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What do you wear (typically) to a gig?
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
A luxury for men with hair. I went bald so I shave my head, and wear a bandanna under a hat to keep the sweat out of my eyes and keep my hats clean.
I wear what the bandleader says to wear.
Jeans and a Hawaiian shirt, OK. Black pants, black shirt, OK. Tux, OK. Tux with a bright red plastic cowboy hat three sizes too small, OK.
Haven't been asked to wear women's clothing or play naked yet. That last one, no one wants to see anyway.
Jeans and a Hawaiian shirt, OK. Black pants, black shirt, OK. Tux, OK. Tux with a bright red plastic cowboy hat three sizes too small, OK.
Haven't been asked to wear women's clothing or play naked yet. That last one, no one wants to see anyway.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,916
- 142,453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
As lead singer usually something ridiculous but rock fashionable.
(I will gladly take a bear suit if available however)
(I will gladly take a bear suit if available however)
A reminiscence regarding stage attire...
When I was 19 (some 35 years ago) I was in a rock cover band based out of Albuquerque. We played in New Mexico, Texas, etc. Our manager got us booked into Cardi's in Houston. This was a big break for us because it was an "A" room and Cardi's had nightclubs in other Texas cities. After driving all night from Abq to Houston we arrived at the club the morning of the gig and our manager went inside to tell them we had arrived.
After a while our manager came out and said, "I have good news, and I have bad news. The good news is that we're still booked here for the week. The bad news is that tonight is ladies night and for your first set there will only be women in the club."
"How is that bad news?" we asked.
"Well..." he replied, "the club requires that you play the first set wearing only underwear."
A couple of us brought up the point that we didn't actually own any underwear, and others were concerned about the condition of the underwear they owned. So, while we loaded in and setup, our manager went to the mall and bought bikini briefs for the band. And, I must say, it felt quite liberating playing that set in undies. I probably wouldn't attempt it these days...
When I was 19 (some 35 years ago) I was in a rock cover band based out of Albuquerque. We played in New Mexico, Texas, etc. Our manager got us booked into Cardi's in Houston. This was a big break for us because it was an "A" room and Cardi's had nightclubs in other Texas cities. After driving all night from Abq to Houston we arrived at the club the morning of the gig and our manager went inside to tell them we had arrived.
After a while our manager came out and said, "I have good news, and I have bad news. The good news is that we're still booked here for the week. The bad news is that tonight is ladies night and for your first set there will only be women in the club."
"How is that bad news?" we asked.
"Well..." he replied, "the club requires that you play the first set wearing only underwear."
A couple of us brought up the point that we didn't actually own any underwear, and others were concerned about the condition of the underwear they owned. So, while we loaded in and setup, our manager went to the mall and bought bikini briefs for the band. And, I must say, it felt quite liberating playing that set in undies. I probably wouldn't attempt it these days...
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That's me on the left. The group is "Tall Paul" playing country and classic rock with a few originals. I no longer wear the mohawk since I've gotten a proper daytime job again, but at a gig my outfit nearly always consists of...
-Aviator Sunglasses
-Flashy Western shirt
-Slim or Boot Cut Jeans
-Cowboy Boots
-At least one piece of silver wrist jewelry.
The aim is to land visually somewhere between rockabilly and classic country. I've always enjoyed dressing up as an enjoyable aspect of performance. Even if it's just once a week in a restaurant or bar, it's fun to inhabit the role of a honky tonk bass player and the audience appreciates the effort we put into looking the part.
As it happens it's not that much different from what I usually wear day-to-day. The boots and jewelry aren't everyday, but even at work I wear western shirts almost every day.
Concert black. Anything from tux to suit to stretch black jeans and black t-shirt.
"Sancho... sometimes, when you are a man... you must wear... stretchy pants."
"Sancho... sometimes, when you are a man... you must wear... stretchy pants."
Loving the all-white look! (Especially with the black bass).
Plain black t-shirt (no lettering, no logos). Black vest. Pants. Baseball cap. Shoes.
When I started playing country, everybody in the bad wore vests. Nobody in the audience did, so it set us apart. I have just kept doing that.
When I started playing country, everybody in the bad wore vests. Nobody in the audience did, so it set us apart. I have just kept doing that.
Rule #1 - I never EVER dress the same as any of my audience would. I stand out, but not in a flashy or gaudy way.
Rule #2 - I never EVER wear standard issue sneakers or loafers. Ever. Possibly blacked out Vans, but that's as close as it gets. Usually black (sort of) biker boots or tan western boots.
Rule #3 - I look like I care. My look is intentional and it shows.
Black biker boots. Jeans (but not dad jeans). Something around my neck and wrists. And these days my hair is actually long again. It falls straight down in my face so I have been tying it back at the top with the back not tied. The shirt changes by the gig. I can dress it up or down.
Rule #2 - I never EVER wear standard issue sneakers or loafers. Ever. Possibly blacked out Vans, but that's as close as it gets. Usually black (sort of) biker boots or tan western boots.
Rule #3 - I look like I care. My look is intentional and it shows.
Black biker boots. Jeans (but not dad jeans). Something around my neck and wrists. And these days my hair is actually long again. It falls straight down in my face so I have been tying it back at the top with the back not tied. The shirt changes by the gig. I can dress it up or down.
Venue. The band seized on my suit penchant and started picking on me during local interviews so I stepped up my game a notch.
It went over quite well.
- Apr 11, 2019
- 340
- 381
- Disclosures
- Lincoln Learning Solutions - Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center
Unless the gig pays over 500 (per), I wear whatever I decide to put on after getting out of the shower. Haven't had a complaint or lost a gig in 40 years. If it's a country club gig, I have a suit. But rarely. And I rarely wear jeans or socks in the summer. While I appreciate the folks who adhere to strict dress codes, the people that hire me (or my band - I also do solo), want me for my voice and how I arrange and present songs. Not for my footwear, etc.
I literally did the last gig in cargo shorts & T-shirt.
It was a surf-bar though and it was so hot, long pants would have stuck out.
When I play reggae I'll dress differently to when I play metal.
And when I play weddings, that's something entirely else, too.
It was a surf-bar though and it was so hot, long pants would have stuck out.
When I play reggae I'll dress differently to when I play metal.
And when I play weddings, that's something entirely else, too.
then:
i made a living dressing in a tuxedo (20+ years) so i have nothing against 'dress up'. and TBH: a lot of entertainment buyers probably chose us just because we 'looked the part' (professional). many times we were invited/instructed to wear more casual garb, but we always wore slacks, shined shoes, and dressy shirts/tops.
now:
i generally wear black (not goth), long pants (no shorts), and comfortable shoes (clean) for bars and dives, and slacks (with a tie) for events. i still play in one 'showband' and in that one, the musicians wear a uniform (black slacks/black dress shirt/matching ties) while the vocalists dress in a 'showy'/sparkly way.
lately:
i've gotten on to guyabera dress shirts (avatar) because i don't have to tuck them in, they're loose enough, comfortable, and they set me apart from the crowd. linen is cool!
but i agree with the posters who are saying: different strokes for different genres and venues = if you look the part = you're half the way there!
i made a living dressing in a tuxedo (20+ years) so i have nothing against 'dress up'. and TBH: a lot of entertainment buyers probably chose us just because we 'looked the part' (professional). many times we were invited/instructed to wear more casual garb, but we always wore slacks, shined shoes, and dressy shirts/tops.
now:
i generally wear black (not goth), long pants (no shorts), and comfortable shoes (clean) for bars and dives, and slacks (with a tie) for events. i still play in one 'showband' and in that one, the musicians wear a uniform (black slacks/black dress shirt/matching ties) while the vocalists dress in a 'showy'/sparkly way.
lately:
i've gotten on to guyabera dress shirts (avatar) because i don't have to tuck them in, they're loose enough, comfortable, and they set me apart from the crowd. linen is cool!
but i agree with the posters who are saying: different strokes for different genres and venues = if you look the part = you're half the way there!
My on-stage wear is the same as my off-stage wear. People have been mistaking me for a musician all my life, decades before I ever picked up the bass (and after 
)
I do 90% of my clothes shopping in the ladies department of Goodwill type stores... the gals have waaaay more options as far as color and cut, and since I've always been on the lanky side they fit better too (men's clothes are usually too baggy, boxy, and boring for me
)
)I do 90% of my clothes shopping in the ladies department of Goodwill type stores... the gals have waaaay more options as far as color and cut, and since I've always been on the lanky side they fit better too (men's clothes are usually too baggy, boxy, and boring for me
)
I dress for the climate. This time of year it's the thinnest, best breathing fabrics I can find. Pants & shirt, bandana around my neck, hat on head. All of that is for perspiration control. Never shorts but I do wear sandals or crocks during the hot months. I also change my T shirt or undershirt at every break and talcum powder where needed.
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I have a sub date this weekend with an indie rock band that has a little bit of a hipster 1960s mod style. Gonna have to give my wardrobe some thought. Can't go full-out Pete Townsend, but something a little different would be fun.
Something like this would be more my style.
Something like this would be more my style.
