superkentclark–Look at that! We’re right in sync!
How many of them are deaf, Fish?
I always thought it largely due to an emotional attachment of sorts.
A musician, by trade, creates music that captures emotions and feelings and moods that aren’t easily described. It’s easy to imagine someone feeling alone and different, finding someone that captures those feelings and expresses them as most cannot and becoming instantly attached.
Why this doesn’t apply as well to painters and writers and other artists, I’m not sure, but my guess is that the musical expression taps into something primordial that the other art forms lack.
The rhythm of the guitar and the beat of the drum and flow of the vocals, it all adds up to more than a mere poem or painting (an arguable point, but the statistics don’t lie).
That, coupled with the on-stage confidence and mystique, the bad-“boy” reputation of musicians, the attraction to the seemingly care-free lifestyle which contrasts starkly to Jane Teenager stuck in East Bumblefuck, Iowa in a house with parents that allegedly don’t understand her or to anyone whose life is seemingly set and organized and full of responsibility, the life of a “travelling” musician must seem grand indeed.
Music is an escape for many people and an attraction to musicians is somewhat akin to wanting to run away with the circus as a kid. The mystery and adventure of it all is inviting, and I think that for a female, the best and most intimate way they can think of sharing with a musician the happiness that they bring them is to share their love and their bodies.
I am a chick.
I’m going to have to agree with some of what ** Heart On My Sleeve** said. You have to be a COMPETENT musician to catch my eye.
I don’t just swoon for any man that picks up a musical instrument and tinkers with it. But I will most likely give up my first born if you have talent.
Why? Personally for me its because I HAVE NO MUSICAL TALENT whatsoever. I cannot keep a beat to save my life. So musicians who know what they’re doing intrigue me.
FTR, I am currently dating a guitarist, and he knows I’m his #1 fan.
I agree with the general expression of creativity thing. With musical expression often comes sensitivity and vulnerability, or at least it seems that way, and most women find these qualities attractive in men (so long as they’re not clingy or wimpy of course). A well-honed use of the spoken or written word has a similar effect. Marley sure is right that he’s scored mega-points with me with his writing. 
The guitar-playing and music-loving thing definitely doesn’t hurt, though…nor does the finger thing. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
From my perspective:
Good musicians are creative artists. Most artists and creative types are sensitive (either in the charming or goopy meanings)–it comes with the job description. Furthermore, these types are thoughtful (pretty much a requirement for writing a song with good lyrics) and often intelligent. Who wouldn’t love a smart, creative, charming man? Of course, there’s always the possibility he’ll write a song about you.
Of course, this doesn’t explain why women throw their undies at Tom Jones and Andrew W.K.
Also - interesting point, Fretful Porpentine, about part of the appeal being that it doesn’t pay well. I hadn’t thought of that, but I do agree. I’m a big believer in doing what you love as opposed to trying to make as much money as possible.
Also, it helps for me to have somebody who appreciates how wonderful music is because I’m a musician myself (singer), and am nuts enough to be a music major. (Or, well, I’m double-majoring in music and probably English, but still. :P)
[soulmurk], I disagree that the appeal doesn’t apply to other artists. Art of all kinds taps something primordial, although each kind may appeal differently, and I stick by what I said about creative expression in general having that effect. You’re right that music has a unique appeal of its own, but I think the other arts do as well.
Of course, I know other transitional phrases than “of course.”
soulmurk, I disagree when you say this type of attraction doesn’t extend to writers and painters. I, and presumably others, find them fascinating in many of the same ways as musicians (see above post). But I think your assertion regarding the musical connection also has relevence. I just thought I liked musicians so much because music is my main fixation.
All I gotta say is, most of these chicks that dig musicians have never actually been in a relationship with one.
Never again.
And, for the second time in this thread, I simulpost something that contains similar content to BornOfStardust (nice to meet you, by the way). Please disregard everything I’ve written. 
Nice to meet you too, Lisa-go-blind. Hey, great minds think alike and all that.
Temporary Alpha male.
Girl here, checking in with my perspective. I am a writer/artist/theatre person, so I can perform and like to watch other people do their thing. Musicians are creative and tend to have self-confidence, which is inherently attractive. I also find men performing karate sexy, artists, good writers, hell, even a man building a brick wall with his hands, if he’s doing it well. Women like men who can do something useful or uplifting well.
After my last show, we had a cast party. Members of a local band were there and I talked them into coming to our little bash. Man, was that a good move. One guy played the dijeridoo (sp?), one sang, one played impromptu drums (I admit to a more than passing interest in the drummer…), and it was cool. They were dynamic and hilarious… and cute. It was great good fun. Not to make sweeping generalizations, but I’ve found this to be true-- bands have an energy they bring with them, and people want to be part of that, just like people want to hang out with my theatre troupe after we pull off a show.
Hope that helps.
For clarification, I didn’t mean to suggest that writers and other artists did not make the same connections to people that musicians do, only to try and point out the difference between a fan of an author and a fan of a musician.
It’s not that the connection isn’t there, it’s that the entire experience of a loved song and personalized experience of being able to connect in person to the musicians at a show with all that entails seems to inspire greater physical attraction to the musicians than a beloved poem does to the author.
I have to imagine that that is mostly due to the conflicting apparent accessibility and yet apparent inaccessibility of the musician, and the lack of or minimal interactivity with artists of other forms, not to mention the comparison of a live performance and a painting on the wall in a gallery or a poem in a book.
I think the reason that musicians get the chicks where a painter or a writer might not is that musicians get up in front of the audience and perform - you see them getting their art on. With a writer or a painter, they’re more likely to be at home working in private. You don’t just see a fella on the street and go - “Hey, he’s a writer!” But you see a guy onstage with a guitar, you know he’s creative.
But I think that, as a chick, I would find a man singing a song (or playing bass) onstage, a man reciting a poem onstage, and a man showing his paintings/sculptures/what-have-you equally sexy. It’s the combination of balls, creativity, and voluntary poverty.
Oh, and ruadh - I think I’d rather take my chances with a musician than ever date an actor again. Trust me.
I agree with the previously mentioned points about 1) creativity, 2) not being afraid to show emotional sensitivity in public, 3) having one’s priorities in the right place (I’ve been known to have a soft spot for nonprofit types, too).
Of course, every time my guitar teacher talks about how to run one’s fingers up the neck, it’s about all I can do to restrain my raging hormones. Good thing it’s a group class.
Why musicians rather than actors or painters or other creative types? Well, I’m an amateur musician myself, so I’m just more music-oriented than visual arts or theater oriented. I have a better understanding of the kind of dedication it takes to be good at it. But then I don’t really discriminate; I like guys who have all kinds of intellectual and creative passions, and have been known to be attracted to computer programmers, history professors, pretty much anyone who makes a point to work at what he loves to do.
Anyone who gets up in front of an audience, and is somewhat successful in their performance, automatically acquires some amount of “fame”. People like to be close to famous people, it’s nice to have some fame “rub off on you” without having to put in any effort to be famous yourself - vicarious fame.
I’ve often wondered what being a cartoonist would be like if we performed in public like musicians do.
Hmm.
I’ve been to impromptu public poetry readings as well. Why don’t we have a hit parade of poetry readings? Or do we already, in the form of lyrics and rap?
Hmmmmm…
Must go back to the Comic Jam. 
Okay ladies, I’m a bassist and I don’t bother with a pick; it’s all finger action.
Guys, form a line to my left for high-fives.
Ladies, form a line on my right for…other activities.
I’m going to chime in and say that this is sort of the idea I was going to come up with…namely, because musicians have more exposure to people they’re more likely to have a larger section of the population find them attractive. Take for example the person in High School who was thought homely and plain by that small percentage of the population and is now thought to be the hottest thing going by maybe at least one teenager in every small town in the world. In that town, they’re just the one person, but combined they’re legion!
This is not exclusive to people in the music industry, obviously. It also applies to people in movies and TV. For example if you went to school with Cameron Diaz you’d probably remember her as that gangly freak who looked like the Joker on Batman. Millions of guys though (and some gals to probably) would jump her in a second if they got the chance, because: different strokes for different folks.