Caevan O’Shite Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 LMAO, LOL at most of these posts on this thread! Hey, cwfno- how come it's always you married guys who meet that girl in the elevator while hoteling it? http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/icons/icon8.gif "Oh, yeah, I sat in with the Eagles before, too! Say, they're comin' over to my room later, along with Aerosmith... " Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 My 'cure' for that is simple: I drop a few of the names I've played with. When I tell 'em Gato Barbieri, for instance, they say "Who??" and I get to tell 'em "He's pretty great, check out a few of his records". Of course, it's a 'cure' for a nonexistent problem once you look at things in their proper perspective: The folks who are namedropping or otherwise making conversation that's not ABOUT YOU are just trying to make conversation! Sorry Tedster, but very few people are insecure around no-name musicians like you & me. Originally posted by Tedster: No Coyote, not really insecure. It's annoying. Exactly like the "Tom Watson" example I gave, or anything else. To me, it is a sign of insecurity, their insecurity. Once in awhile I'm sure they really do know these people. But most of the time it's just their way of saying "You play music. I don't. You must therefore think I suck, so I'll make certain that you feel that I have a lot of musical friends and you don't rate anywhere near them". Which is really not at all how (speaking strictly for myself) I relate to anyone who hears me play. I mean, the most important part (arguably) of music is an appreciative audience. If everyone were musicians, there wouldn't be any crowd at a bar (for instance) on a Saturday night, because they'd all be out gigging. Same with any art, or sports, or anything like that. It requires an appreciative audience, who is primarily made up (although not exclusively) of non-participants. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 I met a guy once who didn't play at all, but was very proud of all the equipment he owned. No kidding, he had a couple of very expensive Les Pauls, some strats, a few Teles, a 335, a Marshall stack of some sort, some Fender amplifiers, and more stuff that I can't recall. He'd show up places where people played and talk endlessly about his stuff and how great it all was. One time he loaned some of it to a kid in a local band, and stood out front like a proud daddy, telling everyone it was his stuff and didn't it sound great? It just seemd a lttle weird to me.... Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbach1 Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite: Hey, cwfno- how come it's always you married guys who meet that girl in the elevator while hoteling it? She was a cutie too Caevan, and I'm quite positive she wanted my 50 year old body really bad . However, my 50 year old body really just wanted to take a nap. bbach Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Originally posted by picker: I met a guy once who didn't play at all, but was very proud of all the equipment he owned. No kidding, he had a couple of very expensive Les Pauls, some strats, a few Teles, a 335, a Marshall stack of some sort, some Fender amplifiers, and more stuff that I can't recall. He'd show up places where people played and talk endlessly about his stuff and how great it all was. One time he loaned some of it to a kid in a local band, and stood out front like a proud daddy, telling everyone it was his stuff and didn't it sound great? It just seemd a lttle weird to me....We had a customer like that at GC when I worked there in 1990-1. He lived around the corner from the store and used to come in and buy the latest and greatest gear in every department of the store. They gave him good deals, but he had no use for the gear. Finally, after hounding me to come over and help wire the gear up at his home, I went to the house. He had several rooms filled with all kinds of musical gear. There was another musician working on it, trying desperately to put it all together. It was clear this other guy was in over his head. The problem was, though our customer seemed relatively normal, there was something that wasn't.. quite.. right. First, he didn't play any instruments and didn't sing or record. Second, I don't think he was developmentally challenged, but his social skills just screamed "dweeb!" Nice, but.. completely, socially inept. Someone told me he was a trust fund baby. I mean, the guy is over 40, wife and kids, and he has all the time in the world to check out gear at the local music store and buy it as soon as it hits the market. It was weird. I decided to keep my distance. Something just wasn't.. right... It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 23, 2004 Author Share Posted September 23, 2004 Originally posted by coyote: Sorry Tedster, but very few people are insecure around no-name musicians like you & me. Again, I'm not so sure I agree. The old "cool factor". If you have a trump card, even if you can't play it well, you've become somehow a threat to their "cool". I don't think it's a conscious thing, I think it's more on a subliminal level. As a matter of fact, many of us react in kind. They name-drop a star, and you name-drop back. And the name dropping goes on and on: NM: I don't play, but my cousin used to road for the Rockets (Detroit band with some regional success) YOU: Wow...I know a guy who produced their first record back in Detroit. He did some work for Seger, too. NM: Well, yeah, and then my cousin went on to play for The Outlaws. YOU: Really? Their lead player dated my old neighbor's daughter! They almost got married, but she got a contract with RCA. She's (insert famous female country star). Etc. etc. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejeeber Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Coyote: These folks are all just trying to make conversation, and all anyone really knows is themselves and their 'posse'. So when they talk music with you, since they don't know YOU they will talk about musicians they know! They're not trying to one-up you. Y'all need to learn to realx. Good point there - I've been in a group where the worst jerks in the room were the musicians who'd ridicule someone from the audience who was just trying to make conversation but wasn't extremely well informed. Just a pinch between the geek and chum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webe123 Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Originally posted by Bejeeber: Coyote: These folks are all just trying to make conversation, and all anyone really knows is themselves and their 'posse'. So when they talk music with you, since they don't know YOU they will talk about musicians they know! They're not trying to one-up you. Y'all need to learn to realx. Good point there - I've been in a group where the worst jerks in the room were the musicians who'd ridicule someone from the audience who was just trying to make conversation but wasn't extremely well informed.It is not only musicians at shows that show out like that, but people that work in music stiores are THE WORST when it comes to offending people! They think that a 15 year old walking into their store should know as much as they do, and if he doesn't they come up with smart alic remarks, just to act like they are somebody. Personally, I can't stand those kind of people! Back on topic....Most people that "name drop" are usually just trying to make conversation. There are exceptions, but most is usually harmless and the people doing it are not meaning to be offensive. Non-musicians usually have absolutely no knowledge of the difference between a Fender strat and a Gibson les paul guitar, so they try to settle for something else they can talk about to a musician. I admit that it can be trying on the nerves sometimes.....but think of what it was like before YOU became a musician and have the knowledge you possess today. I guess for a non-musician, it can be a little intimidating trying to think of something to say that a musician can relate to. Some people are only trying to make conversation and this is how they do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 24, 2004 Author Share Posted September 24, 2004 Whether it is or it isn't, whichever, it is somewhat of a social phenomenon that we've all experienced, and I think it's kinda interesting to explore its possible roots. Interesting discussion, nonetheless... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webe123 Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Originally posted by Tedster: Whether it is or it isn't, whichever, it is somewhat of a social phenomenon that we've all experienced, and I think it's kinda interesting to explore its possible roots. Interesting discussion, nonetheless...You know, I have had this happen to me and I play in church. Someone comes up and asks me how long I have been playing and they say that their grandpa has been playing guitar for xx number of years or that they know someone who plays in a band. I just smile and take it in stride. I have also noticed that because they did not have a guitar player for a long time, they are just curious and interested with guitar related questions they ask. Some of the younger crowd is taking guitar lessons and I am currently teaching guitar to a girl in the church. So sometimes instead of one upmanship, you could think of it as a compliment to your playing. Not evertyone that name drops is putting you or your playing down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 24, 2004 Author Share Posted September 24, 2004 Originally posted by webe123: So sometimes instead of one upmanship, you could think of it as a compliment to your playing. Not evertyone that name drops is putting you or your playing down.No...you're right, of course, there are a million reasons for talking about that. I have, though, encountered a lot of "You play guitar? Oh, that's not bad. My best friend is Yngwie Malmsteen" though... (shrug, sheepish smile)...those are the ones I'm talking about for the most part... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webe123 Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Originally posted by Tedster: Originally posted by webe123: So sometimes instead of one upmanship, you could think of it as a compliment to your playing. Not evertyone that name drops is putting you or your playing down.No...you're right, of course, there are a million reasons for talking about that. I have, though, encountered a lot of "You play guitar? Oh, that's not bad. My best friend is Yngwie Malmsteen" though... (shrug, sheepish smile)...those are the ones I'm talking about for the most part...Well I have not encountered many of those type, but I have encountered a few. Best thing to do is just ignore them.....after all they seem to be getting a kick out of trying to make another person feel bad about their playing, so giving them attention is the absolute worst thing you can do! Thse people are usually insecure themselves or they would not act like that. I know it gets old quick, but ignore them if you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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