Physical fitness doesn't "look" artistic

[DiabolusInMusic]

People are morons

Look at John Petrucci. The guy has monster chops and is an avid bodybuilder. He seems to make it all work just fine.

At first I thought you said Pattitucci and I was thinking "Have you seen him lately?"

Secondly, Petrucci is a terrible example, he was a string bean when he got those chops. Know why? Because he was to busy playing guitar to work out! Petrucci did not get jacked until AFTER he had insane chops. I once watched an interview with John where he explains the answer to the question he gets the most, "How do you get good at guitar?" He answer, "Time." He goes on to explain while you were getting your first girlfriend, he was playing. While you were going to parties, he was playing guitar. While you were having a life, guess what he was doing? Playing guitar.

Lastly, who frggin' cares how much time somebody else puts into their instrument?

 

[Joedog]

Some people have prejudices????? Who knew? I'd have to say this is one I wouldn't loose any sleep over!

 

[lfmn16]

Any thoughts or experience about this?

I don't worry about what other people think.

 

[two fingers]

Well, I am sorry but you are a poser and a non-musician. I mean, how can you make ART being clean, shaven, neatly dressed conformist? You know, you gotta rebel against this society, and tatoos and dreadlocks and this vintage tshirts are our weapons! Don't sell out, don't take showers, don't listen to Bruno Mars!

Unfortunately this is less parody than truth.

 

[Jack Butler]

Let me just say that I'm lucky enought to be paid for staying in top physical condition being a mountain guide.

But the second thing that takes most of my time is bass playing. Unfortunatly, i've found out that for some people, musicians with prejudices, if you look particuliary fit,you're probably a show-off and you could be better by putting some more time on your bass.

My point is, well, I guess I feel sorrow for them. Any thoughts or experience about this?

My thoughts...I'm glad I truly stopped worrying about what others think about 10 years ago. Unless someone is giving me money or p***y, I could care less if they think I'm more fit, educated, or rich than they think I should be.

 

[kohntarkosz]

Do people prefer the bassist to be massively overweight or sport the wounded junkie look or something? It seems silly.

I have lumbar lordosis, partly from being a desk jocky and partly from an old job lugging mail around. I'm trying to iron out the bend in my spine with a regime of lunges and stretches, after which my deportment will be better, my back will stop hurting and I will apparently look a bit taller as well. No way would I keep slinking around with a curved back for fear of losing artistic integrity.

 

[HolmeBass]

I think he was just busting your chops, he may not have really meant anything by it at all. Next time he messes up ask him if the Cheeto dust on his fingers made him slip.

 

[Martin89]

I don't worry about what other people think.

+1

I get a lot more compliments on tone and playing than my looks(well the beard gets a lot of talk too...) and I'm a young guy in moderately good shape.

I've played with 2 guitarists(in the same band) that had thousands invested in tattoos and one was pretty invested in fitness(supplements, shakes, gym time etc). The difference is the guy that worked out had better gear and spent more time/money/effort maintaining it all while making less money; his tattoos came a little more slowly. I made even less money than him and have a kid to support so no tattoo projects for me, I just took care of my gear and made sure it was right for our shows. The other guy played through a $100 new guitar and a cheap Line6 spider half stack. If he had spent half as much on his gear as his tattoos he would have a killer rig/guitar(s). Not to mention the time in the chair is pretty extensive time to not be practicing compared to doing your job or an hour workout. The fitness guy and I have had a lot more people talk to us about our sound/skill than the other guy but his tattoos may get him more girls so it is a trade off but one I'm okay with; they're usually not the kind of girls I'm interested in...

On a side note, the guy has finished most of his tattoo projects and has now slowly been acquiring better gear(reverse the fitness guy) so it's really just a matter of priorities. I have a priority to keep my kid fed/sheltered and have gear I can afford that satisfies my needs/desires, looks come after that. Don't let somebody else's priorities or assumption of yours bother you.

 

[WillyPop]

I think he was just busting your chops, he may not have really meant anything by it at all. Next time he messes up ask him if the Cheeto dust on his fingers made him slip.

 

[duff beer]

I've actually found working out helped me as a bass player. A stronger back made it easier to keep good posture while standing and playing, and I think the added forearm muscle helped my right hand endurance, although there's a bit of a trade off there as sometimes on the day of or after forearm excercises, my wrists are pretty sore.

I often wonder how many people on this site are weaklings when there is a new "I need a better strap" thread started every single week.

Hit the gym...a 10 pound bass is NOT too heavy if you're fit.

 

[JoeBbass]

It's a common problem among bassists, we're all too physically fit and attractive to get the attention we deserve.

 

[HeebHammer70]

My weeknights consist of rugby and band practice. My rhythm guitarist is a former National Guard, my lead guitarist and singer do Crossfit, and my drummer does rec league sports. So we're a fairly fit band (might explain why we sound like crap.)

I read an interview somewhere that the Misfits once kicked out a guitarist for not being muscular enough. I saw Danzig with Doyle last week and Doyle looks like he eats babies for breakfast.

 

[Hobobob]

I often wonder how many people on this site are weaklings when there is a new "I need a better strap" thread started every single week.

Hit the gym...a 10 pound bass is NOT too heavy if you're fit.

And some folks have back issues, some are getting on in years, and some just don't see fitness as a priority in their lives. I don't think judging them on the internet is going to change any of that.

 

[pkstone]

This is quite funny. There are currently simultaneous threads about too-fat bass players and now, too-fit bass players.

Clearly, you must not be overweight, and you also must not be in very good shape. Otherwise, get lost!

 

[Jazz Ad]

A pic is worth a thousand words.

 

[songwriter21]

Sting, yes, and like him, especially for his age, Phil Collen is in awesome shape. I hope I can play shirtless when I'm up there in decades, too!

 

[Itzayana]

And on the other hand, I could go BACONATOR all the way!

Well, I hate to give away all my little success secrets, but they definitely include the three B's...
Bacon, butter, and beer.

 

[Itzayana]

A pic is worth a thousand words.

I see what you mean. At some point you really need to start covering it up!
Unfortunately, when you are mega rich no one has the balls to tell you.

 

[Dave W]

Secondly, Petrucci is a terrible example

Thanks for your wonderful insight.

 

[Milk]

It depends how fit we mean.

It's just unfortunate most people who are buffed make it a point to always wear shirts exposing their pythons. That is...if they're wearing one at all. Also people who are REALLY buffed and exercise a lot tend to just want to talk about training or nutrition too because that's what most of their day consists of (which it has to if they want to look this way). It's kinda boring.

Anyway, nobody who likes to make the kind of music i like could ever be buffed. That just does not compute. As for just being reasonably trim and slim, well, everyone should aspire to that. I'm not... but i want to be (in fact i'm in the process of losing weight right now) On the other hand, I don't know that i want anyone to spend TOO much time playing their instruments either, I mean anyone that spends 5 hours a day on their instrument is someone i probably don't want in my band. If nothing else cause they'll be too technically advanced for what i want and get bored playing my simplistic ****.

And its good for a man Sting's age to keep in shape (well it's good at any age but more so when you get over 45) but if i saw any younger man dressed and looking like this i'd probably give their music a pass. You might like to think it's not ok to judge people on their looks, but we all do it. I do it obviously. And i get judged on mine too. And that's fine. The clothes i wear and the way my body looks advertises something. It probably doesn't even truly advertise who i am (in fact i know it doesn't, for one nobody ever believes i don't do drug...), but i'm fine with people making assumptions about me based on what i look like. That's kinda the whole point of looking whatever way we do (and if you don't care the way you look, then that's what you advertise).