Stage Wardrobe

[Rib 13]

2019 version

For players that care about stage appearance, what do you wear onstage?
Asking for a friend................

 

[Conrad Gently]

*Ahem*

Typically tennis shoes. I’ve got a pair of Adidas trainers that lasted so long I replaced them with the exact same model when they wore out. You don’t want your feet to hurt while you play.

Black jeans. Preferably with easy pockets for getting to picks.

Denim jacket. Looks good with the jeans.

My favorite shirt for playing in public is just a plain black crew neck from Old Navy.

Recently inherited my grandfather’s cap from Vietnam. Might add that to the mix.

 

[Nashrakh]

I like the semi-formal look. What a friend of mine called "the cab driver":
White dress shirt, black vest (no leather!), black tie, denim pants (I favor aubergine, blue jeans might look a bit too casual), shoes of your choice but dress shoes work well.

The con: the last time I wore that, I stood out like a sore thumb in a dad band. The ladies seem to like it, though.

 

[pcake]

what type of music does your friend play? black jeans, boots and black band tshirt is good for metal, but a 3 piece suit with a snappy hat can be perfect for jazz.

 

[Jughead6]

I once wore an orange prison jumpsuit at a gig. But it's not what you think... honest!

 

[kdogg]

Depends on your age and the style of music you play, but it’s hard to go wrong with some jeans, black t-shirt, and cool tennis shoes.

 

[onda'bass]

Black for the most part, just not a fender t shirt.

 

[Tekkers]

Depends. I’m a fan of dressing to make a statement. Either to reinforce your sound, or subvert it, whichever us more appropriate.

Right now I’m preferring semi-formal grey jeans, black shirt, black shoes for my current tech hardcore band where everyone else in bands and audiences are mostly in band shirts, vest tops and snapback hats.
Adds a bit of class and makes you stand out from the audience.

I also think it’s important for the band to co-ordinate appearance so you look like a unit on- and off-stage. In my band we all wear plain black tops and dark jeans, and the vocalist is the only one wearing colours, which again makes her stand out and focuses attention on the frontperson.

Whatever the attire, it always should be deliberate and have some thought put into it.
It’s like dressing up for work; it puts you in the zone and makes you feel a bit more engaged and makes it easier to perform your role.
Casual jeans and a band t-shirt looks a bit lazy; maybe just me but I’m always disappointed when a band looks like they just rolled out of bed and didn’t think to put any effort into how they present themselves.

 

[pcake]

Depends on your age and the style of music you play, but it’s hard to go wrong with some jeans, black t-shirt, and cool tennis shoes.

you could go wrong by wearing them at a formal event or playing surf rock at a beach event.

 

[Kro]

Agree with other posters, hard to go wrong with dark, fitted jeans of some sort (dark wash blue, gray or black), with a dark, well fitting t-shirt. I can't do black because of the furry friends that I live with, but dark grays and blues work equally well.

Clean, casual sneaks of the skate variety also seem to work particularly well in my scene: Vans, Adidas, Converse (yeah I know, not technically skate shoes, but popular with that crew nonetheless).

Sometimes I'll mix it up with a nerdy t-shirt if I want to be playful, or button down if I'm feeling fancy.

I'm also not opposed to wearing band shirts, but I like to stick to local acts that I'm actually a fan of. It's a way to support the scene, and I love it when they do it for me.

 

[spencer096]

Blue or white ocbd, chambray or linen shirt depending on temp, jeans and either leather loafers or chukkas depending on season.

Dressier gigs I’ll wear a navy or gray suit w either a solid navy, burgundy, chocolate or black silk knit tie.

 

[sedan_dad]

Something to set myself apart from the audience.

 

[MNAirHead]

Guys have bad taste.

All black...with a black Stetson (if country)

 

[kdogg]

you could go wrong by wearing them at a formal event or playing surf rock at a beach event.

Exactly why I started my post with “Depends on... the style of music you play”. Sheesh.

 

[Ostie]

Shorts!

(Wait for it.......)

 

[TNCreature]

I used to really have a LOOK when I was younger. Now that I am older, I mainly try to make sure I don't look like an idiot.
I do like do dress up a little, and thoughtfully out of respect to my audience.
To the OP, I might suggest looking to your heroes and influencers to see what they do.

 

[wmhill]

Puffy satin pirate shirts are the best (at least for pirates days parties)

 

[buldog5151bass]

Avoid all black. Unless you have VERY good stage lighting, you disappear up there. I usually wear dark jeans, and a dark but bright colored (red, blue) button down shirt - untucked if no jacket, tucked with a jacket. No exposed belt buckles or sharp buttons - I like keep keeping my instruments nice.

 

[Turbo Sparky]

When in doubt, go GWAR.
...or cargo shorts with a snappy t-shirt, khakis optional. "My Adidas, there is none higher, sucka MC should call me Sire!"

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

Suit. Always suit.