RE: [Harp-L] Dressing like a musician

["John Balding" <John.Balding@xxxxxxxxx>]

My old band Big John and the Naked Truth never got many gigs. Of course,
looking back on it, if we hadn't dressed the part...

John

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Bob Cohen
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:54 PM
To: Harpl list
Subject: [Harp-L] Dressing like a musician

As part of someone's advice on how to sit it with other musicians, the
comment was made that one needed to "dress like a musician" to assist
with the overall credibility of your request.  This got me wondering?
Especially because it often happens that before people hear me play they
don't think I'm capable of authentic blues.

Just last month, I was at a jam session at Chan's in Rhode Island.  I
sing/front and blow harp.  One of guys who played on my set was a
regular from The Cadillac Horns, a well respected horn-centric roots
band who said with genuine awe and affection, "When first looked at you,
man.  I thought you were an accountant or something.  But man you got
the blues."  I laughed it off by saying how much I enjoy surprising
people, which is true, but this isn't the first time I've heard that
comment.

So first and foremost, how DOES one dress like a musician?  It seems
very disingenuous for me run out and buy a shark skin suit, snake skin
shoes and slick back what's left of my hair.  I'm even less likely to
festoon my body with tattoos.  And well, truth to tell, I've got enough
trouble being my genuine self to work up an alter-ego complete with a
cool blues nickname.

And beyond the specific question, it's very puzzling to me how the
non-technical aspects of our performances really do affect how we're
perceived and ultimately our success.

Bob Cohen
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