okcrum
in your chest
I suppose you could dress any way you'd like, so long as you're OK with never being hired for that type of gig and pay again, and really dig the $50 bar gigs. 
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when I glanced at the title I knew that @BassCliff would win the thread entirely.
I'm a grunge kid at heart but have gotten sick of just-wear-your-comfy-clothes uniform bands, just-wear-your-fancy-clothes bands, and just-wear-black bands.
Before I noticed the parenthesis, I voted classy, then saw the word bar and voted lame, then saw banquet and voted classy. Then white shirts and black vests, that's kinda lame. you should be able to come up with something better than that unless it's a 70+ crowd.
I'm a grunge kid at heart but have gotten sick of just-wear-your-comfy-clothes uniform bands, just-wear-your-fancy-clothes bands, and just-wear-black bands.
Before I noticed the parenthesis, I voted classy, then saw the word bar and voted lame, then saw banquet and voted classy. Then white shirts and black vests, that's kinda lame. you should be able to come up with something better than that unless it's a 70+ crowd.
One good reason to dress up for a small club/corner bar gig is if you also cater to the larger room/upscale/private client, and for marketing purposes. People who are booking larger rooms or planning private events often stop off at the corner bar for a quick round. They see you in jeans and tee shirts, they might not give it a second thought for their wedding, corporate event, holiday party, etc. They see you looking good, it makes an impression.
My Top 40 Variety cover band has scored several lucrative upscale gig opportunities at the small club/bar level by being ourselves and dressing the part as we see fit everywhere we go. Our philosophy is ALL audiences, no matter how small or large, deserve to see and hear us at our very best, because the audience is why we (my band mates and I) do what we do out in public, and you never know who may be listening and watching you.
I know a lot of local weekend warriors are not that interested in upscale gigs and couldn't care less about the better money. Nothing wrong with that; it's a business decision, even if not consciously.
Interestingly, on the rare occasion that anyone has had disdain or snark when we dress up, it's been a musician. Imagine that. The other 99.9% of the audience members always appreciate the effort and have increased respect. So it pays to know which side your bread is buttered on.
My Top 40 Variety cover band has scored several lucrative upscale gig opportunities at the small club/bar level by being ourselves and dressing the part as we see fit everywhere we go. Our philosophy is ALL audiences, no matter how small or large, deserve to see and hear us at our very best, because the audience is why we (my band mates and I) do what we do out in public, and you never know who may be listening and watching you.
I know a lot of local weekend warriors are not that interested in upscale gigs and couldn't care less about the better money. Nothing wrong with that; it's a business decision, even if not consciously.
Interestingly, on the rare occasion that anyone has had disdain or snark when we dress up, it's been a musician. Imagine that. The other 99.9% of the audience members always appreciate the effort and have increased respect. So it pays to know which side your bread is buttered on.
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I do not know why, but this song comes to mind when I think of matching outfits!
As I seem to recall, The Cars had a dress code of sorts, back in the day.
They all wore black, white and red. In any combination, any any way they wanted. But always black, white and red. Worked for them .
They all wore black, white and red. In any combination, any any way they wanted. But always black, white and red. Worked for them .
Agree with the venue, period. You are in their employee. For anything nicer than a summer festival all the way up to weddings we dress alike. For the common bar and party gig we dress however we want unless asked to do something different. You're getting paid to play music, who cares about the clothing?
D
Something I've seen done and I really appreciate is just band T's. Maybe even band button ups. That makes you look like you're a group, you're professionals, and you belong. Quite a few bar bands I've seen have done this successfully. Just don't go cheesy.
Today's trivia question: Who are these guys, and what was the dry cleaning
bill for this 1982 tour?
Everybody in white suits and hats.
That looks like Pino on bass. That's all I got.....
Is that Gary Newman singing? Huh.....
Is that Gary Newman singing? Huh.....
.
Kind of off-topic, but anyway .....
As it happens, I met the original Red Wiggle, Murray Cook, at a gig a few weeks back.
SUCH a nice, down-to-earth guy!
He recently joined a mate of mine's 70s cover band, just for fun. They're called "Ripper '76".
He had two rare, vintage 50's fenders on stage (worth $750,000 combined according to my mate) and a pedal board the size of my dining table.
Link Removed
Kind of off-topic, but anyway .....
As it happens, I met the original Red Wiggle, Murray Cook, at a gig a few weeks back.
SUCH a nice, down-to-earth guy!
He recently joined a mate of mine's 70s cover band, just for fun. They're called "Ripper '76".
He had two rare, vintage 50's fenders on stage (worth $750,000 combined according to my mate) and a pedal board the size of my dining table.
Link Removed
I say it depends on the gig. We are in a Rock/Pop coverband. If it is a function type event (NYE, Large Gig, Sponsored Party) then we have what we call our "Squelch Uniforms". Black Shirt, Black pants, white tie for the guys, our singer usually wears her most "Stand Out" outfit (usually some skimpy back dress). If its a regular bar gig, then we each dress on our own style (usually jeans, chucks, black tshirts... though the guitar players shirt usually has something offensive written on it).
In your case, for a upscale banquit, then I would say it is appropriate to dress alike.
In your case, for a upscale banquit, then I would say it is appropriate to dress alike.
I don't mind a "theme", or similar outfits, but I've always hated the identical-dress thing. It takes away any individual personality you could show.
I played in a house band for 2.5 years, 5 nights/week, where the guitarist, drummer and I wore identical shirts. The BL (keys/guitar) usually wore something of the same color, and the girl singer wore whatever. What was the point of that, other than to remind us that we were employees and BL was the boss? I did like the regular paycheck, though...
I played in a house band for 2.5 years, 5 nights/week, where the guitarist, drummer and I wore identical shirts. The BL (keys/guitar) usually wore something of the same color, and the girl singer wore whatever. What was the point of that, other than to remind us that we were employees and BL was the boss? I did like the regular paycheck, though...
Played a Masquerade Ball gig last night.
Keys & Me (bass) white shirt/black tie on either end of stage.
Across the middle of stage:
Drummer black button up, guitarist white button up.
Singers - brunette wore a white dress, blonde wore a black dress.
Looked very sharp and coordinated.
Keys & Me (bass) white shirt/black tie on either end of stage.
Across the middle of stage:
Drummer black button up, guitarist white button up.
Singers - brunette wore a white dress, blonde wore a black dress.
Looked very sharp and coordinated.
Hi,
Chris Squire? Pretty cool. It's all in the presentation, not lame at all. Rock on!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Anybody know where I could get an outfit like this? As long as it fits the theme it's okay right?
Chris Squire? Pretty cool. It's all in the presentation, not lame at all. Rock on!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Op shop.Anybody know where I could get an outfit like you this? As long as it fits the theme it's okay right?
Girlfriend with sewing machine.
Theatrical outfitters.
Op shop sewing machine and a few yards of velvet, DIY. Someone will tell you how to make a pattern.
I've kind of acquired a reputation based on my choice of clothing. Nothing I own is this amazing (sadly) (I attribute it to not being able to find a tailor who can make clothes from pictures) but I usually wear some rather 60's-70's ish clothing. I always get lots of compliments and praise from the fans. It's all in good fun.Hi,
Chris Squire? Pretty cool. It's all in the presentation, not lame at all. Rock on!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
I tried to find some local tailors, all said they couldn't make an outfit without a guide. I guess I could take up sewing but I spend most of my free-time playing bass and excercising to make sure I can fit into said-outfit and do it justice.
Guess I'll have to work on that girlfriend with a sewing machine thing.
