Dressing well and dancing

[lfmn16]

If you don't want to be an entertainer, stay in your bedroom.

I don't know. I think John Entwistle and Bill Wyman did OK just playing the bass.

 

[City]

I read somewhere that in order to be a good bass player, you need to dress well and dance while you are performing live. How many think that these two things are really necessary for being a bass player in a gigging band?

Not trying to take this discussion elsewhere but we try to look respectable, but we are having difficulty showing a "fun" side, as simple as smiling and eye contact.....as a band we are all working on that. I can dress the part but I'm a serious guy and need to lighten up (a lot).

 

[Miker27607]

Dressing in a dapper way makes me play better. Yes, I know it's silly, but for me it works. I always wear a nice shirt, dress pants, and shoes. The only exception I make is when I play outside during the day. I live in a very hot, humid place (North Carolina, USA) so I will wear shorts and a hat for outdoor gigs, though it pains me to do so. I don't 'dance' on stage, but I move around a lot, and always make eye and verbal contact with the audience, which is key.

 

[electracoyote]

I think generally the LOCAL music scenes I have seen need to try a little harder to look the part and act the part.

Amen.

 

[dan1952]

What do Lemmy, Jaco, Ray Brown, Mingus, Victor Wooten, McCartney, and Lee Sklar have in common? Aside from being great bass players, they each have had an easily recognizable image, whether dressed in a suit, moving around the stage, or standing still. All are ENTERTAINERS! If we weren't entertained by them, we wouldn't go to see them play.

 

[Waytootrue]

Just imitate Krist here and you should be good!

 

[Jimmy4string]

Wait didnt we just have this thread??! it's literally like two threads down!
Help needed with clothing ideas for my band

 

[two fingers]

I don't know. I think John Entwistle and Bill Wyman did OK just playing the bass.

Not a bad point. I suppose if we're going to be intellectually honest here we should add that caveat.

At least SOME of your band needs to be entertaining. Those two guys you mentioned were covered by others on the same stage.

Wyman had Mick, Keith and Ronnie running around like crazy people covering the bases on "entertainment".

Entwistle had the same thing with Pete and Roger (and Moon at one point).

So, you're correct. You don't have to be the ultimate entertainer by yourself if you have a few others taking care of that for you.

But if NONE of you are doing it......

(Keep in mind, your local bar band singer likely is NOT Mick Jagger or Roger Daltrey. So you'll likely have to pitch in. )

 

[SoulReflection]

I wouldn't say I dress well, but I definitely like to have a wee dance about the stage!

A wee dance usually indicates the need for a trip to the restroom....

 

[InhumanResource]

I read somewhere that in order to be a good bass player, you need to dress well and dance while you are performing live. How many think that these two things are really necessary for being a bass player in a gigging band?

If you are doing something professionally it helps to look professional. Your show is visual as much as it is audible, maybe even more so because most people aren't musicians and understand what they see a LOT better then what they hear.

All other things equal, the band that looks good, moves around and engages the crowd is going to do better than the one hiding behind iPad lyric sheets and planted feet in crocs and cargo shorts.

 

[dave64o]

I think this picture pretty much answers the question....

 

[bassbully]

Really who cares but I’ll play. Looking great? Yes. Dancing? No.

 

[HolmeBass]

All of this self-righteous hyperbole! Oh yeah, Talkbass. Right.

If I am playing outside and then temp is above 85 F, I am wearing shorts unless it’s a very serious gig, then linen pants.

I think having a good look is important. If I wear cargo shorts I won’t wear a T-shirt, I’ll wear a nice collared short sleeve shirt to dress it up a bit. I’ll never wear a ballcap- that looks dorky AF to me. But I wouldn’t walk out on someone else’s performance if they are wearing one. That just seems shallow to me.

So having a good look is important but it has to be authentic. Nothing is cheesier, to me, than a ‘band uniform’ or poorly fitting clothes. Or looking like the wait staff. But having a bit of flair, as long as it is authentically you, is a good thing.

 

[brainthmpngfast]

From my personal experience in the Hardcore Punk scene:
The old time punk dresscode is now just a cheesey relic, and has been replaced with casual clothes. There's still something a little different about it. (Maybe more dark colors?) Furthermore, the bands always do manage to look different, and stand out, without dressing up. Its pretty subtle. Movement is much more relevant. At a hardcore show people are always gona remeber the band that thrashed around v.s. the band of limp fish.

 

[honeyiscool]

I read in a post on here once that "you should dress like you are in the band". People should be able to distinguish you from the other patrons at the venue or at the event. I think that what Two Fingers says is true "You should look like you are trying". It doesn't have to be over the top, but a little effort goes a long way.

The simple fact of the matter is that, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, the way you look and present the material matters. The energy with which you present the material matters, and engaging the crowd matters. I don't think dancing is necessarily required, but some movement and eye contact should be part of your presentation.

Absolutely. If the band plays a set and then is impossible to distinguish from the rest of the crowd, clearly the band missed an opportunity to visually distinguish themselves and therefore will suffer with regards to the impact they could have had for the live appearance.

 

[sean_on_bass]

am i the only one that just wants to see a band be casual and comfortable? I mean if you are playing a large, ticketed venue then i understand the need to really put on a show. Even then it depends on the band. I've seen plenty of bands in even big venues just wearing their very casual clothing. It adds to the cool somehow to not give a poopie about vanity. But a bar or restaurant? Or a hot outdoor gigs? i really couldn't care less as long as the music is good.

 

[SmokinJoe992]

You could never say he is not entertaining.

 

[Charlzm]

How can this video NOT have been shared yet?

 

[sean_on_bass]

Absolutely. If the band plays a set and then is impossible to distinguish from the rest of the crowd, clearly the band missed an opportunity to visually distinguish themselves and therefore will suffer with regards to the impact they could have had for the live appearance.

I think alot of audience members really don't care, but maybe some do. The fact that i am wearing a damn guitar or on a stage should show i am with the band. But sometimes this mentality is "taking it too seriously" IMO. My group makes me wear a hat and vest, and i really wish we just wore whatever the hell we wanted to.

 

[BradH]

I am in a classic rock band, sometimes I were an old Who or Fender t-shirt. Sometimes a vest & tie depends on my mood.
The two guitar players also are the lead vocals, I am just a back up singer.
So....... I move around as must as possible for the crowd. Dance, spin etc.
But not to the amount the guy in the video does.