Must I look Weird to be a Muso

Squonk

Do you try your best to be different, look different, just because you are a muso, or do you carry yourself like a normal Tom Dick or Harry?

Explorerlover

Well, if it's normal for a guy to have the odd earring and long hair, then no, I don't try to make myself look different although a lot of people assumed I am in a band or a guitarist because of this.

CornFlakes

You look weird to me ! “just joking”
I think the problem here is that people or let’s say some muso’s or so called muso’s think they need to look the look and walk the walk. Its maybe a good thing to look weird and stuff in a media point of view “if you want to be famous” I mean how many band’s are out there that sounds so shit BUT they look cool and people love it. What’s up with that?

deanBailey

I don't try and be different, but I do try an uphold an "image" as human beings do most of their subconscious judging visually.

If your band just looks cool be it clothing, costumes or amp/drum setup, people will give you a chance if they haven't heard you.
It's the professionalism I guess.

CornFlakes

deanBailey wrote It's the professionalism I guess.

You got a good point there!

Renesongs

I look, dress and act completely differently to my family - they all engineers (nuf said) - When my wife and I go to the obligatory braai at my my brother-in-law's house he always says "here comes Jesus and Mary"

ConradP

I look, dress and act the way I feel comfortable. I don't give a pooh about dressing or acting a certain way. Most people don't think I'm different anyway until I say something then they want to call the asylum but I don't care.

The bottom line is that a pink tutu is not going to make you more creative, productive or improve anything on the musicianship side. The marketing side is another story.

Martyr

I look, dress and act the way I feel comfortable

exactly!!!

most people think you must wear all black,tattoos and piercings if you listen to metal music,it's not true...if getting your face completely pierced with tattoos coming up your neck,over your head makes you happy,go for it...i have my nose and ears pierced(not like a cow,the left side ?),i do it because i like it,it's got nothing to do with what other people think...my one black friend(hip-hop dude) has the piercings of a "metalhead" and the clothes of a gangster, and then my other friend who is in a metal band dresses like a typical jock,it's all just what you feel comfortable with ?

Wessel

To some people listening to metal and dressing up us all part of their alter ego. Working all day in a suit and tie, its just fun and rebellion to let go and wear white make up and black clothes. Its a awesome break away.

deanBailey

That's all cool, but in the producers eye it's not you that's buying the album lol so to him he couldn't care less how comfortable you feel as long as you're selling. It's not as extensive in the metal world though
But in Pop music who would you rather see?
Bjork
or
Britney
lol Oh yes, Britney's producers knew what they were doing ?

That's why they start out as young innocent teenage pop singers (Britney and Christina as examples) till they're old enough to do what they want and they slap those thongs on you and blow your boobs up!
And maybe get you in some raunchy photoshoots and you sold yourself some albums.
Regarding the music too..Christina Milian wrote the lyrics to the song "Play" by Jennifer Lopez. Producers just need to find one hot girl with a decent voice then they can mold her and autotune her vocals as much as they want.

That brings me to another point with Pop Idols where the judges always seem to say "I knew what my vote was before you started singing" and that's pretty much the truth. They first look at your appearance and see if you look like you can sell an album then they let you sing to seal the deal.
I'm sure you've also heard them say "I'd say yes but you'd be too much work before the next round" that's exactly what I've been talking about ?

In the Metal world you have a band like Amon Amarth who are Viking Metal and actually uphold that image of their music and go as far as stage props and costumes

Where a band like (Caution: If you're religious you might find the following images offensive) Gorgoroth and Behemoth can't be imagined without their makeup and theme and props.

Between the Buried and Me on the other hand, just look pretty average and sometimes trashy..but then again that could have been the image they were going for as it's working because I've read comments about girls wanting to 'marry' them or have their kids blah blah etc..
THEN (had to get to this) Bring me the Horizon
is a complete scene band that sounds just like every other scene band (just my opinion) Their image SELLS x10. And they're not past 23 years old I think. Don't believe me? Check their Myspace check out how many endorsements they have, how many total song plays they have, how many friends they have and the comments that are being posted...and their music sounds like total trash (once again my opinion)

Madonna is another example, Constantly changing her appearance over the years. Why? To appeal to the latest changes in fashion/sex etc If you appear out of date people start thinking you're old news and her producers definitely want to keep on selling so they keep her image fresh.
Also the older she got the more Raunchier/'dirtier' her live shows got to compensate (that's just my opinion again ?).

Do you want to sell records fast? Do you want to want people to rather listen to the music only and think you're just a normal guy?
Some bands/artists aim for the whole package, and some choose to sell out. I've personally done both and have made more money selling out and I'm not that ashamed to say.
It's mainly up to your priorities and how you want to be seen as a musician.
It's how some people run things in the music business.

*note* Again, most of this is entirely my opinion.

Martyr

i like bring me the horizon(off topic,sorry) 8)

deanBailey

I know lots of people that do, that's why I always make sure I say "it's just my opinion" when I make an opinion regarding them, it always starts up personal wars.

lol

NorioDS

One thing I'm beginning to realise, although it's obvious for most, is that song-writing can make you more money (per hour of effort) than song-performing and/or song -writing AND -performing.

The idea is that, if you're good at writing music, you can make annuity income (royalties) when someone decides to use one of your pieces. Once that happens, your work is done but your earning continues.

Make no mistake, I think it's hard to make it as a songwriter but IF you have what it takes, that's probably one of the only ways, as a musician, that you can make lasting money.

Sad thing is that you're probably looking at the pop / pop-rock scene mainly. The others don't lend themselves too well towards that sort of thing. Yes it happens, but in pop, it's just easier.

And then you get people who've written songs and go on to perform them later on in life in any case. That'd be cool but now I'm just rambling ?

Martyr

IMO pop isn't exactly a hard genre to write lyrics for(beats aren't that hard either)...listen to what's on the radio,i kissed a girl? i rest my case...

@ deanBailey

i don't mind if people trash talk my music,it's your opinion,just don't tell me not to listen to it!! i really couldn't be bothered with what you say about it ?

the world would be kinda boring if everyone liked the same genres and shit i rate(IMO 8))

deanBailey

hehe That's the thing though, once you hear the pop song you can tell yourself, hey..That's pretty easy to write. But It's actually A LOT harder to write one catchy chorus!

I say Chorus as it is probably the most important part of the structure of pop music, it's what the writers hope stays in your head a few days after listening. If you find yourself humming or whistling a tune from a pop song chances are it's the chorus!

Most often you'll find pop songs with REALLY really catchy chorus' but the verses really suck or feels like it's just a filler between the next chorus lol

Rihanna - Umbrella for example. Super catchy Chorus that I find myself humming often but somehow I can almost never remember the verse.

Martyr

Rihanna - Umbrella for example. Super catchy Chorus that I find myself humming often but somehow I can almost never remember the verse.

i wouldn't admit that if i was you... ?

NorioDS

I agree Dean ?

I think a REAL musician can find it quite hard to write something catchy because we like to focus on being true to ourselves, unique, technically advanced and so on but those things don't necessarily a hit make.

Wessel

I reasontly had to write a Afrikaans pop tune for a competition.(someone shoot me) It was really difficult to get allot of catchy stuff in there. Pop songs is more difficult to write than one thinks. You have to really get out of yourself to write this shit

Spyke

While the topic has wandered slightly off the appearance side of things, I'll comment on both.
I finding writing verse very tricky because I place a lot of emphasis on meaning. I'm sure i could string together a couple of words based on a walk to the shops - but I'd be embarrassed to sing tripe like that.

The appearances... it's a tough one. Yes, image does sell. It also makes you memorable - think KISS. It's not essential to fit a certain stereotype, I look at 12 Stones lead singer and he looks like a jock out of an episode of 90210 but delivers a well matured scream from time to time.

Bottom line, be comfortable. If you're not it going to show and it will work on your psyche. That will eventually affect your playing and composing.

ConradP

deanBailey wrote hehe That's the thing though, once you hear the pop song you can tell yourself, hey..That's pretty easy to write. But It's actually A LOT harder to write one catchy chorus!

I say Chorus as it is probably the most important part of the structure of pop music, it's what the writers hope stays in your head a few days after listening. If you find yourself humming or whistling a tune from a pop song chances are it's the chorus!

Most often you'll find pop songs with REALLY really catchy chorus' but the verses really suck or feels like it's just a filler between the next chorus lol

Rihanna - Umbrella for example. Super catchy Chorus that I find myself humming often but somehow I can almost never remember the verse.

This is a classic case of art VS industry. There is no right or wrong here. For me it's all about truth. We sometimes wear suits when we perform because it accentuates the atmosphere created by the music. It's because I want to convey that abstract message that is woven in the compositions. It's something real and if the masses are not ready to buy real, I'll keep on selling real until they do or until I die. It's the only way for me to self actualise. If I sell more because I dress like Britney Spears and I die, I'll die much less happy. So it's an individual thing. There is no law that governs the definition of musicians and their image. There is a relationship between musicians' image and what industry sells and geuss what? That is absolutely transient (Look at how bands looked in the 80's). I don't want to be defined by a transient industry fetish coz then it's just about the money and there are easier ways to make money than to change who you are.

My 2 cents. Don't take offense please. As I said, it's different for each individual.

:-[
Conrad