Wearing shoes on stage.

[knumbskull]

always take my shoes off for drumming, not so for bass.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Middle-aged Fred Flintstone feet aren't very nice to look at...

I was thinking Hobbits from Lord of the Rings.

I always wear shoes, but....I leave my fly down and pull the shirt tail through for effect. The chicks love it.

Riis

 

[DanAleks]

When I was a drummer, I always practiced barefoot. Then I got a gig in a restaurant, full time -playing jazz and lounge.

I had to dress 'nice' - all black and white, like the bartenders, so I wore TaiChi slippers.

I was barefoot, in black shoes.

 

[dalahorse]

Now, I can sincerely see a drummer MAYBE having a legit reason to wanna slip his treads off while playing. But, any other player than that? It's C-O-R-N-Y.

Chucks all the way... For bass and drums! Thin enough to feel the stage vibrations and the pedals, thick enough that you don't get hurt.

 

[nickbass79]

Do you?

I always do. I cant wear sandals, and Im uncomfortable being barefoot or in my socks on stages. I think I did it once, and yeah, I wont do it again.

Our singer, otoh, never wears shoes when we play. He says its so that he can press a button more easily on his multi-f/x, but I think he just thinks it cool.

What say you?

I'm right there with you. Don't like sandals, being barefoot or just socks. I have always worn shoes and kept care of my feet.

 

[agreatheight]

I like to go barefoot - feels natural to me, and no one ever told me I looked stupid so... I usually have a rug, but still go no shoe without it (I'll just be careful about lip touching the mic).

Now, preference being stated, I wear nice sneakers when the gig requires it, and nice shoes when the gig requires it. I dress for the gig.

 

[sandmangeck]

Barefoot every time. I use a boss gt 10b and a mooger fooger bass murf. With some of my settings there are tiny switches to hit that shoes will not do.
And I love being barefoot

 

[BaronVonHavok]

Already been said but it all depends on the music that I'm playing and then venue. If I have to look "professional" I do. But when I'm playing in my own band and my original music, it's all about being comfortable.

 

[Tat2dHeart]

If there's a female in the band, not only should she be barefoot, but pregnant as well.

Jive, I'm done with that preggers thing, but for you, I'd wear the empathy belly.

 

[jive1]

Jive, I'm done with that preggers thing, but for you, I'd wear the empathy belly.

Awesome!

Still barefoot though, right?

 

[J Posega]

I wear shoes, but could care less about what others do.

For those into the barefoot playing thing but need protection, get some Vibram Fivefingers.

 

[mixtapelove]

Chucks all the way... For bass and drums! Thin enough to feel the stage vibrations and the pedals, thick enough that you don't get hurt.

Always wore Chuck Taylors when drumming. Low cut.

As a bassist, not so much.... just whatever my regular shoes are. I have a lot of retro Nikes that I wear to my 80s cover gigs.

 

[Tat2dHeart]

Awesome!

Still barefoot though, right?

Absolutely!!!

 

[michael_atw]

Chucks hurt to stand in for long periods.

 

[Marko 1]

I didn’t know it was even legal to be barefooted in a commercial establishment.

That said, it seems pretty low-class, disgusting, even.

 

[ourworldisgrey]

Most shows I don't wear shoes. I used to wear moccasins all the time that my feet would more around in and got into the habit from there.

 

[Martin89]

If there's a female in the band, not only should she be barefoot, but pregnant as well.

I played with that band a few weeks ago, and she was an awesome punk vocalist; could totally see why she was pregnant...

Chucks all the way... For bass and drums! Thin enough to feel the stage vibrations and the pedals, thick enough that you don't get hurt.

I wore chucks(high tops) a couple of shows ago and concur although I am typically like this guy:

Always wore Chuck Taylors when drumming. Low cut.

As a bassist, not so much.... just whatever my regular shoes are. I have a lot of retro Nikes that I wear to my 80s cover gigs.

As far as the barefoot stuff goes, I haven't played out in flip-flops/barefoot since Cuba. To me it's a bit like the shirtless thing, if you go out shirtless it's tool-ish and over-planned. I will just wear flip flops and decide if I am comfortable enough in the environment to go barefoot during the gig. That being said, in the latest band the drummer breaks too many sticks for me to consider going barefoot. I've practiced with him in flip-flops and gone barefoot while in the moment and stepped on some pretty serious shards of drum stick; no thank you.

 

[Misty Mountain]

I go barefoot whenever I can, but I do have a carpet just for gigging that goes with me. But as it's winter here for 6-7 months of the year, and warm summer only for about 2, playing with bare feet isn't always practical. Wearing shoes just feels so restrictive, especially when playing. Just a hippie at heart I guess.

 

[hernameisrio]

The only person allowed to be barefoot on a stage is Henry Rollins.

 

[MatticusMania]

See, people thought I was crazy for asking, or just playing a parody on the "wearing shorts on stage" thread, but I was asking a legitimate question.

Myself, I always wear shoes. I wore flip flops to practice just one time a few weeks ago and decided I wouldnt even do that again.

But yeah, our guitarist/singer plays in his socks. Seems he is not the only one who goes shoeless.