Last year I was an old school ghost... the kind with just a sheet over the head and two eyeholes cut out. Seemed like a funny idea at the time. I mean, it's the costume that's so dumb it's great. But it was mostly dumb. Hot, uncomfortable, and I couldn't see my hands. Tonight we have a big bash and I'm going as a downed WWII pilot, with a parachute behind me. I think it will be easier to manage, I just need to make sure I don't trip all over it.

S&M outfits. I don't see any problems with restrictions there.

Don't wear a rubber Frankenstein Mask!

birthday suits

I'd say the best costume to play in is a Darth Vader outfit, complete with the helmet and cape.

I'd say the worst one would be a Princess Leah one.

This year I got a genuine prison issue blaze orange jumpsuit. I think it's probably a tad bit on the lame side, but I will be able to play unhampered, and that's the key. I'm going to start shopping early for next year as I've had a flash of inspiration. I'm going to try and find a white body stocking and a pink tutu. It should be awesome, with tufts of hair poking out of the body sock and a pair of combat boots! Of course I may have to stick a sweetpotato down the front for that whole rockstar effect!

I did the full-on Darth Vader a couple of years ago for a 4 hour gig. Let's just say the helmet only lasted 1 set! I was so miserably hot under that thing and I couldn't even breath. I wouldn't suggest it to my worst enemy. The easiest costume I ever did was Gene Simmons as the demon. It was just makeup and cool clothes. I did the makeup righteous too, with a picture of him to go buy the whole time I did it. That was the Halloween I was most proud of.

at first i thought you said a drowned WWII pilot...i was like what the hell?

I didnt wear it for Halloween but 2 Christmas' ago, my band played a gig where our second set was holiday songs, I borrowed a Santa costume and wore it the entire set....extremely hot, and the beard kept covering my strings as I played....it was fun but I dont want to repeat it...

Anything that involves a styro-foam stomach. Had a Barney costume for a Halloween gig several years back. What a mistake.:eek:

Anything that involves a styro-foam stomach. Had a Barney costume for a Halloween gig several years back. What a mistake.:eek:

The Kool-Aid guy was the first thing I thought of. I don't know why.

I always play with an always attached styrofoam stomach.

I did a gig in a skeleton-suit some years back ... (I know... Flea Rip-off...:P)
What I didn't notice at the soundcheck, was the very heavy lighting at the show...
I were sweating like a pig during the show......

Best Halloween costumes are ones that are very breathable. Did a show last night dressed as a werewolf, however this was my second take at it.

Its basically a rubber werewolf mask with the big hairy mane on it that covers your whole neck. I also have gloves for it. As you can image, its a very stifling costume.

In terms of playability I had to shave down the palmside of the fingers on my left hand, and do the same for the finger pads on my right. I had my old girlfriend stitch in pieces of elastic waistband into the fingers so they'd stay on while I was playing.

The mask is truly stifling. But how to deal with it?
There is this weird plastic pouch with blue gel inside. It has straps to be worn around the head. I don't know what its for but its been sitting in my freezer for years. It gets really cold but doesn't freeze.
I brought two of them, one under the mask, one in reserve in the cooler. It kept my head, and as consequence, the rest of my body cool for the entire set.

Last year I didn't think of any of that and I was dying. I guess it helps to have a similar costume every year so you can work on the previous flaws.

Well...if you're a dude, the worst:

http://www.costumeshopper.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/60715.jpg

And if you're not a dude, the worst:

http://img.costumecraze.com/images/vendors/pony/30149-main.jpg

Yea in general masks are bad and heavy suits, but that cooler idea does sound pretty good.

When it comes to costumes though, I think GWAR seems to take the cake. They do the big ol' masks and platform shoes and still seem to ... well ... they don't totally suck.

Reuben

Freddy Kruger gloves and mask...ouch! Where did my D string go?

I dressed as a Cow 3 years ago. My udders kept getting in the way of my bass and I was hot as H*ll.
Last year I put some old bell bottoms on and my TieDyed shirt and a Afro wig and went as the original hippy! The wig got lost, but I was much more comfortable in the costume.

be careful w/ makeup... hot stage-> sweat+make up= runny makeup -> blindness

http://img13.photobucket.com/albums/v38/radcowgirled/Fanime04/stormtrooper.jpg

Best?

Gay pride dumbledore........................................ .................................................. .......................:hiding:

the suit from "Super Troppers" of the hill billy screwing a bear. that would be crazy

Going as a zombie has its benefits, and some downsides to it. THe year I went as a zombie, with fake blood dripping out of my mouth and bloody handprints all over my shirt...well, lets just say the cleanup on my bass was not fun to do. That and it got stuck to my shirt. Otherwise you can just wear regular clothes which is nice.

This year I went as Osiris (in a Ramses King of Egypt costume, but our theme was gods was I was Osiris). It was pretty good. Its essentially a dress with a skirt and headpiece. The only downside was the headpiece that got a bit warm, but otherwise I was able to play perfectly fine.

I'm going as an A**-hole this year.....all I have to do is show up!

playing in a gas mask and a leather duster isnt easy....but it demands attention.


and thats what halloween is all about.......unecissary attention.


and candy.....cant forget that.......

This year my band played a show with Here Come The Mummies, the mummy costumes seem to work pretty well. I, on the other hand, was a banana. It was difficult to get the strap over my head and hard to maneuver at times, but if you dont have in-ears and the stage volume is too loud it does a good job of muffling the harshness. The crowd loved it.

This wouldn't have been easy to play in...

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa206/CodyLX450R/PA270121.jpg

i played in a ron jeremy costume. pretty nice, wife beater, lightweight hawain shrt, sweat pants.... stuffed pants.. didnt get in the way at all.. well some things did,,

GENIUS!!! ;)

Gay pride dumbledore........................................ .................................................. .......................:hiding:

This was a good costume to wear this halloween as you can see the benefits...
http://dalegiberson.com/Autumn%202007%20027.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/leofenderbender/spiderman.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/leofenderbender/Babydue.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/leofenderbender/sheepguy.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/leofenderbender/elvis.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/leofenderbender/retiredhooters.jpg

This was a good costume to wear this halloween as you can see the benefits...
http://dalegiberson.com/Autumn%202007%20027.jpg

What were you? I dress like that on a regular basis. Were you me? Cuz that's just creepy. :eek:

My whole band (two guitars and me) went as Blue Man Group...... had no problems with the costume playing wise! If you do your makeup right it won't run even when you sweat (use greasepaint, not that cheap waterbased schtuff and powder it well). We were warm but not any worse than a normal gig.. even with the bald caps. Though, we didn't put anything on our hands (except accidental spray paint from the bald caps).. the real blue men group don't have to play strings so they can have blue gloves LOL.
The borrowed percussionist came in a giant bunny costume... that lasted about 5 minutes because he couldn't hear or see out of the head LOL

This was a good costume to wear this halloween as you can see the benefits...
http://dalegiberson.com/Autumn%202007%20027.jpg

:confused: Did you dress as a bass player...

This is mine from two weeks ago. The sleeves have these triangular pieces that come out past the end of your hands. They kept either slipping inbetween my gut and the bass, or my fingers and the bass strings.

That and in one of the songs I use a Kazoo held up by a harmonica holder. I cut a hole in the mask to slide it in so I could still use it. It worked fine at home, but at the show the mask kept slipping and it didn't line up......

You can see me with the harmonica holder here, I pushed it out from in front of my face when I realized it wasn't working.
http://www.newmountainkickers.com/NMK/photos/10.31.07/P1010044.jpg

Here's a close up, that mask and hat were so damn hot.......
http://www.newmountainkickers.com/NMK/photos/10.31.07/P1010078.jpg

Here's my lame attempt at a Family Man/Robbie Shakespeare/Flabba Holt (etc..) impersonation from last year...

Funny thing was, some people thought the dreads were real - until I showed 'em my shaved head! :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/leofenderbender/retiredhooters.jpg

Are they Dutch?




:D

http://a170.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/50/l_65bcfa23ded3bc42cb32bda2611099d1.jpg

here's me being a pirate.

really really good to play in, just a bandanna, and some ridiculous gold jewelery.

the best part of my costume being the bass...

she's a rickenbackARRR.

:hiding: