Jump to content


Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

Having The Look ....


Delaware Dave

Recommended Posts

I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was. Now, what I'm with isn't it, and what's "it" seems weird and scary to me.

:laugh:

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck

 

"The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Replies 142
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Here's some band shots of us over the last couple months: Nothing fancy, but dressed to look like we're in the band :)

 

Unfortunately or not, it does go a long way towards how a crowd perceives you, regardless of how good you are musically.

 

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/escaperocks1/_MG_5169-XL_zps56df6d48.jpg

 

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/escaperocks1/1001086_10151802928996280_1666653755_n_zps503f9b6e.png

 

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/escaperocks1/_MG_2814-X2_zps97b5acd3.jpg

 

 

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/escaperocks1/_MG_2751-X2_zps093ac3d4.jpg

 

 

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/escaperocks1/1098000_10151538557351689_1538572217_n_zpsb58d519d.jpg

 

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/escaperocks1/1146467_10151551744331689_299690428_n_zpsaad0c8f8.jpg

 

If you look closely by my right hand, you can see the small camera we use to capture my hands as part of our video show.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/escaperocks1/_MG_2647-XL_zpsfcb5592c.jpg

 

David

Gig Rig:Casio Privia PX-5S | Yamaha MODX+ 6 | MacBook Pro 14" M1| Mainstage

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Folks almost never ask if I'm with the band. They just assume that I am. On one gig I walked in carrying nothing, looked around the stage, and the sound guy said, "Keyboard player. Right?" I wonder if this will continue now that I've cut the hair off. It probably will. I tried the short hair, suit and tie, look respectable thing for a while in the '80s when I had a day job. It didn't seem to matter much. Most folks still treated me like crap. :D

 

Now that I have short hair I have a few hippy jam band gigs coming up; Dead, The Band, Allmans, and whatnot. Should I get a wig? :D

 

The dress code question was a last minute surprise for me playing band leader for the first time. I didn't even think about it until somebody asked. For this band it was easy to go with the tried and true casual dress black for the band and have the ladies up front decide among themselves what they wanted to wear.

 

I'm going to try the look respectable thing again now that I'm playing band leader / gig pimp. Short hair and nice new civilized leather jacket is a different look than my thirty year old Wilson biker jacket and a few feet of hair. That may have cost me few good gigs here and there over the years. But it's more appropriate than suits and red bow ties for biker bars. I've never played Free Bird in a bow tie. I'd pay to see that. :)

--wmp
Link to comment
Share on other sites

:laugh: Actually played "Freebird" in tux and tails once; it was about 15 years ago for the cocktail / dinner portion of a New Years Eve party. It came in as a request; and being that I was playing solo piano, the 'arrangement' was interesting, to say the least....

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Handsomeness or prettiness has nothing to do with entertainment , it's all about "Stage presence"/"X Factor" .

Tina Turner for instance has it in truck loads -- and check out her Sax man!:D.

Here's one of my favourite music clips,featuring the Awesome Mr Kenny Moore ,playing sweet sounding piano sitting perfectly in the mix like it should do >

(my girlfriend at 2:04 ;))

 

Lots of PROPS and lights (and smoke and mirrors) make a HUGE difference to anyone at all.

 

Brett.

 

True!

_MG_0940.JPG

Yamaha CP70B;Roland XP30/AXSynth/Fantom/FA76/XR;Hammond XK3C SK2; Korg Kronos 73;ProSoloist Rack+; ARP ProSoloist; Mellotron M4000D; GEM Promega2; Hohner Pianet N, Roland V-Grand,Voyager XL, RMI
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife bought me a hat from a place that sells skate boarding stuff. Nice hat, and covers the balding head. Tougher for 40+ or 50+ guys to have "the look" but keeping reasonably trim and dressing with a message that says you haven't thrown in the towel helps...

Korg CX-3 (vintage), Casio Privia PX-5S, Lester K, Behringer Powerplay P2, Shure 215s

http://www.hackjammers.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't see where this is a binary "either / or" argument.

 

If you're on stage, you're an entertainer, and to my way of thinking you use the tools you got. If you're short and not so attractive, you may have to work harder than the genetically gifted. Even if you're immensely talented, a good dose of makeover can go a long way - even Classical has jumped on that bandwagon.

 

IMHO, saying attractiveness, sexiness, etc doesn't matter is simplistic and inaccurate. Like a lot of things in business, it depends on the target audience. In some contexts, talent trumps all. In other contexts, sex appeal trumps all.

 

In most contexts I play, it's rarely an either/or. The audiences I play for expect to be entertained one way or another - and cultivating some kind of visual appeal to set myself apart as an entertainer is an asset.

..
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2013/08/16/12782915/12782915-1376764536-640x480.jpg

 

As the song says, "Carolina girls, best in the world!" :love:

 

[video:youtube]WgkO7XGUJyA

 

 

http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2013/08/16/12782882/beach_music_8-15-13-07-640x426.jpg

 

This is my friend and fellow forumite, BluesKeys, performing Thursday night with The Embers in Raleigh, NC.

 

For the full slideshow, KLONK HERE!

 

Good on ya, Jimmy :thu:

 

ITGITC? :cool:

 

 

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this " The Look ?"

 

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2013/03/elton-john-donald-duck.jpg

 

 

Illustration of the difference between the indefinite and definite article.

 

That is most definitely "A Look" but not "THE Look".

 

 

 

 

..
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The look 1976 (note the glasses)

 

http://flyboyfilms.tv/Ellsounds/images/Ells%201976.jpg

 

The look 1986 (shoulder pads)

 

http://flyboyfilms.tv/Ellsounds/images/Ells%201986%202.jpg

 

The look 1999 (post grunge)

 

http://flyboyfilms.tv/Ellsounds/images/Ells%201999.jpg

 

The look 2013 (wife-made keyboard vest)

 

http://flyboyfilms.tv/Ellsounds/images/Ells%202013.jpg

"The devil take the poets who dare to sing the pleasures of an artist's life." - Gottschalk

 

Soundcloud

Aethellis

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I still have long hair at age 60, but i find that i play better, & more professional when i wear a sport jacket, tie,slacks, etc. For standards, i find that, in many cases, appearance somewhat in 'the Rat Pack' look, does add a needed dimension. When i played just piano, either solo,trio, or big band, a tux was often the rule . But when i started with organ, after a long layoff, a more 'attitude' look seemed to be called for. However, when i played an upscale italian restaurant for awhile, they asked me not to wear TRUE RELIGION DEMINS, FLASHY (TRASHY) belt buckles, flashy crome jewelry

,gothic belt buckles, & my bizarre pair of converse skull-sneakers, & loud, urban shirts, i decided on the 'gangster' look : a light colored silk blazer over a black shirt, with a silk tie that matched my jacket, & black shoes, it was as different as night & day. I still wore WHITE SOCKS, however : to secretly send out a message that it's all a joke, & , besides, Jake & Elwood got away with it.

 

robert w nuckels
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Everyone has a "look". Whether that look will get you a gig is another matter! 50 year old paunchy guy, probably not going to get the gig with the 25 year olds in the beach bar cover band. And probably wouldn't want that gig anyway.

Live: Korg Kronos 2 88, Nord Electro 5d Nord Lead A1

Toys: Roland FA08, Novation Ultranova, Moog LP, Roland SP-404SX, Roland JX10,Emu MK6

www.bksband.com

www.echoesrocks.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Myself, I was worried more about the music than I was about the "look". I guess that's why I never did have any good looking women hit on me! :laugh:

John Cassetty

 

"there is no dark side of the moon, really. As a matter of fact it's all dark"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This early 80s look was a mix of nerd and skinny-tie new wave. Not my best look.

 

http://www.coscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Steve-The-End-Rig-e1376782137502.jpg

Honestly, I dig it. It's of a specific time but still looks hip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see WAY too many middle-aged guys trying to look younger in ways that make it obvious they're, well, middle-aged guys trying to look younger, i.e., goatees (or worse, the "chinstrap" or soul patch); frosted tips; untucked, blousy shirts; and flared jeans. Remember when all the hair metal dudes cut their hair and started dressing that way? Yeah. Unless you're in a band like Firehouse, don't look like that.

 

It's all about context: dress for the band you play in. When in doubt, keep it simple, wear clothes that fit you, tuck in the shirt, and no "dad jeans."

 

Props to Kawai James for a classy look, and for Lonsendokeys for keeping the Tony Banks look alive. :cool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see WAY too many middle-aged guys trying to look younger in ways that make it obvious they're, well, middle-aged guys trying to look younger, i.e., goatees (or worse, the "chinstrap" or soul patch); frosted tips; untucked, blousy shirts; and flared jeans. Remember when all the hair metal dudes cut their hair and started dressing that way? Yeah. Unless you're in a band like Firehouse, don't look like that.

 

Hey man, don't you be bad mouthing my soul patch look! :)

On the other hand, I am now 31, and I've had my soul patch since I was 19. It is not like I'm trying to be younger, that's just the way I look.

I also have sideburns.

Custom handmade clocks: www.etsy.com/shop/ClockLight
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This early 80s look was a mix of nerd and skinny-tie new wave. Not my best look.

 

http://www.coscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Steve-The-End-Rig-e1376782137502.jpg

 

IS that Rhodes really on top of that organ or have you been Photoshopping? :)

Yamaha CP70B;Roland XP30/AXSynth/Fantom/FA76/XR;Hammond XK3C SK2; Korg Kronos 73;ProSoloist Rack+; ARP ProSoloist; Mellotron M4000D; GEM Promega2; Hohner Pianet N, Roland V-Grand,Voyager XL, RMI
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This early 80s look was a mix of nerd and skinny-tie new wave. Not my best look.

 

http://www.coscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Steve-The-End-Rig-e1376782137502.jpg

Honestly, I dig it. It's of a specific time but still looks hip.

And dig the Multiman! A workhorse back in the day.

"The devil take the poets who dare to sing the pleasures of an artist's life." - Gottschalk

 

Soundcloud

Aethellis

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This early 80s look was a mix of nerd and skinny-tie new wave. Not my best look.

 

Honestly, I dig it. It's of a specific time but still looks hip.

And dig the Multiman! A workhorse back in the day.

 

Yes, the Multiman was a workhorse. It got lots of use - very versatile. Great strings, good piano and clav (for the day) and a little brass and synth capability. Bought it in 1976 for $835 - really got my money's worth.

 

Later on, Crumar re-issued the Multiman and then came out with the Orchestrator which I didn't think sounded as good as the Multiman.

Steve Coscia

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This early 80s look was a mix of nerd and skinny-tie new wave. Not my best look.

 

IS that Rhodes really on top of that organ or have you been Photoshopping? :)

 

No photoshopping - it was 1980!!!

 

Only the Rhodes' rear legs were utilized - they were telescopic. Had to be creative back then. I even duct-tapped a wooden furring strip to the Rhodes top so the Prodigy faced me. Not elegant, but it worked.

Steve Coscia

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...