Re: [Harp-L] Showmanship

["Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

During my eons of travel throughout outer-stellar space and within, I have observed that most of the best dressed bands are amougst the worst I have ever heard and seen. I have also observed that many of the best bands I have seen wear only t-shirts.

Ever see Bobby McFerrin perform?  Nobody can argue his success as a musician. He wear a T-Shirt, jeans and can often be found wear sandals or no shoes at all.  This is a person that makes $32,000 a set.

Huey Lewis is another musician where we can't argue his success as a harmonica playing musician. He and the whole band can often be found wear nothing but t-shirts and jeans.

How about the Chilli Pepper? Can't argue with their success either most of the time they wear only jeans or just socks.

Bela Fleck? Everytime I have seen him he's been in a t-shirt and jeans and occasionally a wrinkled button up shirt.

I saw Leo Kottke recently and he was wearing two t-shirts and jeans.

While I generally believe dressing appropriately is a good things I don't think it's a rule that needs to be followed. I tend to think those that dress up do so to hide defiencies in other areas and this is exaclty why I am wearing a suit, tie, dark sun glasses, wingtips, leather vest, shiny belt, scarf and a hat to my gig tonight. If people knew who I really was and how I really dressed they wouldn't like me and my music.





>-----Original Message-----
>From: ChipComcast [mailto:jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx]
>Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 12:53 PM
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [Harp-L] Showmanship
>
>Paul
>www.kingleyharp.co.uk
>
>
>In response to what Paul said...
>
>Estrin=humor Harman=relations & humor
>Piazza= energy level.
>
>It is a mistake to wear the audience clothing like jeans & t-shirts.
>Of course it's alright if you are a blues hammer biker band.
>You HAVE to dress like you are something special & set yourself apart form
>the crowd.
>Oh and leave the beret behind, it's lame..and if you are bald don't hide it
>shave it all OFF!
>It's the 21st century.  Being a player is about STYLE SETTING.
>(I'm starting to wonder if my retro bowling shirts are well past the hip
>stage..in fact they are,
>I need some new threads)
>
>You have to MOVE & get into it and LOOK like you are having a Good TIME.
>
>It's SOUND and VISION.
>
>
>THe Blues is full of a tradition of showmanship:
>
>playing between the legs/behind the back/walk the bar/side by side
>stick it in your mouth..break it up.
>
>Oh and ATITUDE is 99% the other .01% is HAVE JOY!!
>
>My .02 anyway.
>
>jday
>
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