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Who is in a gimic band?
- Thread starter Broadstbully22
- Start date
Well I guess to be employed I better go get a chicken suit and drop my rebel attitude. Maybe I'll start smashing watermelons and spraying the crowd with Faygo.
Back in the late 1970s, I played bass for an Elvis impersonator. I did not dislike the material, but I preferred to play other genres. The guy was actually pretty good, (even if he took himself too seriously, and his act was a little hokey, with the costumes, big entrance routine, etc). We made good money, and the audiences really enjoyed the show. I had a lot of fun doing it. I would do it again if I had the opportunity.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
This is PRECISELY what we did in a band I played in during college. And it describes our first set. Our second set we only played what WE liked and prioritized material we hoped most people would not like (within material we DID like). Our goal was to see how many people we could force out of the venue. We considered someone leaving and coming back in later less than a success. Chief among my fondest memories was the Sabbath medley we worked up. I can still picture the 3 people in the back of the room, leaning against the wall (all separately mind you) mid-way through set 2. They were the only 3 left, but MAN did they dig our stuff.
I have always had a gimmick. In 1971, my mommy made me get a hair cut, to go to Scotland, so my cousins wouldn't be asking if I were a boy or a girl. We got there, and all my cousins had long hair, and I cried.
She said she'd never make me cut it again, and all though grade school, junior high, and high school, it just got longer and longer.
Finally, around 1985, I had left Minnesota, to go live with my uncle in Kansas City. I was working as a maintenance man at a prestigious country club, and I had to "tuck my hair up into my hat," just like in the song.
My uncle owned several car lots, and he was going to give me a job as a used car salesman, (oh boy!) but I had to cut my hair. My cousin's friend cut me what was basically a mullet, took me shopping for some "modern" (1985 modern) clothes. Weird shirts with flaps and buckles in places that made no sense. Leather shoes with tassels. I looked like a clown, and then my uncle never gave me the job, because he found marijuana seeds in my bedroom.
So I applied to be a waiter in the local Perkins, and the lady said, "well, you'd have to get a hair cut." What? Cut off this glorious mullet? I couldn't wait. I cut my hair all the way short, and for the next few years, wore it that way as I climbed to the top of the industry, and ended up doing fine dining in Boulder, Colorado.
So from 1985 to maybe 1990 or so, my hair ranged from very, very short, to "longish," and then I went right back to the style I had always worn: Never cut it at all.
And that brings me to my gimmick.
I play music from the seventies, and I look like the seventies, and I think like the seventies, and I am basically the unfrozen caveman musician. It's not a very GOOD gimmick, but I think it does qualify as a gimmick, nonetheless.
When I was seventeen, my dad used to say, "someday when you're old, you'll look back at pictures of you with your long hair, and you'll be embarrassed, and say, 'what was I thinking?'"
Well, I don't know if fifty is old, but I look back at photos of me with short hair, and I'm embarrassed, and I say to myself, "what was I thinking?"
As far as I know, for the week or so I had a mullet, no photographs were taken.
But you can always check out David Spade in "Joe Dirt." That would be about the look.
She said she'd never make me cut it again, and all though grade school, junior high, and high school, it just got longer and longer.
Finally, around 1985, I had left Minnesota, to go live with my uncle in Kansas City. I was working as a maintenance man at a prestigious country club, and I had to "tuck my hair up into my hat," just like in the song.
My uncle owned several car lots, and he was going to give me a job as a used car salesman, (oh boy!) but I had to cut my hair. My cousin's friend cut me what was basically a mullet, took me shopping for some "modern" (1985 modern) clothes. Weird shirts with flaps and buckles in places that made no sense. Leather shoes with tassels. I looked like a clown, and then my uncle never gave me the job, because he found marijuana seeds in my bedroom.
So I applied to be a waiter in the local Perkins, and the lady said, "well, you'd have to get a hair cut." What? Cut off this glorious mullet? I couldn't wait. I cut my hair all the way short, and for the next few years, wore it that way as I climbed to the top of the industry, and ended up doing fine dining in Boulder, Colorado.
So from 1985 to maybe 1990 or so, my hair ranged from very, very short, to "longish," and then I went right back to the style I had always worn: Never cut it at all.
And that brings me to my gimmick.
I play music from the seventies, and I look like the seventies, and I think like the seventies, and I am basically the unfrozen caveman musician. It's not a very GOOD gimmick, but I think it does qualify as a gimmick, nonetheless.
When I was seventeen, my dad used to say, "someday when you're old, you'll look back at pictures of you with your long hair, and you'll be embarrassed, and say, 'what was I thinking?'"
Well, I don't know if fifty is old, but I look back at photos of me with short hair, and I'm embarrassed, and I say to myself, "what was I thinking?"
As far as I know, for the week or so I had a mullet, no photographs were taken.
But you can always check out David Spade in "Joe Dirt." That would be about the look.
I see the problem as being the OP should have started two different/separate threads.
Thread 1: "Who is in a Gimmick Band?"
Thread 2: "Who here on TB has admittedly sold out?"
Thread 1: "Who is in a Gimmick Band?"
Thread 2: "Who here on TB has admittedly sold out?"
I guess having stage presence is just a gimmick? I usually thought having a good stage presence was important guess not...
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Whatever................
I'm having a great time just being myself onstage, whichs means wearing wigs, make up and costume changes - you're entitled to your own opinion. Don't like what I do? Don't bother coming to a show
This thread is pointless. Almost all genres of music contain some kind of a gimmick.
Other examples:
Marilyn Manson
Rob Zombie/White Zombie
Slipknot
Misfits
Mudvayne
Gwar
Iron Maiden
White Stripes
Devo
David Bowie
Parliament
Beastie Boys
Run DMC
pretty much any 80's hair metal band
pretty much any pop band
Other examples:
Marilyn Manson
Rob Zombie/White Zombie
Slipknot
Misfits
Mudvayne
Gwar
Iron Maiden
White Stripes
Devo
David Bowie
Parliament
Beastie Boys
Run DMC
pretty much any 80's hair metal band
pretty much any pop band
I have always laughed at people who accuse others of being a sell out. Of course, those same people who accuse others of selling out will someday reach 40 years old and are still living at home, or at best, they are living out of the back of their POS beat up mini van. "Yep...Look at me. I am the man and never sold out".
Dread Zeppelin fall right into this category but they are really good musicians. I don't consider it selling out, rather just creating a cool show.
Yes - right on my friend. I saw this right after my post above. Hats off to a really fun show. Saw the band in Charleston SC in 1991 and San Juan Capistrano, CA in 2009.
