When it comes to performing, it’s not just what you do, it’s how you look while doing it.

Mike Ferfolia, a 28-year-old Toronto musician, made the switch from no-name to designer glasses, a change that increased his applause volume.

“When I first started working in Toronto, I was getting by on sheer vocal ability, and professionalism,” Ferfolia said. “Everyone would be telling me that I really needed to go and find a look.”

Having recently performed at the Canwest Cabaret Festival and slews of musical gigs, Ferfolia, a busy bassist and singer, has come to terms with putting in that extra effort towards his appearance.

“To be explicitly honest, and as shallow and terrible as it may sound, when the image thing started to come together, the clothes, or the working out, people started to notice me more,” Ferfolia said. “It was something that I really needed my hand held through.”

When an audience goes to see a band, it’s just that. Rarely ever do people say that they are going to hear a band, above seeing one.

“Sound is almost secondary in some cases,” Ferfolia said. “Some of the music that’s being released today has a whole bunch of audio tune and production behind them, but they’ve got a look, and that’s what people go for sometimes.”

Ferfolia, whose musical talent was sparked at young age by his polka-playing Slovenian father, may have made slight changes to his look, but has kept his music free of as much change as possible.

His latest CD entitled One Off, was done in one day.

“I went with the band to the studio, played song after song, and walked out two to three hours later with 16 tunes,” Ferfolia said. “Four didn’t make it because there would be too much production on them. I wanted to keep the album as live, and organic sounding as possible.”

Ultimately, it is Ferfolia’s talent that wins over the crowds at his gigs, but his style sweeps in with a close second. His smooth, soulful voice can be heard regularly at Joe Mama’s restaurant on King Street.