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Dressing Alike, Yuk!!!

R

Russell L

Mar 5, 2011
5,620
1,363
Cayce, SC
#1
I hate it, hate it, HATE IT!!!!!!!:spit:

Ok, I understand if we're playing a wedding and need to wear tuxes. But, when it comes to slacks and matching shirts, I hate it. In real life I'm not a slacks guy, nor do I ever wear the kinds of shirts the band wears when dressed alike (they usually want to wear Hawaiian shirts, golf shirts, or one of those bowling shirt-things). I'm usually in jeans, t-shirts, and sometimes a button-up with a collar.

I think dressing alike takes away from each person's individual character. I say wear what you like as long as it's clean and not offensive in any way. If we need to be dressy, still, do it your way.

What ya'll have to say about it?

EDIT!!! I don't mean I wear t-shirts and jeans to all my gigs, I just mean that's what I wear mostly every day. AND I see the point of dressing for the occaision when needed.
 
#4
Yeah, dressing alike is the kiss of death in the entertainment world. Someone should have told these guys, they might have had some success.

EarlyBeatles.jpg
 
#7
a perennial thread... the best wisdom I have seen is two points:
1.) Dress so you look like you're in the same band
2.) Dress in a way that respects the music

neither of which mean you have to dress the same.

however, I would say that for working the cover/wedding/event band, matching outfits can have a positive branding / marketing impact, and instill an impression of professionalism in prospective clients.
 
#8
mambo4 said:
a perennial thread... the best wisdom I have seen is two points:
1.) Dress so you look like you're in the same band
2.) Dress in a way that respects the music

neither of which mean you have to dress the same.

however, I would say that for working the cover/wedding/event band, matching outfits can have a positive branding / marketing impact, and instill an impression of professionalism in prospective clients.
Click to expand...

... and most importantly:

3) Dress in a way that respects the AUDIENCE!
 
#10
Yeah... depends on the band. If your attire is so disjunctive (is that a word?) to the band's detriment, it may be time to re-think it. But you don't HAVE to dress alike. If dressing alike serves the audience,... go for it.
 
#12
Dressing individually with tshirts and blue jeans denotes bars, beer pitchers and tatooed ladies. Matching outfits sounds like a better paying gig where you can actually use the bathroom and not be worried lol....

I had to dress alike in a band in the past, and the manager (who put together the band and paid us very very well) told members, "if you don't agree with matching outfits, you are welcome to look for a different gig." America, land of the free :-)
 
#15
Russell L said:
What ya'll have to say about it?
Click to expand...

Well, I don't see it that way, Russell... :hmm:

First of all, I'm not a jeans & T-shirt kind of guy. I insist upon dressing with a lot more style and class than that. And I feel that anyone with whom I would play on a regular basis should have the same point of view.

Secondly, a band is by definition a collective entity - not an individual one. There's nothing wrong with dressing in such a way as to reinforce that aesthetic reality - with style and good taste. And it doesn't necessarily require wearing matching "uniforms" either. It could just as easily mean wearing stylistically similar garb. Nobody's expecting you to dress like a member of Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. :smug:

I really believe that certain pop bands of days of yore, i.e. The Bay City Rollers, have ruined the group wardrobe aesthetic for everybody - so much that's it's gone way too far in the opposite direction. If I never again see another hardcore band with their baggy jeans, ripped T-shirts, shaved heads, piercings & tattoos, it'll be too soon... :rollno:

MM
 

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