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-   -   "Insulted" by a "professional musician." (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=460642)

ChrisE 02-20-2017 04:23 PM

"Insulted" by a "professional musician."
 
I was at an event with a live band recently, they sounded really good. Acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and an electric guitarist/fiddle player.

During one of the breaks, I saw the acoustic guitarist and said, "You've got a great acoustic tone, are you using anything special?"

He said, "Yeah--I'm using a chorus pedal. That and I'm using an expensive guitar. It's a $1,500 guitar instead of the $300 guitars I used to use. I'm a professional working musician, and professional working musicians only have one guitar, not like all those guys who have a room full of guitars and never play any gigs."

He looks and me and says, "You've probably got five guitars at home, don't you?"

"Well, just four actually..."

"That's what I figured" he added as he walked off.

Nice meeting you, too.:rolleyes:

pickitluther 02-20-2017 04:28 PM

What a jerk!

wkbryan 02-20-2017 04:30 PM

Probably suffering from a hemorrhoidal flare up.

Brucebubs 02-20-2017 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisE (Post 5239244)
I'm a professional working musician, and professional working musicians only have one guitar.

Yeah, one guitar with one monthly payment.

PorkPieGuy 02-20-2017 04:32 PM

I get the guy's point, but what a jerk-face.

BahPa 02-20-2017 04:32 PM

Insulted...........
 
I hope you're not upset with this clown. He obviously has no regard for the people who showed up at the show, and he doesn't appear to know much about guitars either.

roylor4 02-20-2017 04:32 PM

I'm sure he will go far with a classy attitude like that. :hmm::sick::sick::hmm:

I have met musicians that even treat their own bandmates that way, at least for a few weeks. Hopefully he'll play a biker joint one day and speak to someone like that. :evilgrin:

JoeCharter 02-20-2017 04:33 PM

I'd never heard such a blunt version before but the sentiment is definitely out there, mostly among not so talented professional musicians. The truly talented guys and top players are usually very generous and have better things to worry about than stroking their ego by dissing other people.

It's not because you get paid to play live that you're any good -- and it's not because you're a casual guy playing at home that you suck.

ChrisE 02-20-2017 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BahPa (Post 5239253)
I hope you're not upset with this clown. He obviously has no regard for the people who showed up at the show, and he doesn't appear to know much about guitars either.


He didn't bother me. My daughter (24) and her boyfriend were both there and they commented to me about it after he left. I'm glad it wasn't just me that noticed.

I think the boyfriend's comment was something along the lines of "Insult other musicians much?"

Psfam 02-20-2017 04:36 PM

Just one person, oh well
 
I would say that the professionals I can think of have multiple guitars. There is no shame in either approach, having one or several.

It's too bad that happened, too bad the poor guy couldn't accept your compliment with a "thank you."

Nice of you to encourage him.

ChrisE 02-20-2017 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCharter (Post 5239256)
It's not because you get paid to play live that you're any good -- and it's not because you're a casual guy playing at home that you suck.

I didn't mention it to the guy, but I'm a casual guy that plays gigs and gets paid to pay live. I also have a nicer guitar than he does (and a couple of cheap ones, too).:D

AHill 02-20-2017 04:44 PM

I suppose he's only interested in producing one sound or whatever his pedals can morph his sole guitar into. That's not only arrogance, but it's ignorance. I've been to concerts where very good musicians had at least 3 guitars on stage, each used to produce a different natural sound. I have a professional guitarist friend who has 15 guitars. He brings the one that best suits the music he's playing. They all sound different. Different tonewoods. Different body styles. Different strings. Many are custom guitars. He didn't buy them overnight. He's been playing professionally for over 30 years.

CASD57 02-20-2017 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wkbryan (Post 5239247)
Probably suffering from a hemorrhoidal flare up.

LOL, now that is funny

Bowie 02-20-2017 04:44 PM

Sounds like he's probably not making anything doing what he's doing and he's got a chip on his shoulder about it. He was probably just waiting with baited breath to drop that line on someone.

pdidmh1 02-20-2017 04:46 PM

I wouldn't classify a 1500 dollar guitar as expensive. Not really. Now if it was 15000 dollars that would be different.

Jambi 02-20-2017 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roylor4 (Post 5239254)
I'm sure he will go far with a classy attitude like that.

Seems like many popular artists nowadays have attitudes like that, disregard for your fans is popular. :/

ChrisE 02-20-2017 04:50 PM

I am also sure that he was not aware that I am on the board of a very large local charity. The same charity that hired his band to play for our event last year.

stephenT 02-20-2017 04:51 PM

I don't disagree w/ the general assessment of the dude's personality but, since I'm professional musician here's my two cents,.... there's always the guy who wants to talk gear on a break. Don't be that guy.

Before you can remember his name, he's telling you about the Les Paul his parents bought him when he was 16, or the D-18 or his current stash of Paul Reed Smiths or his vintage amp collection,.. he's impossible to shake and then half the break is gone.

Since I build my electric guitars and work with a high end boutique amp builder, I have plenty to offer but I'm here to play. Gear is what you work on/talk about when you're not playing,.. I'm nice as I can be, smile and agree if there's ever a pause,..

JoeCharter 02-20-2017 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisE (Post 5239261)
I didn't mention it to the guy, but I'm a casual guy that plays gigs and gets paid to pay live. I also have a nicer guitar than he does (and a couple of cheap ones, too).:D

FWIW I know a lot of "professional" guitarists and none of them have only one guitar. That in itself is a ridiculous claim. Most of them have good quality guitars that are not necessarily blingy or prestigious -- but good quality instruments nonetheless.

For the rest, I'm impressed by a musician's skills, good taste and love for music. Their status or what gear they play is irrelevant.

lowrider 02-20-2017 04:54 PM

So I guess it's like back in the 70's if he breaks a string; stop the show, restring, tune, ok here we go again!

JoeCharter 02-20-2017 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talkgtr (Post 5239273)
there's always the guy who wants to talk gear on a break. Don't be that guy.

Agree with that as well.

Bowie 02-20-2017 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talkgtr (Post 5239273)
there's always the guy who wants to talk gear on a break. Don't be that guy.

That seems kind of odd. I've done plenty of paid gigs and have never seen gear questions as being harassing. We're all grown folks and can be brief, walk off stage or behind an amp if needed. I don't see any reason that fans should choose to mute themselves. After all, the musician is at work and should conduct himself that way. Being brief is fine. It's not like you're knocking on his door at home.

Silly Moustache 02-20-2017 05:05 PM

I have met such attitudes.

Those who seek to make a living by playng gigs often resent those of us who play for little/nothing,or pay to play.

The open mic scenario is their enemy as were discos.

I can understand their attitude.

They are often, understandably earning little and so their equipment is as important to them as a plumber's or electrician's tools, and regarded in much the same way - i.e. tools, rather than the items of desire, beauty and wonder that some of us have/own/play/display.

What is our passion/hobby etc., is their bread and butter, and the less butter, the more bitter ...I suppose.

Steve DeRosa 02-20-2017 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCharter (Post 5239256)
...The truly talented guys and top players are usually very generous and have better things to worry about than stroking their ego by dissing other people...

A number of years ago my wife and I went to see the Down-east Maine trio Schooner Fare in Paramus, NJ; for those of you who aren't familiar they've been a fixture on the Northeast Corridor folk circuit for four decades, played Wolf Trap on numerous occasions, shared bills with many top-name performers (Tommy Makem, Tom Paxton, Christine Lavin, among others), and had a couple of chart-topping recordings in Ireland...

After the show I got to talking with the bass player and banjo player - told them I was a fellow musician...

Picked up a new 4-string tuning and a couple hints to smooth out my bass tone and keep from overloading the amp input - and they were more than happy to share...

Classy guys - and if we weren't already lifetime fans they would have made two on the spot... :up::up:

rokdog49 02-20-2017 05:11 PM

Apparently his deal was I got this one guitar and it's all I need because I'm good.
That's fine dude with the inferiority complex.:p

Bob Womack 02-20-2017 05:12 PM

At their peak during Joe Walsh's tenure around 1970, the James Gang decided to go into a little Cleveland studio and record with Little Richard. Joe has included that track on his latest album. Before they start, Richard says, "The Great James Gang. Boys, don't forget where you got your start at, fellas. 'Cause the same people you meet on the way up, you'll meet 'em on the way down." They all laughed, but Joe put the recording of Richard's little speech on his album, Analog Man, forty-two years later.



Bob

Bowie 02-20-2017 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack (Post 5239297)
At their peak during Joe Walsh's tenure around 1970, the James Gang decided to go into a little Cleveland studio and record with Little Richard. Joe has included that track on his latest album. Before they start, Richard says, "The Great James Gang. Boys, don't forget where you got your start at, fellas. 'Cause the same people you meet on the way up, you'll meet 'em on the way down." They all laughed, but Joe put the recording of Richard's little speech on his album, Analog Man, forty-two years later.


Bob

THAT is awesome. :D

noreast 02-20-2017 05:19 PM

Yup...

Neil Young sitting alone on stage with his stash of Martins circled around him.

Eric Clapton and his warehouse of guitars which periodically fund Crossroads.

Joe Bonamessa and his picture of countless guitars.

Sorry, bud, I didn't get to be a "working musician" because I'm too busy with my day job. You know, the one that pays me more per month than you make in a year.

I've paid sales tax on a single guitar that's more than your "expensive" guitar. Multiple times.

:D

s2y 02-20-2017 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roylor4 (Post 5239254)
I'm sure he will go far with a classy attitude like that. :hmm::sick::sick::hmm:

I have met musicians that even treat their own bandmates that way, at least for a few weeks. Hopefully he'll play a biker joint one day and speak to someone like that. :evilgrin:

I have been in a band with that guy. A former drummer of mine had a bad attitude and an even worse temper. He could have everyone knocking down his doors with the drummer shortage. Instead, they stay away.

rokdog49 02-20-2017 05:22 PM

Good stuff. Joe is not only iconic but he is one of the last of a dying breed in music. Honest, straightforward and unapologetic.


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