5 Musician Stereotypes You Never Want to Be

Musicians are an interesting bunch and in my 18 years of playing music, there are a few stereotypes that always seem to pop up.

While you may not be able to change someone else’s attitude, you can avoid adopting it as your own. Here are 5 musicians you don’t want to be and one that you absolutely do:

1. Mr. Insecurity

The more he talks, the less you believe he can play. He’s been talking to this record label and that producer. He’s kind of a big deal. At some point, he will ask to play your guitar so he can show you how great he is at “Dust In The Wind”.

2. The Tone Master

This girl spent way more on her gear than she ever did on lessons, but all that Evantide Timeline delay is doing is repeating her mistakes over and over and over and over…

3. Mr. Right

There is only one correct way to play a song and this guy knows it. Sure, 99.9% of the world doesn’t care if you left the major 9 out of your background ambient pad, but he does and he’s going to make sure you know it. Don’t bother asking him to get creative though, because “different” is just another word for “wrong”.

4. The Procrastinator

Never mind the rest of the band listened to demos you sent out and worked out their own parts, this guy is just going to wing it. He’s also going to think of a much better part a week after you record.

5. The Lone Wolf

It doesn’t matter what the rest of the band is doing, this girl has her own thing going on. You need her to wait until the chorus to come in? No way. Need some simple piano chords? More like scale runs between every change. She doesn’t play for the song. She plays for herself and has a severe listening impairment.

The Best Kind

The best musicians don’t need anyone to stroke their ego. They work hard, they continue to learn, and they take satisfaction in playing well and know the band is greater than the sum of its parts. They also have a ton of fun–be that musician.

Jason Houtsma is the co-founder and guitar teacher at Worship Artistry, where he is helping musicians of every level answer the call to worship with passion and confidence. Jason has been leading worship and writing music since he was 15 years old and currently serves as Worship Pastor for Mosaic Church in Bellingham, WA. He is husband to Alli and father to Bjorn and Asher.

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Maybe #6:

The Anxious One. Agonizes over every perceived mistake. Constantly makes remarks like "I can't believe I bungled that E2/G# on the bridge so badly even people in the back row heard it.", hoping that someone will pipe up with some reassuring word to placate his fears.

Have to say I've been guilty of being this person, far too many times. It has taken a lot of prayer, practice, and giving myself the grace to make mistakes to get past it, and even now, that person tries to return from time to time. Strangely, hearing Paul Baloche say he still has insecurities and anxiety when he gets on stage after 25 years of public ministry and thousands of performances helped me to see that we are all human, and that our offering of worship is not about us. We are all there to help people sing their prayers to the Lord, as Paul says. The more I focus on that, the less I'm concerned about mistakes.

insecurity

I've been playing for a little while in church and I always feel inferior to my peers as they are a lot smarter and 20yrs my junior. I also get nervous every week as I cant read music so I reply on charts and sound (ear)...

What's the best way to over come this inferior complexions feelings and nervousness

I want to do better in bass...

Hey Bruce

That's a great question. Do you mind if we answer it on the podcast this week?

insecurity

Hi Jase,

By all means. Hopefully you can navigate me as I am new to the site. Will join up annually once back from holidays...