Anybody here ever played a "Clothing Optional Gig"?

[boombloom]

Years ago I had the opportunity to play a naked square dance. It gave a whole new meaning to "swing your partner." Our banjo player complained "there isn't a banjo big enough." (Here it comes---bass nerd humor) I decided to play the upright for this gig.

[mjac28]

Be prepared to be sick there is nothing attractive about some of our wonderful seniors going natural don't expect any models to show up.

[SBsoundguy]

One thing is for sure, you won't get stage fright.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by SBsoundguy

One thing is for sure, you won't get stage fright.

LOL it will be audience fright!

[dasbusking]

Just imagine the audience with there clothes back on..... and don't wear your bass too low or you could end up fighting some unintentional E string muting...

[Sahe_Bassist]

Originally Posted by Tx Basser

Ha! One of my local musician friends has played this gig before and he told me the same thing! He said it is more of an "older heavy-set biker dudes and their ladies" crowd who only wear flip-flops and do-rags.

He also told me that no cameras are allowed (even cell phones must be checked at the gate) and to bring dark, really, really dark, sunglasses.

i played at one of the "clothing optional" resorts around here twice in the last six months or so, and both times have been the most fun gigs i have ever played. the place i went to knew how to party and took care of us VERY well. we got paid (quite well), we got fed (more than once, and not crap food either. nice catered meals), we got free drinks all night, and they put us up in one of there suites for the night!

its kind of a culture shock at first, but once you see that they are just normal people having fun (who happen to be naked, or near naked) you tend to relax. there isnt anything sexual about it, its just a lifestyle choice.

most of the people there though i wouldnt have wanted to see naked on a regular day. although there were a few who were not bad at all...

sunglasses, dark sunglasses. best advice ever. i picked up a pair from walmart before the gig, never had to worry about where i was looking even though mostly (before going onstage) it was looking at the ground.

no pictures at all. they have security people around usually.

[BayStateBass]

I would probably do it. I wouldn't be big into going naked, myself, but if it pays good and there's a good crowd it could be a fun time. Plus, it makes for a good story later on.

Now if it was required to be naked to play there, I wouldn't do it.

[Tx Basser]

The gig I mentioned in the OP doesn't require the band to go "natural". We can wear, or not wear, anything we want and they won't jack with us about it.

I have thought that if I were to play this gig, I might wear shorts under a long trench coat and army style boots....make the audience wonder if I am a flasher........

[lokikallas]

This was a plot line in the show "wedding band" which I highly recommend.

[20db pad]

I've played one, last minute, stayed clothed. DO NOT expect a sea of young, naked, nubile beauties of either gender. IME, it was a middle age and up crowd...

[whbjr]

I've played both types of gigs - the kind where you're happier looking at the floor, or your left hand, or your bandmates, anything but the audience... and the kind where the crowd is 100% distracting - I mean, that was probably the worst playing I've ever done, and at the same time the most entertaining gig I've ever done.

[Ubersheist]

I've played at a resort, where we opted to go sans textiles. It was a good gig, except it didn't pay anything. One creepy guy in his 50s kept hitting on my gf, and management kicked him out. One drunk youngish (30s or so) girl gave us a bit of a show before management made her stop.

Otherwise, it was a very mellow, nice gig. Everyone was into us, and kept dancing. Unfortunately, they paid next to nothing. However, it was great PR, and we rode that as much as we could.

I've played other gigs where there was spontaneous nudity. It's rare, but loads more fun then the resort gig. That's saying alot since the resort gig was pretty darn good!

[Landy67]

Somewhere on the internet is a photo of me playing a very low slung mandolin. I'll do you all a favor by NOT posting a link to it!