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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Electric → Best Looking On Stage
One thing I found after Gig1 is that no matter how shiny metallic I thought my bass was in the pictures it just looks plain green.
What's the best guitar to command a stage? Gold-top? Post your links to the best shots of an artist with a great looking guitar....
Check my other post for links to funky custom paint-jobs...
What's the best guitar to command a stage? Gold-top? Post your links to the best shots of an artist with a great looking guitar....
...
Any guitar, so long as it is played well. Looks do not mean squat. The sound that comes from the guitar is everything...................
Like SouthPaw said, there is no substitute for a great player or killer tone, but as for looks, anything that George Lynch (of Dokken and Lynch Mob) plays is really visually captivating, also Michael Angelo Batio, and Dimebag Darrel had or have great looking guitars, with the chops to match.
THUNDERSTICK!!! Is white, with a white pick guard. So I try to wear black on the stage. It's a gorgeous insturment, so I try to make it stand out.
You're absolutely right Southpaw and yet...
When I walked on stage I was really glad I was wearing a sparkly shirt. Psychologically it was a kind of armor for me. I'd told myself I was going on to give a show when I put it on. I've no idea how some of the other bands had the gall to go on in sludge coloured t-shirts and boring jeans.
Now the same idea is intriguing me with guitars. Not getting an elaborate paint-job that can only be seen close up but getting a solid-colour that I know will be shouting 'here to rock you!'.
Cytania ,
Before I started playing out I always thought like Southpaw says , looks mean nothing . I feel a little differently about it now . That being said , nothing you do about appearance is going to matter if you don't have your sound down .
Interesting about the psychological armour , I always used to wear a baseball cap with some logo on it . Now to placate my cowboy partner , I wear a cowboy hat . It works .......
But getting back to the guitar , sometimes I'll play my Guild F-65 on stage just to give the musical illiterates
in the audience something pretty to look at ........L O L .
Jerry
What is this I'm hearing? You guys think club owners sit around an say " Man, did you see that pretty, shiny shirt that guy had on last night, or, man, that hat was the bomb! We for sure need to hire those guys again!"
Come on.....
This is music, musicians, and performing. It's not some lame, superficial, fashion show. Club and restaurant owners mostly care about the quality of the product they are paying for, not what the musicians are wearing. I refuse to play for a club so shallow that they feel the need to incorporate some kind of dress code. This is rock-n-roll man! Make a statement with what comes out of the speakers, not what cloth is covering skin.
As far as things from a 'psychological armour' standpoint goes, the psychology of the mind knowing one has done ones' best in preparing for an upcoming gig should be all one needs to feel confident and ready for the gig.
Keep in mind guys these are just my thoughts and opinions. Ultimately, comfort, both mentally and physically, is the main issue here and defining comfort varies from person to person. I do honestly feel though that the music and quality thereof is decisive in the hiring or rehiring process. Wardrobe is immaterial.
You're absolutely right Southpaw and yet...
When I walked on stage I was really glad I was wearing a sparkly shirt. Psychologically it was a kind of armor for me. I'd told myself I was going on to give a show when I put it on. I've no idea how some of the other bands had the gall to go on in sludge coloured t-shirts and boring jeans.
Now the same idea is intriguing me with guitars. Not getting an elaborate paint-job that can only be seen close up but getting a solid-colour that I know will be shouting 'here to rock you!'.
I usually wear the sludge colored shirt, and boring jeans onstage, mainly because that's what I wear all the time. If I can't wear it on the street without being comfortable, then I sure as heck ain't gonna wear it onstage
club owners care about how many drinks they are moving. Very few venues have a built-in audience that only cares about the music. All places have people that want to enjoy themselves, and sometimes it is great music and sometimes its about meeting girls/guys. But ultimately, if people aren't entertained and hanging around and having a good time, there will be new performers next week.
Sometimes in jeans, sometimes in shiny shirts, sometimes $$$ equipment and sometimes they're good and sometimes they stink, but the ones that get gigs are the ones that can draw and keep an audience.
IMO: Draw with the shiny shirt and keep them with talent and hard work.
Oh , where to begin .......
First of all Southpaw , you know what they say about opinions .
Secondly , don't know about you , but we don't play to the management , we play to the money spending patrons . Ultimately , it's feedback from them that determines whether or not you play there again .
Nearly all of the successful
bands or duos that I know of use some visual trademark ,
whether it be matching sludge colored shirts or playing the same beat up guitar gig after gig . It helps
the audience remember them.
As I said before , having your sound down is priority one , then anything else is for fun , comfort or trademark .
So hey , wear the shiny shirts or anything else you want . As long as the audience likes you , you'll play there again............
By the way Cytania , Tony , and the rest of you guys , I guess we have to be more careful about what we discuss on this forum so's not to offend our resident
pro ....................
Jerry
GSE,
How long have you been performing at bars/clubs/resorts?
Her's a nice anti-appearance statement by Blues Traveler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCDs_0zbNo
Okey dokey Jerry, I know I'm just an enthusiastic amateur and I alot of what 'works for me' may be nothing more than my version of a lucky rabbit's foot.
Must spin round 3 times now and touch my holy splinter from Hendrix's strat...
Southpaw , Have'nt been playing out nearly as long as you have , so i'm humbled before you.............But.......
I've been listening to , and watching bands and soloists for forty some years and before long you start to notice some of the things they do that works for them .
So I say , if it works , do it....
In my vast experience of being part on an audience , very few people go out to a bar or club to listen to a musician just because he or she plays technically well . Most people could'nt care less . As long as the music sounds good and they have a good time , chances are they'll be back , and so will the performer .
I'm with you Cytania . I'm also just an enthusiastic amateur . ( Don't suppose I
could borrow that rabbit's foot friday night ? If it works , I would'nt be to proud to use it..............
And thanks guys , I've always enjoyed a lively discussion.................
Jerry
What gets you invited back is if you can draw enough people to buy more beer, and food, and whatever else the establishment sells. You are, ultimately a draw, so if you can draw, you will get invited back.
I *always* make sure to encourage the patrons to try the veal, or have another drink, and tip the staff well, and I always give the bar back a small cut of our tip jar.
If you're a hot chick, that helps you draw. If you're unfortunate to be one of us ugly mutts, you should at least take a bath and comb your hair. 
What gets you invited back is if you can draw enough people to buy more beer, and food, and whatever else the establishment sells. You are, ultimately a draw, so if you can draw, you will get invited back.
I *always* make sure to encourage the patrons to try the veal, or have another drink, and tip the staff well, and I always give the bar back a small cut of our tip jar.
If you're a hot chick, that helps you draw. If you're unfortunate to be one of us ugly mutts, you should at least take a bath and comb your hair.
yes! bathe or get a front man that girls will go see. Guys drinking beer will follow. 
You need to mind the music and try to stay tight, but if you have fun generally your audience will have fun and you have a chance to be successful.
btw: I didn't mean to offend anyone and apologize for any taken.
Just offering a point of view from my experience, ancient as it might be...
Southpaw, I still agree with you, appearance is no substitute for skills, but when I joined a band, I learned quickly, dress like you sound. Think about it, Jimi Hendrix wore clothes that fit his music and his era, jeans, frilly shirts, etc. Zakk Wylde looks like a biker from hell, jeans, biker boots, long hair, leather vests and coats...and that's the look that suits the kind of music he plays. Most memorable artists work a consistent look.
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