The usual stage wear is a cool shirt, maybe a vest and always a hat. No shorts or sandals, ever.
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What do you wear when you play gigs?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
I'll also say this; Cargo shorts and sandals are part of what is killing live music.
when you look like you don't care - don't be surprised when no one else does either.
Not saying there are not some venues where that is appropriate...but not most.
when you look like you don't care - don't be surprised when no one else does either.
Not saying there are not some venues where that is appropriate...but not most.
Something special, unusual, hip, edgy, but understated(I’m not the frontperson). If the occasion warranted it, something flashy or outrageous. Never anything I’d wear to mow the lawn or go to grocery store in. The average American male is such a slob these days anyway, so just wearing a suit(but not necessarily a tie)is slick looking.
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You might be surprised what I wear all the time just going to the grocery store.
But I concur with that last sentence in particular in spades. It's appalling how the average human dresses these days. It vexes me all the time.
Playing a gig in front of people is the most fun I get short of riding my motorcycle down the Blue Ridge Parkway. I like hats and ties in a normal workday so I wear suits, a tux or brightly colored sport coats when I'm gigging. Just added a coachmen's hat to my collection and add that to the tux on occasion. It's fun and a contrast to the other guys in their black jeans and black t-shirts.
I feel rather strongly about this so here goes.
I always try to give the audience something interesting to look at. They're there for a show and that's more than just the music. I want the band to be remembered so boring isn't going to cut it. Doesn't aways mean super flashy (though I lean in that direction) but I'm always at least a bit more turned out than those watching me and I don't mind being the best dressed on stage.
Usually that means western shirt, big belt buckle and cop shades. Previously a nice mohawk, more recently a Cowboy hat. If I've got a bass (usually rock or country) gig, I'll lose the hat, untuck the shirt (maybe swap in some vintage milsurp or a particularly good T-shirt) add some interesting footwear (Cowboy or combat boots or some Chucks) and likely a few pieces of flash on the wrists and/or fingers.
No sandals, no shorts, no flat caps, no sweats, no boring...
....and for #@$% sake, no blue tooths in anyone's ear please!
Here's me last month on steel. We've kind of established that the BL is the classy fellow, bassist leans a bit hipster and I'm the flashy one. Invalid Link Removed
I would add only that it's probably best if your stage wear has some connection to your style in general, even if it's an exaggerated version. Minus the hat, the stage-wear descriptions above aren't terribly different from my everyday. If you see me around, 95% chance I've got a western shirt and maybe even a flashy belt and boots.
I always try to give the audience something interesting to look at. They're there for a show and that's more than just the music. I want the band to be remembered so boring isn't going to cut it. Doesn't aways mean super flashy (though I lean in that direction) but I'm always at least a bit more turned out than those watching me and I don't mind being the best dressed on stage.
Usually that means western shirt, big belt buckle and cop shades. Previously a nice mohawk, more recently a Cowboy hat. If I've got a bass (usually rock or country) gig, I'll lose the hat, untuck the shirt (maybe swap in some vintage milsurp or a particularly good T-shirt) add some interesting footwear (Cowboy or combat boots or some Chucks) and likely a few pieces of flash on the wrists and/or fingers.
No sandals, no shorts, no flat caps, no sweats, no boring...
....and for #@$% sake, no blue tooths in anyone's ear please!
Here's me last month on steel. We've kind of established that the BL is the classy fellow, bassist leans a bit hipster and I'm the flashy one. Invalid Link Removed
I would add only that it's probably best if your stage wear has some connection to your style in general, even if it's an exaggerated version. Minus the hat, the stage-wear descriptions above aren't terribly different from my everyday. If you see me around, 95% chance I've got a western shirt and maybe even a flashy belt and boots.
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No sandals, no shorts, no flat caps, no sweats, no boring.
Wait, no "flat caps"? Nothing wrong with those. Especially if you're playing in an Irish trad band or something or even jazz perhaps. That some people have a "thing" about flat caps is news to me. Some people have a "thing" about cowboy hats just so you know. I wouldn't wear one for instance unless I wore it in kind of an edgy hip manner.
Some of these comments............man, kinda crack me up. Just sayin'. This topic is simply wayyyy too subjective to discuss I'm afraid.
Wait, no "flat caps"? Nothing wrong with those. Especially if you're playing in an Irish trad band or something or even jazz perhaps. That some people have a "thing" about flat caps is news to me. Some people have a "thing" about cowboy hats just so you know. I wouldn't wear one for instance unless I wore it in kind of an edgy hip manner.
Some of these comments............man, kinda crack me up. Just sayin'. This topic is simply wayyyy too subjective to discuss I'm afraid.
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What are you? Some kind of rabble rouser?!? No. Everyone wears the same thing. Period. End of story. If not, fifty lashes with a limp noodle.
Yep, the elitist "I'm right and you're wrong" is strong in this thread. And ridiculous.
Do your gigs as you'd like.
Next you'll tell me that purple is the wrong color onion to have tied to my belt.
Well everyone knows that. I stick to a bag of chopped onions in the event food is offered.
Nice to see another bassist turned steel player. I'm new to lap steel but it's really fun!
Yep, and it cost me a whole bee to get there on the ferry!
I just ordered some new black sneakers for the dress up gig. I hope they come in in time.
Somehow I ended up with three gigs this weekend, different dress codes for each. Friday night is specific band wear, Saturday night is nice casual, and Sunday morning is church casual.
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
