After questioning, Linear is taken away, and the remaining Mutant Bass Players that were captured are left with many unanswered questions.
Dance and Charmon talk quietly.
During this conversation, Dance articulates the foundation for developing an undeniable brand of bass playing!
Create an Undeniable Brand of Bass Playing
Mutant Bass Player: Charmon
Hey Dance, what do you think is going to happen to Linear?
Mutant Bass Player: Dance
I’m not sure. But I’m not too worried about it.
Mutant Bass Player: Charmon
Why not?
Mutant Bass Player: Dance
Do you remember in Mutant Bass Training what The Owner of The Factory taught us?
In times of trouble, meditate upon the list and much wisdom will be given unto you!
Mutant Bass Player: Charmon
Well, The Owner of The Factory did teach us, that in times of trouble, to focus on the fundamentals of music, turn everything into concepts, seek different perspectives and musical perceptions, and to eliminate all weakness.
So, what’s your point?
Mutant Bass Player: Dance
Turn everything into concepts!
Did you notice the badge on the official’s jacket?
Mutant Bass Player: Charmon
No?
Mutant Bass Player: Dance
Well, I did. The official’s name is Ed and his actual job title is “Multi-Disciplinary Musician’s Complex Systems Planning District Interrogator”.
When I saw that, a chord resonated within me!
With a job title like that, I’m pretty sure you can bet he’s the only one that can do that job!
The more specific your focus of mastery, the more direct your path is to achieving a unique sound and voice on your instrument!
Your strengths and your weaknesses is what your brand is all about!
You can turn this simple observation into a powerful concept for developing a unique voice!
This is the concept I came up with: If specific strengths and weaknesses create a brand, then my specific strengths and weaknesses become the staple of my voice on my instrument!
With this concept, one can simply reflect upon his or her playing style and create any brand (s)he desires!
An easy way to begin this process is to:
- Create a list of all the well known bass players that you know.
- List under each of them, their specific strengths that they are known for.
- Be descriptive!
There are plenty of things each bass player may be known for, however list the strengths that come to your mind immediately. That’s what branding is all about!
A certain product has a certain impression in the mind of the buyer!
For example, Victor Wooten is known for his innovative double thump technique, Jaco Pastorious is known for his impeccable punchy 16th note grooves, Frances Rocco Prestia is known for his funky fat toned 16th note grooves, John Patitucci is known for his melodic solos over difficult chord changes, Bill “The Buddha” Dickens is known for his blazing speed, and the list can go on and on and on…!
Now, create a list of unique and specific bass player strengths that are not yet obvious to the public eye!
Nothing is new under the sun! But, not all things are noticed by the public yet!
Create that list of unique bass strengths.
Select one that resonates with your soul.
Be that bass player and the voice is yours!
Mutant Bass Player: Charmon
So what happens if my strengths are already being acknowledged by another bass player? What now?
Mutant Bass Player: Dance
Whoever is the first in that market will almost always stay on top of that market!
Even better, whoever mainstreams that market first will almost always stay on top on that market!
There are different type of markets.
Some possible markets are:
- The best _____
- The first _____
- The only _____
- etc…
Victor Wooten was not the first bass player to double thump!
He was the first bass player to exploit double thumping and really incorporate that into his sound.
Anyone that even dares to try to enter his category will be faced with a lot of challenges.
(S)he will always be compared to Victor Wooten!
That’s why it is worth the time, to stop practicing at the moment and just sit and think.
Think about all the bass players that are acknowledged for their unique voice.
Think about what unique voice is not yet out there!
That does not mean your education with learning to double thump is in vain.
You just have to find a new way to exploit that technique in order to be the one that owns a new market!
And that new market has to be vastly different than Victor Wooten’s approach!
Developing the concept of a name badge even further… one can even perceive that one’s job description (A.K.A. limitations) can also create a unique brand!
Having a selective vocabulary (rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic) also increases the chances of creating your own unique voice!
Mutant Bass Player: Charmon
Whoa! I can see now Dance! I think things are going to be okay.
We will find a way out of here!
