Band Fashion

[Michedelic]

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I always loved that look.

Me too... lol

Don’t go changin’…

 

[Michedelic]

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Oh hell no.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Whatever works for your band. We just had the busiest summer we ever had and I wore shorts through all of them.

One thing we started doing is festivals or events and they had merch avail we buy a shirt and wear one.

Again, whatever works for you. It's in my sig....."Your life isn't yours if you always care what others think. Don't think. Be you!"

 

[dan1952]

Black shirt (either collared or tee shirt), black jeans, black shoes, and a Kangol hat backwards. Always. On a REALLY hot day outside, I may wear a loose, all or mostly white collared shirt, but that is the rare exception.

 

[EdO.]

I played in top-40 country and '80s pop bands years ago and had to dress the part. From cowboy boots and hats to parachute pants to suit-and-tie.
Not now brother. I still have to wear a uniform five days a week at my day job but on my days off it's shorts and sandals for me. I'm built for comfort and I dress accordingly.
Most of my current gigs are very casual and outdoors, except for the occasional wedding or corporate event, so we are mostly in shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops.
B.

I don't care any more. I play in a classic rock/rock cover band. I am not going to wear shorts but if I played an outdoor gig and it was hot I am not wearing pants.

These two statements are the epitome of telling an audience "I really don't care than much, I'm just doing this for the hell of it". If you want to be considered "serious", if you want to have an audience think you're a pro musician, you should dress the part. While what we're doing is providing music, the name of the game is ENTERTAINMENT. If you want to be considered an entertainer look the part, dress better than the audience. Otherwise the message you send, intended or not, is "I really don't care". An audience for live entertainment will have a higher opinion of musicians who look and act like pros.

...Nobody wants to look at some schlub who dresses like they're at a cookout, even if the gig is a cookout. But showing up in a suit and tie isn't all that rock and roll. Some people can pull it off, most can't. More formal gigs get more formal clothes...

The most important things for me are to dress appropriately for my age (being fashionable doesn't mean wearing what kids are wearing, but it also doesn't mean wearing what was popular when I was a kid) and make sure it fits. Too tight or too baggy both make you look awful.

The audience isn't there for background music (unless you're literally playing background music, but then you probably have a bit of a dress code). They're there to see a show, and what you wear is part of that. Sure, you're not rock stars (or stars of whatever genre of music you're playing), but that doesn't mean you can't give the audience a little bit of that.

Exactly. Wanna be considered pro? Look and act the part.

 

[BLDavis]

These two statements are the epitome of telling an audience "I really don't care than much, I'm just doing this for the hell of it". If you want to be considered "serious", if you want to have an audience think you're a pro musician, you should dress the part. While what we're doing is providing music, the name of the game is ENTERTAINMENT. If you want to be considered an entertainer look the part, dress better than the audience. Otherwise the message you send, intended or not, is "I really don't care". An audience for live entertainment will have a higher opinion of musicians who look and act like pros.

Exactly. Wanna be considered pro? Look and act the part.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

View attachment 4443068 Hello All,

I’m new to TalkBass and I’m guessing this has been discussed but can’t find a forum for it. How do y’all dress for gigs?

I play in a 5 piece cover band (country, rock, pop, blues etc). Each of our members dresses in their own personal style but we try to coordinate colors and level of formality. I tend to like dark jeans, a denim pearl snap, and either a cowboy hat or baseball cap. What are y’all’s thoughts on this topic? How does your band determine style?

You’re asking me?? Oh brother!!!! My wife just burst into laughter when I read your post out loud….

 

[Michedelic]

It all ends up with the question of, do you have any class?

 

[cheapbasslovin]

be (or get yourself) in halfway decent physical shape. Clothes can only do so much. Healthy always looks good, and it never goes out of style.

This is kinda harsh, but as a guy who has gone from 210 to 265 to 220 in the last 5 years I can attest to how much more photogenic I am at the beginning and end of that cycle.

 

[Michedelic]

He’s right, you know. Even if you’re going to be a fat slob, own it and make something unique if it…

…rather than look like you just came to the gig after mowing the lawn.

 

[whero]

... I am not going to wear shorts but if I played an outdoor gig and it was hot I am not wearing pants ...

So, um... a skirt? Or, er... open to the elements?

For me, my main project is a 60s - 90s cover band. Standard dress code is dark jeans, t-shirt or collared button up casual shirt and sneakers (not "trainers") or leather shoes/boots. For the odd rare corporate gig, dress pants, white collared business shirt (often I'll wear a waistcoat as well), leather lace-up shoes. For private parties, ask the host what they want to see.

Oh, and as for hats and baseball caps, the only guy in my band who regularly wears one is bald, and it's a vanity thing. But I would wear one for an outdoor gig.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

depends on the gig, venue, genre, etc.
I like to arrive together, as a band, and when we walk into the venue, I want to LOOK like the band.
When we walk in, even if we are not carrying anything, we look like the band. The door guy, the bartender, the waitstaff, the manager, they know we are the band when we walk in the door.

Now if we are playing a friend's backyard pool party, well then shorts and flops all day long!

 

[Tat]

So, um... a skirt? Or, er... open to the elements?

Hmm, nice to have options I guess.

 

[Pilgrim]

I will say when I play country I wear a snap-button shirt with embroidery, and either a good felt hat or a good straw. I never ever wear cheap hats.

When I play blues, I usually wear a snap-brim felt or straw. I also have a very good "Blues Brothers" style black felt that's probably 60 years old.

I like hats.

 

[kevindahl]

These two statements are the epitome of telling an audience "I really don't care than much, I'm just doing this for the hell of it". If you want to be considered "serious", if you want to have an audience think you're a pro musician, you should dress the part. While what we're doing is providing music, the name of the game is ENTERTAINMENT. If you want to be considered an entertainer look the part, dress better than the audience. Otherwise the message you send, intended or not, is "I really don't care". An audience for live entertainment will have a higher opinion of musicians who look and act like pros.


Exactly. Wanna be considered pro? Look and act the part.

Sorry dude you have NO idea how much I care about the current project I am in. I'll let my playing and stage presence do the "talking". Nice jeans, shirt, and shoes are all that is needed. If you put more into clothes you probably fall into the poser category.

 

[kevindahl]

So, um... a skirt? Or, er... open to the elements?

For me, my main project is a 60s - 90s cover band. Standard dress code is dark jeans, t-shirt or collared button up casual shirt and sneakers (not "trainers") or leather shoes/boots. For the odd rare corporate gig, dress pants, white collared business shirt (often I'll wear a waistcoat as well), leather lace-up shoes. For private parties, ask the host what they want to see.

Oh, and as for hats and baseball caps, the only guy in my band who regularly wears one is bald, and it's a vanity thing. But I would wear one for an outdoor gig.

I know my post was going to be taken out of context, it is the internet I agree with your post 100%. I'm in my mid 50's and I just don't want to dress like a "rock star".

 

[RichardW]

Black jeans (never shorts, no matter how hot it is); graphic T (current favorite features Howlin' Wolf); either a straw (spring/summer) or felt (fall/winter) pork pie hat, and dark blue suede shoes (seriously). I'll also top off with a close-fitting black leather jacket some times.

I tried to get my four other band mates to coordinate clothing, but it never stuck and no one in the audience cares.

 

[JW56789]

It's just as well I don't gig any more. I'd look stoopid in a Beavis and Butthead Grown Up outfit, and the Red Solo Cup Poor White Bubba Trash wouldn't do it for me either.

I like style.

 

[StudioGC]

I think it's always good to dress up a bit. Even if you're a metal band, make it interesting. We did Modfest in Brighton and the band all talked about the proper dress and then the lead singers showed up in t-shirts....go figure.

We then landed a retro, upscale clothing sponsor and all is much better.

One thing I'm all about is ALWAYS a shirt with collar and no shorts EVER.

Here's the offending Brighton gig:



After our sponsor gave us some clothes:

 

[bylar13]

I am not too concerned with fashion as I play in an original band, play in mostly janky places and make no money.

My only personal rule that I follow is no graphic T shirts or black clothing of any kind. Never liked it and as I got older I noticed that its the look people my age (54) choose when they want to "trend younger".