is forming a 3-piece blues band. He's 18, a killer player, and has a great drummer, of similar age. He was lamenting to me recently about not being able to hire a bassist they auditioned, because they loved the way he played. The poor guy was 46 (not me, btw, I've never met him), and he didn't "look right" on stage. He was a great performer, apparently, but it doesn't "look right" to have an old guy with people his age.

I was almost speechless....put it this way, *I'll* never be invited onstage to play with him. I was staggered at this bigotry.....funnily enough, one of his heroes is John Lee Hooker. Wonder what would happen if John Lee dragged him onstage sometime......would he refuse because John Lee didn't "look right"?

Nuff said....
 
#26
Well I'm 20 and I have the 1950'ish look I guess you may call it...clean cut, button down shirt open, cool pants with a belt, undershirt and a lot of people say that style fits me and look good. However as a bass player, I'm a beginner. Strangely enough, i've gotten a few small gigs already and I really admidt that I have no timing whatsoever. I'm decent at fretting the proper notes, but I do tend to get lost in a song because I have played with a band only a few times and usually practice on my own without a metronome or drum machine unfortunately. Just goes to show you..
 
#27
I have 2 stories regarding the above discussions, but first let me give you some background. I have a degree in Jazz Bass Performance from Temple University. I have played I'd say 1,000 gigs during the 12 years I've been playing bass. These gigs have ranged from jazz pickup gigs to original rock (my true love) to latin to pit orchestras to more jazz to country to pop cover bands. I don't want to sound arrogant, but I'd say I'm an above average bass player. If nothing else, I can bring experience to any situation. I'm 30 years old, 200 lbs, with glasses and some grey hair. I could pass for maybe 25. Also, I have rarely if ever turned down a gig of any kind. I live in Reading PA.

My first story involves a band name the Dean Moise band. They were just starting out, looking for a bass player. I tried out, everything seemed to go well enough, then they asked about my hair, which I usually wear short. They all had long hair, and seemed to think that short hair would kill their image (this is a few years ago, BTW). Then they asked me if I could wear a wig. A fu**ing wig! I was like, "why don't I get a fake set of boobies also". Can I say that here? I hope so. Needless to say, their band was doomed before it began.

Fast forward to present day. Some friends of mine play in a band here in Reading. I won't mention the name to protect the innocent. They are all around 21 years old (9 years younger than me). They wear trendy clothes and have expensive hair cuts. They recently fired their bass player, and asked me to fill in on a few gigs. They've seen me play, and they like my playing. I learned 3 sets of material in 2 days and began doing shows with them. I dropped a few clams the first night, but subsequent shows went flawlessly. They were straightforward with me, and I can't fault them too much, but they said right to my face : "We're looking for a guy just like you but younger". Wow, what a kick in the teeth. I'm 30 years old, and I'm over the hill. As Jethro Tull put it, "Too old for rock and roll and too young to die". I am still friendly with these guys, and I also kinda understand where they're coming from. I guess they've taught me that if I want to continue doing rock music, I'm going to need to work out, tan, get contacts, color my hair, and spend about $400 on some new clothes. Up until now all I did to prepare for a gig was practice.

[This message has been edited by shirky (edited May 05, 2000).]
 
#29
what the duck (guess what word i would have used but because of censorship, just rhyme, give you a hint, use f)slipknot does not suck. ok the reason why people like them, is cause they can play. but thats my opinion. you said you like all these 80's metal bands, do you actuly think rob zombie is like that in real life? you do understand that its just an image thing, and he isnt really all "ohh the devil and me are tight" its an image thing that he wanted to keep. along with alice cooper. there also is a reason why he dresses up like he does, you know what that is...IMAGE. now, you say that these guys have talent, me i dont think they do, but to me, it seems that they dont. Slipknot does have talent, they wouldnt be platnum if they didnt have talent. Just cause people dont like BSB and all those other bands, doesnt mean that they dont have talent. Yes they were constucted to be in those "teeny booper" groups, but before they were put into their groups, they could sing solo. yes no one likes them, but they do have talent. Slipknot, they have talent, you may not like them, but yes they do have talent.
 
#30
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Muttluk:
you said you like all these 80's metal bands, do you actuly think rob zombie is like that in real life?

rob zombie isn't from the 80's. sh!t white zombie didn't come out till 90-91.


Slipknot does have talent, they wouldnt be platnum if they didnt have talent.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

oh yeah, well britney spears must have 10x their talent then. and dream theater must be talentless hacks, since they aren't "platnum"




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john

strings! strings! i need more strings!

 
#31
What are the most popular bands today? BSB, N'Sync, and other 15 minute girly bands. Looks do have to do with how well you get into the music industry. But then again, Lemmy isn't exactly the most handsome man in the world. So there are exceptions to the rule. But also, if you don't wear the right clothes, sing the right way, or. in the case of Lemmy, have been around a long time, you aren't going to go anywhere. Believe me, I have tried. I was invited into a band that was doing Metallica-style metal rock. We sounded good, we had the talent, but because Mike (the guitarist) and Dan (the Drummer) are both in the military we were turned down by agent after agent after agent, just because half the band wore stripes. Irked the hell out of me. Don't ask me why people feel this way about how the band should look, maybe people are just dumb.


Rock on
Eric

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Do you know why the tape measure is so much better than you? You have what, six feet in you? IT has 25 feet in it. THAT'S why it's so much better than you.
 
#32
My band's first gig is coming up at the end of this month. Its sorta a funk-type thing, and I have the ability to pick my hair into an enormous red afro (i'm white). I'm convinced that half the people from this show that go to our next one will come for the 'fro(the other half will dig the band, i hope)....hehehehehe oh yeah and these swweeeeet chuck norris-style reflective sunglasses...image is everything. obey your thirst. drink sprite.
 
#34
You can be the most talented person in the world, but if you look like Stu Hamm, you are eternally doomed to a lifetime of hiding behind the cool guitarists. I have blonde hair, blue eyes, big boobs...I look like a porn star. NObody really takes me all that seriously. I've been playing bass for six years, since I was 13. Reviews never say" the bass player had a nasty groove and amazing skill" they say "the bass player's doll like beauty was a real hit with the male audience". But hey, it gets the crowds in to the club, and it will definitely help on MTV. Basically, looks matter, and have always mattered. However if you totally suck as a band looks can't bail you out. You have to have talent first and foremost.

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#35
looks definately play a huge role in the success or failure of a band or musician. people are visual creatures. the mistake that is very frustrating is that so many arrogant musicians cant understand that just because a band has a strong image doesnt mean they automatically suck on their instruments. sure there are plenty of examples where image is everything, but its not always. image just makes it more fun and interesting.
 
#37
face it, if looks were the number one rule of thumb, i'd have a record deal, millions of dollars, many platnum records, very very beautyful wife, beach house! j/k


please excuse the stupid posts i've been making around this time, cause well, i dont know, i was in a mood to make dumb posts, so i decided why not.

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I am a self proclaimed boy genius
 
#38
I'm not tryin to against the "playing is everything!" thought...but....yesh, looks do play quite a part of success...cool stage tricks work nicely...try jumping off of steps or standing on your amp...pigtails help too
tongue.gif


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I am rubber, you are glue. Whatever you say i will store in a little box just in case i need to shove it down your throat at any given moment.

 

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