Alright, so I know a lot of us have our own special way of playing our intruments, but is there anything you do that you consider normal but others might find it odd?
For example, Kenny from Retroactive told me he puts WD40 on his bass strings. I thought that was odd as hell until I played his bass and went damn! These babies are smooth! I have to do that to my fiddle...
So come on, fess up. Who's got anything interesting to share?
(I personally haven't done anything to my guitar, but I do decorate my amp with bobble-head dolls from ICP and Slipknot, plus a stuffed demented bunny I picked up at Hot Topic)
I use silicone spray, except I put it right on the fingertips of both hands. I spray it into a contact lens cleaner bottle (very compact) and take it along wherever. Couple drops and you're ready. You can also use a film container stuffed with a paper towel and soak it. Then just rub your tips into it. Dries out faster that way, though. Baseball glove oil works good, too.
I tend to get cracks in my fingers because of dry skin, so a lot of the time, you'll see me with band-aids on most of my fingers. They seem to do the trick, but they fall off from time to time. The best ones are the fabric ones!!
The skin cracks are most painful. For such a little wound, they can make ya holler. Anyway, I heard this on TV (so it must be true), to put Miracle Whip on dry skin. Haven't tried it yet but ya never know. If you have a dog, it might be a pain in the ass.
I remember about 15 years ago I had some trouble keeping callouses on my fingertips, so I tried wearing a rubber glove on my left hand when taking a shower. It never dawned on me that I wasn't playing my guitar enough, but my gf got a good laugh the 1st (and last) time she saw it.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
when i used to play mega air conditioned bars or clubs my fingers used to get ice cold. they were too cold to move about the fretboard. i usually just but them under my armpits.. or sat on my hands (kinda like that SNL skit, but I didn't sniff them and fall into a table).
that wasn't helpful at all, but i thought you'd like to know
Hmmm... well, I put my name on every item of musical and sound gear I own... I used to be in a band with a klepto and I had to then, and the habit stuck. I almost always have lyric sheets nearby, even though I don't always use them (safety blanket thing). I still use the same Shure SM-58 I've been using for 15 years (comedian Sam Kinison gave it to me... cool story!). I never drink alcohol when I'm doing my own gig, but I will have a beer if I'm jamming with someone else, but only one (cottonmouth).
Here's a weird one... I've played in front of thousands of people and loved every second, but the acoustic gig in front of 20 people makes me nervous. It takes me a half-set to get comfortable. I have a tape of my gig at the world-famous Bluebird in Nashville... a hundred people, and I look like a deer in the headlights. I'm not afraid, per se, not stage fright, but I get anxious, and I have no reason to be... I've got thousands of hours onstage experience. I'm telling you, the solo thing is a lonely gig.--->JMS
Ouch, those damn finger cracks!! Nothing better than grabbing the cymbal for a crash mute and just feeling the corners of your fingers shredding! Here's my tip, Zim's Crack Cream! I swear by it. It's available at drug stores and Wal-Mart. If you keep after it everyday and use the stuff, you will see a great decrease in the finger splitting!
"Criticize And Call Me Negative
But You Never Deal With Life Or Reality
I Separate Myself From The Rest
What The Fu*k Did You Expect ?"
Here's mine, I almost never pick up picks, If I drop one during the course of playing I grab another from my pick holder but I almost never pick one up off of the floor. I'f I'm totally broke and totally out of picks maybee but it has to be dire consequenses for me to do so.
FatVin wrote:Here's mine, I almost never pick up picks, If I drop one during the course of playing I grab another from my pick holder but I almost never pick one up off of the floor. I'f I'm totally broke and totally out of picks maybee but it has to be dire consequenses for me to do so.
I'm like the exact opposite! You'll see me chase a pick all over the place, and use the same pick for months. If a drunken fan wants a pick from me (don't laugh, it happens), I've gotta dig one out of a gig bag 'cuz there are never any spares on stage.
And they've gotta be green Dunlop Tortex picks. No substitutes. So like if you see anyone selling like a tortoise-shell Fender Medium or something on eBay and trying to pass it off as a genuine Jimi Hatt pick, like save your money because it's like not the genuine article.
Here is mine, I have to use all new picks and strings.....being speed death metal, speed is of the essence...i cant have any strings or picks giving....it slows me down with the drag....its expensive at times but, at 250 beats a minute, there is no time for give, only rapid fire....
I always like atleast 5 but prefer 10 -15 min of silence before I go on, this isn't always possible but if I can manage it I go outside or to another room and just find that place in myself that makes it happen.
I'm glad I didn't have to fight in a war, I'm glad I didn't get killed or kill somebody, I hope my kids enjoy the same lack of manhood
Dude, I hear that one. It helps a singer so much to collect your thoughts and get a focus... I know that sounds New Age, but sometimes you get so caught up in preparing that you forget there's a show about to be given. Your frame of mind has to change, and you need a minute to change it... a chance to "turn the page," if you will. Plus, you're about to get your ears bludgeoned for 3 hours, and a little silence helps to even out the dynamics. Beyond that, it's nice to get away from the gurmy's that want to monopolize your time. ( "Gurm" is the title given by most national-level entertainers to those fans who want to spend an hour with you when you only have a minute, or bother you in the men's room, etc. They usually touch you too much, or want to know about personal details, things like that. It's a necessary evil... they take a lot of your time, but they buy everything you sell, so you need them.)
I've found that sometimes I have more throat damage from blabbing to people than from the actual gig. Of course, that's my nature! Good post, Bob.----->JMS
Being a drummer i have one pet peeve/quirk. I have to have dry shoes!!! Can't play when the soles are wet it freaks me out. The pedals have to be dry too! If it's raining out once my gear is in i won't go back out unless the joint is on fire. And i'll walk around sliding my feet across the carpet till the set begins. Damn rain and snow.
I didn't do it! It was the other guy! I Swear to God!!
I suppose that is another one that I have as well.
Like Bobby said, after setting up, I like to have some quiet time. I mean, if I don't have it, it doesn't effect me either way - it's just a personal preference.
I always had to listen to Kiss before a show/performance. I don't know why, but listening to them always got me in the "zone" before I went on stage. I haven't did that recently, though I did listen to Alive III today, so maybe tonight's show will be kick ass.
My quirk gets me in trouble sometimes. I'll be getting ready to play (always the first song of the night, and that one only), and count off, and inside my brain, this happens...
1...2...3...4...Shit! How does this song go??
Only lasts for about a quarter of a second, but it never fails, even if it's something I've played a million times. This even happens if I'm sitting in with someone. Just stage fright, I suppose.
Back to songsmiths comment about the acoustic gig in front of 20 people, my wife is the same way, she can sing in front of 17,000 people to do the national anthem for the penguins and love it but we would do an acoustic job with a mellow crowd and it would bug the shit out of her ( myself too)
Its kinda funny how a big rowdy crowd can make you feel more comfortable than 20 zombies starring at you
Heh, I always have a Chucky doll that I've had for about 12 yrs. hanging from my rack tom. Even in shows we play where backline is provided, Chucky's there with me, hanging in his usual spot. Down here in Louisville, the weather changes constantly. As a result, I get the cracking in the hands as well. A little Curel lotion usually clears it right up for me.
check out screaming.through.december if you like your rock with a melodic edge! www.stdband.com
This is a great topic from the early years of Rockpage.
My quirks?
I keep the beat not by tapping my foot, but clicking my teeth. I've also caught myself practicing making weird clicks from my mouth. The g/f used to get weirded out by it, but now it's nothing.
My brother drums for a band called Family Crest. He has to have a certain mason jar on his set for his extra sticks, equipment, etc. It has to be the same mason jar. Not sure why on that one.
