Re: [Harp-L] Dressing like a musician

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

I used to do a similar thing for fun - when traveling out of town, I'd find a jam session, show up in a sport coat and tie, looking conservative, sign up, get called up to play harmonica and then TEAR IT UP.
 
It was always fun to see how important first impressions and clothes are in unknown situations and how human beings subconsciously (or consciously) place you in a certain catagory. 
 
We are a small group of musicians who sometimes forget that the larger group is 'Not Musicians'. The 'Not Musicians' don't listen with the same ears we do, have different values and make judgements based on different input than Musicians. The 'Not Musicians' make up the bulk of the public that buy cd's, attend concerts and supply the lubrication that makes the music business wheels turn ($$$$).
 
It behooves us smarter musicians to understand their mindsets if we are looking towards a career in music performance.
 
The Iceman
 
-----Original Message-----
From: bcohen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:53 PM
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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