How much do looks really matter?

[wizerd]

Scrub up and wear something a little nicer than the audience. As others have said, this is a SHOW and despite many years honing your craft as a musician, when your on you are a performer and people listen with their eyes. Besides, the venue owner manager person is more likely to have you back if you look nicer rather than you just fixed your car.
Have some fun with it, an ultra conservative friend of mine goes full Bootsy when he plays out. Enjoy.

 

[Das Jugghead]

Yes. People listen with their eyes. This is why gigging in shorts makes you sound worse.

I have found that gigging in shorts make my sound very woolly . . . . .

 

[Plectrum72]

Like it or not, looks matter. You can still be comfortable and not look like a tool before/after the show. It can be as simple as a single coordinated item amongst band members or as complex as full on uniforms/costumes.

 

[Helix]

It mattered a lot to these guys

 

[micguy]

Any band that expects me to hang around with them shirtless, and wrapping our arms around each other, ...they’ll need to find another bass player.

 

[buldog5151bass]

It's a performance, not a rehearsal.

 

[saabfender]

I have found that gigging in shorts make my sound very woolly . . . . .

It makes most dad bands sound pale and out-of-shape.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Scrub up and wear something a little nicer than the audience. As others have said, this is a SHOW and despite many years honing your craft as a musician, when your on you are a performer and people listen with their eyes. Besides, the venue owner manager person is more likely to have you back if you look nicer rather than you just fixed your car.
Have some fun with it, an ultra conservative friend of mine goes full Bootsy when he plays out. Enjoy.

Agreed. Whatever you do, show a little class. If you wish to embrace a shared element, so be it. Keep in mind that you're part of the stage presentation as are stage lighting and backline. Personally, I despise blue jeans but that's just me.

Here's a great "uniform" that I see again & again: dark trousers, vest, and an untucked white shirt. The "untucked" part keeps you from being confused as waitstaff.

Riis

 

[RustyAxe]

I play in a classic country band and we have a look. Pretty sure it’s not the look you’re after.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Everything on stage registers on some level. Best to keep it coherent.

 

[Rock O]

There is definitely an appropriate level of attire depending on the band or venue.

If you're in a Viking Metal band, you shouldn't look like you just got off work at Pizza Hut.
Ditto if you're playing country.

My advice:
Never go full codpiece

 

[bwildt]

My pop/rock band makes an effort to dress better than the clientele. There is no uniform. One guy almost always wears a suit. I often wear a tie. You can wear a t-shirt, but it needs a jacket. No blue jeans, no shorts, no running shoes. Our banners are red and black and we have adopted that color scheme. Clothing is basically black, white, grey and red. We all dress differently, but we do look like a cohesive group on stage.

 

[Skillet]

I need comfortable pants. That's a priority. Getting that foil wrapped cucumber positioned exactly is key to my comfort.

 

[BassAndReeds]

I found the below video helpful when trying to improve my “look”.

My personal thoughts on clothing: dress as an individual during bar shows. Wear clothes that suit you and look good. Wear band attire for corporate/wedding gigs. Usually involves same color tie and suits.

 

[edencab]

we don't have a uniform , but often agree upon a general overall (not outrageous) theme sometimes....except the lead guitar who always shows up not conforming...

 

[Das Jugghead]

It makes most dad bands sound pale and out-of-shape.

Number one cause of damaged retinas - even welders know better

 

[edencab]

My pop/rock band makes an effort to dress better than the clientele. There is no uniform. One guy almost always wears a suit. I often wear a tie. You can wear a t-shirt, but it needs a jacket. No blue jeans, no shorts, no running shoes. Our banners are red and black and we have adopted that color scheme. Clothing is basically black, white, grey and red. We all dress differently, but we do look like a cohesive group on stage.
View attachment 3248460

except the guy wearing blue jeans...guitar player?

 

[MoeTown1986]

We just stick to the “Johnny Cash” look. It works.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Another pro-tip (from someone a lot more pro than me) - even if your "band look" is ripped jeans and t-shirts, be freshly showered and wearing clean ripped jeans and t-shirts - if you smell bad going in, lots of folks will not want to have you back. If you play a 4 hour hot stage set and smell bad going out, fine, but be clean again when you show up for the next thing. I generally agree with the idea that you are there to put on a show, and looking like a band is a good thing.

 

[brianrost]

Black, black and more black always works. Then wear some more black, just in case

What's with that video on "How To Look Like A Rock Star"? Has noone here ever seen a rock star before?

Stage fashions change all the time. Those Judas Priest and Manowar shots actually represented a hip look for a pop metal band of the era. A decade earlier it would have been bellbottoms and platform shoes. Hair past your shoulders was hip for a long time, now you need a fade and one of those hipster beards.

The biggest problem with the look of a band is often just the age and corpulence of the players. Now that I'm bald and grey haired, it's awful hard for me to look hip.